I. PEOPLE BRIBE

A. BRIBES ARE EFFECTIVE
A bribe is a charm in the sight of its owner; wherever he turns, he prospers (Proverbs 17:8).

A gift in secret subdues anger, and a bribe in the bosom, strong wrath (Proverbs 21:14).

B. WICKED PEOPLE BRIBE
Do not take my soul away along with sinners . . . whose right hand is full of bribes (Psalm 26:9-10).

A wicked man receives a bribe from the bosom to pervert the ways of justice (Proverbs 17:23).

C. EXAMPLES OF THOSE WHO BRIBED
His [Samuel’s] sons, however, did not walk in his ways, but . . . took bribes and perverted justice (1 Samuel 8:3).

Your [Israel’s] rulers are rebels, and companions of thieves; every one loves a bribe . . . (Isaiah 1:23).

Her [Israel] leaders pronounce judgment for a bribe, her priests instruct for a price, and her prophets divine for money (Micah 3:11).

Concerning evil, both hands do it well. The prince asks, also the judge, for a bribe . . . (Micah 7:3).

. . . some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all that happened. And when they had assembled with the elders and counseled together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, and said, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep . . . they took the money and did as they had been instructed; and this story was widely spread among the Jews, and is to this day (Matthew 28:11-15).

“Go away for the present, and when I [Felix] find time, I will summon you.” At the same time too, he was hoping that money would be given him by Paul; therefore, he also used to send for him quite often and converse with him (Acts 24:25-26).

II. COMMANDED NOT TO PARTICIPATE IN A BRIBE
You shall not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the clear-sighted and subverts the cause of the just (Exodus 23:8).

You shall not distort justice; you shall not be partial, and you shall not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and perverts the words of the righteous (Deuteronomy 16:19).

A. BRIBES CORRUPT
. . . a bribe corrupts the heart (Ecclesiastes 7:7).

B. LEADERS CANNOT TAKE BRIBES
He [king Jehoshaphat] said to the judges, “Consider what you are doing, for you do not judge for man but for the Lord who is with you when you render judgment. Now then let the fear of the Lord be upon you; be very careful what you do, for the Lord our God will have no part in unrighteousness, or partiality, or the taking of a bribe (2 Chronicles 19:7).

The king gives stability to the land by justice, but a man who takes bribes overthrows it (Proverbs 29:4).

C. EXAMPLES OF THOSE WHO DID NOT TAKE BRIBES
“Here I [Samuel] am; bear witness against me before the Lord and His anointed . . . from whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes with it? I will restore it to you.” And they said, “You have not defrauded us, or oppressed us, or taken anything from any man’s hand.” And he said to them, “The Lord is witness against you and His anointed is witness this day that you have found nothing in my hand” (1 Samuel 12:3-5).

Have I said, ‘Give me something’, or ‘Offer a bribe for me from your wealth’? (Job 6:22).

1. Lord Himself example of not taking bribe
For the Lord your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God who does not show partiality, nor take a bribe (Deuteronomy 10:17).

III. BLESSINGS AND CURSES

A. THOSE WHO BRIBE ARE CURSED
‘Cursed is he who accepts a bribe to strike down an innocent person.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen’ (Deuteronomy 27:25).

Woe to those who . . . justify the wicked for a bribe, and take away the rights of the ones who are in the right! (Isaiah 5:23).

“In you they have taken bribes . . .” declares the Lord God. “Behold, then, I smite My hand at your dishonest gain which you have acquired and at the bloodshed which is strong among you. Can your heart endure, or can your hands be strong, in the days that I shall deal with you? I, the Lord, have spoken and shall act. And I shall scatter you among the nations, and I shall disperse you through the lands . . . (Ezekiel 22:12-15).

. . . though you have built houses of well hewn stone, yet you will not live in them; you have planted pleasant vineyards, yet you will not drink their wine. Because I know your transgressions are many and your sins are great, you who distress the righteous and accept bribes . . . (Amos 5:11-12).

Her leaders pronounce judgment for a bribe . . . on account of you, Zion will be plowed as a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of ruins, and the mountain of the temple will become high places of a forest (Micah 3:11-12).

B. THOSE WHO DO NOT BRIBE ARE BLESSED
O Lord, who may abide in Thy tent? Who may dwell on Thy holy hill? . . . [he who does not] take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken (Psalm 15:1, 5).

. . . he who hates bribes will live (Proverbs 15:27).

He who walks righteously, and speaks with sincerity, he who rejects unjust gain, and shakes his hands so that they hold no bribe . . . will dwell on the heights; his refuge will be the impregnable rock; his bread will be given him; his water will be sure (Isaiah 33:15-16).

I. KNOWING YOUR FINANCIAL CONDITION IS IMPORTANT

A. TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR YOUR NEEDS
Know well the condition of your flocks, and pay attention to your herds; for riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to all generations. When the grass disappears, the new growth is seen, and the herbs of the mountains are gathered in, the lambs will be for your clothing, and the goats will bring the price of a field, and there will be goats’ milk enough for your food, for the food of your household, and sustenance for your maidens (Proverbs 27:23-27)

B. TO BE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY ACCOMPLISH YOUR OBJECTIVES
For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him (Luke 14:28-29).

II. OUR LIVES SHOULD EXHIBIT ORDER
But let all things be done properly and in an orderly manner (1 Corinthians 14:40).

A. LORD IS NOT A GOD OF CONFUSION
For God is not a God of confusion . . . (1 Corinthians 14:33).

III. PLANNING ENCOURAGED
Prepare plans by consultation . . . (Proverbs 20:18).

The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage . . . (Proverbs 21:5).

Any enterprise is built by wise planning, becomes strong through common sense, and profits wonderfully by keeping abreast of the facts (Proverbs 24:3-4, TLB).

I. PARENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR TEACHING CHILDREN GODLY PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES OF LIFE (including money management)
Only give heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things which your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your sons and your grandsons (Deuteronomy 4:9).

These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart; and you shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up (Deuteronomy 6:6-7).

You shall therefore impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul; and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontals on your forehead.  And you shall teach them to your sons, talking of them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road and when you lie down and when you rise up (Deuteronomy 11:18-19).

Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6).

I. CONTENTMENT IS LEARNED/ENABLED BY THE LORD
Not that I speak from want; for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.  I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.  I can do all things through Him who strengthens me (Philippians 4:11-13).

A. BE CONTENT/NOT ANXIOUS BECAUSE GOD IS OUR PROVIDER
. . . do not be anxious for your life, as to what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, as to what you shall put on.  Is not life more that food, and the body than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not worth much more than they? . . . why are you anxious about clothing?  Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory did not cloth himself like one of these.  But if God so arrays the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more do so for you, O men of little faith?  Do not be anxious then, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘With what shall we clothe ourselves?’  For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.  Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own (Matthew 6:25-34).

. . . do not be anxious for your life, as to what you shall eat; nor for your body, as to what you shall put on.  For life is more than food, and the body clothing.  Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; and they have no storeroom nor barn; and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds! . . . Consider the lilies, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory did not clothe himself like one of these.  But if God so arrays the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you, O men of little faith!  And do not seek what you shall eat, and what you shall drink, and do not keep worrying.  For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things.  But seek for his kingdom, and these things shall be added to you (Luke 12:22-31)

Let your character be free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” so that we confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid . . . (Hebrews 13:5-6).

B. BE CONTENT WITH BASIC NEEDS OF LIFE SATISFIED
And if we have food and covering, with these we shall be content (1 Timothy 6:8).

C. BE CONTENT WITH YOUR SALARY
And some soldiers were questioning him [John the Baptist], saying, “And what about us, what shall we do?”  And he said to them, “Do not take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely, and be content with your wages” (Luke 3:14).

D. CONTENTMENT WITH MATERIAL POSSESSIONS COMES PARTIALLY AS A RESULT OF AN OVERWHELMING DESIRE FOR CHRIST
And besides You, I desire nothing on earth (Psalm 73:25).

II. CONTENTMENT AND GODLINESS RESULT IN GREAT GAIN
But godliness actually is a means of great gain, when accompanied by contentment (1 Timothy 6:6).

III. A HUSBAND OF AN ADULTERESS WILL NOT BE CONTENT
He [husband of adulteress] will not accept any ransom, nor will he be content though you give many gifts.  (Proverbs 6:35).

I. COSIGNING (SURETY/STRIKING HANDS)

A. COSIGNING DISCOURAGED
A man lacking in sense pledges, and becomes surety in the presence of his neighbor (Proverbs 17:18).

Take the garment when he becomes surety for a stranger; and for foreigners, hold him in pledge (Proverbs 20:16).

Take his garment when he becomes surety for a stranger and for an adulterous woman hold him in pledge (Proverbs 27:13).

B. COSIGNING DANGEROUS
He who is surety for a stranger will suffer for it, but he who hates going surety is safe (Proverbs 11:15).

Do not be among those who give pledges, among those who become sureties for debts. If you have nothing with which to pay, why should he take your bed from under you?  (Proverbs 22:26-27).

C. COSIGNING DELIVERANCE
My son, if you have become surety for your neighbor, have given a pledge for a stranger, if you have been snared with the words of your mouth, have been caught with the words of your mouth, do this then, my son, and deliver yourself since you have come into the hand of your neighbor, go, humble yourself, and importune your neighbor. Do not give sleep to your eyes, not slumber to your eyelids; deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hunter’s hand, and like a bird from the hand of the fowler (Proverbs 6:1-5).

I. COUNSEL ENCOURAGED
A wise man will hear and increase in learning, and a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel (Proverbs 1:5).

And you [the unwise] neglected all my [wisdom’s] counsel, and did not want my reproof (Proverbs 1:25).

They [the unwise] would not accept my [wisdom’s] counsel, they spurned all my reproof (Proverbs 1:30).

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to counsel (Proverbs 12:15).

Through presumption comes nothing but strife, but with those who receive counsel is wisdom.  (Proverbs 13:10).

Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days (Proverbs 19:20).

Prepare plans by consultation . . . (Proverbs 20:18).

Oil and perfume make the heart glad, so a man’s counsel is sweet to his friend (Proverbs 27:9).

A poor, yet wise lad is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive instruction (Ecclesiastes 4:13).

Or what king, when he sets out to meet another king in battle, will not first sit down and take counsel whether he is strong enough with ten thousand men to encounter the one coming against him with twenty thousand? (Luke 14:31).

A. MANY COUNSELORS ENCOURAGED
Where there is no guidance, the people fall, but in abundance of counselors there is victory (Proverbs 11:14).

Without consultation, plans are frustrated, but with many counselors they succeed (Proverbs 15:22).

. . . in abundance of counselors there is victory (Proverbs 24:5-6).

1. Additional people increase productivity
. . . five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand . . . (Leviticus 26:8).

Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor.  For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion.  But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up.  Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone?  And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him.  A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12).

B. EXAMPLES OF GIVING/FOLLOWING COUNSEL
Now when Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “. . . Why do you alone sit as judge and all the people stand about you from morning until evening?”  And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God.  When they have a dispute, it comes to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor, and make known the statutes of God and His laws.”  And Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you are doing is not good.  You will surely wear out, both yourself and these people who are with you, for the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone.  Now listen to me:  I shall give you counsel, and God be with you.  You be the people’s representative before God, and you bring the disputes to God, then teach them the statutes and the laws, and make known to them the way in which they are to walk, and the work they are to do.  Furthermore, you shall select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them . . . Moses listened to his father-in-law, and did all that he had said (Exodus 18:14-24).

Then Nathan spoke to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, “Have you not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith has become king, and David our lord does not know it?  So now come, please let me give you counsel and save your life and the life of your son Solomon (1 Kings 1:11-12).

To me [Job] they listened and waited, and kept silent for my counsel.  And after my words, they did not speak again, and my speech dropped on them.  And they waited for me as for the rain, and opened their mouth as for the spring rain (Job 29:21-23).

C. EXAMPLE OF NOT GIVING/FOLLOWING COUNSEL
Now it came about after Amaziah came from slaughtering the Edomites that he brought the gods of the sons of Seir, set them up as his gods, bowed down before them, and burned incense to them.  Then the anger of the Lord burned against Amaziah, and he sent him a prophet who said to him, “Why have you sought the gods of the people who have not delivered their own people from your hand?”  And it came about as he was talking with him that the king said to him, “Have we appointed you as royal counsellor?  Stop! . . . the prophet stopped and said, “I know that God has planned to destroy you, because you have done this, and have not listened to my counsel (2 Chronicles 25:14-16).

II. SOURCES OF COUNSEL

A. LORD
With Him are wisdom and might; to Him belong counsel and understanding (Job 12:13).

I will bless the Lord who has counseled me . . . (Psalm 16:7).

Who is the man who fears the Lord?  He will instruct him in the way he should choose (Psalm 25:12).

I [the Lord] will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you (Psalm 32:8).

The Lord nullifies the counsel of the nations . . . The counsel of the Lord stands forever (Psalm 33:10-11).

With Your counsel You will guide me (Psalm 73:24).

Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but the counsel of the Lord, it will stand (Proverbs 19:21).

. . . and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor . . . (Isaiah 9:6).

And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him [Messiah], the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel (Isaiah 11:2).

This also comes from the Lord of hosts, who has made His counsel wonderful and His wisdom great (Isaiah 28:29).

. . . O great and mighty God.  The Lord of hosts is His name; great in counsel and mighty in deed (Jeremiah 32:18-19).

1. Consequences of not seeking Lord’s counsel
So Saul died for his trespass which he committed against the Lord, because of the word of the Lord which he did not keep; and also because he asked counsel of a medium, making inquiry of it, and did not inquire of the Lord.  Therefore He killed him, and turned the kingdom to David the son of Jesse (1 Chronicles 10:13-14).

So the men of Israel took some of their [Gibeonites] provisions and did not ask for the counsel of the Lord.  And Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them to let them live [thus the Promised Land was populated with foreigners] (Joshua 9:14-15).

They quickly forgot His works; they did not wait for His counsel, but craved intensely in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.  So He gave them their request, but sent a wasting disease among them (Psalm 106:13-15).

There were those who dwelt in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in misery and chains, because they had rebelled against the words of God, and spurned the counsel of the Most High.  Therefore He humbled their heart with labor . . . (Psalm 107:10-12).

2. The Lord controls the counsel of people
Now someone told David, saying, “Ahithopel is among the conspirators with Absalom,”  And David said, “O Lord, I pray, make the counsel of Ahithopel foolishness.” . . . And David said to him [Hushai], “If you pass over with me, then you will a burden to me.  But if you return to the city, and say to Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king; as I have been your father’s servant in time past, so I will now be your servant.’  Then you can thwart the counsel of Ahithopel for me”  (2 Samuel 15:31, 33-34).

Then Absalom said to Ahithopel, “Give your advice.  What shall we do?” . . . And the advice of Ahithopel, which he gave in those days, was as if one inquired of the word of God; so was all the advice of Ahithopel regarded by both David and Absalom (2 Samuel 16:20, 23).

When Hushai had come to Absalom, Absalom said to him, “Ahithopel has spoken thus.  Shall we carry out his plan?  If not, you speak.”  So Hushai said to Absalom, “This time the advice that Ahithopel has given is not good . . . But I counsel that all Israel be surely gathered to you . . . and that you personally go into battle . . . then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithopel.”  For the Lord had ordained to thwart the good counsel of Ahithopel, in order that the Lord might bring calamity on Absalom.  Then Hushai said to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, “This is what Ahithopel counseled Absalom and the elders of Israel, and this is what I have counseled.  Now therefore send quickly and tell David . . . and they said to David, “Arise and cross over the water for thus Ahithopel has counseled against you.” . . . Now when Ahithopel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his donkey and arose and went to his home, to his city, to set his house in order, and strangled himself; thus he died and was buried in the grave of his father (2 Samuel 17:6-23).

B. SCRIPTURE
Thy testimonies also are my delight; they are my counselors (Psalm 119:24).

C. GODLY PEOPLE

1. Mother and father
Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and do not forsake your mother’s teaching; indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head, and ornaments about your neck (Proverbs 1:8-9).

My son, observe the commandments of your father, and do not forsake your mother when she is old. Bind them continually on your heart; tie them around your neck.  When you walk about, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk to you (Proverbs 6:20-22).

Listen to your father who begot you, and do not despise your mother when she is old (Proverbs 23:22).

A.  Example of godly father’s counsel
As David’s time to die drew near, he charged Solomon his son saying, “I am going the way of all the earth.  Be strong, therefore, and show yourself a man.  And keep the charge of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His ordinances, and His testimonies, according to what is written in the law of Moses, that you may succeed in all that you do and wherever you turn, so that the Lord may carry out His promise which He spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons are careful of their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel’” (1 Kings 2:1-4).

2. Those gifted with wisdom
And all the kings of the earth were seeking the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom which God had put in his heart (2 Chronicles 9:23).

He who walks with wise men will be wise . . .  (Proverbs 13:20).

For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit . . . (1 Corinthians 12:8).

3. Experienced people
King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father Solomon while he was still alive, saying, “How do you counsel me to answer this people?”  Then they spoke to him, saying, “If you will be a servant to this people today, will serve them, grant them their petition, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.”  But he forsook the counsel of the elders which they had given him . . . (1 Kings 12:6-8).

Then King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father Solomon while he was alive, saying, “How do you counsel me to answer this people?”  And they spoke to him saying, “If you will be kind to this people and please them and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.”  But he forsook the counsel of the elders which they had given (2 Chronicles 10:6-8).

III. COUNSEL TO BE AVOIDED

A. COUNSEL OF THE WICKED
They say to God, ‘Depart from us!  We do not even desire the knowledge of Thy ways.  Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him, and what would we gain if we entreat Him?’  Behold . . . the counsel of the wicked is far from me (Job 21:14-16).

How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked . . . (Psalm 1:1).

. . . the counsels of the wicked are deceitful (Proverbs 12:5).

1.  Example of evil counsel
Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah . . . and hired counselors against them to frustrate their counsel all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia (Ezra 4:4-5).

From you has gone forth one who plotted evil against the Lord, a wicked counselor (Nahum 1:11).

2. Idolatrous people
For they are a nation lacking in counsel, and there is no understanding in them (Deuteronomy 32:28).

But when I look, there is no one, and there is no counselor among them who, if I ask, can give an answer.  Behold, all of them are false; their works are worthless, their molten images are wind and emptiness (Isaiah 41:28-29).

B. INEXPERIENCED

1. Example of following inexperienced counsel
But he [Rehoboam] forsook the counsel of the elders which they had given him, and consulted with the young men who grew up with him and served him.  So he said to them, “What counsel do you give that we may answer this people who have spoken to me, saying, `Lighten the yoke which your father put on us’?”  And the young men who grew up with him spoke to him . . . the king answered the people harshly . . . and he spoke to them according to the advice of the young men . . . (1 Kings 12:8-10, 13-14).

But he forsook the counsel of the elders which they had given him, and consulted with the young men who grew up with him and served him.  So he said to them, “What counsel do you give that we may answer this people who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Lighten the yoke which your father put on us’?”  And the young men who grew up with him spoke to him . . . the king answered the people harshly, and King Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the elders.  And he spoke to them according to the advice of the young men . . . (2 Chronicles 10:8-10, 13-14).

IV. BLESSING AND CURSES

A.  BLESSINGS AND BENEFITS OF SEEKING COUNSEL

1. Success
. . . in abundance of counselors there is victory (Proverbs 11:14).

Without consultation, plans are frustrated, but with many counselors they succeed (Proverbs 15:22).

. . . in abundance of counselors there is victory (Proverbs 24:6).

2. Direction and guidance
I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you (Psalm 32:8).

With Your counsel You will guide me . . . (Psalm 73:24).

My son, observe the commandment of your father, and do not forsake the teaching of your mother; bind them continually on your heart; tie them around your neck.  When you walk about, they will guide you . . . (Proverbs 6:20-22).

3. Wisdom
. . . with those who receive counsel is wisdom (Proverbs 13:10).

Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days (Proverbs 19:20).

4. Joy (in giving counsel)
. . . counselors of peace have joy (Proverbs 12:20).

B. CURSES/CONSEQUENCES OF NOT SEEKING COUNSEL OR SEEKING WICKED COUNSEL

1. Death
So Saul died for his trespass which he committed against the Lord, because of the word of the Lord which he did not keep; and also because he asked counsel of a medium, making inquiry of it, and did not inquire of the Lord.  Therefore He killed him, and turned the kingdom to David the son of Jesse (1 Chronicles 10:13-14).

He [Ahaziah] also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother was his counselor to do wickedly. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord like the house of Ahab, for they were his counselors after the death of his father, to his destruction.  He also walked according to their counsel . . . (2 Chronicles 22:3-5).

Then the prophet stopped and said, “I know that God has planned to destroy you [Amaziah], because you have done this [worshipped foreign gods], and have not listened to my counsel (2 Chronicles 25:16).

Because I [wisdom] called, and you refused; I stretched out my hand, and no one paid attention; and you neglected all my counsel, and did not want my reproof; I will even laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your dread comes, when your dread comes like a storm, and your calamity comes on like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come on you.  ‘Then they will call on me, but they shall not find me, because they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord.  They would not accept my counsel, they spurned all my reproof.  So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way, and be satiated with their own devices.  For the waywardness of the naive shall kill them, and the complacency of fools shall destroy them” (Proverbs 1:24-32).

2. Strife
Through presumption comes nothing but strife, but with those who receive counsel is wisdom  (Proverbs 13:10).

3. Plans frustrated
Without consultation, plans are frustrated . . . (Proverbs 15:22).

4. Failure
Where there is no guidance, the people fall, but in abundance of counselors there is victory (Proverbs 11:14).

5. Miscellaneous curses and consequences
So the men of Israel took some of their [Gibeonites] provisions and did not ask for the counsel of the Lord.  And Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them to let them live [thus the Promised Land was populated with foreigners] (Joshua 9:14-15).

