True or false? The Bible talks more about money than heaven or hell. In an age where debt and greed are the norm, it’s essential that believers know what God says about finances. Reject the world’s selfish viewpoint on money and instead embrace God’s commands to tithe faithfully and live generously. For more messages from Charles Stanley, including this week’s broadcast, go to www.intouch.org/watch
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god isn’t begging for money because he
needs it because remember where we
started God owns it all he owns it all
so it’s not that God needs anything he
wants us to love him and obey Him and
follow him because that’s the wisest way
to live and it’s the life he has for us
next on InTouch your convictions about
money well you know money is on most
people’s minds today am I gonna have
enough to pay my bills as we am I going
to have enough to keep my kids in
college am i getting further behind on
my payments what am I going to do about
all this debt so when you think about
money in your life everybody has to have
some there’s nothing wrong with money
and there’s nothing evil about it
depends on how we use it and so when I
think about where it is and all the
politicians today are saying you know
we’re going to have more jobs and the
implication is you’re going to have more
money things are going to be better it’s
a promise that they can’t really and
truly prove but they’re saying it so
what I want to talk about is your
particular personal conviction about
money in your life somebody says well
now where in the world is that in the
Bible you’ll be surprised to know how
often God talks about money in the
scripture for example over half the
parables in the Bible deal with money
now you wouldn’t think about the half
the parables secondly there’s more in
the Bible about money than heaven or
hell and there’s more about money than
prayer and there are hundreds of verses
in the Bible that deal with our personal
finances now whether our believe or not
if somebody said to me in this book
all of those situations are true then I
think I think I need to read it it just
might be there to be able to help me and
the truth is God’s Bible the Word of God
is the best guide for finances of any
book ever written you can’t go wrong if
you obey what he says and so when I
think about that I think about well this
is the world’s viewpoint the world’s
view point isn’t God’s viewpoint the
world’s viewpoint could probably be
described in one word accumulation how
much can I get
how much can I have how much can I say
for how much can I have of the future
what about my retirement its receive
receive receive receive receive because
the primary interest is self-interest
it’s all about me and what I want to do
what I want to buy what I want to have
in life and the focus is on personal
needs personal pleasure personal
security how do I get it and then how do
I keep it and protected that’s not the
emphasis of God at all and so that
viewpoint promises what it does not
promise joy happiness peace prosperity
to anything else when it’s all about
self is heading in the wrong direction
so the question is what is God’s
viewpoint about money the world’s Eve
one of that money does not promise any
security whatsoever have it today and
people used to say you can lose it
tomorrow they’ll have it – then you can
lose it shortly today and so God’s Word
about money
is very very important and this is one
of the messages in our series on our
convictions
what are your convictions about money
what do what is your belief system how
does that handle the issue of money and
so when I think about what the Bible
says about money let’s start where God
starts and that’s in the 24th Psalm look
at that if you will and here’s what he
says in the very first verse the earth
is the Lord’s and all it can
the world and those who dwell in it so
but God’s viewpoint is this I own it all
he’s the only one who can say I own at
all but that’s where the basic truth
about wealth about money comes and that
is that God owns it all he owns all the
lands all the stars and everything in
between and so watch this if everything
belongs to God those of us who have the
privilege of handling any part of it
become automatically stewards of God’s
money I’m not talking about just dollars
and bills but everything that he gives
us and so when I think about the fact
that God owns at all then what is what’s
his key word well the key word for the
world is accumulate accumulate
accumulate god’s word is distribute
distribute distribute distribute and
those two simple words describe where we
are those who want to get all they can
and those who want to give all they can
let me ask you who do you think’s the
happiest those who are working to get
all they can are those who are working
to give all the can well the picture
here is while while on the one hand
those who are trying to keep it all they
have this they have this reservoir but
those who are trying to give their like
a channel it just comes through us and
wherever God wants it that’s what we do
