¹⁰Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

¹¹And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. (Malachi 3:10-11, KJV)

Not Just a Regulation …

There are some who say that tithing is a “work of the law” that was no longer necessary after Jesus’ sacrificial death. Indeed there are quite a view verses dedicated to tithes and other mandated offerings in the Pentateuch.

However, the first tithe mentioned in scripture was given before the law was given. While the law regulated the manner in which the tithe was given – and received –, the tithe pre-dated the law.

Furthermore, while that first tithe was given sacrificially by Abram (Abraham) to acknowledge God’s role in a military victory, the tithe’s purpose was to provide sustenance to the priesthood.

²³“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. (Matthew 23:23, NIV)

Here in Jesus’ denunciation of the legalistic practices of the Pharisees, Jesus brings a moral imperative in connection to tithing (“You should have …”). He shows that while tithing is proper, it should not be at the expense of higher spiritual values.

In an earlier post, I referenced II Corinthians 9:7-8 which posits that giving should not be under compulsion but done in a cheerful manner. Tithing is NOT mandated under our New Testament dispensation. It is encouraged, however, and should be a joyful, natural result of our generous character instead of an unsatisfying completion of a legal checklist.

Investing In Your Church

⁹And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

¹⁰As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. (Galatians 6:9-10, KJV)

²¹For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also (Matthew 6:21, KJV)

As believers, we should be hooked up with a local church. We should be participants and not just occasional attendees. The benefits of church membership can not be overestimated: fellowship, edification, service to others, etc.

It is the Pastor’s job to oversee our souls and to guide us along in our spiritual development. We should see to our church’s temporal needs while they attend to our spiritual needs (1 Corinthians 9:11). While we may debate the requirement of tithing, we can’t debate that pastors still need to be fed and provide for their families. Pastors are scripturally entitled to a steady income (1 Corinthians 9:14)

Our giving to our local church should be ongoing. The tithing of our income ensures that it is. When the Lord blesses our substance over time, the church is rewarded proportionately. It is a fair and reliable arrangement.

While tithing is not a New Testament command, it is a New Testament principle.

Keeping Your Priorities

³³“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:33; NASB)

However, don’t stop at 10%! Malachi 3:8 mentions tithes and offerings.  Giving should be inculcated into our lifestyle. Giving to the poor, good ministries, righteous causes, etc. over and above your tithe should flow naturally from you as you seek His kingdom. Malachi 3:10God promises to take care of you as you take care of His Kingdom. He even promises systematic increase along the way (Luke 6:38). If give God financial preeminence, your needs will be taken care of, you’ve got His word on it.

Are you up to the challenge?

⁹ And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. ¹⁰ Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. (Galatians 6:9-10; NKJ)

Related posts:

1. How Much is The Tithe?
2. Giving: Unless It Feels Good Don’t Do It!
3. Was Solomon Robbed of A Nobel Prize?
4. Talent For Stewardship
5. Kingdom Come!

¹ Now there was a famine in the land—besides the earlier famine of Abraham’s time—and Isaac went to  Abimelech king of the Philistines in Gerar. ² The LORD appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. ³ Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you. For to you and your descendants I will give all these lands and will confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham. ⁴ I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, ⁵ because Abraham obeyed me and kept my requirements, my commands, my decrees and my laws.” ⁶ So Isaac stayed in Gerar. (Genesis 26:1-6; NIV)

These were difficult economic times to say the least. Yet during this very time, the Lord appears to Isaac with a promise of incomprehensible blessing to Isaac and his family. It is instructive to examine this turning point experience and see what wisdom we can take from it. (When the Lord appears on the scene, wisdom is right there with him.)

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

The grass will not be greener in Egypt. Too often we want to run away from our difficulties rather than deal with them. Sure, occasionally the Lord will tell you to go as he told Isaac’s dad Abram (Abraham) with a similar promise of incomprehensible blessing. In both cases God was commanding them in regard to their current dwelling that was outside their comfort zone. We need to follow the Lord’s direction rather than conventional wisdom. It’s not so much “where you are at” as much as “is the Lord there with you.”