They quickly forgot His works; they did not wait for His counsel, but craved intensely in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.  So He gave them their request, but sent a wasting disease among them (Psalm 106:13-15).

There were those who dwelt in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in misery and chains, because they had rebelled against the words of God, and spurned the counsel of the Most High.  Therefore He humbled their heart with labor . . . (Psalm 107:10-12).

I. COMMANDED NOT TO COVET
You shall not covet you neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor (Exodus 20:17).

You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, and you shall not desire your neighbor’s house, his field or his male servant or his female servant, his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor (Deuteronomy 5:21).

. . . you shall not covet the silver or the gold that is on them [graven images], nor take it for yourselves, lest you be snared by it, for it is an abomination to the Lord your God (Deuteronomy 7:25).

A. PUNISHMENT THREATENED FOR COVETING
. . . only keep yourselves from the things under the ban, lest you covet them and take some of the things under the ban, so you would make the camp of Israel accursed and bring trouble on it  (Joshua 6:18).

Woe to those who scheme iniquity, who…covet fields and then seize them, and houses, and take them away.  They rob a man and his house, a man and his inheritance.  Therefore, thus says the Lord, “Behold, I am planning against this family a calamity from which you cannot remove your necks; and you will not walk haughtily, for it will be an evil time.” (Micah 2:1-3).

1. Example of punishment for coveting
Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them.  And they have even taken some of the things under the ban . . . Therefore the sons of Israel cannot stand before their enemies; they turn their backs before their enemies, for they have become accursed…it shall be that the one who is taken with the things under the ban shall be burned with fire, he and all that belongs to him . . . Achan answered Joshua and said, “Truly, I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel, and this is what I did: when I saw among the spoil a beautiful mantle from Shinar and two hundred shekels of silver and a bar of gold fifty shekels in weight, then I coveted them and took them . . . Then Joshua and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, the silver, the mantle, the bar of gold, his sons, his daughters, his oxen, his donkeys, his sheep, his tent and all that belonged to him; and they brought them up to the valley of Achor.  And Joshua said, “Why have you troubled us? The Lord will trouble you this day.”  And all Israel stoned them with stones; and they burned them with fire . . . (Joshua 7:11-25).

2. Examples of coveting given to instruct us
Now these things [Lord’s discipline of Israel in wilderness] happened as examples for us, that we should not crave evil things, as they also craved (1 Corinthians 10:6).

B. THE COVETOUS SHALL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD
. . . Do not be deceived; neither fornicators . . . nor the covetous . . . shall inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).

1. Covetous person is an idolater
But do not let immorality or any impurity or greed even be named among you, as is proper among saints . . . this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God (Ephesians 5:3, 5).

C. DO NOT ASSOCIATE WITH A COVETOUS BELIEVER
I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters; for then you would have to go out of the world.  But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he should be an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater . . . not even to eat with such a one (1 Corinthians 5:9-11).

D. EXAMPLE OF GODLY PERSON NOT COVETING
I [Paul] have coveted no one’s silver or gold or clothes . . .  (Acts 20:33).

II. GOD CAN CONTROL COVETING
Three times a year all your males are to appear before the Lord God, the God of Israel.  For I will drive out nations before you and enlarge your borders, and no man shall covet your land when you go up three times a year to appear before the Lord your God (Exodus 34:23-24).

III. COVETING USED AS ILLUSTRATION OF THE FUNCTION OF THE LAW
What shall we say then?  Is the Law sin?  May it never be!  On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, “You shall not covet.”  But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead (Romans 7:7-8).

There was a knock at the door, and Bev and I glanced at each other. Would he be all we had dreamed?

We raced for the door, threw it open, and there he was. Tiny, gorgeous, and absolutely precious. Four-day-old Andrew, the baby we hoped to adopt, captured our hearts the moment we held him in our arms.

Several months later we began to suspect that Andrew might have some physical challenges. Tragically, his birth mother had been addicted to powerful narcotics during her pregnancy, and the doctors discovered he had been born with only a fraction of his brain. .

It was a very difficult time for us— emotionally, physically, and financially. Andrew required multiple surgeries. Because he suffered constant pain, he required around-the-clock care, which led to Bev’s exhaustion and almost a complete physical breakdown.

Some challenges build slowly and can be anticipated; others appear without warning. Some are resolved quickly; others are chronic. Some reflect the consequences of our actions; others are completely beyond our control. Some crises impact an entire nation; others are isolated to us as individuals.

A job loss, major illness, birth of a special-needs child, business reversal, death of a family member, identity theft, military deployment of a breadwinner, home foreclosure, bankruptcy, or worldwide financial crisis can exert major pressure on us and our finances. Surveys reveal that many marriages simply don’t survive the stress of these difficulties.

I call these challenges the “storms of life.” While some of the storms amount to little more than a blustery rain shower, while others feel like a category-five hurricane.

Please remember this one thing: No matter what the crisis, you

don’t face it alone. Jesus Christ is with you every step of the way.

Put yourself in the sandals of a few of God’s people in the Bible who faced terrifying category-five storms. Job—in a matter of just a few hours—lost his children, his financial resources, and ultimately his health. Young Joseph was sold into slavery and thrown into prison. Moses and the children of Israel faced annihilation by Egypt’s powerful army at the Red Sea. Daniel was tossed into the lion’s den. Paul was beaten, stoned, and left for dead on his missionary journeys. The list goes on and on.

Although storms are often emotional, scary, and painful, if we maintain God’s perspective, we can survive and even grow through such dark days (and nights!).

GOD’S ROLE

When facing a crisis, nothing is more important than knowing who God is—His love, care, control, and power. Only the Bible reveals the true extent of God’s involvement in our challenges. If we have an inadequate or warped view of God and His purposes, then we won’t fully embrace and learn from our challenges. What’s more, we will forfeit the peace, contentment, and even joy that God makes available to us in the midst of the storm.

GOD LOVES YOU.

First John 4:8 sums up God’s very nature: “God is love.” God loves you, and throughout your whole life remains intimately involved with you as an individual. Psalm 139:17 reveals, “How precious are your thoughts concerning me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand.” In other words, the Creator of the universe is always thinking about you!

When you think about it, John 15:9 has to be one of the most encouraging verses in all of the Bible. Jesus says: “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you.” Don’t skim over those words! Let the implications sink in for a moment. Consider how much God the Father loves God the Son. They have existed forever in the closest possible relationship with a deep, unfathomable love for each other. And Jesus says this is how much He loves you!

In any crisis, it’s critical to be reminded of God’s unfailing love and faithfulness. Why? Because it’s so very easy to become discouraged and even lose hope in such times. It’s easy to forget God’s love and care for you, especially when adversity first strikes—or goes on and on for what feels like an eternity.

Jeremiah the prophet was completely discouraged. He wrote: “I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness…and my soul is downcast within me” (Lamentations 3:19-20). But then he remembered the Lord, “Yet I call this to mind and therefore have hope. Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:21-23).

It is helpful to meditate on passages such as these: “God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ So we can say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?’” (Hebrews 13:5-6). “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? …No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:35, 37).

I’ve discovered that even in a crisis, the Lord will do kind things that offer clear evidence of His love and care for us. Consider Joseph. While a slave, “[Joseph’s] master saw that the Lord was with him” (Genesis 39:3), so his master put him in charge of all he owned. Later in prison, “the Lord was with Joseph and extended kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailer” (Genesis 39:21).

GOD IS IN CONTROL.

As we studied earlier, God is ultimately in control of every event. This is but a sampling of passages that affirm His control: “Our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases” (Psalm 115:3). “We adore you as being in control of everything” (1 Chronicles 29:11, TLB). “Whatever the Lord pleases, He does, in heaven and in earth” (Psalm 135:6). “My [the Lord’s] purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please” (Isaiah 46:10). “For nothing will be impossible with God” (Luke 1:37).

The Lord is in control even of difficult events. “I am the Lord, and there is no other, the One forming light and creating darkness, causing well-being and creating calamity; I am the Lord who does all these” (Isaiah 45:6-7).

GOD HAS A PURPOSE FOR ADVERSITY.

The Cecropia moth emerges from its cocoon only after a long, exhausting struggle to free itself. A young boy, wishing to help the moth, carefully slit the exterior of the cocoon. Soon it came out, but its wings were shriveled, and couldn’t function. What the young boy didn’t realize was that the moth’s struggle to liberate itself from the cocoon was an essential to develop its wings—and its ability to fly.

Much like the cocoon of the Cecropia moth, adversity has a part to play in our lives as well. God uses those difficult, sometimes heartbreaking times to mature us in Christ. James 1:2-4 says it this way: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

God designs challenging circumstances for our ultimate benefit. Romans 8:28-29 tells us, “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son….” And the primary good that God works in our lives is to make us more like Christ.

We see this same thought expressed in Hebrews 12:6, 10-11, “For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines….God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.” God makes no mistakes. He knows exactly what He wants us to become, and also knows exactly what is necessary to produce that result in our lives.

Alan Redpath captures this truth: “There is nothing—no circumstances, no trouble, no testing—that can ever touch me until, first of all, it has gone past God, past Christ, right through to me. If it has come that far, it has come with great purpose, which I may not understand at the moment. But as I refuse to become panicky, as I lift my eyes to Him and accept it as coming from the throne of God for some great purpose of blessing to my own heart, no sorrow will ever disturb me, no trial will ever disarm me, no circumstance will cause me to fret, for I shall rest in the joy of who my Lord is.”

Bev and I have endured—and benefited from—many storms. The one surrounding Andrew’s birth with most of his brain missing until his death 11 years later drew us much closer to each other and to the Lord. Through the crucible of our pain and tears, many of the Bible’s truths grew from wispy theory into rock-solid reality. We began to grasp how deeply God loved and cared for Andrew. And for us. Although we would never want to repeat this experience, we are incredibly grateful for how the Lord used it in our lives.

Author Ron Dunn observed: “If God subtracted one pain, one heartache, one disappointment from my life, I would be less than the person I am now, less the person God wants me to be, and my ministry would be less than He intends.”

Please don’t miss this point. You and I need to: recognize difficulties as opportunities to grow into the people God wants us to be. In adversity we learn things we just couldn’t learn any other way.

I know what you’re thinking…. “Easy for you to say, Howard. You have no idea what we’ve been through.” Granted. But then, I could also say, “You have no idea what we have been through during our 40 years of marriage.” And yet the Lord Jesus has stood with us in every crisis, every heartache, every difficult decision. Every one of those incidents, painful as they were, brought us closer to Him and closer to each other.

You can be comforted knowing that your loving heavenly Father is in absolute control of every situation you will ever face. He intends to use each circumstance for a good purpose. First Thessalonians 5:18 says it well, “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Trusting God

We should view crises through the lens of God’s love, faithfulness and control.

When Bev reached the point of total exhaustion in serving baby Andrew, we knew it would be physically impossible for us to care for him on our own. Desperately needing to rest and recover, we decided to admit him for a time to a facility that specialized in caring for profoundly handicapped children.

This was a deeply emotional time, and we openly wept in the admittance room. Then I looked up and noticed a painting of Jesus hanging on the wall. When I looked at the picture, it helped me reflect on His faithfulness, and I experienced peace. When I looked away and thought only of the circumstances, my tears flowed. In that moment, I experienced the reality of Isaiah 26:3: “You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.”

The Bible makes it clear that God offers security only in Himself—not in money, not in possessions, not in a career, and; not in other people. External things offer the illusion of security, but the Lord alone can be fully trusted. “The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him” (Nahum 1:7, niv). “When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid” (Psalm 56:3-4).

THE EYE OF THE STORM

There are several things we can do to survive—and even grow—when we find ourselves in the storm.

Get your financial house in order.

I’ve been close to many people facing gut-wrenching financial storms. And the first question they usually ask is, how can I solve the problem?

Jesus answers the question this way in Matthew 7:24-25: “Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.”

The key to solving your financial problems is learning and applying God’s way of handling money. It truly is that simple. That’s why this study is so important. When you finish this class, you will know God’s framework for managing money. But knowing is only half of what you need. The other half is applying what you have learned. It may take a long time and a lot of effort to navigate the storm, but you will know the basics of what you should do.

Part of what you’ve learned is to be a generous giver. When facing a financial crisis the tendency is to hold on tightly to what we have, and become less generous. A key passage in the book of Acts, however, shows us a different way. In Acts 11:28-29 we read: “Agabus [a prophet]…through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea.”

Think about this. The Holy Spirit revealed through a prophet that a severe famine was coming soon, and their first reaction was to get out their checkbooks! Don’t allow a crisis or a pending crisis to stop you from remaining generous. You may not be able to give as much as you did previously, but still give.

It’s also important to quickly evaluate how the circumstance will impact your finances, and to make the necessary adjustments for any diminished income or increased expenses. And don’t forget to communicate! Tell the Lord, and if you are married, tell each other your feelings and concerns. How important is this? It’s important enough to schedule a time every day to share, so you can encourage each other. Bev and I discovered that a crisis doesn’t have to damage our marriage; in fact, it can be a catalyst to improve it. I am fully persuaded that God intends married couples to grow closer together during a crisis rather than allowing the difficulties to damage their marriage.

Never go through a storm alone.

Without repeating the advice in the “Counsel” chapter, I want to emphasize the importance of not going it alone. It is almost impossible to make the wisest decisions in isolation when experiencing a crisis.

Seek advice from people who have been through similar situations. You will draw strength not only from their emotional support, but also from their experience. There are people all around you who have weathered serious life storms, and you can gain from their knowledge, learning mistakes to avoid and resources to help. Ask your church and friends to pray; it’s their most powerful contribution.

Live one day at a time.

Robert Johnson built an extraordinarily successful construction business from scratch. He was extremely generous and enjoyed a wonderful reputation. And then came the crushing financial crisis of 2008—crippling his business and pushing him to the brink of bankruptcy.

Confiding in me one day, Robert said, “In a crisis, the tendency is to look ahead and become overwhelmed with all the problems. We are to plan ahead, but for our mental and emotional health we must follow what Jesus Christ told us: “…do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34, niv).

Live focused on today! And if the crisis becomes severe, focus on one moment at a time in close fellowship with Christ. This is not “escape from reality,” but rather; it is a practical way to stay close to the only One who can help us through the challenge.

Be patient, waiting for God’s timing.

Expectations can be damaging during a crisis. When we assume that the Lord will solve our problems in a certain way by a certain time, we set ourselves up for disappointment and frustration.

Someone described patience as accepting a difficult situation without giving God a deadline for removing it. Remember, God’s primary purpose in allowing a crisis in the first place is to conform you to Jesus Christ. He is at work in your life, and knows exactly how long it will take to produce the results He wants. Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven.”

The late Larry Burkett used to say with a smile, “God is seldom early, but He’s never late.” Be patient. Be careful not to set deadlines for the Lord to act.

Work diligently to solve your own problems, with the recognition that you need the moment by moment help and counsel of the Lord who loves you. Philippians 4:6-7 is one of my favorite Bible passages when facing difficulties. Every phrase is loaded with meaning. “Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.”

Forgive others.

Imagine you are a teenager, deeply loved by your father. Your siblings sell you into slavery, and for the next 13 years you are a slave and a prisoner. Amazingly, on one unbelievable day, you find yourself elevated to second in command of the world’s most powerful nation. Several years later, your starving siblings—the ones who betrayed you—beg you for food. What’s your response: retaliation or forgiveness?

This is the question Joseph had to answer, and he forgave. How was he able to do this? Because he recognized that God had orchestrated his circumstances—even the ones that were so deeply traumatic and painful. “God sent me ahead of you…” he told his brothers, “to save your lives by a great deliverance, So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God” (Genesis 45:7-8).

God realizes how critical it is for us to forgive those who are involved in causing our crisis, regardless of their motivation. One of the most impressive characteristics of Jesus Christ was His willingness to forgive. Imagine hanging on a cross in excruciating agony, and at the same time praying for those who had crucified you: “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).

When the apostle Peter asked Jesus if he should forgive someone seven times, He responded, “not seven times, but seventy-seven times” (Matthew 18:22, niv). He then told a parable about a servant who was forgiven a large debt by his master but refused to forgive a fellow servant a small debt. Christ describes what happens to the unforgiving servant: “In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured until he should pay back all he owed. This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from the heart” (Matthew 18:34, niv).

In order to grow more like Christ and experience the benefits He intends for us during a crisis, we must forgive. And more than forgive, we are to be kind, compassionate, and seek to be a blessing. “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you (Ephesians 4:32). “Not returning evil for evil, or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing” (1 Peter 3:9).

Unforgiveness can be a daily battle, particularly if the crisis has been horribly hurtful. But it harms the person who refuses to forgive. My wife Bev describes it as swallowing poison and hoping the other person will die. When we refuse to forgive, the bitterness in our heart can turn toxic, consuming our thoughts and eating away our emotional health. Forgiveness and seeking to bless the other person, however, leads to freedom.

It is imperative to pray regularly for the Lord to give us the desire to forgive, and then to give us His love for the people who may have harmed us. Jesus tells us also to pray for them, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:44). It’s hard to remain bitter toward someone for whom you are praying regularly.

COMMON CHALLENGES

Let’s examine two of the most common financial challenges people face.

Job loss

Losing your job ranks among life’s most stressful events—not just for you but for your spouse as well if you are married. Meet together as soon as possible after the job loss, and discuss ways to minimize the emotional and financial toll on both of you. And encourage each other because often a job loss is a blessing in disguise.  God may bring you a better career opportunity, and it can build your faith as you experience Him providing your needs even without a job.

Next, formulate a game plan for the job search—from drafting a resume to networking with friends. When you lose a job, your fulltime job should be finding a new job.

In addition to cutting back on spending for discretionary items, there are two financial goals to keep in mind. First, make every effort to avoid using debt for living expenses. Many people mask the real situation by using debt to fund current spending. Make good, hard decisions not to spend one penny you don’t have to. Every borrowed penny must be repaid with interest, and although spending it is easy, repayment is always hard work.

Second, do what you can to maintain health insurance. You may be able to assume your health insurance coverage through a plan from your former employer. If not, get advice from others on cost-efficient coverage.

Illness or accident

If you suffer a major illness or accident, it’s a double whammy. Medical expenses pile on as income plunges. If the condition is severe enough to prevent future employment, you will need to make permanent adjustments. And if either health insurance or disability coverage is inadequate, it can be financially catastrophic.

If married, be prepared for the possibility that one of you may need to make important decisions without the benefit of input from the other. Bev and I have decided that if one of us is seriously ill, the other will make the financial and health-related decisions. We are each familiar with the location of all important records and know how to use them.

Don’t be embarrassed to make your needs known to your family, friends, and church. Extend to them the opportunity to help meet your needs. Giving to those in need is a big part of what it means to follow Christ. Galatians 6:2 reminds us, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

PREPARING FOR FUTURE STORMS

You can’t prevent every difficulty, but you can prepare to survive them by building a solid relationship with the Lord—and your spouse, if you are married, —and by improving your finances. The healthier your finances, the better you will be able to cope. Proverbs 27:12 says, “The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.”

The more time you spend getting to know God and what He reveals in the Bible—and applying what you’ve learned—the better prepared you will be to weather life’s storms.

One of the biggest benefits of making progress on your journey to true financial freedom is that it provides a financial margin when you find yourself facing an unexpected crisis. By the time Andrew was born, we had paid off all our debts including the mortgage. Even though we were debt-free at the time, we knew that his medical expenses would be a challenge. And they were. Our freedom from debt, however, helped us to focus on Andrew and each other, as we dealt with his problems.

I. WE ARE ENCOURAGED NOT TO BE IN DEBT
Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another (Romans 13:8).

A. DEBT COMPARED TO SLAVERY
The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower becomes the lender’s slave (Proverbs 22:7).

1. We are commanded not to be slaves of men
You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men (1 Corinthians 7:23).

B. BIBLICAL EXAMPLES OF HARDSHIP OF BEING IN DEBT
So David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam . . . everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented, gathered to him; and he became captain over them (1 Samuel 22:1-2).

Now a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord; and the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves” (2 Kings 4:1).

Now there was a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their Jewish brothers…” We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our homes that we might get grain because of the famine.”  Also there were those who said, “We have borrowed money for the king’s tax on our fields and our vineyards. And now our flesh is like the flesh of our brothers, our children like their children. Yet behold, we are forced into bondage already, and we are helpless because our fields and vineyards belong to others (Nehemiah 5:1-5).

Let the creditor seize all that he [the wicked man] has; and let strangers plunder the product of his hand (Psalm 109:11).

Thus says the Lord…“to whom of My creditors did I sell you? Behold, you were sold for your iniquities…” (Isaiah 50:1).

C. NOT BEING IN DEBT SPOKEN OF IN THE POSITIVE
Woe to me, my mother, that you have born me as a man of strife and a man of contention to all the land! I have neither lent, nor have men lent money to me, yet every one curses me (Jeremiah 15:10).

D. DEBT IS CONSIDERED A CURSE
But it shall come about, if you will not obey the Lord your god, to observe to do all His commandments and His statutes which I charge you today, that all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you…The alien who is among you shall rise above you higher and higher, but you shall go down lower and lower. He shall lend to you, but you shall not lend to him; he shall be the head and you shall be the tail. So all these curses shall come on you and pursue you and overtake you until you are destroyed, because you would not obey the Lord your God by keeping His commandments and His statutes which He commanded you (Deuteronomy 28:15, 43-45).

E. BEING OUT OF DEBT IS CONSIDERED A BLESSING
The Lord will surely bless you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance to possess, if only you listen obediently to the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all this commandment which I am commanding you today. For the Lord your God shall bless you as He has promised you, and you will lend money to many nations, but you will not borrow; and you will rule over many nations, but they will not rule over you (Deuteronomy 15:4-6).

