Two weeks ago we looked at Health Management.  Last week we looked at Anger Management.  The keys to both were balance and control.  This week we are dealing with Financial Management which requires deliberate decisions to control and balance your life.  God provides man with perspective about life.  God's Word provides mankind with both the big picture of what is going on in this world and the small details such as finances.  If any one of these three areas gets out of balance, your life will be in complete chaos. 

Open your bibles to . . .

Ruth 2:12
May the Lord reward your work, and your wages be full from the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge."

Habakkuk 3:17-18
17 Though the fig tree should not blossom 
And there be no fruit on the vines, 
Though the yield of the olive should fail 
And the fields produce no food, 
Though the flock should be cut off from the fold 
And there be no cattle in the stalls,
18 Yet I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.

Habakkuk is reflecting on the judgement of God that was coming.  He was getting himself ready mentally and emotionally for the coming trouble.  Martin Luther was an unsaved catholic priest who had never read the bible.  The church leadership sent him to teach the book of Romans to college students.  He was given a bible to prepare for class and he read Romans for the first time.  Romans 1:17 quoted Habakkuk 2:4 which said that the just shall live by faith.  Martin Luther reflected on that concept and got saved by the grace of God.  Habakkuk 3:18 is making a declaration.  This prophet is drawing a line in the sand of life and declaring that even if life is tough that he will rejoice in God.  Are you mentally and emotionally prepared for the financial side of life regardless if it is good or bad?  Financial stewardship is not about how to divide the bounty, but how to deal honestly with yourself about God in relation to the things of this world.

Open your bibles to . . .

Leviticus 27:30-33
30 'Thus all the tithe of the land, of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord's; it is holy to the Lord. 
31 If, therefore, a man wishes to redeem part of his tithe, he shall add to it one-fifth of it.
32 For every tenth part of herd or flock, whatever passes under the rod, the tenth one shall be holy to the Lord. 
33 He is not to be concerned whether it is good or bad, nor shall he exchange it; or if he does exchange it, then both it and its substitute shall become holy. It shall not be redeemed.'"

One fifth is 20% interest.  That's like credit card debt.  God wants you to really think about your financial strength when making your tithe.  If you made a tithe and later that week found out that you needed that money back, God provided a way for you to get it back for a price.  You gave it as a first fruits offering.  It is God's possession.  God will sell it back to you for a price. 

Salvation is free to you, but it is not free.  It came with a very high price, paid by God on your behalf. 

Open your bibles to . . .

Exodus 23:14-19
14 "Three times a year you shall celebrate a feast to Me.
15 You shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread; for seven days you are to eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you, at the appointed time in the month Abib, for in it you came out of Egypt.  And none shall appear before Me empty-handed. 
16 Also you shall observe the Feast of the Harvest of the first fruits of your labors from what you sow in the field; also the Feast of the Ingathering at the end of the year when you gather in the fruit of your labors from the field. 
17 Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord God. 
18 "You shall not offer the blood of My sacrifice with leavened bread; nor is the fat of My feast to remain overnight until morning. 
19 "You shall bring the choice first fruits of your soil into the house of the Lord your God.  "You are not to boil a young goat in the milk of its mother. 

God has granted me the opportunity to operate my own little business for over ten years now.  In that time I have learned the most valuable aspect to business in cash flow.  When I read Exodus 23, it seems like the Lord is creating an economic stimulus package for the nation of Israel.  Every male must appear before God three times each year.  That requires travel which requires commerce for food, shelter, beasts, sacrifice animals, etc.  How many hotel beds are required to house the nation all at one time three times per year?  How much construction was required to observe this command?  How many jobs were created?  How much food will be required to feed the entire nation three times per year?  What do you think this did in creating a banking system to pay for everything?

This subject always makes me think about the land promised to the nation.  What was God's original limits to Abraham when it came to the land?  Genesis 15:18 tells us that God gave Abraham and his descendants all the land from the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates. That includes the most oil rich land mass in the history of mankind.  If they would have occupied that land mass and they would have been the most powerful nation to ever exist on the earth in all of history.  If you and I would just walk and abide in Jesus as our Christ, we would be the most blessed people that has ever walked the face of this planet in all history.

Open your bibles to . . .

John 2:13-22
13 The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 
14 And He found in the temple those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables.
15 And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables; 
16 and to those who were selling the doves He said, "Take these things away; stop making My Father's house a place of business."
17 His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for Your house will consume me." 
18 The Jews then said to Him, "What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?" 
19 Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."
20 The Jews then said, "It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?" 
21 But He was speaking of the temple of His body. 
22 So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken. 