Another insight we can draw from this is that God will give you the revelation to make you succeed. This is quite often different from the advice He gives to others. While the Bible applies to us all, a regular time of prayer (fellowship) with the Lord will enable Him to help you with your next step (Psalm 32:8; Isaiah 30:21). When you obey the Lord, he will bless you coming or going.

Your Father Abraham & The Power of Obedience

Abraham was a very blessed man. He was rich and powerful. Isaac had seen firsthand the God’s Hand at work in his father’s life. He had been a participant of these blessings. Isaac knew the benefits of serving God. When God reminded Isaac of the covenant He made with his dad, it got his attention.

Isaac had an intimate knowledge of his dad Abraham’s devotion to God and the blessings that accompanied his obedience. That is why God reminded him of Abraham’s devotion as He offered the promise of His presence and His blessing (You can’t really separate these two as His blessing inevitably follows a relationship with Him.).

You can be a blessing to those around you. As those around you see how blessed you are by your lifestyle, you can testify to the goodness of God without even saying a word.

The Lord’s blessing is a responsibility as well as a benefit. So, don’t just follow an example – be an example too!

Related posts:

1. God’s Game Show Approach to Sowing in Times of Famine
2. How Much is The Tithe?
3. God’s Building Plan: Sowing & Reaping
4. Staff Meeting With God: You Can Learn A Lot From A Snake!
5. Vocational Probation and Preparation for Liberation

10″Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the LORD of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows. (Malachi 3:10 NASB)

We’re going to examine tithing. In this post, I’m going to tackle the “How Much?” questions. This is where I take my inner accountant out for display. Don’t worry! This is not technical stuff. On the contrary, it’s brainlessly simple.

If you Google about tithing, you’ll quickly see that it’s quite controversial. You may see very passionate debates about it. This is ironic. While there are some Bible topics that are difficult to understand, tithing is NOT one of them.

What is a Tithe?

The word “tithe” itself means a tenth. Quite simply the tithe consisted of 10% of one’s income specifically designated for the support of the priest and temple/tabernacle/synagogue.

This is an area where many people take something simple and make it needlessly complicated. Giving less than 10% of your income is NOT a tithe. Giving that is not directed to the local church is NOT a tithe.

The Specified Purpose of the Tithe

Ok, so the tithe is 10% but how do you get the support for the local church purpose? Can’t I just take 10% of my income, throw it up into the air and whatever does not come done is God’s?

Nice try. However the word “storehouse” in the context of Malachi 3:10 (see above) relates to the temple treasury. Additionally, the verse states “that there may be food in my house.” Clearly, the tithe is used to meet the physical needs of the place of worship and the priests.

Gross or Net?

This is one of the most frequent questions regarding tithing. Ok, tithing is 10% but is that gross or net?

Let me make this real simple: the tithe is 10% of your GROSS earnings. Whatever your income is, just move the decimal point 1 position to the left and that is your tithe amount.

Let’s go back to the very first tithe mentioned in scripture. Abram (Abraham) just came back from a spectacular victory brought about from his personal army against five kings. Abram openly acknowledged God’s hand in the victory to Melchizidek, king of Salem and Priest.

20 And blessed be God Most High,
Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.”

And he gave him a tithe of all. (Gen 14:20, NKJ, emphasis mine)

Abram did not quibble over expenses. He took the tithe out of everything. (You can read the whole story here.)

Who Do You Respect More: God or the IRS?

Before we leave the gross vs. net discussion, I think it’s helpful to recall the words of Jesus when the Pharisees and Herodians tried to trick him by asking if they should pay taxes to Caesar (government). Jesus’ answer was simple and to the point: “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” (Mark 12:17; Read the whole account here.)

We may not like it but generally we don’t challenge the IRS’s authority to take out taxes from our paychecks before we even get paid. Shouldn’t we treat God’s money with the same respect?

10% Off the Top! Yikes!!

Do you mean to tell me that God requires 10% before I get anything? Isn’t that a bit steep?

No. First of all, it ALL belongs to God anyway. If anything, he is being ostentatiously generous by requiring only 10%.

1THE EARTH is the Lord’s, and the fullness of it, the world and they who dwell in it. (Psalm 24:1, AMP)

Yep, the whole planet belongs to God. Not only that but the fruit of the planet (i.e. “fullness”).  Not only does that field of crops belong to the Lord but the harvest does as well.  God owns the gross and the net.  It’s all His.

