MONEY

TITHING

• Lev 27:30• Mal 3:8-12• Matt23:23• 1 Corinth 9:9-14• 2 Cor 9:6-15

• God also entrusts men with means. He gives them power to get wealth. He waters the earth with the dews of heaven and with the showers of refreshing rain. He gives the sunlight, which warms the earth, awakening to life the things of nature and causing them to flourish and bear fruit. And He asks for a return of His own. {COL 351.1}

• Our money has not been given us that we might honor and glorify ourselves. As faithful stewards we are to use it for the honor and glory of God. Some think that only a portion of their means is the Lord's. When they have set apart a portion for religious and charitable purposes, they regard the remainder as their own, to be used as they see fit. But in this they mistake. All we possess is the Lord's, and we are accountable to Him for the use we make of it. In the use of every penny, it will be seen whether we love God supremely and our neighbor as ourselves. {COL 351.2}

• Money has great value, because it can do great good. In the hands of God's children it is food for the hungry, drink for the thirsty, and clothing for the naked. It is a defense for the oppressed, and a means of help to the sick. But money is of no more value than sand, only as it is put to use in providing for the necessities of life, in blessing others, and advancing the cause of Christ

Money May Be a Blessing or a Curse• Money is not necessarily a curse; it is of high value

because if rightly appropriated, it can do good in the salvation of souls, in blessing others who are poorer than ourselves. By an improvident or unwise use, . . . money will become a snare to the user. He who employs money to gratify pride and ambition makes it a curse rather than a blessing. Money is a constant test of the affections. Whoever acquires more than sufficient for his real needs should seek wisdom and grace to know his own heart and to keep his heart diligently, lest he have imaginary wants and become an unfaithful steward, using with prodigality his Lord's entrusted capital

• When we love God supremely, temporal things will occupy their right place in our affections. If we humbly and earnestly seek for knowledge and ability in order to make a right use of our Lord's goods, we shall receive wisdom from above. When the heart leans to its own preferences and inclinations, when the thought is cherished that money can confer happiness without the favor of God, then the money becomes a tyrant, ruling the man; it receives his confidence and esteem and is worshiped as a god. Honor, truth, righteousness, and justice are sacrificed upon its altar. The commands of God's word are set aside, and the world's customs and usages, which King Mammon has ordained, become a controlling power. {AH 372.2}

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• Hoarded wealth is not merely useless, it is a curse. In this life it is a snare to the soul, drawing the affections away from the heavenly treasure. In the great day of God its witness to unused talents and neglected opportunities will condemn its possessor. The Scripture says, "Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall bear witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth; and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth." James 5:1-4. {COL 352.1}. But Christ sanctions no lavish or careless use of means. His lesson in economy, "Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost," is for all His followers. (John 6:12.) He who realizes that his money is a talent from God will use it economically, and will feel it a duty to save that he may give. {COL 352.2}

• The more means we expend in display and self-indulgence, the less we can have to feed the hungry and clothe the naked. Every penny used unnecessarily deprives the spender of a precious opportunity of doing good. It is robbing God of the honor and glory which should flow back to Him through the improvement of His entrusted talents. {COL 352.3}

BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES

The Bible a Source Book of Business Principles

• There is no branch of legitimate business for which the Bible does not afford an essential preparation. Its principles of diligence, honesty, thrift, temperance, and purity are the secret of true success. These principles, as set forth in the Book of Proverbs, constitute a treasury of practical wisdom. Where can the merchant, the artisan, the director of men in any department of business, find better maxims for himself or for his employees than are found in these words of the wise man: {AH 391.1}

• "Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men." Prov 22:29

• "In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury." Prov. 14:23

• "The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing." Prov. 13.4

• "The drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags." . . Prov. 23:21

• How many a man might have escaped financial failure and ruin by heeding the warnings so often repeated and emphasized in the Scriptures: {AH 391.6}

• "He that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent." Prov. 28.22

• "Wealth gotten in haste shall be diminished; but he that gathereth by labor shall have increase." Prov.13:11

• "The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death." Prov.216

• "The borrower is servant to the lender." Prov.22.7• "He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth

suretiship is sure." Prov.11.15• "Do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be

great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for He is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil." Luke 6:35.

• Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. Luke 6:38

• Prov.28:27 He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.

• Math 26:11 For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.

• James1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, [and] to keep himself unspotted from the world.

• Ex20:15 Thou shalt not steal.• Deut: 8:17 And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might

of [mine] hand hath gotten me this wealth. 8:18 But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for [it is] he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as [it is] this day.

• Psalms 50:10 For every beast of the forest [is] mine, [and] the cattle upon a thousand hills.

• Haggai 2:8 The silver [is] mine, and the gold [is] mine, saith the LORD of hosts.

