This study on Money Management will teach you about God's perspective and plan for our finances.  What should our attitude be about spending?  The study will also discuss the Biblical history of tithing and the New Testament practices for us to model concerning money management.

    If you click on the topic you want from the index below it will take you directly to that section.

      Many worksheets are available at the site listed 

        below and can be accessed by going to the  

        bottom of the site page and selecting what will 

        be useful to you.

www.betterbudgeting.com/budgetformsfree.htm 

Widow for a Season Studies

Study on God's Plan for our Money 

GOIA -- Acronym for God Owns It All

* The introductory material on GOIA used in this study has been taken from the sermon notes of Pastor Mike Gauch with permission.  The material that follows was developed by Kristine Pappas. 

Seven principles of GOIA:  

1. God Owns It All -- Read 1 Chronicles 29

What do I own?

2.  I am a manager of all that God owns

3.  Every spending decision is a spiritual act

What else does God own?

His creation -- John 1:1-3; Job 38:41

Time -- Joshua 10:6-14; 2 Peter 3:8; Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

The heart of man -- Exodus 7:1-5, 9:13-17; Romans 9:15-33

GOD OWNS EVERYTHING HE GIVES US OR HE WOULDN'T BE 

ABLE TO GIVE IT!

4.  Contentment rules our hearts

Philippians 4:10-20

5.  Debt is dangerous.  Get rid of it.  Stay away from it. 

     Use it very, very sparingly

6.  Saving and Investing are wise, but we should not put 

     our trust in them

7.  Giving is a gift to the giver

HOW DO WE DETERMINE WHAT TO GIVE TO 

GOD AND OTHERS?  

Widow for a Season Studies

Study on History of tithing and Old Testament practices

Literal definition of the word tithe as defined in the Strong's Concordance is ten, or tenth (6240)

Please read the following verses in the order listed for consecutive thought

Genesis 14:20 -- consider carefully the purpose of 

                        Abraham's gift     

Leviticus 27:27-34

EVEN IF THE DESIGNATED ANIMAL WAS IN SOME WAY IMPERFECT, IT WAS COUNTED AS HOLY BY GOD AND EVEN ITS SUBSTITUTE BECOMES HOLY BEFORE GOD AND NEITHER ONE CAN BE REDEEMED OR BOUGHT BACK BY ANYONE

Malachi 3:10

Genesis 18:21

Leviticus 18:26

In all these cases, these proportions represented what belonged to God.  Now in the New Testament Jesus brings a different twist to this idea of ownership

Luke 18:18-25

Matthew 5:17

Galatians 3:24-25

As you read the following verses, note the shift that is being made in every teaching from the original tradition of the law

Matthew 5-7 -- note particularly Matthew 5:20-22 and 

                        5:27-28  

Matthew 25:25-28 -- law and exterior obedience was brought

                              to the heart

Romans 2:28-29

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Matthew 22:37-40

In light of all of this obvious shift, we should not consider it odd that giving has also taken a shift from a tithe based practice to a heart based one.  

*The word tithe is not mentioned in the New Testament except in reference to the Old Testament command as a new understanding of those principles is realized and taught

2 Corinthians 9:6-15

Matthew 6:2-4

     In the early church there was no central building designated as a center of worship.  The believers went to the temple and synagogue to teach and influence other Jews concerning the gospel message of Christ's salvation.  They met in each other's homes for fellowship and worship.  The attitude that everything they owned had been given by God and as such should be made available for the needs of their fellow brothers in Christ was not a new twist.  The difference in how that would be managed change dramatically (See Acts 4:31-32).  Some sold their property and other assets giving the money to the church leadership for disbursement (See Acts 4:34-35).  A group of men were appointed to the office of deacon for the purpose of "daily ministration" concerning the needs of the saints.  Others gave directly to those they knew had need (See Acts 2:45 and Acts 9:36-39).  On some occasions there were special offerings taken for the needs of the saints and given to churches in other locations (See 1 Corinthians 6:1-9, 2 Corinthians 8:1 - 9:15, and Acts 24:17).  The giving of these gifts was directed by God acting upon the hearts of these new believers.  Bringing the tenth which was holy to the Lord to the storehouse as a requirement of the old law had now shifted to the desired heart attitude found in 2 Corinthians 9:7-8.  It says that every man was to give according as he "purposeth in his heart" not "grudgingly, or of necessity."   God wants us to be cheerful givers.  The response from God to this heart attitude in giving is His unlimited grace and the promise that we will always have everything we need as we busy ourselves in the assignment He gives us as ambassadors for Christ.  As we can see from these passages the concept of giving a return did not change, but the way that the return would be managed and who would receive it had dramatically changed.

     The amount you choose to give is between you and the Lord as He directs.  You may choose to use the tenth as a rule of thumb or not, but the important thing is that you commit to give.  You cannot afford not to.  The seventh principle of GOIA says that giving is a gift to the giver.  Giving a designated portion off the top of your income tells God that you trust Him and are intending to honor Him by giving Him back this portion before anything else is spent.  There is a great inner joy that comes from dispersing a portion of His gift back through the meeting of other's needs.  Whether it be the church, individuals, or specific ministry needs, prayerfully let the Lord lead you each month as to where He would have you place that money.  Giving is a matter of the heart and it is a spiritual investment.  Don't give it begrudgingly but as a cheerful giver.  The result will be abundance for your own need.  Paul tells us that as you are an instrument of supplying need to the saints it overflows through many thanksgivings to God (See 2 Corinthians 9:7-15).

Giving practices of the New Testament church:

1.  Met in the temple (Solomon's Portico)

     Acts 3:10-11

     Acts 5:12

2.  Met in homes

     Acts 2:46

     1 Corinthians 16:19

Early church was devoted to 4 areas

1.  Teaching/receiving instruction -- Acts 2:42

2.  Fellowship -- Acts 2:42

3.  Breaking of bread house to house -- Acts 2:42, 46, 5:42

4.  Prayer -- Acts 2:42

5.  Model of early church worship -- 1 Corinthians 14:26-38

How needs were met

1.  Sold excesses and shared them -- Acts 2:42, Acts 5:1

2.  Assigned deacons to need being met -- Acts 6:1-3

3.  Needs would be met through corporate ownership

     -- Acts 4:31

4.  Special offerings taken -- 2 Corinthians 8:1 - 9:15,

     1 Corinthians 16:1-9  

All things are given by God:  

Money

Gifts

Talents

We are stewards of all that God has given us so if He has given us spiritual gifts and talents, as ambassadors and stewards we are to manage them.  Do you know your spiritual gifts?  If not, how can you be a steward of what you do not know you have?  Did you know they are given for the common good of the church body? (See 1 Corinthians 12:7)  Are you using yours unto that purpose? (See 1 Timothy 6:20)

TO STUDY THE TOPIC OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS AND DISCOVER WHERE YOUR GIFTS MAY LIE, CLICK THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS TAB AND YOU WILL BE TAKEN TO THE CHAPTER ONE STUDY GUIDE ON SPIRITUAL GIFTS.