The Moment of Truth - Lesson 38

Thieves in the Church?

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Thieves in the Church?

Let's ask God for His guidance during this lesson:

Our Father,

You have so many blessings in store for those who want to follow You.

This is why we ask You to enlighten us by Your Spirit so that, by opening Your Word, we may understand Your will, and by Your power working within us, we may put in practice the things You teach us.

This is our prayer, in Jesus Christ.

Amen.

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Thieves in the Church?

Psalm 50:10-12	Comments
Every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the mountains, and the wild beasts of the field are Mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you; for the world is Mine, and all its fullness.	As the Creator of the Universe, God claims the right of ownership on everything that exists.

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Thieves in the Church?

Psalm 24:1,2	Comments
The earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein. For He has founded it.	The whole Universe belongs to God, the Creator of all things.
Job 41:11
[The Lord said,] ŤEverything under heaven is Mine.ť
Deuteronomy 10:14
Indeed heaven and the highest heavens belong to the Lord your God, also the earth with all that is in it.

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God is our Creator and Redeemer. Therefore, we are His property too:

ŤKnow that the Lord, He is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves. We are His people.ť (PSALM 100:3)

ŤBut now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine."ť (ISAIAH 43:1)

ŤDo you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price.ť (1 CORINTHIANS 6:19,20)

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Haggai 2:8	Comments
ŤThe silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,ť says the Lord of hosts.	However, we do not so easily recognize that all the silver and gold also belong to God...

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Deuteronomy 8:17,18	Comments
Then you say in your heart, ŤMy power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.ť And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth.	Contrary to what we might think, we owe God all the wealth that we gain throughout our life.

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1 Chronicles 29:11,12,14,16

Comments

Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power and the glory, the victory and the majesty; for all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and You are exalted as head over all.

Both riches and honor come from You. (...)

But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from You, and of Your own we have given You. (...)

O Lord our God, all this abundance (...) is from Your hand, and is all Your own.

God is the One who gives us the power to gain wealth, which belongs completely to Him.

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Thieves in the Church?

Matthew 25:14	Comments
The kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them.	Jesus has often compared us with stewards whom God has entrusted with His wealth. We must manage it with wisdom and faithfulness.
Luke 12:42
Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household?

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Luke 16:1,2	Comments
[Jesus] also said to His disciples, ŤThere was a certain rich man who had a steward, and an accusation was brought to him that this man was wasting his goods. So he called him and said to him, "What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward."ť	One day, God will ask us to give an account of our stewardship, that is, the way we have managed the money He has entrusted us with.

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1 Corinthians 4:2	Comments
Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.	To guide us in managing the wealth he has entrusted us with, God has established a precise financial plan for us. By taking part in this plan, we will express our gratitude for all His blessings.
Psalm 116:12
What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me?
Matthew 22:21
Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.

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Proverbs 3:9	Comments
Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase.	The first part of God's financial plan consists in returning the tithe of all our income, that is, a tenth of all that we earn.
Malachi 3:10
Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house.

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Leviticus 27:30,32	Comments
All the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord's. It is holy to the Lord. (...) And concerning the tithe of the herd or the flock, of whatever passes under the rod, the tenth one shall be holy to the Lord.	Let's note this important point: we do not give the tithe of our income, we return this tithe, since it belongs to God. The principle of tithing is so simple that even a young child can understand it: - if we earn 100, we return 10; - if we earn 1000, we return 100; - etc.

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Genesis 14:18-20	Comments
[Melchizedek] was the priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said: ŤBlessed be Abram of God Most High. (...)ť And [Abram] gave him a tithe of all.	In Abraham's and Jacob's time, God's people were already returning the tithe of all to the Lord.
Genesis 28:20-22
Jacob made a vow, saying, ŤIf God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, (...) then the Lord shall be my God. And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God's house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.ť

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Matthew 23:23	Comments
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.	Jesus also approved of the principle of tithing, describing it as a thing that we must not neglect. Let's carefully note His words: Ťwithout leaving the others undoneť, that is, without neglecting to return the tithe of all.

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Numbers 18:21,26

Comments

Behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work which they perform, the work of the tabernacle of meeting. (...)

Speak thus to the Levites, and say to them:

ŤWhen you take from the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them as your inheritance, then you shall offer up a heave offering of it to the Lord, a tenth of the tithe.ť

Under the old covenant, the tithe was the salary of the Levites, who were assigned to the work of the sanctuary (the tabernacle of meeting).

Let's note that they themselves had to return a tithe of this tithe.

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1 Corinthians 9:13,14	Comments
Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar? Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.	Under the new covenant, the work of the earthly sanctuary has been abolished by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. The work of the Levites is thus no longer necessary. The tithes are now the salary of those whose life is totally devoted to the preaching of the gospel.

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Ezra 2:68	Comments
Some of the heads of the fathers' houses, when they came to the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem, offered freely for the house of God.	For the second part of His financial plan, God established a system of free-will offerings, whose amount is up to the donor.

