How to Handle Money Gods Way
Trivia Question: What percentage is a tithe?
(Answer found on bottom)
Proverbs 22:7 (KJV)
The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
Borrower is servant to the Lender. Avoid borrowing money if at all possible. God says that you become a slave when you owe someone money. Look at credit cards and how much crisis a person can get into when they just make the minimum payments. That interest rate eats them up. And finally the credit card balance becomes unmanageable and people spend years and years just to pay it off.
Proverbs 21:20 (KJV)
There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.
Live below your means and put back all that extra money that you make. God doesn’t want us to live paycheck to paycheck. He wants us to be smart with what he has given us and save for when something happens. Don’t spend the money just because you have it. Put it away so in case something breaks or you need something. That way you will have it there. This will help prevent you from having to borrow money.
Luke 14:28-30 (KJV)
28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
Budget for projects. You don’t want to start something and have to give it up in the middle. Make a monthly budget. Budget out for things that have to be paid, like your electric bills and other utility bills. Then spend on things that you want. Like dining out. And try to put back a little extra money away to save it. You will never know what the future may hold, so prepare for it to the best of your ability.
Matthew 25:14-30 (KJV)
14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.
19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Invest if able. There may be an opportunity to invest your money in a business or a person. It’s always good to invest in your kids. God did tell Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply. Gods mission is to spread the gospel across the world. Your mission as a parent should be to invest the Word of God into your kids, so that they can be spreading the gospel for God. When you can invest in these things, God will give you more to invest with. But you can also invest your talents. Like if you have a gift from the Holy Spirit. When you use the gifts God gives you, he will give you more.
1 Timothy 6:6-12 (KJV)
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
Be content with what you have, and don’t love money. We are to be content in life and not covet the things other people have. It’s easier said than done sometimes. Also notice that it says the LOVE of money is the root of all evil. Money is not evil, but when you start loving it, then it is. People throw other people and trample them just for a little bit of extra cash.
Genesis 14:19-20 (KJV)
19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
We see here that Abraham conquers a city. He comes in to contacts with Melchizedek , the first High Priest of the Bible. Abraham blesses Melchizedek with 10% of everything that he gained. We are supposed to do the same today. Many would say that we are to tithe our churches 10% of what we earn. This helps keep the church running. It pays for the electric and other bills that the church incurs. We pay tithes because the Lord has blessed us, not because he will bless us.
Malachi 3:8-12 (KJV)
8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.
12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts.
Tithing brings blessings. God said to test him with your tithes. When you pay your tithes, God protects the stuff that you own. When you don’t pay your tithes, then the devil has leeway with what you own. He can damage your car, or whatever to make you spend your money on things you shouldn’t need to spend your money on..
Matthew 23:23 (KJV)
23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Tithing is still in the New Testament. Some people think it is just for the Old Testament. But Jesus here says, you should have not omitted the weightier matters. He said they should have taken the matters of judgement, mercy and faith and still paid tithes. So many see here that paying tithes is still applicable today. YOur local church needs help functioning and reaching out to the lost. Its your job to help expand the kingdom of God to the best of your ability. Help sow into the kingdom of God, so someday you will be able to reap a harvest.
Mark 12:41-44 (KJV)
41 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.
42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:
44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
If you can only give a little, sometimes it means more to God. God sees your heart and knows what you’re able. Just because you can’t give as the rich man doesn’t mean God looks down on you.
If you can only give a little, sometimes it means more to God. God sees your heart and knows what you’re able. God promises blessings on those who give toward the kingdom of God. Just because you can’t give as the rich man doesn’t mean God looks down on you. Remember the widow only had a penny to give, God saw her heart just as God sees your heart.