MONEY MATTERS #1
FROM A CHEERFUL HEART, GO AND DO LIKEWISE
Personal Financial Stewardship and Budgeting for God’s Mission
Wednesday, October 19, 2022
Along with our daily readings and prayers about the parables we will hear in the next four weeks, I am offering another resource. The information is intended to be a thoughtful self-examination concerning God’s gifting of financial resources to us and how we can, in turn, give back to God a portion of that monetary gift. I will be adapting materials from a resource titled, Parish Papers. These will be titled, Money Matters. In addition to the spiritual fulfillment of gifting our best back to God, this resource is also a good practical tool to be using in a time such as ours as we are all trying to be good stewards of home and heart.
I am looking forward to honest, joyful conversations through the words of Jesus, and ours, as we seek to give thanksgiving to God, always from a cheerful heart.
Cheers,
Pastor Sherry
I am looking forward to honest, joyful conversations through the words of Jesus, and ours, as we seek to give thanksgiving to God, always from a cheerful heart.
Cheers,
Pastor Sherry
On the first day of every week,
each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income.
1 Corinthians 16:2
each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income.
1 Corinthians 16:2
A budget is a spending plan in which you determine, in advance, how much of your income to allocate to each spending category. Its purpose is to plan monthly expenditures so that you can make sure you have enough to pay the essential bills, save for the future, etc. The amount of income you allocate to spending categories is defined by your values and interests. In developing your budget as a Christian, one of your first tasks should be to examine the priorities that God has directly revealed in his Word. There are four general budget categories that are clearly mandated: giving, saving, living expenses, and debt repayment.
Giving: God’s Word directs us to give him our first and best. In Proverbs 3:9 we read, “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops.” The Apostle Paul wrote, in 1 Corinthians 16:2, “On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income.” Giving demonstrates our gratitude for all of the gifts that God has bestowed upon us.
Saving: In order to prepare for emergencies and to have resources so you can achieve your financial goals, saving is essential. In Proverbs 21:20 God shares this wisdom regarding saving: “In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has.”
Living expenses: What you allocate for your living expenses should be established with the money that is left after giving and saving. If you have not previously developed a budget, you could be struggling to maintain a reasonable allocation for your lifestyle that you can afford. An important first step is to distinguish between what you need versus what you want. In Luke 12:15, Jesus said, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
Debt repayment: In Scripture, God warns us to be cautious about debt. God’s Word in Proverbs 22:7 discourages borrowing: “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.” The Bible is clear as to your responsibility to repay money that you borrow. In order to avoid dependence on others and to set a good example, pray about developing a budget that includes these four essential categories. In doing so, we are living faithful stewardship.
Giving: God’s Word directs us to give him our first and best. In Proverbs 3:9 we read, “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops.” The Apostle Paul wrote, in 1 Corinthians 16:2, “On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income.” Giving demonstrates our gratitude for all of the gifts that God has bestowed upon us.
Saving: In order to prepare for emergencies and to have resources so you can achieve your financial goals, saving is essential. In Proverbs 21:20 God shares this wisdom regarding saving: “In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has.”
Living expenses: What you allocate for your living expenses should be established with the money that is left after giving and saving. If you have not previously developed a budget, you could be struggling to maintain a reasonable allocation for your lifestyle that you can afford. An important first step is to distinguish between what you need versus what you want. In Luke 12:15, Jesus said, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
Debt repayment: In Scripture, God warns us to be cautious about debt. God’s Word in Proverbs 22:7 discourages borrowing: “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.” The Bible is clear as to your responsibility to repay money that you borrow. In order to avoid dependence on others and to set a good example, pray about developing a budget that includes these four essential categories. In doing so, we are living faithful stewardship.
*This has been adapted, with permission from Parish Papers.
MONEY MATTERS #2
FROM A CHEERFUL HEART, GO AND DO LIKEWISE
Personal Financial Stewardship and Budgeting for God’s Mission
Wednesday, October 26
The first component of the 10-10-80 principle is to give God the first ten (10%) percent. This is a principle clearly stated in Scripture. God is honored when we give back our first and our best. God directed his people to give him the firstborn of their sons, as well as their cattle and sheep in Exodus 22:29-30. The firstfruits of the grain, new wine, and oil, as well as the first wool from the shearing of their sheep were to be shared with the priests who ministered to them in the Lord name, we find in Deuteronomy 18:4. And in Exodus 23:19, God commanded, “Bring the best of the firstfruits of your soil to the house of the Lord your God.
