The document provides guidance on properly using monetary treasures or wealth that God has entrusted to people. It discusses tithing, or giving 10% of one's earnings to God and the church. While some people claim they cannot afford to tithe or that tithing was just for Israel, the document argues that tithing was practiced before Mosaic law and that one cannot outgive God; by faithfully returning treasures to God, God will provide for all needs.

1. How to use your treasure

2. The series…”How to use what God has given you” Last week we looked at how we should use our time.. We are only allowed to use so much time, God owns it, we don’t. One day we will give account on how we used our time… are you using it to serve God, or serve yourself? How much do you come to church? When you are serving God, he will make a way for you to accomplish what you are doing.

3. This week we are looking at your treasures . A little boy wrote a letter to God asking for $100 so he could buy a bike. He addressed the letter to God, stamped it, and dropped it in the mailbox. Since the letter was stamped and postmarked, the post office forwarded it to the President of the US, thinking that the President might seem like God to a little child. The President read the letter, amused, and kindly sent the little boy a $5 bill. A week letter the President received another letter from the same little boy. It read:

4. Dear God, Thank you very much for sending my $100. I noticed for some reason your letter had to travel through Washington DC, and as usual, the IRS took their 95%.

5. What are you doing with the treasures God has entrusted you with? 1) You do not own anything… God only let’s you use them while you are here on Earth. 2) One day you will give an account of what God has let you use, money included 3) The more faithful you are with the money God allows you to use, the more He will give you to use.

6. To tithe or not to tithe, that is the question! Do you tithe… give 10% of your earnings to God? If not, why? If you do, are you doing it for the right reasons?

7. 10 top reasons why people don’t tithe: 10. It is just a way for the church to control me 9. I am already supporting other charities. 8. I don’t agree with how the church is ran. 7. There is no room in my budget to give to God. 6. I can’t afford to pay tithes. 5. I’m living on a fixed income. 4. It was just for the nation of Israel… we now have welfare to help the poor. 3. I tried it once it didn’t work for me. 2. Tithing was part of the law, we are now under Grace. 1. It hurts.

8. Top 10 reasons why we should:

9. Top 10 reasons why we should: 10. Jesus said so 9. Jesus said so 8. Jesus said so 7. Jesus said so 6. Jesus said so 5. Jesus said so 4. Jesus said so 3. Jesus said so 2. Jesus said so 1. Jesus said so Matthew 23:23 (23) Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier [matters] of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done , and not to leave the other undone.

10. But let’s look at each of the reasons people don’t tithe. Let’s see if there is a true reason to not give to God

11. 10. It is just a way for the church to control me. Unfortunately some see the church as just another social business. And the pastor as an employee We need to keep in mind that we are not just another business, but the Body of Christ. And we work together to see things accomplished. Money is needed to do ministry Our budget this year: $ 46,360.00 which is not much when looking at other churches that do the same level of ministry as us… we have cut every corner we can. In order to see this met we need an average weekly giving of $891.54 Do you want to see the doors closed? Ministries shut down? Souls going to Hell… if so, don’t give.

12. 9. I am already supporting other charities While there are many good charities, the faithful preaching of the Gospel is the only thing in the world which effects eternity along with the possibility of full joy, peace and love in the present. The church should be the most important enterprise in your life. Jesus should always come first. It is just not a charity, it is the Body of Christ.

13. 8. I don’t agree with how the church is ran. So you hold your money to blackmail the church into doing things your way… Let’s face it, we want to be in control, and tithing is a statement that we're not - God is. So in part, when we tithe, we are saying it again, "I am crucified with Christ." Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

14. 7. There is no room in my budget to give to God First, if you live strictly by a budget, you should be commended, you are a rare case of discipline and stewardship… Most people don’t even have a budget. But giving to God is considered a “first fruit” Exo 23:19 The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring into the house of the LORD thy God. It is a way of saying God comes first in my life.

15. Think about it this way, if someone important was coming to dinner, would you serve them cold, leftover pizza from last night? Then why would we serve God our leftovers? But I feel you all are good people that love God. If so, but you are not currently tithing, let me suggest something. Start off slow. A tithe by definition is 10% Commit to giving God 3% this month, then commit to revisit your budget each month with the purpose of raising your percentage 2-3% each month. Then watch how God will supply your needs. And even sometimes your wants. OR

16. 6. I can’t afford to pay tithes You cannot afford to not pay tithes… You cannot out give God. Jesus said in Matthew 6:19-21 (19) Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: (20) But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: (21) For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Let’s face it, if you really want something, you will make a way to get it. When you give your tithe, you are sending a clear message that you value the Kingdom of Heaven….

17. 5. I’m living on a fixed income This excuse is mostly given by seniors, but let us not forget this passage: Mark 12:41-44 (41) And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. (42) And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. (43) And he called [unto him] his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: (44) For all [they] did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, [even] all her living. It is about your attitude, not your amount….

18. 4. It was just for the nation of Israel… we now have welfare to help the poor And that is a shame.. One of the main ministries of the church is to help the poor. The church should be doing that, not the government… but because the church neglects to do it, the government does….. We should be taking this ministry back. But how can we, if the members in the church don’t give? Have you gave to the benevolence fund lately? What are we to do when people that truly needs our help comes to us, and there is nothing to give them… we send them through the red tape of welfare…. Shame on us.

19. 3. I tried it once it didn’t work for me Get this…. IT IS NOT ABOUT YOU!!! Or how much God will give you for being faithful God is not a slot machine in which you put in a quarter hoping to get more back! Yes, Jesus did say, “ Luke 6:38 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. But the Bible also says, “Thou shalt not covet”

20. Bad preaching has led us to this… Preachers over emphasize the point that if you give God gives back to you. The prosperity gospel They also threaten harm if the person doesn’t give….God will hurt you… God is not a mob boss that says, “I'm gonna make you an offa you can't refuse. You give me ten percent every week, I let you keep your kneecaps."

21. The wrong motive If you only give to get more, or even keep what you have, you are giving with the wrong motive… 2 Corinthians 9:7-8 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, [so let him give]; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. (8) And God [is] able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all [things], may abound to every good work:

22. 2. tithing was part of the law, we are now under Grace This may be the best reason so far to not tithe, but if you don’t use the system of tithing, what system will you use to give to God? Tithing happened before Moses… both Abraham and Jacob tithed: Hebrews 7:2-6 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; This is talking about Abraham giving to Melchisedec .. a person the Bible describes as a type of Christ Then Jacob gave a tithe also… Genesis 28:22 And this stone, which I have set [for] a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.

23. So we see that tithing predates the law… So when you give don’t do it because you have to.. 2 Corinthians 9:7-8 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, [so let him give]; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. It is not a matter of law, but of devotion to Christ. Again I ask, if you don’t want to give a tenth, what system will you use to give? The first century Christians gave ALL… What about that?

24. 1. It hurts There is a story about a man that when he gave his tithe, he would put it in a bag, and then wave to it as he watched it go down the aisle Giving not only hurts our pocketbook, but also our ego… it states that we are not in control.. it means that we have to trust in God… That is what God wants us to do. He wants our complete trust…

25. So why do we tithe? Jesus said to… Matthew 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier [matters] of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

26. But he says that we should go beyond the tithe… Matthew 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed [the righteousness] of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. The Pharisees tithed, and Christ said that they should, and that we should exceed their righteousness…. The Pharisees tithed, but they didn’t give out justice, mercy, or faith Let’s not tithe out of obligation, but let us tithe because we are just, because we show mercy to others, and because we are faithful to the call of Christ.

27. To tithe, or not to tithe, that is the question.