A Biblical Primer on Wealth

I. How you handle your wealth reveals a lot about your character. LUK 16:10-11. A. Do not set your heart on wealth, nor trust in uncertain riches. PSA 62:10; 1TI 6:5-10, 17. B. MAT 6:19-21. What one values most is where his heart will be. Examine yourself in the light of the following passages: 1. PSA 4:6-7. What brings you the greatest joy? 2. PSA 84:10; 137:6. How highly do you value God's house? 3. PSA 119:72. Do you esteem God's law above your wealth? 4. PRO 18:10-11. What is your defence? 5. HEB 10:34. How do you react to the spoiling of your goods? 6. PHIL 4:11-12. Can you be content without wealth? C. Be knowledgable of your financial circumstances. Know your assets and liabilities. PRO 24:3-4; 27:23-27; LUK 14:28-29. 1. Keep a regular account of income and expenditures. 2. At least for a month or two, itemize EVERY expenditure. You will likely be surprised as to where the money has been going. II. Giving of your wealth is an investment that the Lord recompenses. ACT 20:35; LUK 6:38. A. The Lord is to be remembered with the FIRSTfruits. PRO 3:9-10. B. Poverty is not necessarily an excuse for not giving. LUK 21:1-4; 2CO 8:1-4. C. Give generously and cheerfully. 2CO 8:12; 9:6-7. D. Obligatory giving would involve support of: 1. the ministry. GAL 6:6; 1TI 5:17-18. 2. the poor. PRO 28:27; LUK12:33; GAL 2:10. E. Liberality to the poor is to be regulated according to NEED, not desire. DEU 15:7-8; 1JO 3:17. 1.Giving to the poor is according to "...whensoever ye will..." (MAR 14:7); it is a matter of personal discretion. 2.There are times when giving to the poor is not in their best interest. It may only empower their self-destructive behavior. 3.Those who refuse to support themselves should not be supported by others. 2TH 3:10. F. Any charitable giving beyond the necessary support of the ministry and relief of the poor is optional. Be wary of "causes" and false responsibility. G. 1CO 16:1-2 is the pattern for giving. Each should lay by himself in store so as to have the means on hand when the need arises. 1.This argues against turning all of one's charitable giving over to a church to be doled out at the discretion of others. 2.This also argues against the forcible extraction of wealth by taxation for the support of perceived "needy" causes. H. It is immoral to support the church to the neglect of needy family members. MAT 15:3-6; 1TI 5:8. I.It is immoral to support other causes to the neglect of honorable duty towards family. PRO 13:22; 2CO 12:14. J.Giving should not be self-promoting. 1.Do not give for show. MAT 6:1-4 ct/w ACT 4:34-37. 2.The benefit of a tax-deduction should not determine willingness to give to godly causes. K.Giving should be from out of what one has. LUK 11:41; 2CO 8:11. 1.This argues against borrowing for the support of charitable causes. 2.God burdens us according only to what we have. 2CO 8:12 c/w MAR 14:8.