Now it shall be, if you will diligently obey the Lord your God, being careful to do all His commandments which I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you will obey the Lord your God…you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow (Deuteronomy 28:1-2, 12).

II. DEBT REPAYMENT

A. GODLY PEOPLE REPAY DEBTS
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.  Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back, and tomorrow I will give it, when you have it with you (Proverbs 3:27-28).

B. WICKED PEOPLE DO NOT REPAY DEBTS
The wicked borrows and does not pay back, but the righteous is gracious and gives (Psalm 37:21).

C. LORD CAN SUPERNATURALLY PROVIDE RESOURCES TO GET OUT OF DEBT
Now a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead and you know that your servant feared the Lord; and the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.” And Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you?  Tell me, what do you have in the house?” And she said, “Your maidservant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.”  Then he said, “Go borrow vessels at large for yourself from all your neighbors, even empty vessels; do not get a few.   And you shall go in and shut the door behind you and your sons, and pour out into all these vessels; and you shall set aside what is full.”  So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons; they were bringing the vessels to her and she poured. And it came about when the vessels were full, that she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.”  And he said to her, “There is not one vessel more.” And the oil stopped. Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt, and you and your sons can live on the rest (2 Kings 4:1-7).

D. FORGIVENESS OF DEBTS EVERY SEVEN YEARS – LAW FOR OLD TESTAMENT BELIEVERS
At the end of every seven years you shall grant a remission of debts. And this is the manner of remission: every creditor shall release what he has loaned to his neighbor; he shall not exact it of his neighbor and his brother, because the Lord’s remission has been proclaimed. From a foreigner you may exact it, but your hand shall release whatever of yours is with your brother…If there is a poor man with you, one of your brothers, in any of your towns in your land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand from your poor brother; but you shall freely open your  hand to him, and shall generously lend him sufficient for his need in whatever he lacks.  Beware, lest there is a base thought in your heart, saying, ‘The seventh year, the year of remission, is near,’ and your eye is hostile toward your poor brother, and you give him nothing; then he may cry to the Lord against you, and it will be a sin in you. You shall generously give to him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all your undertakings. For the poor will never cease to be in the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall freely open your hand to your brother, to your needy and poor in your land (Deuteronomy 15:1-11).

Then Moses commanded them, saying, “At the end of every seven years, at the time of the year of remission of debts, at the Feast of Booths, when all Israel comes to appear before the Lord your God at the place which He will choose, you shall read this law in front of all Israel in their hearing (Deuteronomy 31:10-11).

…we will forego the crops the seventh year and the exaction of every debt (Nehemiah 10:31).

E. MISCELLANEOUS EXAMPLE OF DEBT REPAYMENT
But if he [Onesimus] has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account; I, Paul am writing this with my own hand, I will repay it (lest I should mention to you that you owe to me even your own self as well) (Philemon 18-19).

III. INDEBTEDNESS USED AS EXAMPLES IN TEACHING

A. TEACHING OF JESUS CHRIST
Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a certain king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. And when he had begun to settle them, there was brought to him one who owed him ten thousand talents, but since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made. The slave therefore falling down, prostrated himself before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will repay you everything.’  And the lord of the slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt. But that slave went out and found one of his fellow-slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe.’  So his fellow-slave fell down and began to entreat him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you.’  He was unwilling however, but went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what he owed. So when his fellow-slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that happened.  Then summoning him, his lord said to him, ‘You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you entreated me. Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow-slave, even as I had mercy on you?’ And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. So shall My heavenly Father also do to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart (Matthew 18:21-35).

And Jesus answered and said to him, “Simon I have something to say to you.”  And he replied, “Say it, Teacher.”   “A certain money-lender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him more?” Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.”  And He said to him, “You have judged correctly” (Luke 7:40-43).

B. TEACHING OF PAUL
Having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us and which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross (Colossians 2:14).

I. EXAMPLES OF EVIL USES OF MONEY

A. BETRAYAL OF JESUS
Then one of the twelve, named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests, and said, “What are you willing to give me to deliver Him up to you?” And they weighed out to him thirty pieces of silver  (Matthew 26:14-15).

Then when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He had been condemned, he felt remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.”  But they said, “What is that to us?  See to that yourself!”  And the chief priests took the pieces of silver and said, “It is not lawful to put them into the temple treasury, since it is the price of blood.”  And they counseled together and with the money bought the Potter’s Field as a burial place . . . that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of the one whose price had been set by the sons of Israel; and they gave them for the Potter’s Field, as the Lord directed Me.”  (Matthew 27:3-10).

Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went off to the chief priests, in order to betray Him to them.  And they were glad when they heard this, and promised to give him money . . . (Mark 14:10-11).

Satan entered into Judas who was called Iscariot, belonging to the number of the twelve.  And he went away and discussed with the chief priests and officers how he might betray Him to them.  And they were glad, and agreed to give him money (Luke 22:3-5).

This man [Judas Iscariot] acquired a field with the price of his wickedness; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out (Acts 1:18).

B. BROTHER SOLD INTO SLAVERY
Then some Midianite traders passed by, so they [Joseph’s brothers] pulled him up and lifted Joseph out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver . . . (Genesis 37:28).

C. MONEY PAID FOR DIVINATION
So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the fees for divination in their hand; and they came to Balaam and repeated Balak’s words to him (Numbers 22:7).

And Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, “Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything, either small or great, contrary to the command of the Lord my God” (Numbers 22:18).

Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything contrary to the command of the Lord, either good or bad, of my own accord (Numbers 24:13).

D. MONEY OFFERED FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER OF ENTIRE JEWISH RACE
If it is pleasing to the king [king Ahasuerus], let it be decreed that they be destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who carry on the king’s business, to put into the king’s treasuries.  Then the king took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews.  And the king said to Haman, “The silver is yours, and the people also, to do with them as you please” (Esther 3:9-11).

And Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and the exact amount of money that Haman had promised to pay to the king’s treasuries for the destruction of the Jews (Esther 4:7).

E. MONEY PAID TO HARM SAMPSON
. . . [Sampson loved] Delilah.  And the lords of the Philistines came up to her, and said to her, “Entice him, and see where his great strength lies and how we may overpower him that we may bind him to afflict him.  Then we will each give you eleven hundred pieces of silver” (Judges 16:4-5).

. . . the lords of the Philistines came up to her [Delilah], and brought the money in their hands (Judges 16:18).

F. MONEY PAID FOR MURDER
They [leaders of Shechem] gave him seventy pieces of silver from the house of Baal-berith with which Abimelech hired worthless and reckless fellows [to commit murder] (Judges 9:4).

G. THE WICKED OPPOSE THE WORK OF GOD WHEN IT COST THEM MONEY
It happened that as we were going to the place of prayer, a certain slave-girl having a spirit of divination met us, who was bringing her masters much profit by fortunetelling.  Following after Paul and us, she kept crying out, saying, “These men are bond-servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation.”  And she continued doing this for many days.  But Paul was greatly annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!”  And it came out at that very moment.  But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the market place before the authorities (Acts 16:16-19).

A certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, was bringing no little business to the craftsmen; these he gathered together with the workmen of similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that our prosperity depends upon this business.  And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in almost all of Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable number of people, saying that gods made with hands are no gods at all.  And not only is there danger that this trade of ours fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis be regarded as worthless and that she whom all of Asia and the world worship should even be dethroned from her magnificence” (Acts 19:24-27).

H. MONEY PAID TO RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT
When Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, “Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”  But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!  You have no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.  Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you.  For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity.”  But Simon answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me” (Acts 8:18-24).

I. ACID TEST OF GIVING

A. TEST OF FAITH
What use is it, my brethren, if a man says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself (James 2:14-17).

B. TEST OF LOVE OF GOD ABIDING IN US
But whoever has the world’s goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? (1 John 3:17).

C. TEST OF LOVING OUR NEIGHBOR
I am not speaking this [a promised gift] as a command, but as proving . . . the sincerity of your love also (2 Corinthians 8:8).

1. Example of Good Samaritan
But a certain Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion, and came to him, and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I return, I will repay you’ (Luke 10:33-35).

D. TEST OF LORDSHIP
Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieved; for he was one who owned much property (Matthew 19:21-22).

Jesus felt a love for him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But at these words his face fell, and he went away grieved, for he was one who owned much property (Mark 10:21-22)

And when Jesus heard this, He said to him, “One thing you still lack; sell all that you possess, and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me” (Luke 18:22-23).

II. ATTITUDES IN GIVING

A. GOD’S ATTITUDE (THE LOVING GIVER)
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son . . . (John 3:16).

God is love . . . (1 John 4:16).

Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights . . . (James 1:17).

B. OUR ATTITUDE

1. The proper attitude

a. Given in love
If I give all my possessions to feed the poor . . . but do not have love, it profits me nothing (1 Corinthians 13:3).

b. Given cheerfully
God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7).

2. How we give with love

a. Give to God as expression of worship and love
Tell the sons of Israel to raise a contribution for Me . . . (Exodus 25:2).

When you take a census of the sons of Israel to number them, then each one of them shall give . . . a contribution to the Lord. Everyone who is numbered, from twenty years old and over, shall give the contribution to the Lord (Exodus 30:12-14).

Take from among you a contribution to the Lord; whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as the Lord’s contribution: gold, silver, and bronze (Exodus 35:5).

Everyone whose heart stirred him and everyone whose spirit moved him came and brought the Lord’s contribution . . . so did every man who presented an offering of gold to the Lord . . . all the men and women . . . brought a freewill offering to the Lord (Exodus 35:21-29).

And of this he shall present one of every offering as a contribution to the Lord . . . (Leviticus 7:14).

Then the Lord spoke to Aaron, “Now behold, I Myself have given you charge of My offerings . . . which they shall render to Me . . . the fresh oil and all the best of the fresh wine and of the grain, the first fruits of those which they give to the Lord . . . first issue of the womb of all flesh, whether man or animal, which they offer to the Lord . . . the holy gifts, which the sons of Israel offer to the Lord . . . the tithe of the sons of Israel, which they offer as an offering to the Lord (Numbers 18:8-24).

And many were bringing gifts to the Lord at Jerusalem and choice presents to Hezekiah king of Judah, so that he was exalted in the sight of all nations thereafter (2 Chronicles 32:23).

King David also dedicated these to the Lord with the silver and the gold, which he had carried away from all the nations (1 Chronicles 18:11).

King David also dedicated these to the Lord, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated from all the nations which he had subdued (2 Samuel 8:11).

Pay your vows to the Most High . . . (Psalm 50:14).

I shall come into Your house with burnt offerings; I shall pay You my vows . . . (Psalm 66:13).

Because of Your temple at Jerusalem kings will bring gifts to You (Psalm 68:29).

. . . all who are around Him bring gifts to Him who is to be feared (Psalm 76:11).

For on My holy mountain . . . I shall seek your contributions and the choicest of your gifts . . .

(Ezekiel 20:40).

. . . devote to the Lord their unjust gain and their wealth to the Lord of all the earth (Micah 4:13).

1) All we possess is from the Lord and we are giving back to Him
But who am I [David] and who are my people that we should be able to offer as generously as this? For all things come from You, and from Your hand we have given You . . . all this abundance that we have provided to build You a house for Your holy name, it is from Your hand, and all is Yours (1 Chronicles 29:14-16).

2) Example of the Christ Child
And they came into the house and saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell down and worshipped Him; and opening their treasures they presented to Him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh (Matthew 2:11).

3) Example of not giving to the Lord
You [Israel] have not brought to Me the sheep of your burnt offerings; nor have you honored Me with your sacrifices . . . You have bought Me no sweet cane with money, neither have you filled Me with the fat of your sacrifices (Isaiah 43:23-24).

3. How we should give cheerfully

a. Submit to Lord and offer willingly
Who then is willing to consecrate himself this day to the Lord?” Then the rulers of the fathers’ households, and the princes of the tribes of Israel, and the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, with the overseers over the king’s work, offered willingly . . . the people rejoiced because they had offered so willingly, for they made their offering to the Lord with a whole heart, and King David also rejoiced greatly (1 Chronicles 29:5-9).

Since I [David] know, O my God, that Thou tries the heart and delights in uprightness, I, in the integrity of my heart, have willingly offered all these things; so now with joy I have seen Your people, who are present here, make their offerings willingly to You (1 Chronicles 29:14-17).

Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality. For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability they gave of their own accord, begging us with much entreaty for the favor of participation in the support of the saints, and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God (2 Corinthians 8:1-5).

4. Attitude more important than the amount given
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others (Matthew 23:23).

But woe to you Pharisees! For you pay tithe of mint and rue and every kind of garden herb, and yet disregard justice and the love of God; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others” (Luke 11:42).

Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee, and the other a tax-gatherer. The Pharisee stood and was praying thus to himself, “God, I thank Thee that I am not like other people . . . I pay tithes of all that I get. But the tax-gatherer, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for every one exalts himself shall be humbled, but he who humbles himself shall be exalted” (Luke 18:10-14).

a. Example of giving with the proper attitude and Lord accepting gift
And Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and for his offering (Genesis 4:4).

By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks (Hebrews 11:4).

But I have received everything in full . . . having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God (Philippians 4:18).

b. Example of giving with wrong attitude and Lord rejecting gift
So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the Lord of the fruit of the ground . . . but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard (Genesis 4:3-5).

Bring your sacrifices every morning, your tithes every three days. Offer a thank offering also from that which is leavened, and proclaim freewill offerings, make them known, for so you love to do, you sons of Israel,” declares the Lord God . . . Yet you have not returned to Me,” declares the Lord (Amos 4:4-6).

Even though you [Israel] offer up to Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them; and I will not even look at the peace offerings . . . But let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream (Amos 5:22, 24).

“Did you present Me with sacrifices and grain offerings in the wilderness for forty years, O house of Israel? You also carried along . . . your gods which you made for yourselves. Therefore, I will make you go into exile beyond Damascus,” says the Lord . . . (Amos 5:25-27).

. . . you cover the altar of the Lord with tears . . . because He no longer regards the offering or accepts it with favor from your hand. Yet you say, ‘For what reason?’ Because the Lord has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt treacherously, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant (Malachi 2:13-14).

1) Lying to Holy Spirit
But a certain man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife’s full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back some of the price of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God.” And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last; and great fear came upon all who heard of it. And the young men arose and covered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him. Now there elapsed an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter responded to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for such and such a price?” And she said, “Yes, that was the price.” Then Peter said to her, “Why is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they shall carry you out as well.” And she fell immediately at his feet and breathed her last . . . (Acts 5:1-10).

2) To justify sin
I [an adulteress] was due to offer peace offerings; today I have paid my vows (Proverbs 7:14).

III. ADVANTAGES OF GIVING

A. BENEFITS FOR THE GIVER
Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35)

1. Increase in intimacy with Lord
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also (Matthew 6:21).

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also (Luke 12:34).

2. Increase in heaven
lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven . . . (Matthew 6:20).

. . . go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you shall have treasures in heaven . . .(Matthew 19:21).

Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves purses, which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven . . . (Luke 12:33).

. . . sell all that you possess, and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven . . . (Luke 18:22).

Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increased to your account

(Philippians 4:17).

Instruct those who are rich . . . to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future . . . (1 Timothy 6:17-19).

3. Increase on earth
At the end of every third year you shall bring out all the tithe of your produce in that year, and shall deposit it in your town . . . in order that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do (Deuteronomy 14:28-29).

. . . Since the contributions began to be brought into the house of the Lord, we have had enough to eat with plenty left over, for the Lord has blessed His people, and this great quantity is left over (2 Chronicles 31:10).

Honor the Lord from your wealth, and from the first of all your produce; so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine (Proverbs 3:9-10).

There is one who scatters, yet increases all the more, and there is one who withholds what is justly due, but it results only in want. The generous man will be prosperous, and he who waters will himself be watered (Proverbs 11:24-25).

Cast your bread on the surface of the waters, for you will find it after many days (Ecclesiastes 11:1).

Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, they will pour into your lap. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return (Luke 6:38).

Now this I say, he who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and he who sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully . . . God is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed; as it is written, “He scattered abroad, He gave to the poor, His righteousness abides forever.” Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; you will be enriched in everything for all liberality . . . (2 Corinthians 9:6-11).

[Because of a gift] my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).

a. Challenge to test God for material increase
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 there is no more needs (Malachi 3:10).

4. Increase in various blessings
. . . give to the priest the first of your dough to cause a blessing to rest on your house (Ezekiel 44:30).

And a certain centurion’s slave . . . was sick and about to die. And when he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders asking Him to come and save the life of his slave. When they had come to Jesus, they earnestly entreated him, saying, “He is worthy for You to grant this . . . it was he who built us our synagogue” [Jesus healed the slave] (Luke 7:2-5).

In Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha; this woman was abounding in deeds of kindness and charity, which she continually did. And it came about at that time that she fell sick and died . . . [Peter] prayed, and turning to the body, he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up (Acts 9:36-37, 40).

Cornelius . . . gave many alms . . . saw in a vision an angel of God who had just come in to him, and said to him, “Cornelius!” And fixing his gaze upon him and being much alarmed, he said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God . . . Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. [Cornelius received the Holy Spirit] (Acts 10:1-4, 31)

IV. AMOUNT TO GIVE

A. TITHE

1. Before the law
[Abram] gave him [Melchizedek] a tenth of all (Genesis 14:20).

Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me on this journey . . . all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You” (Genesis 28:20-22).

2. Under the law
Thus all the tithe of the land, of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s; it is holy to the Lord . . . every tenth part of herd or flock, whatever passes under the rod, the tenth one shall be holy to the Lord (Leviticus 27:30-32).

a. Not tithing properly considered robbing God
Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, ‘How have we robbed You?” In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, the whole nation of you! (Malachi 3:8-9)

b. How the tithe was used
1) Eaten in presence of Lord
You shall surely tithe all the produce from what you sow, which comes out of the field every year. And you shall eat in the presence of the Lord your God, at the place where He chooses to establish His name, the tithe of your grain, your new wine, your oil, and the first-born of your herd and your flock, in order that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always. And if the distance is so great for you that you are not able to bring the tithe, since the place where the Lord your God chooses to set His name is too far away from you when the Lord your God blesses you, then you shall exchange it for money, and bind the money in your hand and go to the place which the Lord your God chooses. And you may spend the money for whatever your heart desires, for oxen, or sheep, or wine, or strong drink, or whatever your heart desires; and there you shall eat in the presence of the Lord your God and rejoice, you and your household (Deuteronomy 14:22-26).

2) Given to support Levites and poor
to the sons of Levi, behold, I have given all the tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service which they perform, the service of the tent of meeting . . . the tithe of the sons of Israel, which they offer as an offering to the Lord, I have given to the Levites (Numbers 18:21-24).

At the end of every third year you shall bring out all the tithe of your produce in that year, and shall deposit it in your town. And the Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance among you, and the alien, the orphan and the widow who are in your town, shall come and eat and be satisfied (Deuteronomy 14:28-29).

When you have finished paying all the tithe of your increase in the third year, the year of tithing, then you shall give it to the Levite, to the stranger, to the orphan and to the widow, that they may eat in your towns, and be satisfied (Deuteronomy 26:12).

Also he commanded the people who lived in Jerusalem to give the portion due to the priests and the Levites, that they might devote themselves to the law of the Lord. And as soon as the order spread, the sons of Israel . . . brought in abundantly the tithe of all. And the sons of Israel and Judah who lived in the cities of Judah, also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of sacred gifts which were consecrated to the Lord their God . . . Since the contributions began to be brought into the house of the Lord, we have had enough to eat with plenty left over, for the Lord has blessed His people, and this great quantity is left over . . . they faithfully brought in the contributions and the tithes (2 Chronicles 31:4-12).

We will also bring . . . the tithe of our ground to the Levites, for the Levites are they who receive the tithes in all the rural towns. And the priest, the son of Aaron, shall be with the Levites when the Levites receive tithes . . . (Nehemiah 10:37-38).

I also discovered that the portions of the Levites had not been given them, so that the Levites and the singers who performed the service had gone away, each to his own field. So I reprimanded the officials and said, “Why is the house of God forsaken?” (Nehemiah 13:10-11).

a) Levites were to tithe from their tithe
Moreover, you shall speak to the Levites and say to them, ‘When you take from the sons of Israel the tithe . . . then you shall present an offering from it to the Lord, a tithe of the tithe (Numbers 18:26).

3. Tithe in the New Testament
a. Jesus condemns Pharisees (see II 4)
b. The superiority of priesthood of Melchizedek
Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all the spoils . . . observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the choicest spoils. And those indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest’s office have commandment in the Law to collect a tenth from the people, that is, from their brethren, although these are descended from Abraham. But the one whose genealogy is not traced from them collected a tenth from Abraham, and blessed the one who had the promises. But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater. And in this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives on. And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes (Hebrews 7:1-2, 4-9).

4. Storehouse tithe
Then Hezekiah commanded them to prepare rooms in the house of the Lord, and they prepared them. And they faithfully brought in the contributions and the tithes . . . (2 Chronicles 31:11-12).

The Levites shall bring up the tenth of the tithes to the house of our God, to the storehouse (Nehemiah 10:38).

On that day men were also appointed over the chambers for the stores, the contributions, the first fruits, and the tithes . . . (Nehemiah 12:44).

All Judah then brought the tithe of the grain, wine, and oil into the storehouses (Nehemiah 13:12).

B. OFFERINGS (see sections IV. B; VIII. K)

C. PROPORTIONATE GIVING (AS GOD PROSPERS)
Then you shall celebrate the Feast of Weeks to the Lord your God with a tribute of a freewill offering of your hand, which you shall give just as the Lord your God blesses you . . . Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you (Deuteronomy 16:10, 16).