10%: What A Deal!!

We would be out of balance, however, if we focused exclusively how much is due to the Lord while ignoring what He is promising in return.  Let’s take another look at that verse:

10″Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the LORD of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows. (Malachi 3:10 NASB)

The Lord is essentially saying “I double-dare you” to test me in this.  Take care of My house (local fellowship and priests) and I will take care of you even beyond your needs.  The King James Version describes the extent of this Blessing as “there shall not be room enough to receive it.”  The Lord in His giving isn’t quibbling about gross or net.  He’s not holding back!  He is opening the windows of Heaven and letting it flow to excess.  There’s more than enough to meet your needs, your desires, and have plenty enough to spread around to those around you.

All this for the 10%.  That’s pretty cheap!

Related posts:

1. Is Tithing Obsolete?
2. Talent for Accounting: Are YOU Ready for the Biggest Audit Ever?

Part 10 of the “Parable of the Talents” Series

28″ ‘Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. (Matthew 25: 28-29, NIV)

Serve the Master & Reap

Here we come full circle.  Servant # 3 acknowledged that the Master could harvest without even sowing (Matthew 25:24).  The first two servants enjoyed great returns on their investment, promotions, AND were invited to join in the Master’s happiness.  Their relationship with the Master grew more intimate AND they prospered.  Servant #1, however, prospered to the extent that he reaped a harvest where he did not even sow seed.  Time spent serving the Master resulted in him taking on the qualities of the Master and reaping the benefits (Matthew 25:26).

Receive It or Leave It

Take note of the wisdom we have derived from this parable.  If we ignore the power of this message, we may lose it all — and more!  The Master does not suffer fools.  If we do not use what is entrusted to us for His glory, we are guaranteed failure and, worse, His wrath.  On the other hand, if we develop a relationship with Him, learn from Him, and faithfully utilize what he has entrusted to us; we will automatically succeed.

“God doesn’t require us to succeed; he only requires that you try.”  Mother Teresa.

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Related posts:

1. God’s Building Plan: Sowing & Reaping
2. Talent for Multiplying: Heavenly Returns
3. Talent Tips: Bad Relationships Can Be Hazardous to Your Wealth
4. Talent Measurement: Is Your Wallet A Road Map to Heaven or Hell?
5. Talent: Fear Not & Be Wealthy

Part 9 of the “Parable of the Talents” Series

26 “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. (Matthew 25:26-27, NKJ)

This passage describes a very revealing insight into the Master.  For one thing, He is exceedingly successful in His money management.  He reaps where He does not even plant.  He would have no trouble beating the return on the S & P 500 — or any other market metric for that matter!  It is indicative of His generosity to entrust anything for His servants to invest.

Note also that even though His investment success is off the charts, the Master was quick to lavish praise on the other two servants.  Not only is the Master generous but he is gracious, too.  (This fact was totally lost on Servant # 3).

Another characteristic of the Master is that He is definitely results-oriented.  An unprofitable outcome is unacceptable.  Worse yet, Servant # 3 did not even try.  At the very least his unutilized talent could have been drawing  interest.

Furthermore, this passage shows that there is a definite priority of investments as far as the Master was concerned.  While keeping money in an interest-bearing account is better than nothing, it pales compared to investing (i.e. sowing & gathering[reaping]).  In the case of the other two servants, the Master enjoyed multiplied returns (versus His “own -singular- with interest”).

I think that we can take this even further and speculate that even if Servant # 3 had tried his hand at investing and lost money, that this would’ve gone over better with the Master than his sit-on-it-and-hope-nothing-worse-happens approach.

Investment advice from the Master: At the very least keep it interesting?

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Related posts:

1. Talent: Fear Not & Be Wealthy
2. Talent For Putting God’s Money to Work for You
3. Talent for Wealth: Digging is Not Good Exercise
4. Talent for Multiplying: Heavenly Returns
5. Talent Tips: Bad Relationships Can Be Hazardous to Your Wealth

Part 6 of the “Parable of the Talents” Series

20The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’

21″His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

22″The man with the two talents also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.’