• The eighth commandment condemns . . . theft and robbery. It demands strict integrity in the minutest details of the affairs of life. It forbids overreaching in trade and requires the payment of just debts or wages." {AH 392.1}

THE ACQUISITION OF WEALTH NOT A SIN • The Bible does not condemn the rich man because

he is rich; it does not declare the acquisition of wealth to be a sin, nor does it say that money is the root of all evil. On the contrary, the Scriptures state that it is God who gives the power to get wealth. And this ability is a precious talent if consecrated to God and employed to advance His cause. The Bible does not condemn genius or art; for these come of the wisdom which God gives. We cannot make the heart purer or holier by clothing the body in sackcloth, or depriving the home of all that ministers to comfort, taste, or convenience. {CS 138.2}

• The Scriptures teach that wealth is a dangerous possession only when placed in competition with the immortal treasure. It is when the earthly and temporal absorbs the thoughts, the affections, the devotion which God claims, that it becomes a snare. Those who are bartering the eternal weight of glory for a little of the glitter and tinsel of earth, the everlasting habitations

• • for a home which can be theirs but a few years at best, are

making an unwise choice. Such was the exchange made by Esau, when he sold his birthright for a mess of pottage; by Balaam, when he forfeited the favor of God for the rewards of the king of Midian; by Judas, when for thirty pieces of silver he betrayed the Lord of glory. {CS 138.3}

• It is the love of money that the word of God denounces as the root of all evil. Money itself is the gift of God to men, to be used with fidelity in His service. God blessed Abraham, and made him rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold. And the Bible states, as an evidence of divine favor, that God gave David, Solomon, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, very much riches and honor. {CS 139.1}

• Like other gifts of God, the possession of wealth brings its increase of responsibility, and its peculiar temptations. How many who have in adversity remained true to God, have fallen under the glittering allurements of prosperity. With the possession of wealth, the ruling passion of a selfish nature is revealed. The world is cursed today by the miserly greed and the self-indulgent vices of the worshipers of mammon.-- R. & H., May 16, 1882. {CS 139.2}

• THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF TITHING AND STEWARDSHIP IS NOT THE RAISING OF MONEY FOR THE CHURCH, BUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF DEVOTED CHRISTIANS.

• FRED M. WOOD

• CHRISTIAN STEWARDSHIP IS MORE THAN THE MANAGEMENT OF THINGS; IT IS THE REFUSAL TO LET THINGS MANAGE US.

• JAMES A. LOLLIS

• “OUR TIME BELONGS TO GOD. EVERY MOMENT IS HIS, AND WE ARE UNDER THE MOST SOLEMN OBLIGATION TO IMPROVE IT TO HIS GLORY OF NO TALENT THAT HE HAS GIVEN WILL HE REQUIRE A MORE STRICT ACCOUNT THAN OF OUR TIME.” {COL 342.1}

• ELLEN WHITE

INTRODUCTION TO BUDGETING

• BUDGETING IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF FINANCIAL DISCIPLESHIP AND INTENTIONALLY INTEGRATING GOD INTO THE MATERIAL SIDE OF OUR LIVES

PURPOSES FOR BUDGETING

THE PURPOSES FOR BUDGETING AS A CHRISTIAN ARE:

• TO PUT GOD FIRST IN OUR MANAGEMENT OF

THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES HE HAS PLACED IN OUR HANDS.

• TO LIVE WITHIN OUR MEANS.• TO PROVIDE FOR OUR FAMILIES IN AN

ADEQUATE WAY.• TO INTEGRATE GOD INTO OUR FINANCIAL

DISCIPLESHIP

Budgeting obstaclesThere are a number of factors which can interfere

with our ability to budget. They include: • Our natural selfish tendencies. • Cultural materialism—desire for more. • Lack of planning.

• Debts-(lay-by buying)

• Spending Before we earn

Basic PrinciplesDanger points -There are several danger points

which emphasize the need for personal financial planning—budgeting:

• Mounting debt.• Income barely equaling outgo.• Borrowing more to pay off current debts.• Late in making payments on current debts.Any of these signs point us to a crucial decision

—spend less or make more.

DIFFERENTIATE - DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN NEEDS, WANTS, AND DESIRES.

• NEEDS = PURCHASES NECESSARY TO PROVIDE BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR LIVING.

• WANTS = CHOICES ABOUT QUALITY OF OUR PURCHASES.

• DESIRES = LEGITIMATE CHOICES TO SPEND FROM OUR SURPLUS.

PRIORITES

THERE ARE CLEAR PRIORITIES IN THE BUDGETING PROCESS:

• NEEDS• TITHE AND OFFERINGS• DEBT REPAYMENT• SAVING• WANTS

PRIORITES

THERE ARE CLEAR PRIORITIES IN THE BUDGETING PROCESS:

• GOD FIRST• FAMILY NEEDS• DEBT REPAYMENT• SAVING• WANTS

PRIORITES

THERE ARE CLEAR PRIORITIES IN THE BUDGETING PROCESS:

• TITHE AND OFFERINGS• SAVINGS• FAMILY NEEDS• WANTS

• Balancing the Budget.--Many, very many, have not so educated themselves that they can keep their expenditures within the limit of their income. They do not learn to adapt themselves to circumstances, and they borrow and borrow again and again and become overwhelmed in debt, and consequently they become discouraged and disheartened. {AH 374.2}

• Keep a Record of Expenditures.--Habits of self-indulgence or a want of tact and skill on the part of the wife and mother may be a constant drain upon the treasury; and yet that mother may think she is doing her best because she has never been taught to restrict her wants or the wants of her children and has never acquired skill and tact in household matters. Hence one family may require for its support twice the amount that would suffice for another family of the same size. {AH 374.3}

• All should learn how to keep accounts. Some neglect this work as nonessential, but this is wrong. All expenses should be accurately stated. {AH 374.4}

•

SAVINGS

Why Should I Save Money?

