The economy is getting everyone down.  Sure gas is cheap for the moment, but what is to come?  Prices will go up, layoffs loom around the corner, all while fear and worry bubble up inside.  Yet, most of us just keep striving for more...a better job, a larger house, a flashier car, and the list goes on.  There is more to life than chasing that elusive carrot that dangles so temptingly in front of us. Discover how to be truly rich, with what you already have.

Below you will find notes to all four weeks and links to listen to weeks 3 & 4.

WEEK ONE: Congratulations!
On week one, we began our look at 1 Tim.  6:17-19.  I  made a simple point: “God has entrusted me with more than I need.  I am rich.”  If you don’t think you are just click here and fill in how much you make.  If you live off unemployment, you are in the top 15% of the richest people in the world.  You are rich. 

The challenge is to not worry about needing more, being prideful in what you have acquired, or feeling guilty over all you have.  God does not want that for you.  Try listing all you have.  No really… make a list right now.  If you do not make your list, this email will begin downloading a virus in 10 seconds.  (Ok, maybe not) 

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. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 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. (1 Timothy 6:7-11, 17-19)

Truth to Know 3:  The greatest stumbling block to the joy-filled life Jesus offers us is our failure to manage money.

Where should your money go?
Personal needs (2 Thes. 3:10) 
Family (1 Tim 5:8)   Parents (Mat. 15:3-6)
Taxes (Mat. 22:21, Rom. 16:6-8)
Poor (Prov. 19:17, Deut. 24:19-21) 
Kingdom work (1 Cor. 9:7-12, Mal. 3:10, Neh. 10:37)

When should you give? Decide to give first. Become a first fruits giver

"We also assume responsibility for bringing to the house of the LORD each year the firstfruits of our crops and of every fruit tree.” (Neh. 10:35 NIV) (see Prov. 3:9-10)

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. (1 Cor. 16:2 NIV)

How much should you give?   Decide to give intentionally.
Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7)

Average giving among mainline protestants in North America was 1.7%

What about the TITHE? 5 Reasons to do it...
1. Tithing is Commanded by God.

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.” (Malachi 3:10a)
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. (Leviticus 27:30)
"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter (justice, mercy, faithfulness), without neglecting the former (tithing).  (Mat. 23:23 NIV, par in Luke 11:42)

2. Tithing Teaches Me To Put God First.
The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives. (Deuteronomy 14:23 TLB)

3. Tithing Increases My Faith In God.
‘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 you will not have room enough for it.’ Malachi 3:10b

4. Tithing Stores up Treasures in Heaven.   (1 Tim. 6:19, Mat. 6:20)

5. Tithing is the Precursor to God’s Blessings.
“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 you will not have room enough for it.” (Mal. 3:10 NIV)
Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. (Prov. 3:9-10 NIV)
A generous man will prosper;  he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. (Prov. 11:25 NIV)
JESUS...“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." (Luke 6:38 NIV)
PAUL... “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” (2 Cor. 9:6 NIV)

A QUOTE FROM R.T. KENDALL...
“Apart from solving the church’s financial problems… tithing is a solution to one’s own spiritual problem. 

Question: have you wished that you might truly grow in grace?
"Are you struggling with the same old trials and temptations?
Are you still suffering from a feeling of barrenness?
Have you wandered why there has been minimal development in your own understanding over the years?"

"Why do I raise questions like this?  Because it is likely that a big hitch in your Christian growth has to do with fidelity [faithfulness] in stewardship of money.  Sooner or later every Christian comes face to face with the use of money.  And what happens then?  Either he will squarely and honestly face his Christian responsibility or he will draw back.  If he draws back from his responsibility it is not likely that anything he does will work or compensate for his refusal to come to grips with stewardship of money.” (R.T. Kendall, Tithing: A Call to Serious Biblical Giving, P. 14-15)

“Tithing is so essential to your development as a Christian  that nothing will be its adequate substitute…. Until we are consistently, regularly, and faithfully tithing there is something defective about our Christian life that will not be remedied by any other form of Christian obedience. But when that area of obedience is dealt with, the reward is wonderful.” (R.T. Kendall, Tithing: A Call to Serious Biblical Giving, P. 18-19)

The Heart of the Matter:
God looks at the heart.

Where is your heart? 
1. Chose your Lord
2. Chose to obey (Tithe for 3 months and see what God does.)

WEEK FOUR: The Test
Are you flunking God's test?  Will you raise your grade before the semester ends?  WIll Black Friday be another failed quiz or...
 

GOD IS TESTING YOU. ULTIMATE FAITH TEST
I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. (2 Cor. 8:8-9 NIV)

Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? (Luke 16:10-11 NIV)

• Be Greedy: BELIEVE MORE IS FOR ME.

Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.'  "Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." (Luke 12:15-19 NIV)

"But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'  "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God." (Luke 12:20-21 NIV)

“Among born again adults, there was a 44% rise in those who gave nothing last year.” Barna Research Update, 6/5/01

"But you ask, 'How are we to return?'
 "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me.
    "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?'
    "In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. (Mal. 3:7-9 NIV)
 

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.  Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 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. (1 Tim 6:17-19 NIV)

• Be Generous: GIVE MORE THAN YOUR ABLE

2Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.... 7But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving. (2 Cor. 8:2-7 NIV)

Some teach Make More & Spend less: This makes sense, it's logical.  It's good advise and wise to do, but it is not the primary challenge of Scripture.
   Make more: Work hard, study hard
   Spend less:  Here are 5 good questions to help you spend less:  Why am I here?, Do I Need this?. How will I pay?, What if I wait?, Where will I put it?

Give Generously NOW
Live at a lower level so others may live at a higher level.  This is not logical. According to the Bible your BEST INVESTMENT IS NOT at 6%!  The best investment you can make is to give away what you got.

A generous[blessing] man [soul] will prosper [be made fat];  he who refreshes[saturates] others will himself be refreshed. (Prov. 11:25 NIV)

Give away your life; you'll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity." (Luke 6:38 MSG)

GOT EXCUSES

But I Can’t: You don’t have it cause you devour it…

In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has. (Prov 21:20 NIV)

"You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?" declares the LORD Almighty. "Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house. 10 Therefore, because of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth its crops. 11 I called for a drought on the fields and the mountains, on the grain, the new wine, the oil and whatever the ground produces, on men and cattle, and on the labor of your hands." (Haggai 1:9-11 NIV)

I Need To Leave It For My Kids: NO! you don’t, Biblically kids take care of parents as they get older (Mat. 15:3-6).

“Andrew Carnegie said, ‘The almighty dollar bequeathed to a child is an almighty curse. No one has the right to handicap his son with such a burden as great wealth…’ If you left your children money they didn’t need, and if they were thinking correctly, wouldn’t they give it to God anyway?  Then why not give it to God yourself since He entrusted it to you?” (Randy Alcorn, The Treasure Principle, p. 70)

Help them- but don’t enable
YOU HAVE IT?   Will it be devoured? Stock piled?  Invested now?

What you really want God to say…

" 'Well done, my good servant!' his master replied. 'Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.' (Luke 19:17 NIV)