23″His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ (Matthew 25:20-23 NIV).

There will come a day when the Master will return!  What will we have to show for it when he does?  One metric that will be used to evaluate our service to Him is our handling of His tangible blessings to us.  Note that the Master commends his servants as “good and faithful”.  Their fidelity in their stewardship led to their successful results.

Also notice that the Master is not concerned with the total value of wealth per steward.  He commended the two stewards enjoying the same rate of (positive) return equally.  The parable acknowledges that we all start out at different levels but it is what you do with what you are given that counts.  “He who dies with the most toys wins” is not a Divine benchmark.

The biblical scenario is a great illustration of our Master’s generosity.  Not only does he give us the means to succeed but he wants us to share in His happiness.  It’s not just about financial success.  He wants us truly and completely blessed.  What an awesome God we serve!

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Related posts:

1. Talent for Wealth: Digging is Not Good Exercise
2. Talent for Investing: Learning & Reaping From the Master
3. Talent Management Tip: At Least Act With Interest
4. Talent For Putting God’s Money to Work for You
5. Talent for Accounting: Are YOU Ready for the Biggest Audit Ever?

Part 4 of the “Parable of the Talents” Series

But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money . (Matthew 25:18, NIV)

Here we have a very different story.  This servant wasted his Master’s talent and rendered it useless.  He literally killed it by burying it.

Are you any different?  Have you squandered an opportunity to make your money work for you?  In addition to forsaking  the returns enjoyed by the more diligent servants, you have hidden from others a chance to glorify our Lord.  This could have been a demonstration of “magnifying the Lord.”  By regularly partnering with God, His work becomes evident to yourself as well as others in ever-increasing measures.

We in the Body of Christ need to exercise and demonstrate God’s influence in our lives.  We need to be fruitful in our finances as well as in every other aspect of our lifestyle.  As John the Baptist said of Jesus:  ‘He must increase but I must decrease” (John 3:30).  Have we hidden Him or are we hidden in Him?

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Related posts:

1. Talent for Wealth Multiplication
2. Talent Tips: Bad Relationships Can Be Hazardous to Your Wealth
3. God Distributes Wealth Where He Sees Fit
4. Talent For Putting God’s Money to Work for You
5. Talent: Fear Not & Be Wealthy

Part 1 of the “Parable of the Talents” Series

Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them.  (Matthew 25:14, NIV)

Talented Teaching

This is the first examination in what is commonly called the “parable of the talents.”  In this instructive story, Jesus tells a great deal about stewardship and money management.  This introductory sentence actually has a lot to say in very few words (typical of Jesus):

• The man “going on a journey” is Jesus.  The implication is that he is coming back.
• As born-again believers, we are His servants.  We are part of his household.
• Our property really belongs to God and he trusts us with it!
Technorati Tags: Bible Study,Property,Stewardship

Our “job” is to utilize the Lord’s possessions entrusted in our care in such a way that His purposes will be furthered.  We are working in partnership with the Lord in temporal, tangible aspects as well as the eternal, spiritual realm.

Next —->

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1. Talent For Putting God’s Money to Work for You
2. Talent for Multiplying: Heavenly Returns
3. Talent for Wealth: Digging is Not Good Exercise
4. Talent for Investing: Learning & Reaping From the Master
5. Talent for Wealth Multiplication

I am intrigued by super-investors such as Warren Buffet and Peter Lynch. These individuals have enjoyed ginormous investment rates of return over years. I have wondered if their investment principles have Biblical parallels.

Please understand that I am not making any spiritual assessments regarding these gentlemen. While I have studied their investment methods, I have never met them nor had dealings with them. What I am asserting is that very often long-term success strategies very often can be tied to biblical principles even if the practitioners are unaware of or deny such comparisons.

Bible wisdom very often has very practical and tangible benefits in addition to the invaluable, incalculable spiritual blessings that we normally associate with scriptural truths.

So, having said that, here is my list of Biblical Guidelines for successful stock-picking:

Invest in what you know

“Desire without knowledge is not good, and to be overhasty is to sin and miss the mark.” Proverbs 19:2 (AMP.)