. . . each one of you put aside and save, as he may prosper, that no collections be made I come (1 Corinthians 16:2).

1. Example of proportionate giving
According to their ability they gave to the treasury for the work . . . (Ezra 2:69).

And in the proportion that any of the disciples had means, each of them determined to send a contribution . . . (Acts 11:29).

2. Acceptable amount given is in proportion to a person’s means
For if the readiness is present [to give], it is acceptable according to what a man has, not according to what he does not have (2 Corinthians 8:12).

D. SACRIFICIAL GIVING

He sat down opposite the treasury, and began observing how the multitude were putting money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent. And calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on” (Mark 12:41-44).

He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury. And He saw a certain poor widow putting in two small copper coins. And He said, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all of them; for they all out of their surplus put into the offering; but she out of her poverty put in all that she had to live on” (Luke 21:1-4).

Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia, that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality. For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability they gave of their own accord, begging us with much entreaty for the favor of participation in the support of the saints (2 Corinthians 8:1-4).

1. Do not give something that costs you nothing
“Why has my lord the king come to his servant? And David said, “To buy the threshing floor from you, in order to build an altar to the Lord, that the plague may be held back from the people.” And Araunah said to David, “Let my lord the king take and offer . . . the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price, for I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God which cost me nothing . . . (2 Samuel 24:21-24).

David said to Ornan, “Give me the site of this threshing floor, that I may build on it an altar to the Lord; for the full price you shall give it to me, that the plague may be restrained from the people.” And Ornan said to David, “Take it for yourself . . . David said to Ornan, “No, but I will surely buy it for the full price; for I will not take what is yours for the Lord, or offer a burnt offering which costs me nothing” (1 Chronicles 21:22-24).

2. Cursed when giving something stolen or blemished
But when you present the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? And when you present the lame and sick, is it not evil? . . . With such an offering on your part, will He receive any of you kindly?” says the Lord of hosts . . . you bring what was taken by robbery, and what is lame or sick; so you bring the offering! Should I receive that from your hand?” says the Lord. “But cursed be the swindler who has a male in his flock, and vows it, but sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord, for I am a great King,” says the Lord of hosts, “and My name is feared among the nations” (Malachi 1:6-14).

V. APPROACH TO GIVING

A. PATTERN FOR GIVING

1. Priority
You shall bring the choice first fruits of your soil into the house of the Lord your God (Exodus 23:10-11).

The first offspring from every womb belongs to Me . . . the first offspring from cattle and sheep (Exodus 34:19).

You shall bring the very first of the first fruits of your soil into the house of the Lord your God . . . (Exodus 34:26).

As an offering of first fruits, you shall bring them to the Lord . . . (Leviticus 2:12).

Also on the day of the first fruits, when you present a new grain offering to the Lord . . . (Numbers 28:26).

When you enter the land which the Lord your God gives you . . . you shall take some of the first of all the produce of the ground which you shall bring [as a gift] in from your land (Deuteronomy 26:1-2).

Honor the Lord from your wealth, and from the first of all your produce (Proverbs 3:9).

2. Promptly
You shall not delay the offering from your harvest and your vintage . . . (Exodus 22:29).

When you make a vow to the Lord your God, you shall not delay to pay it, for it would be sin in you . . . (Deuteronomy 23:21).

When you make a vow to God, do not be late in paying it . . . (Ecclesiastes 5:4).

3. Premeditated
Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart [when contemplating a gift] . . . (2 Corinthians 9:7).

4. Periodic
On the first day of every week [save for the gift] (1 Corinthians 16:2).

5. Personal
And none shall appear before Me empty-handed [without a gift] (Exodus 34:20).

Every man shall give . . . (Deuteronomy 16:17).

All the people of the land shall give to this offering . . . (Ezekiel 45:16).

. . . each of them determined to send a contribution . . . (Acts 11:29).

. . . let each one of you put aside and save [for the gift] (1 Corinthians 16:2).

6. Private deposit
. . . put aside and save [for giving] . . . (1 Corinthians 16:2).

7. Prideless
Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. When therefore you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will repay you (Matthew 6:1-4).

8. Prompted heart
. . . from every man whose heart moves him you shall raise My contribution (Exodus 25:2).

Take from among you a contribution to the Lord; whoever is of a willing heart . . . (Exodus 35:5).

Everyone whose heart stirred him and everyone whose spirit moved him came and brought the Lord’s contribution . . . all whose hearts moved them, both men and women, came and brought [gifts] . . . all the men and women, whose heart moved them . . . brought a freewill offering to the Lord (Exodus 35:21-29).

Then Jehoash said to the priests, “. . . the money which any man’s heart prompts him to bring into the house of the Lord (2 Kings 12:4).

B. POLICIES FOR GIVING

1. Administration and accountability
The Levites . . . had charge of the treasures of the house of God, and of the treasures of the dedicated gifts (1 Chronicles 26:20).

Shelomoth and his relatives had charge of all the treasures of the dedicated gifts . . . (1 Chronicles 26:26).

Kore . . . was over the freewill offerings of God, to apportion the contributions for the Lord and the most holy things. And under his authority were Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah in the cities of the priests, to distribute faithfully their portions to their brothers by divisions, whether great or small (2 Chronicles 31:14-15).

On that day men were also appointed over the chambers for the stores, the contributions, the first fruits, and the tithes, to gather into them from the fields of the cities the portions required by the law for the priests and Levites (Nehemiah 12:44).

And in charge of the storehouses I appointed Shelemiah the priest, Kadok the scribe, and Pedaiah of the Levites . . . for they were considered reliable, and it was their task to distribute to their kinsmen (Nehemiah 13:13).

And we have sent along with him the brother whose fame in the things of the gospel has spread through all the churches; and not only this, but he has also been appointed by the churches to travel with us in this gracious work, which is being administered by us for the glory of the Lord Himself, and to show our readiness, taking precaution that no one should discredit us in our administration of this generous gift; for we have regard for what is honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men (2 Corinthians 8:18-21).

sending it [a gift] in charge of Barnabas and Saul to the elders (Acts 11:30).

And when I arrive, whomever you may approve, I shall send them with letters to carry gift to Jerusalem; and if it is fitting for me to go also, they will go with me (1 Corinthians 16:3-4).

a. Examples of not requiring accountability
Moreover, they [the priests] did not require an accounting from the men into whose hand they gave the money to pay to those who did the work, for they dealt faithfully (2 Kings 12:15).

Only no accounting shall be made with them [temple workmen] for the money delivered into their hands, for they deal faithfully (2 Kings 22:7).

C. PLACES TO GIVE

1. Family
But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever (1 Timothy 5:8).

a. Parents
For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.’ But you say, ‘Whoever shall say to his father or mother, “Anything of mine you might have been helped by has been given to God,” he is not to honor his father or his mother.’ And thus you invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition (Matthew 15:4-6).

He was also saying to them, “You nicely set aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition. For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, `He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death’; but you say, ‘If a man says to his father or his mother, anything of mine you might have been helped by is Corban (that is to say, given to God),’ you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or his mother; thus invalidating the word of God by your tradition . . . (Mark 7:9-13).

b. Widows
If any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to practice piety in regard to their own family, and to make some return to their parents (1 Timothy 5:4).

If any woman who is a believer has dependent widows, let her assist them, and let not the church be burdened, so that it may assist those who are widows indeed (1 Timothy 5:16).

c. Example of giving to family
I [Joseph] will provide for you, for there are still five years of famine to come, lest you and your household and all that you have be impoverished (Genesis 45:11).

And Joseph provided his father and his brothers and all his father’s household with food, according to their little ones (Genesis 47:12).

2. Ministry
a. Individuals involved in ministry
1) Levitical priests (also see IV. A. 2. b. 2)
The remainder of the grain offering belongs to Aaron and his sons . . . (Leviticus 2:3).

. . . [the offering] shall belong to the priest who sprinkles the blood of the peace offerings (Leviticus 7:14).

You shall give the right thigh to the priest as a contribution from the sacrifices of your peace offerings. The one among the sons of Aaron who offers the blood of the peace offerings and the fat, the right thigh shall be his as his portion. For I have taken the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the contribution from the sons of Israel from the sacrifices of their peace offerings and have given them to Aaron the priest and to his sons as their due forever . . . (Leviticus 7:32-34).

Take the grain offering that is left over from the Lord’s offerings by fire and eat it unleavened beside the altar, for it is most holy. You (Aaron) shall eat it . . . because it is your due and your sons’ due out of the Lord’s offerings by fire; for thus I have been commanded. The breast of the wave offering . . . have been given as your due and your sons’ out of the sacrifices of the peace offerings of the sons of Israel (Leviticus 10:12-14).

. . . if the man has no relative to whom restitution may be made for the wrong, the restitution which is made for the wrong must go to the Lord for the priest, besides the ram of atonement, by which atonement is made for him. Also every contribution pertaining to all the holy gifts of the sons of Israel, which they offer to the priest, shall be his. So every man’s holy gifts shall be his; whatever any man gives to the priest, it becomes his (Numbers 5:8-10).

I Myself have given you [Aaron] charge of My offerings, even all the holy gifts of the sons of Israel, I have given them to you as a portion, and to your sons as a perpetual allotment . . . every male shall eat it. It shall be holy to you. This also is yours, the offering of their gift, even all the wave offerings of the sons of Israel; I have given them to you and to your sons and daughters with you, as a perpetual allotment . . . the best of the fresh oil and all the best of the fresh wine and of the grain, the first fruits of those which they give to the Lord, I give them to you. The first ripe fruits of all that is in their land, which they bring to the Lord, shall be yours . . . Every devoted thing in Israel shall be yours. Every first issue of the womb of all flesh, whether man or animal, which they offer to the Lord, shall be yours . . . the offerings of the holy gifts, which the sons of Israel offer to the Lord, I have given to you and your sons and your daughters with you, as a perpetual allotment . . . (Numbers 18:8-19).

And levy a tax for the Lord from the men of war who went out to battle . . . take it from their half and give it to Eleazar the priest, as an offering to the Lord. And from the sons of Israel`s half . . . give them to the Levites who keep charge of the tabernacle of the Lord (Numbers 31:28-30).

Now this shall be the priests’ due from the people, from those who offer a sacrifice, either an ox or a sheep, of which they shall give to the priest the shoulder and the two cheeks and the stomach. You shall give him the first fruits or your grain, your new wine, and your oil, and the first shearing of your sheep (Deuteronomy 18:3-4).

You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing (Deuteronomy 25:4).

. . . bring the first fruits of all the fruit of every tree to the house of the Lord annually, and bring to the house of our God the first-born of our sons and of our cattle, and the first-born of our herds and our flocks as it is written in the law, for the priests who are ministering in the house of our God . . . (Nehemiah 10:35-36).

All Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and Nehemiah gave the portions due the singers and the gatekeepers as each day required, and set apart the consecrated portion for the Levites, and the Levites set apart the consecrated portion for the sons of Aaron (Nehemiah 12:47).

They [the priests] shall eat the grain offering, the sin offering, and the guilt offering; and every devoted thing in Israel shall be theirs. And the first of all first fruits of every kind and every contribution of every kind, from all your contributions, shall be for the priests; you shall also give to the priest the first of your dough (Ezekiel 44:29-30).

2) New Testament workers
Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts, or a bag for your journey, or even two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for the worker is worthy of his support (Matthew 10:9-10).

[Jesus] instructed them [the disciples] that they should take nothing for their journey, except a mere staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belt (Mark 6:8).

He called the twelve together, and . . . said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, neither a staff, nor a bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not even have two tunics apiece” (Luke 9:1-3).

The Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them two and two . . . Carry no purse, no bag, no shoes . . . stay in that house, eating and drinking what they give you; for the laborer is worthy of his wages (Luke 10:1, 4-7).

Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with him who teaches (Galatians 6:6).

Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing,” and “The laborer is worthy of his wages” (1 Timothy 5:17-18).

Diligently help Zenas that lawyer and Apollos [with gifts] on their way so that nothing is lacking for them (Titus 3:13).

Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish for the brethren, and especially when they are strangers; and they bear witness to your love before the church; and you will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. For they went out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. Therefore we ought to support such men, that we may be fellow workers with the truth (3 John 1:5-8).

a) Jesus supported by gifts during his earthly ministry
Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their [Jesus and the disciples] support out of their private means (Luke 8:3).

b) Christian workers who did not exercise their right to be supported
Or do only Barnabas and I not have a right to refrain from working? Who at any time serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard, and does not eat the fruit of it? Or who tends a flock and does not use the milk of the flock? I am not speaking these things according to human judgment, am I? Or does not the Law also say these things? For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing.” God is not concerned about oxen, is He? Or is He speaking altogether for our sake? Yes, for our sake it was written, because the plowman ought to plow in hope, and the thresher to thresh in hope of sharing the crops. If we sowed spiritual things in you, is it too much if we should reap material things from you? If others share the right over you, do we not more? Nevertheless, we did not use this right, but we endure all things, that we may cause no hindrance to the gospel of Christ. Do you not know that those who perform sacred services eat the food of the temple, and those who attend regularly to the altar have their share with the altar? So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel. But I have used none of these things. And I am not writing these things that it may be done so in my case (1 Corinthians 9:6-15).

I [Paul] have a stewardship entrusted to me. What then is my reward? That when I preach the gospel, I may offer the gospel without charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel (1 Corinthians 9:17-18).

Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you without charge? I robbed other churches, taking wages from them to serve you; and when I was present with you and was in need, I was not a burden to anyone; for when the brethren came from Macedonia, they fully supplied my need, and in everything I kept myself from being a burden to you, and will continue to do so (2 Corinthians 11:7-9).

Here for this third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you; for I do not seek what is yours, but you . . . I have not taken advantage of you through any of those whom I have sent to you, have I? I urged Titus to go, and sent the brother with him. Titus did not take any advantage of you, did he? Did we not conduct ourselves in the same spirit and walk in the same steps? (2 Corinthians 12:14-18).

For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed – God is witness . . . you recall, brethren, our labor and hardship, how working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God (1 Thessalonians 2:5, 9).

nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we might not be a burden to any of you; not because we do not have the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, that you might follow our example

(2 Thessalonians 3:8-9).

i) Christian workers must not ministry with evil financial
intentions
Therefore, I exhort the elders among you . . . shepherd the flock of God among you . . . not for sordid gain, but with eagerness (1 Peter 5:1-2).

ii) Many attempt to get money while appearing religious
For we are not like many, peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity . . . (2 Corinthians 2:17).

There are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers . . . teaching things they should not teach, for the sake of sordid gain (Titus 1:10-11)

But false prophets also arose among the people (of Israel), just as there will be false teachers among you . . . and in their greed they will exploit you with false words . . . (2 Peter 2:1, 3).

iii) Disciples urged to prepare
He said to them, “When I sent you out without purse and bag and sandals, you did not lack anything, did you?” And they said, “No, nothing.” And He said to them, “But now, let him who has a purse take it along, likewise also a bag, and let him who has no sword sell his robe and buy one (Luke 22:35-36).

b. The sanctuary and temple
1) The building of the sanctuary
And this is the contribution which you are to raise from them: gold, silver and bronze . . . let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them (Exodus 25:3-8).

a) Gave more than enough
And they received from Moses all the contributions which the sons of Israel had brought to perform the work in the construction of the sanctuary. And they still continued bringing to him freewill offerings every morning . . . The people are bringing much more than enough for the construction work which the Lord commanded us to perform.” So Moses issued a command, and a proclamation was circulated throughout the camp, saying, “Let neither man nor woman any longer perform work for the contributions of the sanctuary.” Thus the people were restrained from bringing any more. For the material they had was sufficient and more than enough for all the work, to perform it (Exodus 36:3-7).

2) The building of the temple
“Now with all my ability I have provided for the house of my God the gold for the things of gold, and the silver for the things of silver, and the bronze for the things of bronze . . . in my delight in the house of my God, the treasure I have of gold and silver, I give to the house of my God, over and above all that I have already provided for the holy temple, namely, 3,000 talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and 7,000 talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the buildings; of gold for the things of gold, and of silver for the things of silver, that is, for all the work done by craftsmen. Who then is willing to consecrate himself this day to the Lord?” Then the rulers of the fathers’ households, and the princes of the tribes of Israel, and the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, with the overseers over the king’s work, offered willingly; and for the service for the house of God they gave 5,000 talents and 10,000 darics of gold, and 10,000 talents of silver, and 18,000 talents of brass, and 100,000 talents of iron. And whoever possessed precious stones gave them to the treasury of the house of the Lord . . . (1 Chronicles 29:2-8).

a) The temple cost a great deal
They quarried great stones, costly stones, to lay the foundation of the house with cut stones (1 Kings 5:17).

3) The repair of the temple
Then Jehoash said to the priests, “All the money of the sacred things which is brought into the house of the Lord . . . shall repair the damages of the house wherever any damage may be found . . . Jehoiada the priest took a chest and bored a hole in its lid, and put it beside the altar, on the right side as one comes into the house of the Lord; and the priests who guarded the threshold put in it all the money which was brought into house of the Lord. And when they saw that there was much money in the chest, the king’s scribe and the high priest came up and tied it in bags and counted the money which was found in the house of the Lord. And they gave the money which was weighed out into the hands of those who did the work . . . (2 Kings 12:4-11).

Go up to Hilkiah the high priest that he may count the money brought in to the house of the Lord which the doorkeepers have gathered from the people. And let them deliver it into the hand of the workmen who have the oversight of the house of the Lord, and let them give it to the workmen who are in the house of the Lord to repair the damages of the house, to the carpenters and the builders and the masons and for buying timber and hewn stone to repair the house (2 Kings 22:4-6).

Joash decided to restore the house of the Lord. And he gathered the priests and Levites, and he said to them, “Go out to the cities of Judah, and collect money from all Israel to repair the house of your God . . . the king commanded, and they made a chest and set it outside by the gate of the house of the Lord. And they made a proclamation in Judah and Jerusalem to bring to the Lord the levy fixed by Moses the servant of God on Israel in the wilderness. And all the officers and all the people rejoiced and brought in their levies and dropped them into the chest until they had finished. And it came about whenever the chest was brought in to the king’s officer by the Levites, and when they saw that there was much money, then the king’s scribe and the chief priest’s officer would come, empty the chest, take it, and return it to its place. Thus they did daily and collected much money. And the king and Jehoiada gave it to those who did the work of the service of the house of the Lord; and they hired masons and carpenters to restore the house of the Lord, and also workers in iron and bronze to repair the house of the Lord. So the workmen labored, and the repair work progressed in their hands, and they restored the house of God according to its specifications . . . (2 Chronicles 24:4-13).

[King Josiah ordered] repair the house of the Lord his God. And they came to Hilkiah the high priest and delivered the money that was brought into the house of God . . . into the hands of the workmen who had the oversight of the house of the Lord, and the workmen who were working in the house of the Lord used it to restore and repair the house (2 Chronicles 34:8-11).

4) The rebuilding of the temple
[Israelites] offered willingly for the house of God to restore it on its foundation. According to their ability they gave to the treasury for the work 61,000 gold drachmas, and 5,000 silver minas, and 100 priestly garments (Ezra 2:68-69).

Let the cost [of the temple rebuilding] be paid from the royal treasury (Ezra 6:4).

I [Darius] issue a decree concerning what you are to do for these elders of Judah in the rebuilding of this house of God: the full cost is to be paid to these people from the royal treasury out of the taxes of the provinces beyond the River, and that without delay (Ezra 6:8).

5) Maintenance of the temple
We also placed ourselves under obligation to contribute yearly one third of a shekel for the service of the house of our God . . . we cast lots for the supply of wood among the priests, the Levites, and the people in order that they might bring it to the house of our God . . . we will not neglect the house of our God (Nehemiah 10:30-39).

3. Poor (see section VI)
4. Miscellaneous catagories
a. Those who ask for a gift
Give to him who asks of you . . . (Matthew 5:42).

Give to everyone who asks of you . . . (Luke 6:30).

b. All people—especially believers
So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith (Galatians 6:10).

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love . . . contributing to the needs of the saints (Romans 12:10, 13).

c. Enemies
If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; for you will be heaping burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you (Proverbs 25:21, 22).

But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink . . . (Romans 12:20).

d. Do not give to a murderer
A man who is laden with the guilt of human blood will be a fugitive until death; let no one support him (Proverbs 28:17).

VI. GIVING TO THE POOR

A. GOD’S COMMANDS AND PERSPECTIVE OF GIVING TO THE POOR
For the poor will never cease to be in the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall freely open you hand to your brother, to your needy and poor in your land’ (Deuteronomy 15:11).

He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, but he who is gracious to the needy honors Him (Proverbs 14:31).

He who is gracious to a poor man lends to the Lord, and He will repay him for his good deed (Proverbs 19:17).

Is this not the fast which I choose . . . divide your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into the house; when you see the naked, to cover him . . . give yourself to the hungry . . . (Isaiah 58:6-10).

Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had arrogance, abundant food, and careless ease, but she did not help the poor and needy (Ezekiel 16:49).

1. Old Testament
a. Provisions for the poor
1) Laws of harvesting and gleaning
You shall sow you land for six years and gather in its yield, but on the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, so that the needy of your people may eat . . . do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove (Exodus 23:10-11).

Now when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very corners of your field, neither shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest. Nor shall you glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather the fallen fruit of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the needy (Leviticus 19:9-10).

When you reap the harvest of your land, moreover, you shall not reap to the very corners of your field, nor gather the gleaning of your harvest; you are to leave them for the needy (Leviticus 23:22).

When you reap your harvest in your field and have forgotten a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be for the alien, for the orphan, and for the widow . . . When you beat your olive tree, you shall not go over the boughs again; it shall be for the alien, for the orphan, and for the widow. When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not go over it again; it shall be for the alien, for the orphan, and for the widow (Deuteronomy 24:19-21).

