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Cost & Responsibility of Being Jesus' Disciple
Biblical Stewardship: The Essence - The GAS Principle
Borrowing
Avoiding Debt
Giving to God: Before Jesus Death & Resurrection
Giving to God: After Jesus' Death & Resurrection
Building a "Nest Egg"
Budgeting
Teaching Kids About Money
Stewardship Bible Verses: Preamble
God has given us many promises and assurances in the Bible to guide us through life. The Bible abounds with verses on stewardship of money, wealth, and possessions. We would do well to get to know some key ones and recall them as needed. A word of caution: it's essential you interpret Bible verses in context. Out of context interpretation prevails with many TV evangelists who coerce and manipulate you telling you God wants you to be materially rich. Before we decide the meaning of a verse, look carefully at the verse: at each word, phrase, emphasis to understand it. Next interpret it in context of the passage, chapter, book, such as Matthew, and the Bible. One reason, so many people tithe is because they take Malachi 3:10 out of context.
Before we look at key stewardship look verses, we need to understand that a steward need to be Messiah's disciple and understand the cost of discipleship.
Cost & Responsibility of Being Jesus' Disciple
Luke 14:25-27:Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
Matthew 28:18-20: Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
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Biblical Stewardship: The Essence - The GAS Principle
Biblical Stewardship Truth #1: God Owns Everything
Psalm 24:1-2: The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.
Colossians 1:16: For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.
Biblical Stewardship Truth #2: Accept What You Have
1 Timothy 6:7- 8: For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.
Hebrews 13:5: Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."
Biblical Stewardship Truth #3: Seek First His Kingdom And Submit Your Requests To Him
Matthew 6:33: But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well--Note: "These things" refer to food, clothes, and life, not "grown up toys" or fancy gadgets.
Proverbs 19:21: Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.
Borrowing
The Bible doesn't disallow debt, but it looks at it negatively. To be sure, if you borrow you must repay:
Proverbs 22:7: The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
Psalm 37:21: The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously
Romans 13:6-8: This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.
Sometimes, relative or friend asks you to co-sign a loan for them; meaning, a financial institution does not think this person should borrow, she is not a good credit risk! Read what the Bible says about that:
Proverbs 17:18 (NASB): A man lacking in sense pledges and becomes guarantor in the presence of his neighbor.
Proverbs 11:15 He who is guarantor for a stranger will surely suffer for it, but he who hates being a guarantor is secure.
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Avoiding Debt
When you feel you need to borrow, remember God alone knows the future; wait on Him:
James 4:13-16: Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil." Meditate on James word and ask God to give you His PhD:
- Patience: Isaiah 30:18: Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!
- Humility: 1 Peter 5:6: Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
- Dependence: Isaiah 26:4: “Trust in the LORD forever, For in GOD the LORD, we have an everlasting Rock. and Psalm 118:8: It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man.
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Giving to God: Before Jesus Death & Resurrection
Though God did not give the Levites a specific geographic area, from other tribes’ geographic area allotments, God assigned them towns and pasturelands that they were not to sell: Numbers 35:2-3
2 "Command the Israelites to give the Levites towns to live in from the inheritance the Israelites will possess. And give them pasturelands around the towns. 3 Then they will have towns to live in and pasturelands for their cattle, flocks and all their other livestock.
The "Levitical" tithe called for all tribes except Levi to give one tenth of their agricultural crops and livestock to the Levites in return for the Levites’ work in the Tent of Meeting. Numbers 18:21-32:
21 "I give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the Tent of Meeting. 22 From now on the Israelites must not go near the Tent of Meeting, or they will bear the consequences of their sin and will die. 23 It is the Levites who are to do the work at the Tent of Meeting and bear the responsibility for offenses against it. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. They will receive no inheritance among the Israelites. 24 Instead, I give to the Levites as their inheritance the tithes that the Israelites present as an offering to the LORD. That is why I said concerning them: 'They will have no inheritance among the Israelites.' "
25 The LORD said to Moses, 26 "Speak to the Levites and say to them: 'When you receive from the Israelites the tithe I give you as your inheritance, you must present a tenth of that tithe as the LORD's offering. 27 Your offering will be reckoned to you as grain from the threshing floor or juice from the winepress. 28 In this way you also will present an offering to the LORD from all the tithes you receive from the Israelites. From these tithes you must give the LORD's portion to Aaron the priest. 29 You must present as the LORD's portion the best and holiest part of everything given to you.'
30 "Say to the Levites: 'When you present the best part, it will be reckoned to you as the product of the threshing floor or the winepress. 31 You and your households may eat the rest of it anywhere, for it is your wages for your work at the Tent of Meeting. 32 By presenting the best part of it you will not be guilty in this matter; then you will not defile the holy offerings of the Israelites, and you will not die.' "
The "Festive" tithe of agricultural produce and livestock was consumed by Donors in God’s presence to worship Him, to celebrate with Him and the community, and to learn to fear or revere Him. Deuteronomy 14:22-27:
22 Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year. 23 Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the LORD your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the LORD your God always. 24 But if that place is too distant and you have been blessed by the LORD your God and cannot carry your tithe (because the place where the LORD will choose to put his Name is so far away), 25 then exchange your tithe for silver, and take the silver with you and go to the place the LORD your God will choose. 26 Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice. 27 And do not neglect the Levites living in your towns, for they have no allotment or inheritance of their own.
The "Poor" tithe, of agricultural produce only, once every three years (equal to 3.3% each year), went to feed the Levites, foreigners, widows, and orphans. Deuteronomy 14:28-29:
28 At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year's produce and store it in your towns, 29 so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the aliens, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.
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Giving to God: After Jesus' Death & Resurrection
Hebrews 7 and 8 tells us Jesus' death and resurrection fulfilled the tithing law.:
Hebrews 7:23-28 "Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Such a high priest meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.
Act 2:41-47: Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
2 Corinthians 8:1-7: And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will. So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us[a]—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
2 Corinthians 9:7-10: Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written:
"He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever."[a] Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.
Building a "Nest Egg"
Genesis 41: "...They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food. 36 This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine."..."
These verses refer specifically to dicipleship, but apply to all we do in life, especially our approach to stewardship, of which budgeting is an essential practical aid:
Deuteronomy 6:4-9: Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
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Budgeting (GPS Money Guide)
Luke 14:28-33: "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.'
"Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.
Teaching Kids About Money
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