Don’t fall prey to some “hot tip.” Your experience along with some research can lead you to investment opportunities. “Invest in what you know” was a phrase that Peter Lynch made famous. Mr. Buffet has passed on opportunities that he did not understand.

If you stay half-alert, you can pick the spectacular performers right from your place of business or out of the neighborhood shopping mall, and long before Wall Street discovers them.” Peter Lynch.

Invest in quality companies

“But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” Matthew 13:8 (NKJ)

“You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?” Matthew 7:16 (NKJ)

Superior, well-managed companies tend to do well year after year. These are the ideal “ground” to plant your seed (i.e. money). Such companies typically do not resort to dishonesty or ethical gray areas. The results of such efforts (i.e. profits) are evident.  As in farming, good ground can produce abundant fruit season after season.

“If a business does well, the stock eventually follows.” Warren Buffet.

Examine a Company’s Management

“ The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.” Proverbs 21:5 (NIV)

“You only have to do a very few things right in your life as long as you don’t do too many things wrong.” Warren Buffet.

Invest for the Long Term

“Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.” Proverbs 13:11 (NIV)

Oftentimes, investors may get discouraged or stressed during times of underwhelming market performance. During such times, the superstar investors typically remain calmly confident in their investment strategies. They know that quality portfolios will endure till more prosperous times.

“Our favorite holding period is forever.” Warren Buffet

“Just because the price goes up doesn’t mean you’re right. Just because it goes

Be Patient

“The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage, But everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty.” Proverbs 21:5 (NASB)

Warren Buffet on investing: “There are no called strikes.” Mr. Buffet occasionally is criticized for not buying anything during long stretches of time. However, he knows that the rewards of buying that one great company outweigh those of buying a few mediocre ones.

Have I missed anything? What Biblical principles do you know of that will assist in evaluating an investment opportunity?

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1. Talent Tips: Bad Relationships Can Be Hazardous to Your Wealth
2. The Bible is the (First and) Last Word
3. 8 Biblical Reasons to Invest
4. Talent Management Tip: At Least Act With Interest
5. Talent For Putting God’s Money to Work for You

The Wisest King Advocates True Investment Diversification

Give portions to seven, yes to eight,
for you do not know what disaster may come upon the land. (Ecclesiastes 11:2, NIV)

In 1990, Harry Markowitz won the Nobel Prize in Economics. Dr. Markowitz was one of the founding architects of  Modern Portfolio Theory (MPT). One of the key underlying tenets of MPT is the use of diversification to optimize investment portfolios.

Nowadays, diversification is a mainstream principle within the realm of financial management.  It makes sense from a number of perspectives.  You can design a portfolio so that when the economy is not so hot, at least a portion of your investments should fare better.  Diversification is regularly touted as an advantage in investing in mutual funds as this investment vehicle offers diversity that may not normally be available to “small-fry” investors.

However, this verse goes beyond investments as we typically think of them.  To get a greater perspective, let’s examine the prior verse:

Cast your bread upon the waters,
for after many days you will find it again. (Ecclesiastes 11:1, NIV)

Bible scholars often interpret this verse as an exhortation to charitable giving.  Certainly, “bread” is indicative of provisions necessary for life.  “Waters” can represent multitudes (see Rev. 17:15).  Water also gravitates to the lowest levels.  Therefore giving substance to the poor is not lost.  We will “find” it again and in our time of greatest need — when disaster strikes (as we can infer from verse 2).

Thus we have an expanded definition of “investment diversification.”  These verses examine wise investing.  Waters are described as a place of sowing seed (Isa 32:20).  “Investing” however goes beyond the marketable securities and savings of everyday business.  God views the use of our substance in meeting the physical needs of those less fortunate than ourselves as wise stewardship that will generate “returns.”

While these verses reinforce some basic principles of wise financial management that we should follow (e.g. maintaining an emergency fund and investing in diverse areas), do not overlook the “investment potential” of those in need around you.

Related posts:

1. Giving: Unless It Feels Good Don’t Do It!
2. 8 Biblical Reasons to Invest
3. Is Tithing Obsolete?
4. God Distributes Wealth Where He Sees Fit
5. Talent Management Tip: At Least Act With Interest