and so god blesses and blesses and
blesses and I think about there are
there are two aspects of giving here one
of them is an encouragement that is the
encouragement about giving and the
second one is a warning and usually when
God gives them encouragement he gives a
warning so I want you to turn this would
it be encouragement first of all and
let’s let’s look at Luke Luke chapter 6
and verse 38 one that you know well and
I want you to listen carefully whoever
you are and wherever you may be
see here is what the Word of God says
and when I read this verse look at this
he says you watch this give and it will
be given to you what did you give is
coming back they will pour into your lap
good measure pressed down shaken
together and running over for by your
standard of measure it will be measured
to you in return look what he says give
and it will be given to you now who said
who is this in the token this is a God
doing the talking he says if you give
I’m going to see to it it’s coming back
to you and it’s going to be watch this
and this is how God emphasizes things
they will pour into your lap a good
measure pressed down shaken together and
running over so by your standard of
measure it will be measured to you in
return here’s what he says the way you
handle your money and to where you’re
going to get it if you change you with
it and if you’re selfish with it and if
it’s all about me myself and I my three
favorite friends if it’s all about me
I’m going to get what I can do if I do
it the way God says do it I’m going to
get what God gives give and it shall be
given to you good measure pressed down
shaken together God’s going to turn to
you
that’s his encouragement you cannot out
give God but the simple reason that’s
what God said he said look I own it all
and if God owns it all watch this he
controls it all and if I give to him
adequately as I should as the Bible says
very clearly we’re going to talk about
it in the moment
if I give then he’s going to see to it
that you and I are rewarded for our
obedience to him because you see giving
is a matter of obedience to God it isn’t
what’s the church going to do what’s
this going to do it’s not the issue this
using my obedient a my not obedient and
so here’s a word of encouragement then
look at the God’s warning because he
does have a warrant
failing to give so look if you will in
first Timothy chapter six a very strong
passage of Scripture first Timothy
chapter six and notice what he says and
you may be one of those persons whose
goal is to get rich you’re not going to
be happy about this verse but look at
this verse he says verse 9 but those who
want to get rich fall into what
temptation he formed the temptation look
at this and a snare and many foolish and
harmful desires which plunge men and
women into ruin and destruction think
about this the desire for money causes
people to be dishonest it even causes
them to steal and worse than that it
even causes them to kill money is a
dangerous item when it’s not under God’s
control and in keeping with his will and
purpose so listen to what he says but
those who want to get rich fall into
temptation and a snare and many he says
many foolish and harmful desires which
plunge men into ruin and destruction
watch this but the love of money is the
root of all sorts of evil
he didn’t say money’s evil he said it’s
the love of it I just got to have some
more of it the love of money is a root
of all sorts of evil and some by longing
for it have wandered away from the faith
and pierced themselves with many griefs
they just can’t get any stronger than
that when it comes to God’s warning
here’s what happens when your attitude
toward money it becomes an ungodly
attitude he says what happens foolish
and harmful desires plunge men into
destruction a love of money is a root of
all kind of evil longing for what
happens you pierce through but flee from
these things you men of God
and pursue what watch this he says
instead of pursuing money you pursue
what godliness faith love perseverance
and gentleness now it couldn’t be any
stronger than that because we have a
choice is my choice to be obedient to
God no matter what do whatever he says
and then trust him to provide what he
promises to provide so word of
encouragement given it should be given
to you this is God speaking good measure
pressed down shaken together running
over or emptyness dissatisfied unhappy
because you and I know people who have
we put it this way who have everything
but they’re miserable and that it’s not
a single verse of the Bible that says
things are going to make me happy what’s
going to make me happy is the right
relationship with God I want you to turn
back to Malachi for a moment and look at
this third chapter and in this third
chapter is God’s his blueprint his
master print
it’s his master financial plan for us
and I can tell you this I have been
practicing this plan since I had my
first job which was four dollars and I
didn’t know any better and I gave God 25
percent well you say well why don’t why
