1. INVESTING IN THE GOOD LIFE IS NOT ABOUT ________________.

Proverbs 23:4-5 (NLT) 4Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit. 5In the blink of an eye wealth disappears, for it will sprout wings and fly away like an eagle

• The word investment implies a return on something. What is the return we are to seek?

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

IS YOUR TRUST PLACED IN THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD, OR IN GOD? WHERE IS YOUR HEART?

2. TO INVEST IN THE GOOD LIFE IS TO INVEST IN _____________.

Matthew 22:37-40 (NIV) 37“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.

• All the law and prophets are based on loving God and others.
• Jesus says, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments”in John 14:15.
• Tithing demonstrates our love for God and others—tithing is connected to love.
• Tithing forces us to both live by faith and to re-order our priorities.

God knew money would be a challenge for each of us… that it would compete with trusting God.

Exodus 20:3 (NLT) You must not have any other god but me.

3. INVESTING IN THE GOOD LIFE _________________. 

• Tithing is the way of Christian Life. It reflects the heart of God through His people.
• Tithing isn’t “something to try;” it’s something we live out whether it’s easy or not.
• Tithing is Obedience 101!

The Tithe is the first 10% of our gross income.

Deuteronomy 14:22 (NIV) Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year.

The Tithe belongs to God.

Psalm 24:1 (NIV) The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.

• Everything we have comes from God, and really belongs to Him.
• A tithe is not merely giving—it’s giving back to God what was His to start with.
• We can keep 90%. He asks for 10%. Sounds pretty reasonable considering it’s not ours.
• God has an expectation for you to use what He gave you for His purposes. It’s not how much we have.

It’s what we do with what we have been given. (Matthew 25)

• The principle of stewarding what God has given us is seen throughout the Bible through tithing.

Here is how Jesus saw it:

Matthew 23:23 (NIV) Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices— mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.

• Practice justice, mercy and faithfulness; and while you’re at it, don’t neglect tithing.

4. GOD CREATED THE TITHE FOR OUR _______________.

Proverbs 3:9-10 (NIV) 9Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. 10Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine.

Malachi 3:10 -11 (NIV) 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. 11I 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.

SO WHAT DO THESE BLESSINGS LOOK LIKE?

1. Blessings are provisional—they can be financial.

Matthew 6:33 (NIV) But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

• God promises He will meet our needs physically.

2. Blessings are spiritual.

• Brings freedom from anxiety over money and finances.
• Our focus changes from “self” to “God and helping others.”
• Tithing grows our character.

QUESTIONS TO PONDER:

1. Do you see yourself as rich? Is your reference point what others have, or the blessings and provisions of God?
2. Do you trust God enough to step out in faith and tithe from your income?
3. What priorities do you need to change in order to obediently tithe?
4. In what ways do you need to grow in generosity?