2) Forgiveness of debts (see DEBT Scriptures)
3) Unlimited liability of meeting needs
If there is a poor man with you, one of your brothers . . . you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand from your poor brother; but you shall freely open your hand to him, and shall generously lend him sufficient for his need in whatever he lacks. Beware, lest there is a base thought in your heart, saying, ‘The seventh year, the year of remission, is near,’ and your eye is hostile toward your poor brother, and you give him nothing; then he may cry to the Lord against you, and it will be a sin in you. You shall generously give to him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him . . . (Deuteronomy 15:7-10).

4) Celebration of Purim
. . . [during Purim celebration] gifts to the poor (Ester 9:22).

5) Tithe (see IV. A 2 b 2)
6) Year of Jubilee
. . . consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim a release through the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you, and each of you shall return to his own property . . . (Leviticus 25:10).

b. Examples of giving to the poor
I [Job] delivered the poor who cried for help, and the orphan who had no helper. The blessing of the one ready to perish came upon me, and I made the widow’s heart sing for joy. I put on righteousness . . . I was eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame. I was a father to the needy (Job 29:12-16).

If I [Job] have kept the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail, or have eaten my morsel alone, and the orphan has not shared it . . . if I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, or that the needy had no covering, if his loins have not thanked me, and if he had not been warmed with the fleece of my sheep, if I have lifted up my hand against the orphan, because I saw I had support in the gate, let my shoulder fall from the socket, and my arm be broken off at the elbow (Job 31:16-23).

1) Righteous leader
May he [righteous king] vindicate the afflicted of the people, save the children of the needy . . . he will deliver the needy when he cries for help, the afflicted also, and him who has no helper. He will have compassion of the poor and needy . . . (Psalm 72:4, 12-13).

2) Excellent wife
An excellent wife . . . extends her hand to the poor; and she stretches out her hands to the needy (Proverbs 31:10, 20).

2. New Testament
a. John the Baptist
The multitudes were questioning him [John the Baptist], saying, “Then what shall we do?” And he would answer and say to them, “Let the man who has two tunics share with him who has none; and let him who has food do likewise” (Luke 3:10-11).

b. Jesus
1) Jesus identifies with poor
But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angles with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. And all the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left. The King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me, I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You drink? And when did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’ Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’ Then they themselves also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?’ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me (Matthew 25:31-45).

2) Jesus models giving to the poor
After the morsel, Satan then entered into him [Judas Iscariot]. Jesus therefore said to him, “What you do, do quickly.” Now no one of those reclining at the table knew for what purpose He had said this to him. For some were supposing, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus was saying to him, “Buy the things we have need of for the feast”; or else, that he should give something to the poor (John 13:27-29).

c. Formerly dishonest to give to the poor
Let him who steals steal no longer; but rather let him labor, performing with his own hands what is good, in order that he may have something to share with him who has need (Ephesians 4:28).

d. Other examples
All those who had believed were together, and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions, and were sharing them all, as anyone might have need (Acts 2:44-45).

[A prophet named Agabus] stood up and began to indicate by the Spirit that there would certainly be a great famine all over the world. And this took place in the reign of Claudius. And in the proportion that any of the disciples had means, each of them determined to send a contribution for the relief of the brethren living in Judea. And this they did (Acts 11:28-30).

In every thing I [Paul] showed you that working hard in this manner you must help the weak (Acts 20:35).

Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. Yes, they were pleased to do so, and they are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are indebted to minister to them also in material things (Romans 15:26-27).

They [Peter, James and John] asked us to remember the poor – the very thing I [Paul] also was eager to do (Galatians 2:10).

B. BLESSINGS AND CURSES

1. Blessings of giving to the poor
a. Blessing of knowing the Lord
“He pled the cause of the afflicted and needy . . . Is not that what it means to know Me?” declares the Lord (Jeremiah 22:16).

b. Blessing of life
“If a man . . . gives his bread to the hungry, and covers the naked with clothing . . . he is righteous and will surely live,” declares the Lord God . . . [a son who] gives his bread to the hungry, and covers the naked with clothing . . . will surely live (Ezekiel 18:7, 9, 16-17).

c. Blessing on family
His descendants will be mighty on earth . . . [who] has given freely to the poor . . . (Psalm 112:2, 9).

d. Blessing of needs met
He who gives to the poor will never want . . . (Proverbs 28:27).

e. Blessing of health
How blessed is he who considers the helpless . . . The Lord will sustain him upon his sickbed; in his illness, You restore him to health (Psalm 41:1-3).

f. Blessing of prayers answered and guidance
Is this not the fast which I choose . . . divide your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into the house; when you see the naked, to cover him; and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? Then your light will break out like the dawn, and your recovery will speedily spring forth; and your righteousness will go before you; the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call and the Lord will answer; you will cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ . . . give yourself to the hungry, and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then your light will rise in darkness, and your gloom will become like midday. And the Lord will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire in scorched places, and give strength to your bones; and you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail (Isaiah 58:6-11).

g. Blessing of delivery and protection
How blessed is he who considers the helpless; the Lord will deliver him in a day of trouble. The Lord will protect him, and keep him alive (Psalm 41:1-2).

h. Blessing of honor
He has given freely to the poor . . . his horn will be exalted in honor (Psalm 112:9).

i. Blessing of wealth and blessings of work
You shall generously give to him [the poor], and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all your undertakings (Deuteronomy 15:10).

When you reap your harvest in your field and have forgotten a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be for the alien, for the orphan, and for the widow, in order that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands (Deuteronomy 24:19).

May he [righteous king will] save the children of the needy . . . he will deliver the needy when he cries for help . . . may the gold of Sheba be given to him . . . (Psalm 72:4, 12-15).

Wealth and riches are in his house . . . He has given freely to the poor (Psalm 112:3, 9).

He who gracious to a poor man lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his good deed (Proverbs 19:17).

He who increases his wealth by interest and usury, gathers it for him who is gracious to the poor (Proverbs 28:8).

[Nebuchadnezzar show] mercy to the poor, in case there may be a prolonging of your prosperity (Daniel 4:27).

j. Blessing of spiritual fruitfulness
And let our people also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, that they may not be unfruitful (Titus 3:13-14).

k. Blessings in general
He who is generous will be blessed for he gives some of his food to the poor (Proverbs 22:9).

l. Blessings of happiness
. . . happy is he who is gracious to the poor (Proverbs 14:21).

2. Curses for those who do not give to the poor
a. Curse of unanswered prayer
He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor will also cry himself and not be answered (Proverbs 21:13).

b. Curse of poverty
He who oppresses the poor to make much for himself . . . will only come to poverty (Proverbs 22:16).

c. Cursed in general
He who gives to the poor will never want, but he who shuts his eyes will have many curses (Proverbs 28:27).

C. MISCELLANEOUS ISSUES IN GIVING TO THE POOR
1. Correct attitude of compassion
Have I not wept for the one whose life is hard? Was not my soul grieved for the needy? (Job 30:25).

2. Example of investigating the needs of the poor
I [Job] was a father to the needy, and I investigated the case which I did not know (Job 29:16).

3. Godly wrongly accused of not giving to the poor
Is not your [Job] wickedness great . . . the weary you have given no water to drink, and to the hungry you have withheld bread . . . You have sent widows away empty . . . (Job 22:5, 7, 9).

4. Example of giving glory to God instead of giving to the poor
A woman came to Him with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume, and she poured it upon His head as He reclined at the table. But the disciples were indignant when they say this, and said, “Why this waste? For this perfume might have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.” But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you bother the woman? For she has done a good deed to Me. For the poor you have with you always; but you do not always have Me. For when she poured this perfume upon My body, she did it to prepare Me for burial. Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done shall also be spoken of in memory of her” (Matthew 26:6-13).

There came a woman with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume of pure nard; and she broke the vial and poured it over His head. But some were indignantly remarking to one another, “Why has this perfume been wasted? For this perfume might have been sold for over three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor.” And they were scolding her. But Jesus said, “Let her alone; why do you bother her? She has done a good deed to Me. For the poor you always have with you, and whenever you wish, you can do them good; but you do not always have Me” (Mark 14:3-7).

Mary therefore took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, who was intending to betray Him, said, “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii, and given to poor people?” Now he said this, not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box, he used to pilfer what was put into it. Jesus therefore said, “Let her alone, in order that she may keep it for the day of My burial. For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have Me” (John 12:3-8).

5. Care of widows commanded

A complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food. And the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. But select from among you, brethren, seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task (Acts 6:1-3).

This is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father, to visit orphans and widows in their distress . . . (James 1:27).

6. Results of proper perspective of ownership: no poor
The congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own; but all things were common property to them . . . there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales, and lay them at the apostles’ feet; and they would be distributed to each as any had need (Acts 4:32-33).

7. Because the poor have limited resources, provision for them to give less
But if he cannot afford a lamb, then he shall bring to the Lord his guilt offering for that in which he has sinned, two turtledoves or two young pigeons . . . if his means are insufficient for two turtledoves or two young pigeons, then for his offering for that which he has sinned, he shall bring the tenth of an ephah of fine flour . . . (Leviticus 5:7, 11).

When the days of her purification are completed, for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the doorway of the tent of meeting, a one year old lamb for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering . . . if she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two young pigeons (Leviticus 12:6,8)

But if he is poor, and his means are insufficient, then he is to take one male lamb for a guilt offering as a wave offering to make atonement for him, and one-tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering, and a log of oil, and two turtledoves or two young pigeons which are within his means (Leviticus 14:21-22).

He shall then offer one of the turtledoves or young pigeons, which are within his means. He shall offer what he can afford . . . This is the law for him in whom there is an infection of leprosy, whose means are limited for his cleansing (Leviticus 14:30-32).

But if he is poorer than your valuation, then he shall be placed before the priest, and the priest shall value him; according to the means of the one who vowed, the priest shall value him (Leviticus 27:8)

a. Jesus’ parents in this category
When the days for their [Mary and Joseph] purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought . . . a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons” (Luke 2:22-24).

b. During census rich and poor gave same amount
When you take a census of the sons of Israel . . . Everyone who is numbered, from twenty years old and over, shall give the contribution to the Lord. The rich shall not pay more, and the poor shall not pay less than the half shekel (Exodus 30:12-15).

8. Giving to the poor can be evidence of salvation
Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor . . . Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house (Luke 19:8-9).

VII. MISCELLANEOUS EXAMPLES OF GIVING (NOT TO GOD)

[Abraham’s servant] took a gold ring weighing a half-shekel and two bracelets for her [Rebekah] wrists weighing ten shekels in gold . . . The servant brought out articles of silver and articles of gold, and garments, and gave them to Rebekah; he also gave precious things to her brother and to her mother (Genesis 24:22, 53).

Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: take some of the best products of the land in your bags, and carry down to the man as a present, a little balm and a little honey, aromatic gum and myrrh . . . the men took this present . . . and went down to Egypt and stood before Joseph (Genesis 43:11-12, 15).

Then she [Queen of Sheba] gave the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold, and a very great amount of spices and precious stones (2 Chronicles 9:8-9).

King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire which she requested . . . (2 Chronicles 9:12).

[Many were bringing] choice presents to Hezekiah king of Judah . . . (2 Chronicles 31:23).

And many were bringing . . . choice presents to Hezekiah king of Judah, so that he was exalt in the sight of all nations thereafter (2 Chronicles 32:23).

And Josiah contributed to the lay people, to all who were present, flocks of lambs and kids, all for the Passover offerings, numbering 30,000 plus 3000 bulls; these were from the kings possessions. His officers also contributed a freewill offering to the people . . . (2 Chronicles 35:7-9).

Let the men of that place support him [Israelites returning to Jerusalem] with silver and gold, with goods . . . all those about them encouraged them with articles of silver, with gold, with goods, with cattle, and with valuables (Ezra 1:4, 6).

And some of the heads of father’s households gave to the work. The governor gave to the treasury . . . and some of the heads of father’s households gave into the treasury of the work . . . the rest of the people gave . . . (Nehemiah 7:70-72).

[King Ahasuerus] also made a holiday for the provinces and gave gifts according to the king’s bounty (Esther 2:18).

Let the kings of Tarshish and of the islands bring presents [to the righteous king]; the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts (Psalm 72:10).

The captain of the bodyguard gave him [Jeremiah] a ration and a gift (Jeremiah 40:5).

A. TO APPEASE PEOPLE
Then he selected from what he had with him a present for his brother Esau . . . I will appease him with the present that goes before me. Then afterward I will see his face; perhaps he will accept me (Genesis 32:13, 20).

“What do you mean by all this company which I have met?” And he said, “To find favor in the sight of my lord . . . if now I have found favor in your sight, then take my present from my hand, for I see your face as one sees the face of God, and you have received me favorably. “Please take my gift which has been brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have plenty . . . (Genesis 33:8-11).

A gift in secret subdues anger . . . (Proverbs 21:14).

B. TO INFLUENCE PEOPLE
Shechem also said to her father [Jacob] and to her brothers, “If I find favor in your sight, then I will give whatever you say to me. Ask ever so much bridal payment and gift, and I will give according as you say to me; but give me the girl in marriage” (Genesis 34:11-12).

C. TO SEEK WISDOM
And all the kings of the earth were seeking the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom which God had put in his heart. And they brought every man his gift, articles of silver and gold, garments, weapons, spices, horses, and mules, so much year by year (2 Chronicles 9:23-24).

And she gave the king a hundred and twenty talents of gold, and a very great amount of spices and precious stones. Never again did such abundance of spices come in as that which the queen of Sheba gave King Solomon (1 Kings 10:10).

D. WICKED CELEBRATE THE DEATH OF THE GODLY
Those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry; and they will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth (Revelation 11:10).

VIII. MISCELLANEOUS GIVING ISSUES

A. GEOGRAPHICAL PLACE TO GIVE
You shall bring the choice first fruits of your soil into the house of the Lord your God . . . (Exodus 23:19).

You shall bring the very first of the first fruits of your soil into the house of the Lord your God . . . (Exodus 34:26).

And there [the place which the Lord chooses] you shall bring your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the contribution of your hand, your votive offerings, your freewill offerings, and the first-born of your herd and of your flock (Deuteronomy 12:6).

the place which the Lord your God shall choose for His name to dwell, there you shall bring all that I command you: your burnt offerings and your sacrifices, your tithes and the contribution of your hand . . . (Deuteronomy 12:11).

You are not allowed to eat within your gates the tithe of your grain, or new wine, or oil, or the first-born of your herd or flock, or any of your votive offerings which you vow, or your freewill offerings, or the contribution of your hand. But you shall eat them before the Lord your God in the place which the Lord your God will choose . . . (Deuteronomy 12:17, 18).

B. WE MAY NOT HAVE MONEY TO GIVE, BUT WE CAN GIVE CHRIST
And a certain man who had been lame from his mother’s womb was being carried along, whom they used to set down every day at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, in order to beg alms of those who were entering the temple. And when he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple; he began asking to receive alms. And Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze upon him and said, “Look at us!” And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene – walk!” (Acts 3:2-6).

C. A GENEROUS PERSON WILL HAVE MANY REQUESTS TO GIVE
Many will entreat the favor of a generous man, and every man is a friend to him who gives gifts (Proverbs 19:6).

D. GIVING CAN BE AFFECTED BY COVETEDNESS
So I thought it necessary to urge the brethren that they would go on ahead to you and arrange beforehand your previously promised bountiful gift, that the same might be ready as a bountiful gift, and not affected by covetousness (2 Corinthians 9:5).

E. GIVING RESULTS IN THANKSGIVING TO GOD
For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God (2 Corinthians 9:12).

F. DO NOT GIVE BEFORE ATTEMPTING RECONCILIATION WITH
AN ALIENATED BROTHER
If therefore you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar, and go your way; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering (Matthew 5:23, 24).

G. SCRIPTURE ENCOURAGES US TO GIVE
…Judah; pay your vows …(Nahum 1:15).

And do not neglect doing good and sharing; for with such sacrifices God is pleased. (Hebrews 13:16).

H. GIVING CAN BE A TESTIMONY
And Jesus said to him, “. . . show yourself to the priest, and present the offering that Moses commanded, for a testimony to them” (Matthew 8:4).

He said to him [healed leper], “. . . show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a testimony to them” (Mark 1:44).

And He ordered him [healed leper], “. . . show yourself to the priest and make an offering for your cleansing, just as Moses commanded, for a testimony to them” (Luke 5:14).

I. EXAMPLE OF GIVING TO A NATION
[Paul] came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings (Acts 24:17).

J. THINGS BETTER THAN A SACRIFICE

1. Love of God and Neighbor
And to love Him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as himself, is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices (Mark 12:33).

2. Loyalty and knowledge of God
For I [the Lord] delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice, and in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings (Hosea 6:6).

3. Obedience
Samuel said, “Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams (1 Samuel 15:22).

“What are your [rebellious people] multiplied sacrifices to Me?” says the Lord. “I have enough of burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed cattle . . . (Isaiah 1:11).

4. Righteousness/justice
To do righteousness and justice is desired by the Lord rather than sacrifice (Proverbs 21:3).

K. OFFERINGS

1. Compulsory
And at the festivals and the appointed feasts the grain offering shall be an ephah with a bull and an ephah with a ram, and with the lambs as much as one is able to give, and a hin of oil with an ephah . . . you shall provide a lamb a year old without blemish for a burnt offering to the Lord daily; morning by morning you shall provide it. Also you shall provide . . . a grain offering to the Lord continually by perpetual ordinance. Thus they shall provide the lamb, the grain offering, and the oil, morning by morning, for a continual burnt offering (Ezekiel 46:11-15).

2. Voluntary
And when the prince provides a freewill offering, a burnt offering, or peace offering as a freewill offering to the Lord (Ezekiel 46:12).

3. Examples of offerings given
Now the king and all Israel with him offered sacrifice before the Lord. And Solomon offered for the sacrifice of peace offerings, which he offered to the Lord, 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. So the king and all the sons of Israel dedicated the house of the Lord. On the same day . . . he offered the burnt offering and the grain offering and the fat of the peace offerings; for the bronze altar that was before the Lord was too small to hold the burnt offering and the grain offering and the fat of the peace offerings (1 Kings 8:62-64).

Thus says Cyrus king of Persia . . . every survivor, at whatever place he may live, let the men of that place support him with silver and gold, with goods and cattle, together with a freewill offering for the house of God which is in Jerusalem . . . all those about them encouraged them with articles of silver, with gold, with goods, with cattle, and with valuables, aside from all that was given as a freewill offering (Ezra 1:2, 4, 6).

. . . bring the silver and gold, which the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel . . . with all the silver and gold which you shall find in the whole province of Babylon . . . the rest of the needs for the house of your God, for which you may have occasion to provide, provide for it from the royal treasury. And I, even I King Artaxerxes, issue a decree to all the treasurers who are in the provinces beyond the River, that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven , may require of you, it shall be done diligently, even up to 100 talents of silver, 100 kors of wheat, 100 baths of wine, 100 baths of oil, and salt as needed (Ezra 7:15-18, 20-22).

L. IF YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFT IS GIVING, THEN EXERCISE IT
Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let each exercise them accordingly . . . he who gives, with liberality . . . (Romans 12:6-8).

M. GIVE TO MEET BASIC NEEDS
He who had gathered much had no excess, and he who had gathered little had no lack; every man gathered as much as he should eat (Exodus 16:18).

For this is not for the ease of others and for your affliction, but by way of equality – at this present time your abundance being a supply for their want, that their abundance also may become a supply for your want, that there may be equality; as it is written, “He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little had no lack” (2 Corinthians 8:13-15).

I. GOD’S COMMANDS AND PERSPECTIVE OF GIVING TO THE POOR
For the poor will never cease to be in the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall freely open you hand to your brother, to your needy and poor in your land’ (Deuteronomy 15:11).

He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, but he who is gracious to the needy honors Him (Proverbs 14:31).

He who is gracious to a poor man lends to the Lord, and He will repay him for his good deed (Proverbs 19:17).

Is this not the fast which I choose . . . divide your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into the house; when you see the naked, to cover him . . . give yourself to the hungry . . . (Isaiah 58:6-10).

Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had arrogance, abundant food, and careless ease, but she did not help the poor and needy (Ezekiel 16:49).

A. OLD TESTAMENT

1. Old Testament provisions for the poor

a. Laws of harvesting and gleaning
You shall sow you land for six years and gather in its yield, but on the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, so that the needy of your people may eat . . . do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove (Exodus 23:10-11).

Now when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very corners of your field, neither shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest. Nor shall you glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather the fallen fruit of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the needy (Leviticus 19:9-10).

When you reap the harvest of your land, moreover, you shall not reap to the very corners of your field, nor gather the gleaning of your harvest; you are to leave them for the needy (Leviticus 23:22).

When you reap your harvest in your field and have forgotten a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be for the alien, for the orphan, and for the widow . . . When you beat your olive tree, you shall not go over the boughs again; it shall be for the alien, for the orphan, and for the widow. When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not go over it again; it shall be for the alien, for the orphan, and for the widow (Deuteronomy 24:19-21).

b. Forgiveness of debts (see DEBT Scriptures)

c. Unlimited liability of meeting needs
If there is a poor man with you, one of your brothers . . . you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand from your poor brother; but you shall freely open your hand to him, and shall generously lend him sufficient for his need in whatever he lacks. Beware, lest there is a base thought in your heart, saying, ‘The seventh year, the year of remission, is near,’ and your eye is hostile toward your poor brother, and you give him nothing; then he may cry to the Lord against you, and it will be a sin in you. You shall generously give to him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him . . . (Deuteronomy 15:7-10).

d. Celebration of Purim
. . . [during Purim celebration] gifts to the poor (Ester 9:22).

e. Tithe every third year
At the end of every third year you shall bring out all the tithe of your produce in that year, and shall deposit it in your town. And the Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance among you, and the alien, the orphan and the widow who are in your town, shall come and eat and be satisfied (Deuteronomy 14:28-29).

