Biblical Study on Finances

Biblical Facts About Finances – these should govern all we do relative to finances.
1) God owns everything (including our finances), Deu 8:18; I Chr 29:14; Rom 11:36
2) Money is God’s training ground, Luke 16:11 (be careful of debt, overspending, too much interest paid to the world, covetousness, speculation, etc.)
3) Having money is not sin, loving money is sin, I Tim 6:10, 17

Biblical Principles About Finances
1) Decisions should “not” be based on finances (that’s the world’s way), they should be based on Biblical principles and God’s will. (riches do not define success, give happiness, or provide security)
– Mat 6:33; 13:22, “deceitfulness of riches”
2) Put God first, and needs will be met; Prov 3:9-10; Mat 6:31-33
– When needs come up, give God a chance to provide them first
3) Don’t buy something without complete peace about it. Rom 14:23; I Cor 10:31
– Never make a financial decision under pressure. Prov 21:5(want); 28:22
– it will be there later if it is God’s will for you to have it.
4) Don’t get into more debt when you’re already having trouble with current debts (don’t live above your means)
– Prov 21:17; 22:7; Mt 6:21
5) Avoid speculation, even on the future, ie. anticipated money that may not materialize (ie. the use of credit cards)
– Pro 27:1; Pro 28:22
6) Don’t be indulgent in worldly things. I Tim 6:8; Heb 13:5; I Jn 2:15
– it will all burn up anyway, lay up treasure in heaven instead, Mat 6:19-21
7) Save and Have a Budget. Prov 6:6-11; Lu 14:28

Principles of Biblical Giving:
I Cor 16:1-3; II Cor 8:1-16; and 9:1-13
1) Initially (Firstly), I Co 16:2 (lay by in store); Pr 3:9-10 (firstfruits)
2) Purposefully (Systematically – 1st day of week), I Cor 16:1-2; II Co 8:11; 9:7
3) Geographically (churches), I Cor 16:1-2; Tit 3:10
– “storehouse”, the local church is to determine how the money is spent
– ie. it’s OK to help out, but don’t withhold tithe, either buy it for the Lord and tithe anyway, or suggest the church buy it from general fund
4) Proportionately (as God hath prospered him), I Cor 16:2; II Cor 8:12-14
5) Sacrificially, II Cor 8:2-4, Lord commends church that gave “beyond their power”
– Giving Should Cost Us Something, I Chr 21.24; Mal 1:13-14
– Mk 12:42-44; Lu 21:2-4, Jesus commended widow who gave all
6) Lovingly, Giving tests sincerity of love (natural outgrowth), II Cor 8:4, 8; 9:1
– “ministering to the saints” in 8:4 and 9:1
– don’t give, don’t love God
7) Bountifully, II Co 9:6; liberally – I Co 16:3
– II Co 8:2, 7 “abound”; II Co 9:13 “liberal”
8) Cheerfully (Joyfully), II Cor 9:7; 8:2
– Gen 47.25, heathen gladly gave Pharoah 1/5 for saving them,
– what about us who are saved from Hell?
9) Confidently, God blesses in proportion to our faith,
– II Cor 9:6-8, 10 “multiply”, 13 “experiment”
– Lu 6:38, Don’t be afraid to step out (our ill on next page); Pro 11:25
– treasure in heaven
10) Zealously, II Co 9:2; willingly – II Co 8:3, 10, 12 (forwardness)

Help others also. II Cor 8:14-15; 9:13; Eph 4:28; I Jn 3:17
– God and His servants deserve the best (when giving), (Mal 1:6-8)
– give away junk and God will give you junk

Tithe (tenth, Heb 7:2-9):
the 90% is the “rest of God’s money”
need to tithe, even if on the dole (see Mark 7:10-11)
Gen 14:20 and 28:22, before the law
Mat 23:23; Lu 11:42, Jesus commended the tithe
If don’t tithe, are robbing God; Mal 3:8-10
– you are using God’s money for your own purposes
– God doesn’t bless thieves as much as good stewards