The fact that God is the giver of our gifts and deserves our first and best is still true today. When we give of our firstfruits, we recognize God as our create and ourselves as God’s possessions. While we hone God with our first and best, we are to consecrate the portion we keep for ourselves to his glory also. The Apostle Paul, in Romans 11:16 reminded them that, “If the part of dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches. Giving is our response to God’s love and grace. We give willingly and cheerfully out of thanksgiving to God. Giving our first and best is being obedient to God’s Word as commanded in Proverbs 3:9: “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops.
The benchmark for giving ten (10%) percent, a tithe, was established in the Old Testament:
Abraham commenced it: Genesis 14:18-20
Jacob continued it: Genesis 28:20-22
Moses commanded it: Leviticus 27:30
Tithing is the practice of honoring God with 10% of your income. The tithing concept is fair to both the rich and the poor. Leviticus 27:30 reads, “A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord, it is holy to the Lord.” A $10,000 gift is no more important from the perspective of Biblical stewardship than a $5 gift when each represents proportionate firstfruits giving. God is not concerned about the size of the gift, but the motive for the gift. God is more concerned about the love of the giver than the gift.
In the Old Testament, the tithe was brought into the storehouse to do the Lord’s work. In the days of agriculture, the grain was used to feed the priests and the staffs as well as the needy. Today, God’s people bring their good and their money to pay the expenses of the church, to spread the Gospel, and help the needy. Giving God our first and best demonstrates our complete trust and love for him. When we give generously, we recognize God to the very center of our being. This faithful giving help us place our dependence of God.
As a Christian today, we are motivated to be good stewards by the gift of God’s grace in the Gospel. Our giving can have not greater foundation than the gospel of forgiveness and God’s promises. The tithe continues as a giving benchmark, but grace set a higher standard for us to achieve as we live and give.
Our attitude toward money must begin by acknowledging God’s ownership as foundation for our beliefs, values and faith. In the Parable of the Shrewd Manager, Jesus said, “…people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with the own kind than are the people of the light”. In other words, we are not always as wise in handling our money as we should.
A faithful money principle for God’s people to live by incorporates the Biblical wisdom of the 10-10-80 principle. These numbers refer to the concept of giving (10%), saving (10%), and living on the remaining (80%). This principle is neither new nor revolutionary; scripture names it tithing. More about tithing tomorrow. But, the 10-10-80 principles properly suggests that God provides for our needs so that we can use a portion of our income for the future and a portion to help others. When we have a surplus or margin, we can handle problems that arise and avoid a crisis. When we have a margin, we can be God’s conduits and give to those in need and to Christ’s church for the making and spiritual maturing of disciples. When this principle is followed it stifles the desire for more things to expand to the size of our income. Just because we earn more doesn’t mean we need to spend more. As John Wesley once said, “Make as much as you can, save as much as you can, give as much as you can.
The fact that God is the giver of our gifts and deserves our first and best is still true today. When we give of our firstfruits, we recognize God as our create and ourselves as God’s possessions. While we hone God with our first and best, we are to consecrate the portion we keep for ourselves to his glory also. The Apostle Paul, in Romans 11:16 reminded them that, “If the part of dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches. Giving is our response to God’s love and grace. We give willingly and cheerfully out of thanksgiving to God. Giving our first and best is being obedient to God’s Word as commanded in Proverbs 3:9: “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops.
The benchmark for giving ten (10%) percent, a tithe, was established in the Old Testament:
Abraham commenced it: Genesis 14:18-20
Jacob continued it: Genesis 28:20-22
Moses commanded it: Leviticus 27:30
Tithing is the practice of honoring God with 10% of your income. The tithing concept is fair to both the rich and the poor. Leviticus 27:30 reads, “A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord, it is holy to the Lord.” A $10,000 gift is no more important from the perspective of Biblical stewardship than a $5 gift when each represents proportionate firstfruits giving. God is not concerned about the size of the gift, but the motive for the gift. God is more concerned about the love of the giver than the gift.
In the Old Testament, the tithe was brought into the storehouse to do the Lord’s work. In the days of agriculture, the grain was used to feed the priests and the staffs as well as the needy. Today, God’s people bring their good and their money to pay the expenses of the church, to spread the Gospel, and help the needy. Giving God our first and best demonstrates our complete trust and love for him. When we give generously, we recognize God to the very center of our being. This faithful giving help us place our dependence of God.
