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God’s commands concerning finances –One Church

• Do you understand the competitors that vie for your heart? The sinful nature – the world system—the spiritual enemy
• Do you understand that what we value shapes our lifestyle, decision making, and our eternity?
• How do you view the Lord’s commands in your life?

Psalm 119:34–37 (NLT) 34 Give me understanding and I will obey your instructions; I will put them into practice with all my heart. 35 Make me walk along the path of your commands, for that is where my happiness is found. 36 Give me an eagerness for your laws rather than a love for money! 37 Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word.

Psalm 119:9–11 (NIV) 9 How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. 10 I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. 11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

Psalm 119:45 (NLT) I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to your commandments.

RLM Doctrinal Statement: STEWARDSHIP & GENEROSITY

We believe our whole lives; our time, talents and treasures, are to be given obediently and generously in response to God’s grace, mercy and love for us. We believe that giving 10% of our income is defined as a “tithe”, the Biblical starting point of giving to the local church (the storehouse). We believe that any giving over 10% is an “offering” of gratitude for the great things God does for us daily and can be directed at the giver’s discretion to any worthwhile ministry, church or organization. We believe that generosity and stewardship are essential to maturity and the accomplishment of Christ’s mission.

Supportive Scripture: Leviticus 27:30, Malachi 3:7-12, Acts 4:32-5:11, 2 Corinthians 8:1-9:15, 2 Corinthians 9:6-15, Mark

12:43, 2 Samuel 24:24, Matthew 23:23, Luke 11:42.

Unpacking God’s good plan for His children:

1. God thinks He owns everything –Repentance
   • Jesus is Lord

Deuteronomy 10:14 (NIV) To the LORD your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

1. We have become His managers with a mandate

Matthew 25:14 (NIV) “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them.

1. God’s instructions concerning stewardship
   • A tithe
   • To His house
   • The law forces us to keep God first in everything – clothing, food, time, money

Malachi 3:7–11 (NIV) 7 Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD Almighty. “But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’ 8 “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a   curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the LORD Almighty.

The why:

1. The law’s purpose – to keep God first and a part of everything in our lives
2. An antidote to self-trust – trusting the world
   • I will trust God by believing He will supply what I need – I am trusting Him with my future rather

than trusting what I can see

3. In order to give we must choose to be content – an antidote to greed

Exodus 23:19 (NIV) “Bring the best of the firstfruits of your soil to the house of the LORD your God. “Do not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.

Malachi 1:6–8 (NIV) 6 “A son honors his father, and a slave his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?” says the LORD Almighty. “It is you priests who show contempt for my name. “But you ask, ‘How have we shown contempt for your name?’ 7 “By offering defiled food on my altar. “But you ask, ‘How have we defiled you?’ “By saying that the LORD’s table is contemptible. 8 When you offer blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice lame or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?” says the LORD Almighty.

1. So there is food in my house –
   • A brilliant way to care for the needs of those who teach the word
   • A brilliant way to help those who are poor and struggling –infirmed
2. Keeping our heart focused on eternity –God’s retirement plan

Matthew 6:19–21 (NIV) 19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 19:21 (NIV) Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NIV) 17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

Next steps:

• Choose to focus on eternity
• Step out in faith and obey the Lord with what you have
• Track the changes in your life
• Test and see!