Last week we looked at Matthew 21:8-17 where we had another story of Jesus driving out the money changers.  This scene from John 2 took place in April of 26 A.D. and the passage from Matthew took place in April of 29 A.D.  John occurred at the start of Jesus' ministry and Matthew is three years later at the end of His ministry.  Stop making My Father's house a place of business.  We should always see the spiritual backbone of all events in scripture.  Again, was Jesus angry or was He acting with authority?  What od you think a business man would do if a guy came in and in a fit of rage turned over his table.  Anger generates anger, but authority creates respect.  The bible does not say that Jesus was angry, but it does record where the Jews asked about His authority in His actions.

Notice how Jesus just poured out the coins like it was dirty water.

Open your bibles to . . .

Matthew 17:24-27
24 When they came to Capernaum, those who collected the two-drachma tax came to Peter and said, "Does your teacher not pay the two-drachma tax?"
25 He said, "Yes." And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, "What do you think, Simon?  From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs or poll-tax, from their sons or from strangers?"
26 When Peter said, "From strangers," Jesus said to him, "Then the sons are exempt.
27 However, so that we do not offend them, go to the sea and throw in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a shekel.  Take that and give it to them for you and Me."

Now this is how to fish.  Peter earlier in this chapter was at the transfiguration with John and James.  As wild as that must have been, think about a fisherman pulling a coin from the mouth of a fish.  Notice that He said to throw in a hook, but He does not mention bait.  WOW.

Now citizens of the USA, do we collect tax from the sons or from strangers?  We give strangers the tax revenue of the sons and our military assets.  As our US military exits Afghanistan, our leadership has decided to leave seven billion dollars ($7,000,000,000) worth of equipment in Afghanistan.  20-25% of that equipment will be destroyed and the rest will stay behind as a little gift. 

In 2011, the US government allocated $49.5 billion in military and economic assistance to other countries.  $17.8 billion in military assistance and $31.7 billion in economic assistance.  This does not include the billions of dollars donated from private sources within the United States to foreign organizations. 

Open your bibles to . . .

Genesis 4:3-5
3 So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the Lord of the fruit of the ground. 
4 Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and for his offering; 
5 but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard.  So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell. 

We are going to start our discussion on financial stewardship with tithing.  Why?  We are to trust in the Lord to provide and our tithe shows our faith in God to provide.  I want you to see that the first fruits is the key to a tithe.  You do not give God change out of your pocket as a tithe.  Make no mistake, that is an insult.  A tithe is the first fruit of your best you have to offer.  Cain brought an offering.  Abel brought the firstlings.  Abel brought a blood sacrifice.  Abel did not come in his own righteousness, but Cain did.  How did Abel know to come with blood?  Not sure. 

Open your bibles to . . .

Genesis 14:18-20
18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High. 
19 He blessed him and said, "Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth;
20 And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand."  He gave him a tenth of all. 

Tithe means tenth.  When God says to bring a tithe, do not make a mistake in regards to how much to bring.  When you bring the tithe, do not make a mistake in regards to the quality of your offering.  Do not just bring an offering, but bring the first fruits of your very best. 

Open your bibles to . . .

Deuteronomy 14:22-29
22 "You shall surely tithe all the produce from what you sow, which comes out of the field every year. 
23 You shall eat in the presence of the Lord your God, at the place where He chooses to establish His name, the tithe of your grain, your new wine, your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and your flock, so that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always. 
24 If the distance is so great for you that you are not able to bring the tithe, since the place where the Lord your God chooses to set His name is too far away from you when the Lord your God blesses you, 
25 then you shall exchange it for money, and bind the money in your hand and go to the place which the Lord your God chooses. 
26 You may spend the money for whatever your heart desires: for oxen, or sheep, or wine, or strong drink, or whatever your heart desires; and there you shall eat in the presence of the Lord your God and rejoice, you and your household. 
27 Also you shall not neglect the Levite who is in your town, for he has no portion or inheritance among you. 
28 "At the end of every third year you shall bring out all the tithe of your produce in that year, and shall deposit it in your town. 
29 The Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance among you, and the alien, the orphan and the widow who are in your town, shall come and eat and be satisfied, in order that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do. 

Notice in verse 23 that they ate the tithe in the presence of the Lord.  What does that mean?  They had a big ol' Bar-B-Que.  The tithe was a party.  These were not sad times, but times of joy.  Notice verse 26 where God says if you bring money, purchase whatever your heart desires.  Verse 28 tells the nation that at every third year the tithe was to be given to the Levite, the alien, the orphan and the widow.  God established the responsibility for the needy as a responsibility of the people as a religious offering.  They shall come, eat and be satisifed. 