did you just give why don’t you just
give 10 percent well as a kid and I
didn’t have any money and they God gave
me a thought of a job I thought giving
him 40 cents no way I gave a dollar and
I was grateful I didn’t know anything
about tithing or whatever said a word
about talent and then so then I got
another paper route and I went from four
dollars a week to sixteen dollars a week
God had multiplied by giving him 25% and
of course I gave more than a title know
how much exactly I gave in but I’ve
learned to listen and I’ve never
a lesson and I can tell you I’ve been in
situations and circumstances that only
God could bail me out of not not death
because I’ve always avoided that and
every single time I’ve had a need in God
has been there to meet my needs so
therefore I am fully and totally
convinced and persuaded what he promises
he will perform now listen to the
scripture he says in verse 8 of Malachi
3 will a man Rob God yet you are robbing
me but you say how have we robbed you
and got answers in tithes and offerings
you know what that says if a person
doesn’t tired they’re robbing God if it
were not wrong why would he use the word
rob why doesn’t he use the word deny
something that makes it a little bit
more palatable will a man Rob God yet
you’re robbing me but you see am i we
robbing you in tithes and offerings and
listen what it says you’re cursed with a
curse for you are rubbing me the whole
nation of you speaking of Israel but the
principle applies to all of us are
Christians now so he says this is what I
want you to do bring the whole tithe
into the storehouse the church the
temple back in those days so they may be
food in my house test me now and this is
the Lord of those if I’m going to open
to you the windows of heaven and pour
you had a blessing until it overflows
that’s the promise of the sovereign God
of the universe who controls all things
and we read while ago he owns it all so
now let’s look at his verse will a
person Rob God yes they will
he says you’re robbing me but he robbing
me of times now what is a time a tithe
is 10%
he says you robbing me of both tithes
and offerings the 10% is what is get
what God requires and then the offerings
oftentimes we may require more than a
10% somebody says I cannot cannot cannot
live on that
are you saying that yards a lie you say
but you know how much did I have well
you may be deeply in debt and being in
real trouble
the it’s going to be hard for you to
believe but I’m telling you I’ve seen it
over and over and over again you want to
get out of debt is how you start start
giving God 10% of your income but
there’s no way I can do that just try it
just try it because here’s his promise
he said bring you all the tithes in the
storehouse that there may be food in my
house
he says test me now says the Lord and
watch what I’ll do I’ll open you the
windows of heaven and pour you out a
blessing until it overflows
he said well how’s that possible I don’t
know it’s possible
does it happen yes yes yes yes yes God
always honors his word and so he says re
as some of you’ve not done that you’re
cursed with a curse for you robbing me
the whole nation bring the whole time
and somebody says well I give a 5% time
well yeah that’s like saying it’s a
little this is a five-cent down no it’s
no such thing bring the whole tithe into
the storehouse that there may be food in
my house and then here’s what he says he
knows we go down and the next word is
test to me now in this says the Lord of
Hosts if I will not open for you the
windows of heaven and the tests open to
the windows of heaven and pour out to
you a blessing until it overflows some
other sides can’t do that what he said
he said yeah yeah it’s a test and some
of you won’t do it I have seen people in
all kind of debts and no person who’s
ever tried this has ever come back to me
and said well you know I try what you
said and it didn’t work
not one person here’s the reason
this is not my promise this is God’s
promise and God says if you will bring
me all the tithes into the storehouse
here’s what I’ll do
he says I will pour you out a blessing
until it overflows it won’t listen God’s
blessing won’t trickle in it overflows
you say well I’m indeed you you’re in
need start shouting well I do I just you
know what What did he say he says test
me so God acknowledges that for you to
start tithing is a test and you’ve not
heard me say one word about giving money
to the church because that’s not what
this is about this is about you being
obedient to God if I will tithe to him
and bring to him that which belongs to
him he says here’s what I’ll do I will
pour out blessings upon you he says
until it overflows and you watch this
you won’t be able to figure out how it
happens you won’t you won’t be able to
see your death if you did here’s what
you do
well this is what I did I started
tithing and I did this and I did that no
you didn’t you took gun at his test you
obeyed him and here’s what he did what’s
this not only will he provide what you
need and not only will he show himself
strong and plentiful
