Managing Your Treasure Ray of Hope Christian Church Decatur, GA October 4, 2011

Proverbs 3:9-10 Honor the Lord from your wealth, and from the first of all your produce. So your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine….

Malachi 3:10 “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven, and pour out for you a blessing until overflows.”

Purpose: God entrusts money and material resources to our care. He richly blesses those who take seriously their responsibility to be trustworthy stewards of their God-given resources.

Strategy always precedes success!!!

Mature Christians understand the importance of managing their God-given treasure in a manner that honors God and helps meet the needs of others.

Stewardship of finances shows who in the Kingdom of God has strength, courage, and loyalty and who does not. More professing Christians stumble in this area of managing their money and resources than any other area.

When you talk about money some people get defensive, almost defiant. They’re offended when pastors preach about giving money to God’s work.

That is a terrible shortsighted!

Truth: God wants us to prosper! All we must do is prove ourselves trustworthy through faith and obedience.

Managing finances is an inescapable fact of life.

Money can be a blessing or a curse, a tool that can be used for great good or great evil.

Blessing or Curse? I Timothy 6:3-10

Blessing or Curse? There are more scriptures on the subject of money, finances and stewardship than on the subjects of heaven and hell! If Jesus focused on finances that much, money management must be important to God.

We must give an account to God for the use of our finances and material resources.

Luke 16:1-13 and Luke 19:11-27

Faithful money management springs from the heart. When it comes to managing our treasure, our heart determines our behavior. We manage money according to the way we perceive the purpose of money.

Three Types of Financial Givers II Corinthians 9:6-7

Three Types of Financial Givers 1. Sad Givers-They mourn when they let go of money. Their personal philosophy of giving is based on what they perceive they have to give up, not what they can give to.

Three Types of Financial Givers Sad givers must squeeze (Sponges) in order to get anything out of them. Sad givers are bereaved and grieved regarding the opportunity to give.

Three Types of Financial Givers 2. Mad Givers-They give grudgingly (Hammer) because they feel they have to. They don’t give because they want to, they give out our of a sense of obligation and duty, not delight.

Three Types of Financial Givers Mad givers experience an emotional tug of war in their hearts when it comes to giving their finances. They question why they have to give. Mad givers are hateful and spiteful towards the opportunity to give.

Three Types of Financial Givers 3. Glad Givers-Joy marks the glad giver’s style. They give because they want to. They give cheerfully. Glad givers are grateful for the opportunity to give!

God loves a_________ Giver!!

Cheerful means hilarious. Unrestrained joy and happiness flow from the heart of Glad givers when they have an opportunity to give.

Remember your money is not your money! It is God’s!!! He owns the cattle (that means the cash too) we manage the ranch. Our maker entrusts us to manage money and material resources wisely and accordingly to biblical principles.

Proverbs 3:9-10 “Honor the Lord from your wealth, and from the first of all your produce. So your barns will be filled with plenty, and you vats will overflow with new wine”…

Proverbs 3:9-10 Honor-Recognize, treat with dereference and respect Wealth-Money Produce-Material Resources Barnes-Homes, Bank Account Vats-Business Enterprises Plenty and Overflow-Words of blessing

God honors and provides to people who honor Him with their wealth!

The Tithe: God’s Foundation for Financial Success Genesis 14:20 Deuteronomy 14:22-28 Deuteronomy 26:1 Nehemiah 12:44 Hebrews 7:1-10 Leviticus 27:30-32 Nehemiah 10:28-38

The Tithe: God’s Foundation for Financial Success Nehemiah 13:12 Luke 11:42 Matthew 23:23 Deuteronomy 12:17 II Chronicles 31:5-12 Malachi 3:7-12 Luke 18:12

Biblical Truths About Tithing The Tithe is Holy – Leviticus 27:30 Set apart; Holy things are not common; not to be taken lightly

Biblical Truths About Tithing The Tithe Belongs to God – Leviticus 27:30 God’s Property; Always given unto God

Biblical Truths About Tithing The Tithe is Commanded by God- Deuteronomy 12:22 Tithing is not a suggestion or a good idea. It is the law!

Biblical Truths About Tithing The Tithe Is the First Tenth of Our Income – Genesis 28:10-22 God’s tithe is “the” tenth and not “a” tenth First Fruits (Gross)

Biblical Truths About Tithing The Tithe is the Minimum, Not the Maximum – Malachi 3:8 Tithe is the baseline!

Biblical Truths About Tithing Tithing is a Matter of Obedience- Malachi 3:10 Commands are given to be obeyed God always bless obedience

Biblical Truths About Tithing Tithing is Trust – I Corinthians 4:12 Cornerstone of Stewardship Trust God as our Partner

Biblical Truths About Tithing Tithing Puts God to the Test - Malachi 3:10