As a Christian today, we are motivated to be good stewards by the gift of God’s grace in the Gospel. Our giving can have not greater foundation than the gospel of forgiveness and God’s promises. The tithe continues as a giving benchmark, but grace set a higher standard for us to achieve as we live and give.
Our attitude toward money must begin by acknowledging God’s ownership as foundation for our beliefs, values and faith. In the Parable of the Shrewd Manager, Jesus said, “…people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with the own kind than are the people of the light”. In other words, we are not always as wise in handling our money as we should.
A faithful money principle for God’s people to live by incorporates the Biblical wisdom of the 10-10-80 principle. These numbers refer to the concept of giving (10%), saving (10%), and living on the remaining (80%). This principle is neither new nor revolutionary; scripture names it tithing. More about tithing tomorrow. But, the 10-10-80 principles properly suggests that God provides for our needs so that we can use a portion of our income for the future and a portion to help others. When we have a surplus or margin, we can handle problems that arise and avoid a crisis. When we have a margin, we can be God’s conduits and give to those in need and to Christ’s church for the making and spiritual maturing of disciples. When this principle is followed it stifles the desire for more things to expand to the size of our income. Just because we earn more doesn’t mean we need to spend more. As John Wesley once said, “Make as much as you can, save as much as you can, give as much as you can.
*This has been adapted, with permission from Parish Papers.
MONEY MATTERS #3
FROM A CHEERFUL HEART, GO AND DO LIKEWISE
Personal Financial Stewardship and Budgeting for God’s Mission
Wednesday, November 2, 2022
In Matthew 23:23, Jesus was commending the tithe as he criticized the Pharisees: Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. It is these you ought to have practiced without neglecting the others.
Jesus doesn’t criticize the law of tithing, but he does criticize the hypocrisy. Jesus approved that the teachers of the law and the Pharisees were tithing, but he disapproved that they did not display “justice, mercy and faithfulness.” The Apostle Paul recommended the practice of tithing also. He wrote in 1 Corinthians 16:2, “On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.”
Pastor and author Charlie Shedd had this to say about tithing:
The tithe is a time-honored practice which has glorified God in the lives of many people. In the first Biblical accounts of man’s relations to God, the tithe was law. In the coming of Christ, man moved from a period of law to a period of grace. The response of the Christian soul will be one of earnest desire to yield it all to him who gave his all for us. As we consider tithing in the light Bible history, and in the practice of many Christians today, we will discover that the tithe is not dead, nor should it be, but we must also go beyond the tithe and give careful consideration to the New Testament teaching of proportionate giving. Out of this background we believe in calling people to percentage giving, in order that they many have a specific stating point on a road which encompasses the doctrine of tithing and moves beyond it to a total surrender of all they have all they are. A such, we are concerned with Jesus’ attitude toward the tithe. Here we discover that we must let Christ, the Living Word, speak to us personally.
What follows are six faithful reasons for tithing:
• Tithing helps bind us to God. It doesn’t make us better Christians. We are save by faith through grace, but
giving of our firstfruits engenders connectedness to Christ.
• Tithing helps us focus our priorities and helps us ask the question, “What takes first place in my life?” Tithing
helps us recognize God as being the very of our beings.
• Tithing helps us focus attention on the use of all our resources. Tithing helps us focus not only on what we
give, but also on all that we spend and save.
• Tithing helps us focus on Christ’s church. It fosters closer ties to the community of believers.
• Tithing helps us focus upon spiritual growth by stepping out in faith. In the step of faith we are helped to
become more mature Christians.
• Tithing provided needed resources to carry out the Great Commission found in Matthew’s gospel, chapter 28:16-20: Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Jesus doesn’t criticize the law of tithing, but he does criticize the hypocrisy. Jesus approved that the teachers of the law and the Pharisees were tithing, but he disapproved that they did not display “justice, mercy and faithfulness.” The Apostle Paul recommended the practice of tithing also. He wrote in 1 Corinthians 16:2, “On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.”
Pastor and author Charlie Shedd had this to say about tithing:
The tithe is a time-honored practice which has glorified God in the lives of many people. In the first Biblical accounts of man’s relations to God, the tithe was law. In the coming of Christ, man moved from a period of law to a period of grace. The response of the Christian soul will be one of earnest desire to yield it all to him who gave his all for us. As we consider tithing in the light Bible history, and in the practice of many Christians today, we will discover that the tithe is not dead, nor should it be, but we must also go beyond the tithe and give careful consideration to the New Testament teaching of proportionate giving. Out of this background we believe in calling people to percentage giving, in order that they many have a specific stating point on a road which encompasses the doctrine of tithing and moves beyond it to a total surrender of all they have all they are. A such, we are concerned with Jesus’ attitude toward the tithe. Here we discover that we must let Christ, the Living Word, speak to us personally.