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God's financial plan also include the gift of free-will offerings:

ŤSpeak to the children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering. From everyone who gives it willingly with his heart you shall take My offering.ť (EXODUS 25:2)

ŤThen the people rejoiced, for they had offered willingly, because with a loyal heart they had offered willingly to the Lord.ť (1 CHRONICLES 29:9)

ŤBut who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from You, and of Your own we have given You. (...) In the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things; and now with joy I have seen Your people, who are present here to offer willingly to You.ť (1 CHRONICLES 29:14,17)

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Deuteronomy 16:17	Comments
Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you.	The amount of our offerings is up to us. Each one gives according to his generosity and prosperity.
Acts 11:29
Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea.

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Mark 12:41-44

Comments

Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much.

Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. So He called His disciples to Him and said to them,

ŤAssuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.ť

God appreciates the worth of our offering according to our income.

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Malachi 3:7-9

Comments

ŤYet from the days of your fathers you have gone away from My ordinances and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you,ť says the Lord of hosts.

ŤBut you said, "In what way shall we return?" Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me!

But you say, "In what way have we robbed You?" In tithes and offerings.

You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation.ť

Unfortunately, many people, while claiming to follow God, refuse to faithfully take part in His financial plan of tithes and offerings.

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Matthew 6:24	Comments
No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.	Mammon is an Aramean word meaning Ťwealthť. In fact, the more we approach the end of time, the more people make their wealth their god.
2 Timothy 3:1,2
But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money (...).

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Mark 8:36,37	Comments
For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?	The love of money will cause the ruin of many people whom the Lord has been calling to salvation. By returning the tithe and giving offerings, the financial plan of God aims precisely at preventing the development of love of money, so that we do not lose sight of the heavenly treasure which God holds in store for each one of us.

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Selfishness and love of money will deprive us of God's presence:

ŤFor the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.ť (1 TIMOTHY 6:10)

ŤTake heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.ť (LUKE 12:15)

Ť"You looked for much, but indeed it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?" says the Lord of hosts. "Because of My house that is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house."ť (HAGGAI 1:9)

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Let's take heed that our wealth does not keep us away from God:

ŤWhen your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God (...).ť (DEUTERONOMY 8:13,14)

ŤGive me neither poverty nor riches - feed me with the food You prescribe for me; lest I be full and deny You, and say, "Who is the Lord?"ť (PROVERBS 30:8,9)

ŤSo are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; it takes away the life of its owners.ť (PROVERBS 1:19)

ŤNo covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.ť (EPHESIANS 5:5)

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It is better to accumulate treasures in heaven than on earth:

ŤDo not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.ť (MATTHEW 6:19-21)

ŤBut seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.ť (LUKE 12:31)

ŤCommand those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.ť (1 TIMOTHY 6:17-19)

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Matthew 25:20,21	Comments
ŤLord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.ť His lord said to him, ŤWell done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.ť	At the time of His return, Jesus Ťwill reward each according to his worksť (Matthew 16:27). Our reward will reflect the way we have managed God's possessions during our life here below.
Matthew 25:30
And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

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Isaiah 48:18	Comments
Oh, that you had heeded My commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea.	Many rich blessings await those who faithfully and generously follow God's financial plan. But let's not forget that God wants us to give cheerfully.
Acts 20:35
Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ŤIt is more blessed to give than to receive.ť

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God asks us to give cheerfully, not grudgingly or under constraint:

ŤSo let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.ť (2 CORINTHIANS 9:7)

ŤHe who gives, [let him give] with liberality.ť (ROMANS 12:8)

ŤWhoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as an offering to the Lord: gold, silver, and bronze. (...) Then everyone came whose heart was stirred, and everyone whose spirit was willing, and they brought the Lord's offering.ť (EXODUS 35:5,21)

ŤYou shall surely give to [the poor], and your heart should not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the Lord your God will bless you in all your works.ť (DEUTERONOMY 15:10)

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Malachi 3:10	Comments
ŤBring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now in thisť, says the Lord of hosts, Ťif I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.ť	The Word of God is clear: we will go farther with nine tenths of our income with God's blessing, than with ten tenths without God's blessing! God invites us to put this promise to the test!

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Rich blessings await the faithful and generous steward:

ŤHonor the Lord with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase; so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.ť (PROVERBS 3:9,10)

ŤThere is one who scatters, yet increases more; and there is one who withholds more than is right, but it leads to poverty.ť (PROVERBS 11:24)

ŤI have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread.ť (PSALM 37:25)

ŤGive, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom.ť (LUKE 6:38)

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God will fully provide for the needs of the faithful steward:

ŤHe who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, have an abundance for every good work.ť (2 CORINTHIANS 9:6-8)

ŤSince the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the Lord, we have had enough to eat and have plenty left, for the Lord has blessed His people; and what is left is this great abundance.ť (2 CHRONICLES 31:10)

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Let's thank God for all His blessings toward us:

O Lord,

You have created us, You know our heart, and You know how we are easily tempted by the love of money.

But You have given us a plan which can protect us from this danger, while giving us the privilege of taking part financially in the progress of Your work.

Prompted by a willing heart, we desire to prove Your promise by faithfully returning to You the tithe of all our income, and by giving to You free-will offerings, according to our means.

Please make them bear good fruit for Your work, and please provide for all our needs. In Jesus Christ we pray.

Amen.

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Thieves in the Church?

The test of Lesson 38 is waiting for you!

Click here to send us your questions or comments about our Web site and products. Copyright Š2002 Cyberspace Ministry

Click here to send us your questions or comments about our Web site and products.
Copyright Š2002 Cyberspace Ministry