Open your bibles to . . .

Deuteronomy 26:12-15
12 "When you have finished paying all the tithe of your increase in the third year, the year of tithing, then you shall give it to the Levite, to the stranger, to the orphan and to the widow, that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied. 
13 You shall say before the Lord your God, 'I have removed the sacred portion from my house, and also have given it to the Levite and the alien, the orphan and the widow, according to all Your commandments which You have commanded me; I have not transgressed or forgotten any of Your commandments. 
14 I have not eaten of it while mourning, nor have I removed any of it while I was unclean, nor offered any of it to the dead.  I have listened to the voice of the Lord my God; I have done according to all that You have commanded me. 
15 Look down from Your holy habitation, from heaven, and bless Your people Israel, and the ground which You have given us, a land flowing with milk and honey, as You swore to our fathers.' 

Open your bibles to . . .

Numbers 18:25-30
25 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
26 "Moreover, you shall speak to the Levites and say to them, 'When you take from the sons of Israel the tithe which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then you shall present an offering from it to the Lord, a tithe of the tithe. 
27 Your offering shall be reckoned to you as the grain from the threshing floor or the full produce from the wine vat. 
28 So you shall also present an offering to the Lord from your tithes, which you receive from the sons of Israel; and from it you shall give the Lord's offering to Aaron the priest. 
29 Out of all your gifts you shall present every offering due to the Lord, from all the best of them, the sacred part from them.' 
30 You shall say to them, 'When you have offered from it the best of it, then the rest shall be reckoned to the Levites as the product of the threshing floor, and as the product of the wine vat. 

A tithe of the tithe was required by the Levites.  When I look at different ministries who are asking for financial support, I try to ensure that they tithe of the tithe or I will not support them. 

Open your bibles to . . .

John 6:26-29
26 Jesus answered them and said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.
27 Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal."
28 Therefore they said to Him, "What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?" 
29 Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent."

Work for food which endures for eternal life.  What is that food?  It is the lives of men and women in relation with Jesus as their personal Saviour, Messiah, Christ, Anointed One, or Lamb.  People must come to God the Father by the sacrifice of Jesus, God the Son, as lead by God the Holy Spirit.  Jesus is the way, the truth and the life.

Open your bibles to . . .

Deuteronomy 2:3-6
3 'You have circled this mountain long enough.  Now turn north, 
4 and command the people, saying, "You will pass through the territory of your brothers the sons of Esau who live in Seir; and they will be afraid of you.  So be very careful; 
5 do not provoke them, for I will not give you any of their land, even as little as a footstep because I have given Mount Seir to Esau as a possession. 
6 You shall buy food from them with money so that you may eat, and you shall also purchase water from them with money so that you may drink. 

Open your bibles to . . .

Deuteronomy 8:16-18
16 In the wilderness He fed you manna which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do good for you in the end. 
17 Otherwise, you may say in your heart, 'My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth.' 
18 But you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. 

Open your bibles to . . .

Leviticus 6:1-7
1 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 
2 "When a person sins and acts unfaithfully against the Lord, and deceives his companion in regard to a deposit or a security entrusted to him, or through robbery, or if he has extorted from his companion, 
3 or has found what was lost and lied about it and sworn falsely, so that he sins in regard to any one of the things a man may do; 
4 then it shall be, when he sins and becomes guilty, that he shall restore what he took by robbery or what he got by extortion, or the deposit which was entrusted to him or the lost thing which he found, 
5 or anything about which he swore falsely; he shall make restitution for it in full and add to it one-fifth more.  He shall give it to the one to whom it belongs on the day he presents his guilt offering. 
6 Then he shall bring to the priest his guilt offering to the Lord, a ram without defect from the flock, according to your valuation, for a guilt offering, 
7 and the priest shall make atonement for him before the Lord, and he will be forgiven for any one of the things which he may have done to incur guilt." 

Open your bibles to . . .

Exodus 30:11-16
11 The Lord also spoke to Moses, saying, 
12 "When you take a census of the sons of Israel to number them, then each one of them shall give a ransom for himself to the Lord, when you number them, so that there will be no plague among them when you number them. 
13 This is what everyone who is numbered shall give: half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary (the shekel is twenty gerahs), half a shekel as a contribution to the Lord. 
14 Everyone who is numbered, from twenty years old and over, shall give the contribution to the Lord. 
15 The rich shall not pay more and the poor shall not pay less than the half shekel, when you give the contribution to the Lord to make atonement for yourselves. 
16 You shall take the atonement money from the sons of Israel and shall give it for the service of the tent of meeting, that it may be a memorial for the sons of Israel before the Lord, to make atonement for yourselves."