When you have finished paying all the tithe of your increase in the third year, the year of tithing, then you shall give it to the Levite, to the stranger, to the orphan and to the widow, that they may eat in your towns, and be satisfied (Deuteronomy 26:12).

f. Year of Jubilee
. . . consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim a release through the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you, and each of you shall return to his own property . . . (Leviticus 25:10).

2. Examples of giving to the poor
I [Job] delivered the poor who cried for help, and the orphan who had no helper. The blessing of the one ready to perish came upon me, and I made the widow’s heart sing for joy. I put on righteousness . . . I was eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame. I was a father to the needy (Job 29:12-16).

If I [Job] have kept the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail, or have eaten my morsel alone, and the orphan has not shared it . . . if I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, or that the needy had no covering, if his loins have not thanked me, and if he had not been warmed with the fleece of my sheep, if I have lifted up my hand against the orphan, because I saw I had support in the gate, let my shoulder fall from the socket, and my arm be broken off at the elbow (Job 31:16-23).

a. Righteous leader
May he [righteous king] vindicate the afflicted of the people, save the children of the needy . . . he will deliver the needy when he cries for help, the afflicted also, and him who has no helper. He will have compassion of the poor and needy . . . (Psalm 72:4, 12-13).

b. Excellent wife
An excellent wife . . . extends her hand to the poor; and she stretches out her hands to the needy (Proverbs 31:10, 20).

B. NEW TESTAMENT

1. John the Baptist
The multitudes were questioning him [John the Baptist], saying, “Then what shall we do?” And he would answer and say to them, “Let the man who has two tunics share with him who has none; and let him who has food do likewise” (Luke 3:10-11).

2. Jesus
a. Jesus identifies with poor
But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angles with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. And all the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left. The King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me, I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You drink? And when did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’ Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’ Then they themselves also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?’ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me (Matthew 25:31-45).

b. Jesus models giving to the poor
After the morsel, Satan then entered into him [Judas Iscariot]. Jesus therefore said to him, “What you do, do quickly.” Now no one of those reclining at the table knew for what purpose He had said this to him. For some were supposing, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus was saying to him, “Buy the things we have need of for the feast”; or else, that he should give something to the poor (John 13:27-29).

3. Formerly dishonest to give to the poor
Let him who steals steal no longer; but rather let him labor, performing with his own hands what is good, in order that he may have something to share with him who has need (Ephesians 4:28).

4. Other examples
All those who had believed were together, and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions, and were sharing them all, as anyone might have need (Acts 2:44-45).

[A prophet named Agabus] stood up and began to indicate by the Spirit that there would certainly be a great famine all over the world. And this took place in the reign of Claudius. And in the proportion that any of the disciples had means, each of them determined to send a contribution for the relief of the brethren living in Judea. And this they did (Acts 11:28-30).

In every thing I [Paul] showed you that working hard in this manner you must help the weak (Acts 20:35).

Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. Yes, they were pleased to do so, and they are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are indebted to minister to them also in material things (Romans 15:26-27).

They [Peter, James and John] asked us to remember the poor – the very thing I [Paul] also was eager to do (Galatians 2:10).

III. BLESSINGS AND CURSES

A. BLESSINGS OF GIVING TO THE POOR

1. Blessing of knowing the Lord

“He pled the cause of the afflicted and needy . . . Is not that what it means to know Me?” declares the Lord (Jeremiah 22:16).

2. Blessing of life
“If a man . . . gives his bread to the hungry, and covers the naked with clothing . . . he is righteous and will surely live,” declares the Lord God . . . [a son who] gives his bread to the hungry, and covers the naked with clothing . . . will surely live (Ezekiel 18:7, 9, 16-17).

3. Blessing on family
His descendants will be mighty on earth . . . [who] has given freely to the poor . . . (Psalm 112:2, 9).

4. Blessing of needs met
He who gives to the poor will never want . . . (Proverbs 28:27).

5. Blessing of health
How blessed is he who considers the helpless . . . The Lord will sustain him upon his sickbed; in his illness, You restore him to health (Psalm 41:1-3).

6. Blessing of prayers answered and guidance
Is this not the fast which I choose . . . divide your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into the house; when you see the naked, to cover him; and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? Then your light will break out like the dawn, and your recovery will speedily spring forth; and your righteousness will go before you; the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call and the Lord will answer; you will cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ . . . give yourself to the hungry, and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then your light will rise in darkness, and your gloom will become like midday. And the Lord will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire in scorched places, and give strength to your bones; and you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail (Isaiah 58:6-11).

7. Blessing of delivery and protection
How blessed is he who considers the helpless; the Lord will deliver him in a day of trouble. The Lord will protect him, and keep him alive (Psalm 41:1-2).

8. Blessing of honor
He has given freely to the poor . . . his horn will be exalted in honor (Psalm 112:9).

9. Blessing of wealth and blessings of work
You shall generously give to him [the poor], and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all your undertakings (Deuteronomy 15:10).

When you reap your harvest in your field and have forgotten a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be for the alien, for the orphan, and for the widow, in order that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands (Deuteronomy 24:19).

May he [righteous king will] save the children of the needy . . . he will deliver the needy when he cries for help . . . may the gold of Sheba be given to him . . . (Psalm 72:4, 12-15).

Wealth and riches are in his house . . . He has given freely to the poor (Psalm 112:3, 9).

He who gracious to a poor man lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his good deed (Proverbs 19:17).

He who increases his wealth by interest and usury, gathers it for him who is gracious to the poor (Proverbs 28:8).

[Nebuchadnezzar show] mercy to the poor, in case there may be a prolonging of your prosperity (Daniel 4:27).

10. Blessing of spiritual fruitfulness
And let our people also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, that they may not be unfruitful (Titus 3:13-14).

11. Blessings in general
He who is generous will be blessed for he gives some of his food to the poor (Proverbs 22:9).

12. Blessings of happiness
. . . happy is he who is gracious to the poor (Proverbs 14:21).

B. CURSES FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT GIVE TO THE POOR

1. Curse of unanswered prayer
He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor will also cry himself and not be answered (Proverbs 21:13).

2. Curse of poverty
He who oppresses the poor to make much for himself . . . will only come to poverty (Proverbs 22:16).

3. Cursed in general
He who gives to the poor will never want, but he who shuts his eyes will have many curses (Proverbs 28:27).

III. MISCELLANEOUS ISSUES IN GIVING TO THE POOR

A. CORRECT ATTITUDE
Have I not wept for the one whose life is hard? Was not my soul grieved for the needy? (Job 30:25).

B. EXAMPLE OF INVESTIGATING THE NEEDS OF THE POOR
I [Job] was a father to the needy, and I investigated the case which I did not know (Job 29:16).

C. GODLY WRONGLY ACCUSED OF NOT GIVING TO THE POOR
Is not your [Job] wickedness great . . . the weary you have given no water to drink, and to the hungry you have withheld bread . . . You have sent widows away empty . . . (Job 22:5, 7, 9).

D. EXAMPLE IF GIVING GLORY TO GOD INSTEAD OF GIVING TO THE POOR
A woman came to Him with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume, and she poured it upon His head as He reclined at the table. But the disciples were indignant when they say this, and said, “Why this waste? For this perfume might have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.” But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you bother the woman? For she has done a good deed to Me. For the poor you have with you always; but you do not always have Me. For when she poured this perfume upon My body, she did it to prepare Me for burial. Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done shall also be spoken of in memory of her” (Matthew 26:6-13).

There came a woman with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume of pure nard; and she broke the vial and poured it over His head. But some were indignantly remarking to one another, “Why has this perfume been wasted? For this perfume might have been sold for over three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor.” And they were scolding her. But Jesus said, “Let her alone; why do you bother her? She has done a good deed to Me. For the poor you always have with you, and whenever you wish, you can do them good; but you do not always have Me” (Mark 14:3-7).

Mary therefore took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, who was intending to betray Him, said, “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii, and given to poor people?” Now he said this, not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box, he used to pilfer what was put into it. Jesus therefore said, “Let her alone, in order that she may keep it for the day of My burial. For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have Me” (John 12:3-8).

E. CARE OF WIDOWS COMMANDED
A complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food. And the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. But select from among you, brethren, seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task (Acts 6:1-3).

This is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father, to visit orphans and widows in their distress . . . (James 1:27).

F. RESULTS OF PROPER PERSPECTIVE OF OWNERSHIP: NO POOR
The congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own; but all things were common property to them . . . there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales, and lay them at the apostles’ feet; and they would be distributed to each as any had need (Acts 4:32-33).

G. BECAUSE THE POOR HAVE LIMITED RESOURCES, PROVISION FOR THEM TO GIVE LESS
But if he cannot afford a lamb, then he shall bring to the Lord his guilt offering for that in which he has sinned, two turtledoves or two young pigeons . . . if his means are insufficient for two turtledoves or two young pigeons, then for his offering for that which he has sinned, he shall bring the tenth of an ephah of fine flour . . . (Leviticus 5:7, 11).

When the days of her purification are completed, for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the doorway of the tent of meeting, a one year old lamb for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering . . . if she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two young pigeons (Leviticus 12:6,8)

But if he is poor, and his means are insufficient, then he is to take one male lamb for a guilt offering as a wave offering to make atonement for him, and one-tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering, and a log of oil, and two turtledoves or two young pigeons which are within his means (Leviticus 14:21-22).

He shall then offer one of the turtledoves or young pigeons, which are within his means. He shall offer what he can afford . . . This is the law for him in whom there is an infection of leprosy, whose means are limited for his cleansing (Leviticus 14:30-32).

But if he is poorer than your valuation, then he shall be placed before the priest, and the priest shall value him; according to the means of the one who vowed, the priest shall value him (Leviticus 27:8)

1. Jesus’ parents in this category
When the days for their [Mary and Joseph] purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought . . . a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons” (Luke 2:22-24).

2. During census rich and poor gave same amount
When you take a census of the sons of Israel . . . Everyone who is numbered, from twenty years old and over, shall give the contribution to the Lord. The rich shall not pay more, and the poor shall not pay less than the half shekel (Exodus 30:12-15).

H. GIVING TO THE POOR CAN BE EVIDENCE OF SALVATION
Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor . . . Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house (Luke 19:8-9).

I. GOD OWNS EVERYTHING

A. GOD OWNS EVERYTHING ON EARTH
And he [Melchizedek] blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth” (Genesis 14:19).

And Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have sworn to the Lord God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth (Genesis 14:22).

Moses said to him [Pharaoh], “As soon as I go out of the city, I will spread out my hands to the Lord; the thunder will cease, and there will be hail no longer, that you may know that the earth is the Lord’s” (Exodus 9:29).

Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine (Exodus 19:5).

Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and the highest heavens, the earth and all that is in it (Deuteronomy 10:14).

Yours, O Lord, is . . . everything that is in the heavens and the earth . . . who am I and who are my people that we should be able to offer as generously as this? For all things come from You, and from Your hand we have given You. For we are sojourners before You, and tenants . . . all this abundance that we have provided to build You a house for Your holy name, it is from Your hand, and all is Yours (1 Chronicles 29:11, 14-16).

Who has given to Me that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is Mine (Job 41:11).

The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it (Psalm 24:1).

If I were hungry, I would not tell you; for the whole world is Mine; and all it contains (Psalm 50:12).

Arise, O God, judge the earth! For it is Thou does possess all the nations (Psalm 82:8).

The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours; the world and all it contains, You have founded them (Psalm 89:11).

In whose hands are the depths of the earth; the peaks of the mountains are His also. The sea is His, for it was He who made it; and His hands formed the dry land (Psalm 95:4-5).

O Lord, how many are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all; the earth if full of Your possessions (Psalm 104:24).

For the earth is the Lord’s, and everything that is in it (1 Corinthians 10:26).

1. Parable illustrating God’s ownership
For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves, and entrusted his possessions to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. But he who received the one talent went away and dug in the ground, and hid his master’s money.

Now after a long time, the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. And the one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me; see, I have gained five more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave; you were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things, enter into the joy of your master.’

The one also who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted to me two talents; see, I have gained two more talents.’ His master said to him, `Well done, good and faithful slave; you were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’

And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed. And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground; see, you have what is yours.’ But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I scattered no seed. Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has ten talents’ (Matthew 25:14-28).

2. Lord holds all things together
He . . . upholds all things by the word of His power (Hebrews 1:3).

“. . . and in Him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:17).

B. SPECIFIC POSSESSIONS GOD OWNS

1. Land
The land, moreover, shall not be sold permanently, for the land is Mine . . . (Leviticus 25:23).

2. Gold and silver
You also took your beautiful jewels made of My gold and of My silver, which I had given you, and made for yourself male images that you might play the harlot with them (Ezekiel 16:17).

“The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,” declares the Lord of hosts (Haggai 2:8).

3. Animals
For every beast of the forest is Mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird of the mountains, and everything that moves in the field is Mine (Psalm 50:10-11).

II. GOD CONTROLS EVERY EVENT

A. LORD CONTROLS ALL EVENTS ON EARTH
. . . Your is the dominion, O Lord, and You exalt Yourself as head over all. Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great, and to strengthen everyone (1 Chronicles 29:11-12).

Whatever the Lord pleases, He does, in heaven and in earth . . . (Psalm 135:6).

The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord (Proverbs 16:33).

Man’s steps are ordained by the Lord, how then can man understand his way? (Proverbs 20:24).

Daniel answered and said, “Let the name of God be blessed forever…it is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings . . . (Daniel 2:20-21).

1. Lord allows difficult circumstances to occur
Then all his [Job’s] brothers, and all his sisters, and all who had known him before, came to him, and they ate bread with him in his house; and they consoled him and comforted him for all the evil that the Lord had brought on him (Job 42:11).

. . . I am the Lord, and there is no other, the One forming light and creating darkness, causing well-being and creating calamity; I am the Lord who does all these (Isaiah 45:6-7).

Who is there who speaks and it comes to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both good and ill go forth? (Lamentations 3:37-38).

. . . If a calamity occurs in a city has not the Lord done it? (Amos 3:6).

a. Lord uses every circumstance for a good purpose in the life of the godly
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

1) Example of Lord allowing difficult circumstances for ultimate good
Do not be grieved or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance. Now, therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh and lord of all his household and ruler over all the land of Egypt. Hurry and go up to my father, and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph, “God has made me lord of all Egypt . . . (Genesis 45:5-9).

2. People’s perspective of the control of the events
I again saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift, and the battle is not to the warriors, and neither is bread to the wise, nor wealth to the discerning, nor favor to men of ability; for time and chance overtake them all (Ecclesiastes 9:11).

B. SPECIFIC EVENTS AND ITEMS LORD CONTROLS

1. Lord directs people’s hearts
The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes (Proverbs 21:1).

a. Lord can give godly people favor with others
But the Lord was with Joseph and extended kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailer (Genesis 39:21).

…the Lord had caused them to rejoice, and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria toward them to encourage them in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel (Ezra 6:22).

…the king granted them [Nehemiah’s requests] to me because the good hand of my God was on me…I told them how the hand of my God had been favorable to me . . . (Nehemiah 2:8, 18).

1) Example of Israelites plundering Egyptians
I [the Lord] will grant this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and it shall be that when you go, you will not go empty-handed. But every woman shall ask of her neighbor and the woman who lives in her house, articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing; and you will put them on your sons and daughters. Thus you will plunder the Egyptians (Exodus 3:21-22).

Now the sons of Israel had done according to the word of Moses, for they had requested from the Egyptians articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing; and the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have their request. Thus they plundered the Egyptians (Exodus 12:35-36).

b. Lord makes some people obstinate
Thus I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will chase after them; and I will be honored through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord . . . (Exodus 14:4).

But Sihon king of Heshbon was not willing for us to pass through his land; for the Lord your God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate, in order to deliver him into your hand, as he is today (Deuteronomy 2:30).

c. Lord controls the coveting of a person’s heart
Three times a year all your males are to appear before the Lord God, the God of Israel. For I will drive out nations before you and enlarge your borders, and no man shall covet your land when you go up three times a year to appear before the Lord your God (Exodus 34:23-24).

2. Lord controls the nations
He made from one, every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times, and the boundaries of their habitation (Acts 17:26).

. . . “O king, do not let the army of Israel go with you, for the Lord is not with Israel nor with any of the sons of Ephraim…God will bring you down before the enemy, for God has power to help and to bring down” (2 Chronicles 25:7-9).

Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger . . . I sent it against a godless nation and commission it against the people of My fury to capture booty and to seize plunder . . . (Isaiah 10:5-6).

III. GOD PROVIDES EVERYTHING

A. EVERYTHING COMES FROM LORD
For all things come from You . . . (1 Chronicles 29:14).

For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things (Romans 11:36).

1. A location called “the Lord will provide”
Abraham called the name of the place The Lord Will Provide . . . (Genesis 22:14).

2. God gives food to all
[the Lord] gives food to all flesh . . . (Psalm 136:25).

The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food in due time. You open Your hand, and satisfy the desire of every living thing (Psalm 145:15-16).

B. Examples of Lord providing

1. In wilderness
For the Lord your God . . . has known your wanderings through this great wilderness. These forty years the Lord your God has been with you; you have not lacked a thing (Deuteronomy 2:7).

He led you through the great and terrible wilderness, with its fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty ground where there was no water; He brought water for you out of the rock of flint. In the wilderness He fed you manna which your fathers did not know . . . (Deuteronomy 8:15-16).

You provided bread from heaven for them [Israel] for their hunger, You brought forth water from a rock for them for their thirst (Nehemiah 9:15).

Indeed, forty years You provided for them in the wilderness and they were not in want; their clothes did not wear out, nor did their feet swell (Nehemiah 9:21).

2. During sabbatical year
But if you say, “What are we going to eat on the seventh year if we do not sow or gather in our crops?” then I will so order My blessing for you in the sixth year that it will bring forth the crop for three years. When you are sowing the eighth year, you can still eat old things from the crop, eating the old until the ninth year when its crop comes in (Leviticus 25:20-22).

3. Feeding the multitudes
And when it was evening, the disciples came to Him saying, “The place is desolate, and the time is already past; so send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away; you give them something to eat!” And they said to Him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.” And He said, “Bring them here to Me.” And ordering the multitudes to recline on the grass, He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, He blessed the food, and breaking the loaves He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave to the multitudes, and they all ate, and were satisfied. And they picked up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve full baskets. And there were about five thousand men who ate, aside from women and children (Matthew 14:15-21).

And Jesus called His disciples to Him, and said, “I feel compassion for the multitude, because they have remained with Me now three days and have nothing to eat; and I do not wish to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.” And the disciples said to Him, “Where would we get so many loaves in a desolate place to satisfy such a great multitude?” And Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have? And they said, “Seven, and a few small fish.” And He directed the multitude to sit down on the ground; and He took the seven loaves and the fish; and giving thanks, He broke them and started giving them to the disciples, and the disciples in turn, to the multitudes. And they all ate, and were satisfied, and they picked up what was left over of the broken pieces, seven large baskets full. And those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children (Matthew 15:32-38).

But Jesus, aware of this, said, “You men of little faith, why do you discuss among yourselves because you have no bread? Do you not yet understand or remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many large baskets you took up? Or the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets you took up? (Matthew 16:8-10).

When it was already quite late, His disciples came up to him and began saying, “The place is desolate and it is already quite late; send them away so that they may go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” But He answered and said to them, “You give them something to eat!” And they said to Him, “Shall we go and spend two hundred denarii on bread and give them something to eat?” And He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go look!” And when they found out, they said, “Five and two fish.” And He commanded them all to recline by groups on the green grass. And they reclined in companies of hundreds and of fifties. And he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, he blessed the food and broke the loaves and he kept giving them to the disciples to set before them; and He divided up the two fish among them all. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they picked up twelve full baskets of the broken pieces, and also of the fish. And there were five thousand men who ate the loaves (Mark 6:35-44).

In those days again, when there was a great multitude and they has nothing to eat, He summoned His disciples and said to them, “I feel compassion for the multitude because they have remained with Me now three days, and have nothing to eat; and if I send them away fasting to their home, they will faint on the way; and some of them have come a distance.” And His disciples answered Him, “Where will anyone be able to find enough to satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?” And He was asking them, “How many loaves do you have?” And they said, “Seven.” And He directed the multitude to sit down on the ground; and taking the seven loaves, He gave thanks and broke them, and began giving them to His disciples to serve to them, and they served them to the multitude. They also had a few small fish; and after He had blessed them, He ordered these to be served as well. And they ate and were satisfied; and they picked up seven full baskets of what was left over of the broken pieces. And about four thousand were there; and He sent them away (Mark 8:1-9).

“Do you not remember, when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces you picked up?” They said to Him, “Twelve.” “And when I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of broken pieces did you pick up?” And they said to Him, “Seven” (Mark 8:18-20).

The day began to decline, and the twelve came and said to Him, “Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding villages and countryside and find lodging and get something to eat; for here we are in a desolate place.” But He said to them, “You give them something to eat!” And they said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless perhaps we go and buy food for all these people.” (For there were about five thousand men.) And He said to His disciples, “Have them recline to eat in groups of about fifty each.” And they did so, and had them all recline. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed them, and broke them, and kept giving them to the disciples to set before the multitude. And they all ate and were satisfied; and the broken pieces which they had left over were picked up, twelve baskets full (Luke 9:12-17).