• One of the quickest ways to reach your goals is to develop a savings habit. By saving money, you’re telling yourself, "I believe in my future, and I'm willing to take charge of it."

There are many reasons to save money. Here are just a few. Do some of the following apply to you?

1. to cover emergencies without taking out an expensive loan 2. to buy larger items, such as furniture, so you won’t have to use a credit

card or rent-to-own store 3. to provide peace of mind so you don't have to worry about paying off a

loan 4. to reach the goals you have set for yourself 5. to give to God and the poor• Your goals may include buying a house, going to college—or sending your

children to college—or starting your own business. A spending plan can help you reach these goals.

Even if you haven't been successful at putting aside money in the past, that's OK. It's never too late to start—and the sooner you begin, the more time your money will have to grow

Do I Save Money When There's So Little to Start With?

• The first step in saving money is deciding that it is possible. Far too many people think they can't save money. If you are one of those people, try to start thinking of saving as a necessity.

Then, convince yourself that you can save, no matter how little you have left at the end of the month. Saving money really isn't about how much we make—even people who many would consider wealthy often have a difficult time saving money. It's about how well we take care of the money we do earn.

• It's about living within our means and making choices that help us reach our goals.

You can start saving money with two steps: increasing your income and cutting your expenses.

To increase your income, you could:• take courses or training to qualify you for a higher-

paying job or a promotion • work overtime • take a second job • turn a hobby or skill into an income-producing business • have a yard sale or garage sale to sell items you rarely

use

CUT YOUR EXPENSES;• follow the "rule of three" when making a purchase: compare at least

three similar products to be sure you’re getting the best deal • Buy in bulk. • avoid buying prepared foods, fast foods, and carry-out meals - even

bread

If you don't have a lot of money to save, don’t worry. Just a few Kwachas a week is great and will add up over time. What’s important is that you start putting money aside and make it a habit.

To a Family That Should Save Systematically

• You might today have had a capital of means to use in case of emergency and to aid the cause of God, if you had economized as you should. Every week a portion of your wages should be reserved and in no case touched unless suffering actual want, or to render back to the Giver in offerings to God. . . . {AH 395.3}

• The means you have earned has not been wisely and economically expended so as to leave a margin should you be sick and your family deprived of the means you bring to sustain them. Your family should have something to rely upon if you should be brought into straitened places. {AH 396.1}

Another Family Advised Concerning a Savings Account

• Every week you should lay by in some secure place five or ten dollars not to be used up unless in case of sickness. With economy you may place something at interest. With wise management you can save something after paying your debts. {AH 396.2}

• I have known a family receiving twenty dollars a week to spend every penny of this amount, while another family of the same size, receiving but twelve dollars a week, laid aside one or two dollars a week, managing to do this by refraining from purchasing things which seemed to be necessary but which could be dispensed with. {AH 396.3}

YOUNG PEOPLE TO SAVE• Even though he may be poor, the youth who is industrious and

economical can save a little for the cause of God. When I was only twelve years old, I knew what it was to economize. With my sister I learned a trade, and although we would earn only twenty-five cents a day, from this sum we were able to save a little to give to missions. We saved little by little until we had thirty dollars. Then when the message of the Lord's soon coming came to us, with a call for men and means, we felt it a privilege to hand over the thirty dollars to father, asking him to invest it in tracts and pamphlets to send the message to those who were in darkness. {CS 292.2}

• It is the duty of all who touch the work of God to learn economy in the use of time and money. Those who indulge in idleness reveal that they attach little importance to the glorious truths committed to us. They need to be educated in habits of industry, and to learn to work with an eye single to the glory of God.

• My brethren and sisters, you must be willing to be converted yourselves in order to practice the self-denial of Christ. Dress plainly but neatly. Spend as little as possible upon yourselves. Keep in your homes a self-denial box into which you can put the money saved by little acts of self-denial. Day by day gain a clearer understanding of the word of God, and improve every opportunity to impart the knowledge you have gained. Do not become weary in well-doing, for God is constantly imparting to you the great blessing of His Gift to the world. Co-operate with the Lord Jesus, and He will teach you the priceless lessons of His love. Time is short; in due season when time shall be no longer, you will receive your reward. {9T 131.1}

• Many despise economy, confounding it with stinginess and narrowness. But economy is consistent with the broadest liberality. Indeed, without economy there can be no true liberality. We are to save that we may give. {MYP 320.1}

A CHOSEN GENERATION

• 1 PETER2:9 But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

john 17:14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17:15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 17:16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

2Corith 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech [you] by us: we pray [you] in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.