then I will rebuke the develop you so
that it will not destroy the fruits of
the ground
no will you a vine that he’ll cast its
grapes as though it is what he says not
only watch this not only comes with
obedience that which I have required but
I’m going to protect you he said I’m
going to protect your crops in other
words what he’s saying is this when you
put me to the test and you give me the
tithe that belongs to me because I own
it all that’s what I’m requiring usually
get back here’s what’s going to happen
you’re going to find God protecting you
watch this
God isn’t begging for money because he
needs it because remember where we
started God owns it all he owns it all
so it’s not that God needs anything he
wants us to love him and obey Him and
follow him because that’s the wisest way
to live and it’s the life he has for us
and so when you look at what the world
is doing versus what God says I can tell
you God is not going to come up short
anywhere bring you all the thousands of
song house here’s what I’ll do put me to
the test and see what I’ll do you know
what this all boils down to choose
between two words obey disobey that’s my
choice you say well now but you just
don’t know my circumstance I heard that
so many times let me ask you I don’t
need to know your circumstance listen
God knows your circumstance and think
about this God placed in his word
knowing all the circumstances that will
ever begin to exist and he says his will
happen you did what I tell you and I’m
going to bless you in fact I’m going to
bless you in such a way other people
going to be wondering about it but you
know what if you obey Him you trust him
you do what he says he is going to bless
you
personally and protect you personally no
matter what happens to everybody else
that’s his promise he didn’t he didn’t
make this promise to Americans or some
other nation this is a personal promise
to the people of God so let me ask you a
question a u”t honor
let’s put it this way do you want God’s
best for your life you believe God tells
the truth he owns it all he asks for a
time he promises to run over with
goodness and protection watch care and
blessings in your life
it’s another do I believe him I do or
not I can tell you in all of these years
he keeps his word every single time hey
guys so maybe you’ve never heard a
message on tithing before and you’re
sitting there thinking I don’t I don’t I
don’t think I can do that remember what
God said he gave you a warning he says
going to be a test he knew that you
would have your own way of working your
finances but he knew you weren’t going
to be happy I think about how many
people get divorced over money and
people lose their jobs over money and
people lose relationships about money
and don’t pay off of their debts in
other words when you and I obey God
we’re going to have enough we may have
more than enough we’re going to have
peace and happiness and contentment in
our life and most of all we’re going to
be living in a relationship of obedience
do I have any father it is a choice we
make and my prayer is that you’ll make a
wise choice you say well I’m not a
Christian well the first choice you need
to make is this you need to acknowledge
that you were created by God and that he
wants you to have the best which means
the first most important decision in
your life you trust him as your personal
Savior
you ask Jesus to forgive you of your
sins you surrender your life to Him and
when you surrender your life to Him you
surrender your whole life to him and ask
him to save you
he said if you confess Jesus is Lord and
believe in your heart that God’s raised
him from the dead you’ll be saved your
eternal future will be set and then ask
the Lord to give you the deserve your
heart to obey Him in every area of your
life you cannot lose obeying God and
that’s not pray for you that you obey
Him and wherever you are financially you
go home today and you say okay Lord I
can’t get this to work
watch this when I look at what I owe and
what I need to do I can’t get this to
work and then go back to Malachi chapter
3 and in one word I’m going to test you
so you have to decide what you think
about simple this is yet to decide am I
willing to believe the God who created
this whole universe and keeps it going
am I willing to believe the Word of God
that’s absolutely true am I willing to
believe all that or do I think I’m smart
enough to do this without him and you’re
not smart enough to do without it and
you know I think about sometimes people
say well you know I think I just don’t
think I have to do all that you don’t
have to but if you were wise you’ll
choose to and probably how grateful we
are that you made it so simple if we can
count to 10 we can time and if we really
want to be obedient to you you promise
them run over our cup full / fully and
so we just come today to say thank you
Lord for giving us clear direction
simple instruction give us the wisdom
dear father to obey you and watch you
work and we pray this in Jesus name Amen
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