Jesus therefore lifting up His eyes, and seeing that a great multitude was coming to Him, said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, that these may eat?” And this He was saying to test him; for He Himself knew what he was intending to do. Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, for everyone to receive a little.” One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these for so many people?” Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. Jesus therefore took the loaves; and having given thanks, He distributed to those who were seated; likewise also of the fish as much as they wanted. And when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments that nothing may be lost.” And so they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves, which were left over by those who had eaten (John 6:5-13).

4. At the sea shore
There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will also come with you.” They went out, and got into the boat; and that night they caught nothing. But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus therefore said to them, “Children, you do not have any fish, do you?” They answered Him, “No.” And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you will find a catch.” They cast therefore, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish. That disciple therefore whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” And so when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put his outer garment on (for he was stripped for work), and threw himself into the sea. But the other disciples came in the little boat, for they were not far from the land, but about one hundred yards away, dragging the net full of fish. And so when they got out upon the land, they saw a charcoal fire already laid, and fish placed on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have now caught.” Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not torn (John 21:2-11).

C. LORD PROVIDES FOR THOSE WHO SEEK AND OBEY HIM
Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope for His lovingkindness, to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine (Psalm 33:18-19).

O fear the Lord, you His saints; for to those who fear Him, there is no want. The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; but they who seek the Lord shall not be in want of any good thing (Psalm 34:9-10).

Oh that My people would listen to Me, that Israel would walk in My ways…I would feed you with the finest of the wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you (Psalm 81:13, 16).

The Lord will not allow the righteous to hunger . . . (Proverbs 10:3).

[Because of their faithfulness] my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things [food and clothing] shall be added to you (Matthew 6:33).

For all these things [food and clothing] the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things. But seek for his kingdom, and these things shall be added to you (Luke 12:30-31).

IV. GOD GIVES RICHES AND POSSESSIONS

A. EVERYTHING COMES FROM THE LORD
For all things come from You (1 Chronicles 29:14).

For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things (Romans 11:36).

Instruct those who are rich in this present world not . . . to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy (1 Timothy 6:17).

B. LORD GIVES RICHES AND MATERIAL POSSESSIONS
Both riches and honor come from You . . . who am I [David] and who are my people that we should be able to offer as generously as this? For all things come from You, and from Your hand we have given You. For we are sojourners before You, and tenants, as all our fathers were; our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no hope. O Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided to build You a house for Your holy name, it is from Your hand . . . (1 Chronicles 29:12, 14-16).

. . . as for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also empowered him to eat from them and to receive his reward and rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God (Ecclesiastes 5:19).

There is an evil which I have seen under the sun and it is prevalent among men – a man to whom God has given riches and wealth and honor so that his soul lacks nothing of all that he desires, but God has not empowered him to eat from them (Ecclesiastes 6:1-2).

I have made the earth, the men and the beasts which are on the face of the earth by My great power and by My outstretched arm, and I will give it to the one who is pleasing in My sight (Jeremiah 27:5).

1. Examples of Lord giving riches and possessions

a. Lord gave children of Israel the Promised Land
“The land which I [The Lord] gave to Abraham and Isaac, I will give it to you, and I will give the land to your descendants after you” (Genesis 35:12).

I will bring you to the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and I will give it to you for a possession; I am the Lord (Exodus 6:8).

I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan and to be your God (Leviticus 25:38).

Then it shall come about when the Lord your God brings you into the land which He swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you, great and splendid cities which you did not build, and houses full of all good things which you did not fill, and hewn cisterns which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant, and you shall eat and be satisfied, then watch yourself, lest you forget the Lord . . . (Deuteronomy 6:10-12).

For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing forth in valleys and hills; a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey; a land where you shall eat food without scarcity, in which you shall not lack anything; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills you can dig copper. When you have eaten and are satisfied, you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which He has given you (Deuteronomy 8:7-10).

Then it shall be, when you enter the land which the Lord your God gives you as an inheritance, and you possess it and live in it, that you shall take some of the first of all the produce of the ground which you shall bring in from your land that the Lord your God gives you…you shall go to the priest who is in office at that time, and say to him, `I declare this day to the Lord my God that I have entered the land which the Lord swore to our fathers to give us’ (Deuteronomy 26:1-3).

And I [the Lord] gave you a land on which you had not labored, and cities which you had not built, and you have lived in them; and you are eating of vineyards and olive yards which you did not plant (Joshua 24:13).

. . . You told them to enter in order to possess the land which You swore to give them (Nehemiah 9:15).

Behold we are slaves today, and as to the land which You did give to our fathers to eat of its fruit and its boundary, behold, we are slaves on it (Nehemiah 9:36).

For if you truly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly practice justice . . . then I will let you dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers forever . . . (Jeremiah 7:5-7).

b. Other examples
The Lord has greatly blessed my master [Abraham], so that he has become rich; and He has given him flocks and herds, and silver and gold, and servants and maids, and camels and donkeys (Genesis 24:35).

Now Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold. And the Lord blessed him, and the man became rich, and continued to grow richer until he became very wealthy; for he had possessions of flocks and herds and a great household . . . (Genesis 26:12-14).

And the Lord your God will bring you into the land which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it; and He will prosper you and multiply you more than your fathers (Deuteronomy 30:5).

And David was prospering in all his ways for the Lord was with him (1 Samuel 18:14-15).

Now it was told King David, saying, “The Lord has blessed the house of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, on account of the ark of God . . . (2 Samuel 6:12).

God said to Solomon . . . I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings who were before you has possessed, nor those who will come after you” (2 Chronicles 1:11-12).

He hired also 100,000 valiant warriors out of Israel for one hundred talents of silver. But a man of God came to him saying, “O king, do not let the army of Israel go with you…Amaziah said to the man of God, “But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the troops of Israel?” And the man of God answered, “The Lord has much more to give you than this.” (2 Chronicles 25:6-9).

Then Satan answered the Lord, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land (Job 1:9-10).

And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the Lord increased all that Job had twofold…the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning, and he had 14,000 sheep, and 6,000 camels, and 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys (Job 42:10,12).

. . . He brought them out with silver and gold . . . (Psalm 105:37).

And I will give you [Cyrus] the treasures of darkness, and hidden wealth of secret places, in order that you may know that it is I, The Lord, the God of Israel, who calls you by your name (Isaiah 45:3).

And now I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, My servant . . . (Jeremiah 27:5-7).

“Thus you were adorned with gold and silver…your fame went forth among the nations on account of your beauty, for it was perfect because of My splendor which I bestowed on you,” declares the Lord God…You also took your beautiful jewels made of My gold and of My silver, which I had given you, and made for yourself male images…Also My bread which I gave you, fine flour, oil, and honey with which I fed you, you would offer before them for a soothing aroma; so it happened,” declares the Lord God (Ezekiel 16:13-14,17-19).

Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon made his army labor hard against Tyre; every head was made bald, and every shoulder was rubbed bare. But he and his army had no wages from Tyre for the labor that he had performed against it. Therefore, thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I shall give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. And he will carry off her wealth, and capture her spoil and seize her plunder; and it will be wages for his army” (Ezekiel 29:18-19).

For she [Israel] does not know that it was I who gave her the grain, the new wine, and the oil, and lavished on her silver and gold, which they used for Baal (Hosea 2:8).

1) Abraham did not want a person to take credit for making him rich
And Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have sworn to the Lord God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth, that I will not take a thread or a sandal thong or anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’” (Genesis 14:22-23).

2. Lord sometimes gives riches after testing and humbling
He led you through the great and terrible wilderness, with its fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty ground where there was no water; He brought water for you out of the rock of flint. In the wilderness He fed you manna which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do good for you in the end. Otherwise, you may say in your heart, ‘My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth.’ But you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth . . . (Deuteronomy 8:15-18).

For You have tried us, O God; You have refined us as silver is refined. You brought us into the net; You laid an oppressive burden upon our loins. You made men ride over our heads; we went through the fire and water; yet You brought us out into a place of abundance (Psalm 66:10-12).

3. Lord gives possessions to his children even in their sleep
. . . He gives to His beloved even in his sleep (Psalm 127:2).

4. When Lord gives riches, it is a blessing
It is the blessing of the Lord that makes rich, and He adds no sorrow to it (Proverbs 10:22).

5. Lord giving possessions conditioned upon obedience (See OUR PART Section)

6. Lord gives us precisely enough
Thus says the Lord God of Israel, ‘It is I who anointed you [David] king over Israel…I also gave you your master’s house and…I gave you the house of Israel and Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added to you many more things like these!” (2 Samuel 12:7-8).

a. According to individual ability to handle possesions
For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves, and entrusted his possessions to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability . . . (Matthew 25:14-15).

C. LORD CAUSES PROSPERITY
Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O Lord, who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your relatives, and I will prosper you’ (Genesis 32:9)

“For You said, ‘I will surely prosper you [Jacob]’ and make your descendants as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’” (Genesis 32:12).

The Lord was with Joseph, so he became a successful man. And he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian. Now his master saw that the Lord was with him and how the Lord caused all that he did to prosper in his hand (Genesis 39:2-3).

The chief jailer did not supervise anything under Joseph’s charge because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made to prosper (Genesis 39:21-23).

1. Prosperity conditioned upon obedience and seeking God (See OUR PART Section)

2. Prayers for Lord to prosper
May the Lord give you increase, you and your children (Psalm 115:14).

O Lord, do save, we beseech You; O Lord, we beseech You, do send prosperity! (Psalm 118:25).

Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers (3 John 2).

D. LORD GIVES AND TAKES AWAY POSSESSIONS
And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God (Job 1:21-22).

Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die!” But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips (Job 2:9-10).

1. Lord makes rich and poor
The Lord make poor and rich; he brings low, He also exalts (1 Samuel 2:7).

In the day of prosperity be happy, but in the day of adversity consider – God has made the one as well as the other so that man may not discover anything that will be after him (Ecclesiastes 7:14).

2. Lord takes away or withholds possessions when unfaithful, disobedient or not seeking the Lord (see OUR PART Section)
a. Lord is merciful and will provide a means of restoration
So they forsook the Lord and served Baal and the Astartes. And the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and He gave them into the hands of plunders who plundered them; and He sold them into the hands of their enemies around them, so that they could no longer stand before their enemies. Wherever they went, the hand of the Lord was against them for evil, as the Lord had spoken and as the Lord had sworn to them, so that they were severely distressed. Then the Lord raised up judges who delivered them from the hands of those who plundered them (Judges 2:13-16).

…I will restore your fortunes and will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, ‘declares the Lord . . . (Jeremiah 29:14).

Men shall buy fields for money, sign and seal deeds, and call in witnesses in the land of Benjamin, in the environs of Jerusalem . . . for I will restore their fortunes declares the Lord (Jeremiah 32:44).

I will restore the fortunes of Judah and the fortunes of Israel, and I will rebuild them as they were at first . . . I will restore the fortunes of the land as the were at first, says the Lord . . . I will restore their fortunes and will have mercy on them (Jeremiah 33:7, 11, 26).

“Yet I will restore the fortunes of Moab in the latter days,” declares the Lord (Jeremiah 48:47).

“I will restore the fortunes of the sons of Ammon,” declares the Lord (Jeremiah 49:6).

For behold, in those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all the nations [for judgment] (Joel 3:1-2).

For the Lord their God will care for them [Israel] and restore their fortune (Zephaniah 2:7).

“Indeed, I will give you [Israel] renown and praise among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes,” says the Lord (Zephaniah 3:20).

‘For before those days [return from captivity] there was no wage for man or wage for animal…But now I will not treat the remnant of this people as in the former days,’ declares the Lord of hosts. For there will be peace for the seed: the vine will yield its fruit, the land will yield its produce, and the heavens will give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to inherit all these things (Zechariah 8:10-12).

3. Lord takes away wealth of ungodly people and nations
The Lord will tear down the house of the proud, but He will establish the boundary of the widow (Proverbs 15:25).

Also they [Babylon] will make a spoil of your [Tyre] riches and a prey of your merchandise, break down your walls and destroy your pleasant houses . . . I will make you a bear rock; you will be a place for the spreading of nets. You will be built no more, for I the Lord have spoken (Ezekiel 26:12, 14).

For Tyre built herself a fortress and piled up silver like dust, and gold like the mire of the streets. Behold, the Lord will dispossess her and cast her wealth into the sea; and she will be consumed with fire (Zechariah 9:3-4).

Behold, a day is coming for the Lord when the spoil taken from you will be divided among you. For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city will be captured, the houses plundered (Zechariah 14:1-2).

4. Lord sometimes transfers wealth from ungodly to godly people
You know that I [Jacob] served your father with all my strength. Yet your father has cheated me and changed my wages ten times; however, God did not allow him to hurt me…Thus God has taken away your father’s livestock and given them to me (Genesis 31:6-7, 9).

Rachel and Leah answered and said to him, “Do we still have any portion or inheritance in our father’s house? Are we not reckoned by him as foreigners? For he has sold us, and has also entirely consumed our purchase price. Surely all the wealth which God has taken from our father belongs to us and our children . . . (Genesis 31:14-16).

E. LORD PROTECTS OUR POSSESSIONS
Then Satan answered the Lord, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land (Job 1:9-10).

If the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had not been for me [Jacob], surely now you [Laban] would have sent me away empty-handed. God has seen my affliction and the toil of my hands, so He rendered judgment last night (Genesis 31:42).

I.  COMMANDED NOT TO BE GREEDY
But do not let…greed even be named among you, as is proper among saints…this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God (Ephesians 5:3, 5).

A. GREED IS IDOLATRY
Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to . . . greed, which amounts to idolatry (Colossians 3:5).

B. GUARD YOURSELF AGAINST EVERY FORM OF GREED
And He said to them, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions (Luke 12:15).

1. Exercise self control if you tend toward greed
When you sit down to dine with a ruler, consider carefully what is before you; and put a knife to your throat, if you are a man of great appetite.  Do not desire his delicacies, for it is deceptive food (Proverbs 23:1-3).

C. WHEN JESUS CHRIST BECOMES OUR DOMINATE DESIRE, GREED NOT A PROBLEM
And besides You, I desire nothing on earth (Psalm 73:25).

D.  EXAMPLE OF GODLY PERSON WHO WAS NOT GREEDY
For we [Paul] never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed – God is witness (1 Thessalonians 2:5).

II. THE LORD PUNISHES GREED

A. AS AN EXAMPLE TO HIS CHILDREN
Now these things [Lord’s discipline of Israel in wilderness] happened as examples for us, that we should not crave evil things, as they also craved (1 Corinthians 10:6).

1. What they greedily desired
The rabble who were among them had greedy desires; and also the sons of Israel wept again and said, “Who will give us meat to eat?   We remember the fish which we used to eat free in Egypt, the cucumbers and the melons and the leeks and the onions and the garlic” (Numbers 11:4-5).

B. EXAMPLE OF GREEDY PEOPLE
The people rushed greedily upon the spoil [Saul defeated Philistines], and took sheep and oxen and calves . . . (1 Samuel 14:32).

1. Greed leaders
And the dogs [leaders of Judah] are greedy, they are not satisfied.  And they are shepherds who have no understanding; they have all turned to their own way, each one to his unjust gain, to the last one (Isaiah 56:11).

2. Greedy people are wicked and curse God
And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed . . . (Romans 1:28-29).

[the ungodly] having eyes full of adultery and that never cease from sin, enticing unstable souls, having a heart trained in greed, accursed children; forsaking the right way they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness (2 Peter 2:3).

. . . the greedy man curses and spurns the Lord (Psalm 10:3-4).

3. Greed will capture the greedy
. . . the treacherous will be caught by their own greed (Proverbs 11:6).

4. False prophets will exploit God’s people out of greed
But false prophets also arose among the people [of Israel], just as there will be false teachers among you…and in their greed they will exploit you with false words . . . (2 Peter 2:1, 3).

[the ungodly] having eyes full of adultery and that never cease from sin, enticing unstable souls, having a heart trained in greed, accursed children; forsaking the right way they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness (2 Peter 2:14-15).

5. Some people will never be satisfied
The leech has two daughters, “Give,” “Give.” (Proverbs 30:15).

6. Religious people who hear good teaching can still be greedy
And they come to you [Ezekiel] as people come, and sit before you as My people, and hear your words, but they do not do them, for they do the lustful desires expressed by their mouth, and their heart goes after gain (Ezekiel 33:31).

C. Example of Lord punishing greedy people
So the name of that place was called Kibroth-hattaavah, because there they buried the people who had been greedy (Numbers 11:34).

But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, thought, “Behold, my master has spared this Naaman the Aramean, by not receiving from his hands what he brought.  As the Lord lives, I will run after him and take something from him.”  So Gehazi pursued Naaman.  When Naaman saw one running after him, he came down from the chariot to meet him and said, “Is all well?”   And he said, “All is well.  My master has sent me, saying, ‘Behold, just now two young men of the sons of the prophets have come to me from the hill country of Ephraim.  Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of clothes.’”  And Naaman said, “Be pleased to take two talents . . . [he took them] and stood before his master.  And Elisha said to him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?”  And he said, “Your servant went nowhere.” Then he said to him, “Did not my heart go with you, when the man turned from his chariot to meet you?  Is it a time to receive money and to receive clothes and olive groves and vineyards and sheep and oxen and male and female servants?  Therefore, the leprosy of Naaman shall cleave to you and to your descendants forever.”  So he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow (2 Kings 5:20-27).

Their houses shall be turned over to others, their fields and their wives together; for I will stretch out My hand against the inhabitants of the land,” declares the Lord.  For from the least of them [Israelites] even to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for gain . . . (Jeremiah 6:12-13).

Therefore I will give their [ungodly Israelites] wives to others, their fields to new owners; because from the least even to the greatest everyone is greedy for gain . . . (Jeremiah 8:10).

III. A PERSON WHO LOVES MONEY WILL NEVER BE SATISFIED
He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its income.  This too is vanity.  When good things increase, those who consume them increase.  So what is the advantage to their owners except to look on? (Ecclesiastes 5:10-11).

I. PEOPLE ARE DISHONEST

A. HUMAN HEART IS DISHONEST
. . . the Lord said to Himself, “I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man’s heart is evil from his youth . . . (Genesis 8:21).

The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick . . . (Jeremiah 17:9).

For out of the heart come evil thoughts . . . thefts, false witness, slanders (Matthew 15:19).

For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts and fornications, thefts . . . deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit . . . (Mark 7:21-22).

B. PEOPLE PRACTICE RELATIVE HONESTY
. . . every man did what was right in his own eyes (Judges 17:6).

C. EXAMPLES OF DISHONEST PEOPLE
Yet your father [Laban] has cheated me [Jacob] and changed my wages ten times . . . (Genesis 31:7).

Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. And they have even taken some of the things under the ban and have stolen and deceived . . . Achan answered Joshua and said, “Truly, I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel, and this is what I did: when I saw among the spoil a beautiful mantle from Shinar and two hundred shekles of silver and a bar of gold fifty shekels in weight, then I coveted them and took them . . . (Joshua 7:11, 20-21).

His [Samuel’s] sons, however did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after dishonest gain . . . (1 Samuel 8:3).

“And you [Elijah] shall speak to speak to him [Ahab], saying, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Have you murdered, and also taken possession?”’ . . . ( Kings 21:19).

The wicked are estranged from the womb; these who speak lies go astray from birth (salm 58:3).

Your rulers are rebels, and companions of thieves . . . (Isaiah 1:23).

. . . they [leaders of Jerusalem] are shepherds who have no understanding; they have all turned to their own way, each one to his unjust gain, to the last one (Isaiah 56:11).

For from the least of them [Israelites] even to the greatest of them, every one is greedy for gain, and from the prophet even to the priest every one deals falsely (Jeremiah 6:13).

Will you steal . . . swear falsely, and offer sacrifices to Baal, and walk after other gods that you have not known . . . has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of robbers in your sight? Behold, I, even I, have seen it,” declares the Lord (Jeremiah 7:9, 11).

Her princes within her [Israel] are like wolves tearing the prey, by shedding blood and destroying lives in order to get dishonest gain . . . The people of the land have practiced oppression and committed robbery (Ezekiel 22:27, 29).

[in Israel] There is swearing, deception, murder, stealing, and adultery (Hosea 4:1-2).

The princes of Judah have become like those who move a boundary . . . (Hosea 5:10).

. . . the iniquity of Ephriam is uncovered, and the evil deeds of Samaria, for they deal falsely; the thief enters in, bandits raid outside (Hosea 7:1).

A merchant [Ephraim], in whose hands are false balances . . . (Hosea 12:7).

Is there yet a man in the wicked house [Israel], along with the treasures of wickedness, and short measure that is cursed? Can I justify wicked scales and a bag of deceptive weights? For the rich men of the city are full of violence, her residents speak lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth (Micah 6:10-12).

But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, who was intending to betray Him, said, “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii, and given to poor people?” Now he said this, not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box, he used to pilfer what was put into it (John 12:4-6).

. . . Barabbas was a robber (John 18:40).

But a certain man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife’s full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back some of the price of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God.” And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last; and great fear came upon all who heard of it . . . his wife came in not knowing what had happened. And Peter responded to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for such and such a price?” And she said, “Yes, that was the price.” Then Peter said to her, “Why is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they shall carry you out as well” (Acts 5:1-10).

One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons” (Titus 1:12).

And the rest of mankind . . . did not repent . . . of their thefts (Revelation 9:20-21).

1. Parable using dishonesty as illustration
Now He [Jesus] was also saying to the disciples, “There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and this steward was reported to him as squandering his possessions. And he called him and said to him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.’ And the steward said to himself, “What shall I do, since my master is taking the stewardship away from me? I am not strong enough to dig; I am ashamed to beg. I know what I shall do, so that when I am removed from the stewardship, they will receive me into their homes.” And he summoned each one of his master’s debtors, and he began saying to the first, “How much do you owe my master?” And he said, “A hundred measures of oil.” Then he said to him, “Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.” Then he said to another, “And how much do you owe?” And he said, “A hundred measures of wheat.” He said to him, “Take your bill, and write eighty.” And his master praised the unrighteous steward because he had acted shrewdly; for the sons of this age are more shrewd in relation to their own kind than the sons of light (Luke 16:1-8).

