Managing Wealth - Week Two

On Sunday, January 10th, Shannon and Mark led us in another week of discussions about personal finances and how we, as Christians, are called to interact with the green. During the first week (1/3/09) we had talked about the finances, wealth, and poverty in terms of the global perspective. While it's easy to forget it in moments of want or frustration, I hope that each of us is aware that even those who have it bad in the U.S. still have it pretty good compared to much of the world. Our nation is ridiculously wealthy. Therefore even if we don't feel burdened with large sums of money, we should all feel a responsibility to use what the Lord has given us wisely.

Biblical Insight on Finances

What does the Bible say about getting into debt?

• Psalms 37:21 - The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously;
• Proverbs 22:7 - The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
• Romans 13:8 - Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law

Some of the main discussion centered on being responsible and honest with yourself and God's money. If you have debts, you should repay them. We can't be mirrors for the brightness of Christ's love and run from our debts; people will see a pile of "Past-Dues" and a person looking for excuses not to pay. Christ paid our debt of sin to God, not our student loans. Proverbs 22:7 warns against borrowing because, as it says, it restricts you and may hamper your ability to act when the Lord calls you. And some sorts of debt are necessary (mortgages, student loans). Just avoid unnecessary, frivolous debt, right?

What about investing and saving money?

• Proverbs 21:20 - In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has.
• Matthew 25:14-30 - [FOLLOW LINK: Parable of the servants sewing the masters talents.]

We shouldn't be foolish or prodigal with our money. Nor should we horde it as coveted treasure, because we shouldn't covet anything but the Lord love. If we invest with wisdom and faith and we receive good returns then we glorify the Lord to others through our success and we have more capital with with to do the Lord's work.

Taxes are required, but are they Biblical?

• Matthew 22:15-22 - [FOLLOW LINK: 'Paying Taxes to Ceasar']
• Romans 13:2-7 - ²Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. ³For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. ⁴For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. ⁵Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. ⁶This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. ⁷Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

So why did I leave that long one in? Because it seems to sum up the topic better than anything else could.

What exactly is tithing?
Tithing was introduced in the Old Testament as a law that required all Israelites to give 10% of earnings (money, crops, animals) to the temple.

• Leviticus 27:30-34; Numbers 18:26

Old Testament believers gave from the firstfruits of their crops, not the leftovers!

• Exodus 23:16; Exodus 34:22; Proverbs 3:9-10

The New Testament instructs us to give cheerfully, to give generously and to give regularly. The specifics are up to us.

• 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 2:6-11; 2 Corinthians 9:7; Luke 6:38
  

As a group, we seemed to have a lot to say on the topic of tithing. A lot of folks had really good comments. First off was the disparity between the OT "you must" and the NT "do, ya know, whatever, if ya want". I guess we mainly talked about how, if taxes weren't mandates, very few people would willingly give to the government. Having it written as law simply takes our human tendency of avoidance out of the equation. It simply is. It's simplified. But that's only at the surface level. A lot of what the NT talks about is giving as you feel led to cheerfully give. If you feel led to not tithe, then don't tithe against your will. But don't use the "as you feel led" to tithe less than you feel led to simply because you know you've got this vacation coming up and it'd be really nice to be able to spend another day out there. Tithing should, like all thing, be prayerfully done. God wants our hearts, not our money, and the idea is that once God has our hearts it will bring us joy to give to Him. And a C. S. Lewis point was brought up: he wrote in some writing that you should feel it when you tithe. If it doesn't affect your lifestyle at all, your not giving enough because tithing is a way for us to learn that all things come from the Lord and for us to remove our psychological dependence on a padded pocketbook.

These were the things I took away. As always, if you disagree or agree differently pop up a comment. But I'm through for now.