What follows are six faithful reasons for tithing:
• Tithing helps bind us to God. It doesn’t make us better Christians. We are save by faith through grace, but
giving of our firstfruits engenders connectedness to Christ.
• Tithing helps us focus our priorities and helps us ask the question, “What takes first place in my life?” Tithing
helps us recognize God as being the very of our beings.
• Tithing helps us focus attention on the use of all our resources. Tithing helps us focus not only on what we
give, but also on all that we spend and save.
• Tithing helps us focus on Christ’s church. It fosters closer ties to the community of believers.
• Tithing helps us focus upon spiritual growth by stepping out in faith. In the step of faith we are helped to
become more mature Christians.
• Tithing provided needed resources to carry out the Great Commission found in Matthew’s gospel, chapter 28:16-20: Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
*This has been adapted, with permission from Parish Papers.
MONEY MATTERS #4
FROM A CHEERFUL HEART, GO AND DO LIKEWISE
Personal Financial Stewardship and Budgeting for God’s Mission
Wednesday, November 9, 2022
Every command God gives us is for our good, for the building up of the Church, and for the honor and glory of God’s name. God’s command to give, to share with others the resources with which he blesses us, follows the pattern of command linked to blessing. Throughout scripture, when a command to give is stated, along with the command is a reference to the rewards that the giver will enjoy. Those blessings come in many forms. In Proverbs 11:25 we read: A generous man will prosper, he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
As Christians, we should give without reservation, without expectation of receiving anything in return. Our gracious God, who loves us so much, thrills to reward us. God has put within us the joy of giving and finding reward in another’s pleasure.
Through Malachi, the Lord offers a double blessing to those who will be obedient in bringing their tithes to the temple. God promises to reward them materially through plentiful harvests. He promises that, if they will honor him with their tithes, he will prosper them beyond their dreams. Their crops will produce abundantly, and none of their fruit will spoil on the vine. The second part of the blessing is that surrounding nations will see this and realize the special protection that God gives them. God says, “Test me in this.” Are we willing to test God with our earnings. Are we willing to bring our tithes to the church before we pay bills? In Matthew 26:25, 32-33 Jesus says, ““Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 32For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Test God! “Remember this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and whoever sows generously will also reap generously,” says 2 Corinthians 9:6. Are we willing to sow generously and receive God’s promise that we will reap generously as Luke’s gospel says: Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
And a reminder from the Apostle Paul to the Galatians in chapter 6, verses 7-8): Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. As gratifying as it may be to us, we do not give to receive the praise of men or to get something in return. A Christians, we sow to please the Spirit, and our reward is a lasting one: eternal life.
As Christians, we should give without reservation, without expectation of receiving anything in return. Our gracious God, who loves us so much, thrills to reward us. God has put within us the joy of giving and finding reward in another’s pleasure.
Through Malachi, the Lord offers a double blessing to those who will be obedient in bringing their tithes to the temple. God promises to reward them materially through plentiful harvests. He promises that, if they will honor him with their tithes, he will prosper them beyond their dreams. Their crops will produce abundantly, and none of their fruit will spoil on the vine. The second part of the blessing is that surrounding nations will see this and realize the special protection that God gives them. God says, “Test me in this.” Are we willing to test God with our earnings. Are we willing to bring our tithes to the church before we pay bills? In Matthew 26:25, 32-33 Jesus says, ““Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 32For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Test God! “Remember this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and whoever sows generously will also reap generously,” says 2 Corinthians 9:6. Are we willing to sow generously and receive God’s promise that we will reap generously as Luke’s gospel says: Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
And a reminder from the Apostle Paul to the Galatians in chapter 6, verses 7-8): Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. As gratifying as it may be to us, we do not give to receive the praise of men or to get something in return. A Christians, we sow to please the Spirit, and our reward is a lasting one: eternal life.
*This has been adapted, with permission from Parish Papers
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Eastminster Presbyterian Church
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 571188, Dallas, TX 75357 Physical Address: 6550 Samuell Blvd., Dallas, TX 75228 214-381-4693 officeadmin@eastminsterdallas .org Sunday Schedule Breakfast: 9 am Church School: 10 am Worship: 11:30 am |