D. DISHONESTY CONCEALED BY RELIGION
Will you steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely . . . then come and stand before Me in this house, which is called by My name, and say, ‘We are delivered! – that you may do all these abominations? Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of robbers in your sight? . . . (Jeremiah 7:9-11).

Her [Israel] leaders pronounce judgment for a bribe, her priests instruct for a price, and her prophets divine for money (Micah 3:11).

Jesus entered the temple and cast out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who were selling doves. And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer;’ but you are making it a robbers’ den” (Matthew 21:12-13).

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence (Matthew 23:25).

And He entered the temple and began to cast out those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the moneychangers and the seats of those who were selling doves; and He would not permit anyone to carry goods through the temple. And he began to teach and say to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a robbers’ den” (Mark 11:15-17).

But the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the platter; but inside of you, you are full of robbery and wickedness (Luke 11:39).

He entered the temple and began to cast out those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the moneychangers and the seats of those who were selling doves; and He would not permit anyone to carry goods through the temple. And He began to teach and say to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations.’ but you have made it a robbers’ den” (Luke 19:45-46).

He found in the temple those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the moneychangers seated. And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and he poured out the coins of the moneychangers, and overturned their tables; and to those who were selling the doves He said, “Take these things away; stop making My Father’s house a house of merchandise” (John 2:14-16).

For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach, for the sake of sordid gain (Titus 1:10-11).

II. GOD REQUIRES ABSOLUTE HONESTY

A. THE LORD IS TRUTH, BUT SATAN IS THE FATHER OF LIES

1. God is truth
And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14).

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life . . . (John 14:6).

But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth . . . (John 16:13).

And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is the truth (1 John 5:7).

2. Satan is the father of lies
. . . He [the devil] was a murder from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature; for he is a liar, and the father of lies (John 8:44).

B. UNDER OLD TESTAMENT LAW
You shall not steal (Exodus 20:15).

You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another. And you shall not swear falsely by My name, so as to profane the name of your God; I am the Lord. You shall not oppress your neighbor, nor rob him . . . (Leviticus 19:11-13).

You shall do no wrong in judgment, in measurement of weight, or capacity. You shall have just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin . . . (Leviticus 19:35-36).

If you make a sale, moreover, to your friend, or buy from your friend’s hand, you shall not wrong one another. Corresponding to the number of years after the jubilee, you shall buy from your friend; he is to sell to you according to the number of years of crops. In proportion to the extent of the years you shall increase its price, and in proportion to the fewness of the years, you shall diminish its price; for it is a number of crops he is selling you. So you shall not wrong one another . . . (Leviticus 25:14-17).

You shall not steal (Deuteronomy 5:19).

You shall not remove your neighbor’s boundary mark, which the ancestors have set . . . (Deuteronomy 19:14).

You shall not have in your bag differing weights, a large and a small. You shall not have in your house differing measures, a large and a small. You shall have a full and just weight; you shall have a full and just measure, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the Lord your God gives you. For everyone who does these things, everyone who acts unjustly is an abomination to the Lord your God (Deuteronomy 25:13-16).

C. GENERAL BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE
Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit (Psalm 34:13).

Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being . . . (Psalm 51:6).

. . . do not vainly hope in robbery . . . (Psalm 62:10).

Do not let kindness and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write then on the tablet of your heart (Proverbs 3:3).

Put away from you a deceitful mouth, and put devious lips far from you (Proverbs 4:24).

A worthless person, a wicked man, is the one who walks with a false mouth (Proverbs 6:12).

There are six things which the Lord hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: . . . a lying tongue . . . a false witness who utters lies . . . (Proverbs 6:16, 19).

A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight His delight (Proverbs 11:1).

Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal faithfully are His delight (Proverbs 12:22).

A righteous man hates falsehood, but a wicked man acts disgustingly and shamefully (Proverbs 13:5).

A faithful witness will not lie, but a false witness speaks lies (Proverbs 14:5).

A truthful witness saves lives, but he who speaks lies is treacherous (Proverbs 14:25).

Excellent speech is not fitting for a fool; much less are lying lips to a prince (Proverbs 17:7).

A just balance and scales belong to the Lord; all the weights of the bag are His concern (Proverbs 16:11).

Differing weights and differing measures, both of them are abominable to the Lord (Proverbs 20:10).

Differing weights are an abomination to the Lord, and a false scale is not good (Proverbs 20:23).

Do not rob the poor because he is poor, or crush the afflicted at the gate; for the Lord will plead their case, and take the life of those who rob them (Proverbs 22:22-23).

Do not move the ancient boundary which your fathers have set (Proverbs 22:28).

Do not move the ancient boundary, or go into the fields of the fatherless (Proverbs 23:10).

Buy truth, and do not sell it . . . (Proverbs 23:23).

He who robs his father or his mother, and says, “It is not a transgression,” is the companion of a man who destroys (Proverbs 28:24).

To deprive a man of justice in the presence of the Most High, to defraud a man in his lawsuit – of these things the Lord does not approve (Lamentations 3:35-36).

These are the things which you [Judah] should do: speak the truth to one another; judge with truth and judgment for peace in your gates. Also let none of you devise evil in your heart against another, and do not love perjury; for all these are what I hate,’ declares the Lord (Zechariah 8:16-17).

And some tax-gatherers also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Collect no more than what you have been ordered to.” And some soldiers were questioning him, saying, “And what about us, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely . . . (Luke 3:12-14).

. . . You who preach that one should not steal, do you steal? . . . You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? (Romans 2:21-22).

Actually, then, it is already a defeat for you, that you have lawsuits with one another. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded? On the contrary, you yourselves wrong and defraud, and that your brethren. Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither . . . thieves . . . nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:7-10).

Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth, each one of you, with his neighbor, for we are members of one another (Ephesians 4:25).

Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness (Ephesians 6:14).

Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices (Colossians 3:9).

Abstain from every form of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22).

realizing the fact that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for . . . liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching (1 Timothy 1:9-10).

Urge bondslaves to be subject to their own masters in everything, to be well pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering . . . (Titus 2:9,-0).

Be holy yourselves in all your behavior; because it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy’ (1 Peter 1:15-16).

By no means let any of you suffer as a . . . thief, or evil-doer . . . (1 Peter 4:15).

D. REQUIRED OF LEADERS

1. Government
Furthermore, you shall select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them, as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, of tens. And let them judge the people at all times . . . (Exodus 18:21-22).

Loyalty and truth preserve the king, and he upholds his throne by righteousness (Proverbs 20:28).

A leader who is a great oppressor lacks understanding, but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days (Proverbs 28:16).

Thus says the Lord God, “Enough, you princes of Israel . . . Stop expropriations from My people,” declares the Lord God. “You shall have a just balance, a just ephah, and a just bath (Ezekiel 45:9-10).

2. Church
Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not doubletongued . . . or fond of sordid gain (1 Timothy 3:8).

For the overseer must be above reproach as God’s steward, not . . . fond of sordid gain (Titus 1:7).

Therefore, I exhort the elders among you . . . shepherd the flock of God among you . . . not for sordid gain, but with eagerness (1 Peter 5:1-2)

E. HONESTY REQUIRED IN GIVING
. . . you bring what was taken by robbery, and what is lame or sick; so you bring the offering! Should I receive that from your hand?” says the Lord. But cursed be the swindler . . . (Malachi 1:13-14).

1. Not giving properly considered robbery
“Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, ‘How have we robbed Thee?’ In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, the whole nation of you! (Malachi 3:8-9).

F. HONESTY MORE VALUABLE THAN RICHES
Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than he who is perverse in speech and is a fool (Proverbs 19:1).

. . . it is better to be a poor man than a liar (Proverbs 19:22).

Better is the poor who walks in his integrity, than he who is crooked though he be rich

(Proverbs 28:12).

G. EXAMPLES OF HONEST PEOPLE
I [Moses] have not taken a single donkey from them . . . (Numbers 16:15).

“Here I [Samuel] am; bear witness against me before the Lord and His anointed. Whose ox have I taken, or whose donkey have I taken, or whom have I defrauded? . . . I will restore it to you.” And they said, “You have not defrauded us, or oppressed us, or taken anything from any man’s hand.” And he said to them, “The Lord is witness against you and His anointed is witness this day that you have found nothing in my hand” . . . (1 Samuel 12:3-5).

If I [Job] have walked with falsehood, and my foot hastened after deceit . . . let me sow and another eat, and let my crops be uprooted (Job 31:5, 8).

Then the commissioners and satraps began trying to find a ground of accusation against Daniel in regard to government affairs; but they could find no ground of accusation or evidence of corruption inasmuch as he was faithful, and no negligence or corruption was to be found in him (Daniel 6:4).

My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, inasmuch as I was found innocent before Him; and also towards you O king, I have committed no crime (Daniel 6:22).

The remnant of Israel will do no wrong and tell no lies, nor will a deceitful tongue be found in their mouths; for they shall feed and lie down with no one to make them tremble (Zephaniah 3:13).

1. Example of testing people for honesty
. . . we [Joseph’s brothers] are honest men . . . Joseph said to them on the third day, “Do this and live for I fear God: if you are honest men, let one of your brothers be confined in your prison; but as for the rest of you, go, carry grain for the famine of your households, and bring your youngest to me, so your words may be verified, and you will not die.” And they did so (Genesis 42:11,18-20).

‘We [Joseph’s brothers] are honest men . . . the lord [Joseph] of the land, said to us, `By this I shall know that you are honest men: leave one of your brothers with me and take grain for the famine of your households, and go. But bring your youngest brother to me that I may know that you are not spies, but honest men (Genesis 42:31-34).

H. GODLY PEOPLE HATE DISHONESTY
A righteous man hates falsehood . . . (Proverbs 13:5).

III. WHY GOD REQUIRES ABSOLUTE HONESTY

A. WE CANNOT BE DISHONEST AND LOVE GOD
He who walks in his uprightness fears the Lord, but he who is crooked in his ways despises Him (Proverbs 14:2).

B. WE CANNOT BE DISHONEST AND LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR
A lying tongue hates those it crushes . . . (Proverbs 26:28).

. . . You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor . . . (Romans 13:9-10).

C. HONESTY CREATES CREDIBILITY FOR EVANGELISM
. . . prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world (Philippians 2:15).

D. HONESTY HELPS DIRECT OUR LIVES
Put away from you a deceitful mouth, and put devious lips far from you. Let your eyes look directly ahead, and let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you. Watch the path of your feet, and all your ways will be established (Proverbs 4:24-26).

E. EVEN THE SMALLEST DISHONESTY IS DEVASTATING
He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing in unrighteous also in much (Luke 16:10).

IV. HOW TO ESCAPE TEMPTATION TO BE DISHONEST?

A. BY GOD’S GRACE AND POWER
Incline my heart to Thy testimonies, and not to dishonest gain (Psalm 119:36).

Two things I asked of Thee, do not refuse me before I die: keep deception and lies far from me . . . (Proverbs 30:7-8).

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another . . . (Galatians 5:16-17)

B. BY PRACTICING THE “GOLDEN RULE”
Therefore whatever you want others to do for you, do so for them; for this is the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 7:12).

Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also the interests of others (Philippians 2:4).

C. BY A “HEALTHY FEAR” OF THE LORD
. . . by the fear of the Lord one keeps away from evil (Proverbs 16:6).

D. ISOLATING OURSELVES FROM THE DISHONEST
I do not sit with deceitful men . . . (Psalm 26:4).

How blessed is the man who has made the Lord his trust, and has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood (Psalm 40:4).

My eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me; he who walks in a blameless way is the one who will minister to me. He who practices deceit shall not dwell within my house (Psalm 101:6-7).

My son if sinners entice you, do not consent. If they say, “Come with us . . . we shall fill our houses with spoil; throw in your lot with us, we shall all have one purse;” my son do not walk in the way with them, keep your feet from their path; for their feet run to evil . . . (Proverbs 1:10-16).

He who is partner with a thief hates his own life . . . (Proverbs 29:24).

I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers or with idolaters; for then you would have to go out of the world. But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he should be . . . a swindler – not even to eat with such a one (1 Corinthians 5:9-11).

Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals” (1 Corinthians 15:33).

E. BY GIVING
Let him who steals steal no longer; but rather let him labor, performing with his own hands what is good, in order that he may have something to share with him who has need (Ephesians 4:28).

F. BY ESTABLISHING A SYSTEM OF ACCOUNTABILITY
And Jacob said, “You [Laban] shall not give me anything. If you will do this one thing for me, I will again pasture and keep your flock: let me pass through your entire flock today, removing from there every speckled and spotted and speckled among the goats; and such shall be my wages. So my honesty will answer for me later, when you come concerning my wages. Every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats and black among the lambs, if found with me, will be considered stolen” (Genesis 30:31-33).

V. WHAT TO WHEN HAVE ACTED DISHONESTLY

A. RESTORE OUR FELLOWSHIP WITH LORD
Now if a person sins, after he hears a public adjuration to testify, when he is a witness . . . that he shall confess that in which he has sinned. He shall also bring his guilt offering to the Lord for his sins which he has committed . . . (Leviticus 5:5-6).

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “When a person sins and acts unfaithfully against the Lord, and deceives his companion in regard to a deposit or a security entrusted to him, through robbery, or if he has extorted from his companion, or has found what was lost and lied about it and sworn falsely, so that he sins in regard to any one of the things a man may do; then it shall be, when he sins and becomes guilty . . . [he shall present] his guilt offering to the Lord . . . and he shall be forgiven for any one of the things which he may have done to incur guilt” (Leviticus 6:1-5, 7).

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

B. RESTORE OUR FELLOWSHIP WITH THE HARMED PERSON
He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion (Proverbs 28:13).

Therefore confess your sins to one another . . . (James 5:16).

C. RESTORE ANY STOLEN PROPERTY
If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and slaughters it or sells it, he shall pay five oxen for the ox and four sheep for the sheep . . . He shall surely make restitution; if he owns nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft. If what he stole is actually found alive in his possession, whether an ox or a donkey or a sheep, he shall pay double (Exodus 22:1-4).

If a man gives his neighbor money or goods to keep for him, and it is stolen from the man’s house, if the thief is caught, he shall pay double. If the thief is not caught, then the owner of the house shall appear before the judges, to determine whether he laid his hands on his neighbor’s property. For every breach of trust, whether it is for ox, for donkey, for sheep, for clothing, or for any lost thing about which one says, “This is it,” the case of both parties shall come before the judges; he whom the judges condemn shall pay double to his neighbor (Exodus 22:7-9).

And if a man borrows anything from his neighbor, and it is injured or dies while its owner is not with it, he shall make full restitution (Exodus 22:14).

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “When a person sins and acts unfaithfully against the Lord, and deceives his companion in regard to a deposit or a security entrusted to him, through robbery, or if he has extorted from his companion, or has found what was lost and lied about it and sworn falsely, so that he sins in regard to any one of the things a man may do; then it shall be, when he sins and becomes guilty, that he shall restore what he took by robbery, or what he got by extortion, or the deposit which was entrusted to him, or the lost thing which he found, or anything about which he swore falsely; he shall make restitution for it in full, and add to it one-fifth more. He shall give it to the one to whom it belongs on the day he presents his guilt offering to the Lord (Leviticus 6:1-5).

. . . When a man or woman commits any of the sins of mankind . . . he shall make restitution in full for his wrong, and add to it one-fifth of it, and give it to him whom he has wronged. But if the man has no relative to whom restitution may be made for the wrong, the restitution which is made for the wrong must go to the Lord for the priest (Numbers 5:5-8).

Then David’s anger burned greatly against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, surely the man who has done this deserves to die. And he must make restitution for the lamb fourfold, because he did this [unjustly took the poor man’s ewe] thing and had no compassion” (2 Samuel 12:5-6).

Men do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy himself when he is hungry; but when he is found, he must repay sevenfold; he must give all the sustenance of his house (Proverbs 6:30-31).

But when I say to the wicked, ‘You will surely die’ and he turns from his sins and practices justice and righteousness, if a wicked man restores a pledge, pays back what he has taken by robbery . . . he shall surely live; he shall not die (Ezekiel 33:14-16).

Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord . . . if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much” (Luke 19:8).

VI. BLESSINGS AND CURSES

A. BLESSINGS PROMISED FOR THE HONEST

1. Blessing of more intimate relationship with Lord
O Lord who may abide in Thy tent? Who may dwell on Thy holy hill: he who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart. He does not slander with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor (Psalm 15:1-4).

Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood, and has not sworn deceitfully (Psalm 24:3-4).

The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth (Psalm 145:18).

Do not let kindness and truth leave you . . . So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and man (Proverbs 3:3-4).

. . . [the Lord] is intimate with the upright (Proverbs 3:32).

Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal faithfully are His delight (Proverbs 12:22).

. . . Did not your father [Josiah] eat and drink, and do justice and righteousness? Then it was well. Is not that what is means to know Me?” declares the Lord. “But your eyes and your heart are intent only upon your own dishonest gain (Jeremiah 22:15-17).

2. Blessing of protection
He [the Lord] is a shield to those who walk in integrity . . . (Proverbs 2:7).

He who walks in integrity walks securely . . . (Proverbs 10:9).

3. Blessing of provision
He who walks righteously, and speaks with sincerity, he who rejects unjust gain, and shakes his hands so that they hold no bribe; he who stops his ears from hearing about bloodshed, and shuts his eyes from looking upon evil; he will dwell on the heights; his refuge will be the impregnable rock; his bread will be given him; his water will be sure (Isaiah 33:15-16).

4. Blessing on the family
A righteous man who walks in his integrity – how blessed are his sons after him (Proverbs 20:7).

5. Blessing of happiness
Ill-gotten gain brings no lasting happiness; right living does (Proverbs 10:2).

6. Blessing of life
You shall not have in your bag differing weights, a large and a small. You shall not have in your house differing measures, a large and a small. You shall have a full and just weight; you shall have a full and just measure, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the Lord your God gives you (Deuteronomy 25:13-15).

Who is the man who desires life, and loves length of days that he may see good? Keep your tongue form evil, and your lips from speaking deceit (Psalm 34:12-13).

Truthful lips will be established forever . . . (Proverbs 12:19).

. . . if a wicked man restores a pledge, pays back what he has taken by robbery, walks by the statutes which ensure life without committing iniquity, he shall surely live; he shall not die (Ezekiel 33:14-16).

7. Blessing of the respect of people
Do not let kindness and truth leave you . . . So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and man (Proverbs 3:3-4).

8. Blessing of prosperity
Much wealth is in the house of the righteous . . . (Proverbs 15:6).

9. Blessing for leaders
A leader who . . . hates unjust gain will prolong his days (Proverbs 28:16).

B. CURSES RESERVED FOR THE DISHONEST

1. Curse of hated/separated from God
You shall not have in your bag differing weights, a large and a small. You shall not have in your house differing measures, a large and a small. You shall have a full and just weight; you shall have a full and just measure . . . For everyone who does these things, everyone who acts unjustly is an abomination to the Lord your God (Deuteronomy 25:13-16).

. . . the Lord abhors the man of bloodshed and deceit (Psalm 5:6).

For the crooked man is an abomination to the Lord . . . (Proverbs 3:32).

There are six things which the Lord hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him . . . a lying tongue . . . a false witness who utters lies . . . (Proverbs 6:16, 19).

Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord . . . (Proverbs 12:22).

A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who tells lies will perish (Proverbs 19:9).

Because of the iniquity of his unjust gain . . . I hid My face and was angry (Isaiah 57:17).

But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, so that He does not hear . . . your lips have spoken falsehood, your tongue mutters wickedness. No one sues righteously and no one pleads honestly. They trust in confusion, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity (Isaiah 59:2-4).

2. Curse of punishment/judgment
Cursed is he who moves his neighbor’s boundary mark . . . (Deuteronomy 27:17).

. . . the mouths of those who speak lies will be stopped (Psalm 63:11).

A worthless person, a wicked man, is the one who walks with a false mouth . . . his calamity will come suddenly; instantly he will be broken, and there will be no healing (Proverbs 12-15).

A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who tells lies will not escape (Proverbs 19:5).

Bread obtained by falsehood is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel (Proverbs 20:17).

Because of the iniquity of his unjust gain I [the Lord] was angry and struck him . . . (Isaiah 57:17).

their [wicked men] houses are full of deceit; therefore they have become great and rich . . . ‘Shall I not punish these people?’ declares the Lord, ‘on a nation (Israel) such as this shall I not avenge Myself?’ (Jeremiah 5:27-29).

And they bend their tongue like the bow; lies and not truth prevail in the land; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they do not know Me,” declares the Lord . . . everyone deceives his neighbor, and does not speak the truth, they have taught their tongues to speak lies . . . their tongue is a deadly arrow; it speaks deceit; with his mouth one speaks peace to his neighbor, but inwardly he sets an ambush for him. “Shall I not punish them for these things?” declares the Lord. “On such a nation such as this shall I not avenge Myself?” (Jeremiah 9:3-9).

“Behold, then, I smite My hand at your dishonest gain which you have acquired . . . Can your heart endure, or can your hands be strong, in the days that I shall deal with you? I, the Lord, have spoken and shall act. And I shall scatter you among the nations, and I shall disperse you through the lands (Ezekiel 22:13-15).

“Her princes within her are like wolves tearing the prey, by shedding blood and destroying lives in order get dishonest gain . . . The people of the land have practiced oppression and committed robbery . . . Thus I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; their way I have brought upon their heads,” declares the Lord God (Ezekiel 22:27-31).

The princes of Judah have become like those who move a boundary; on them I will pour out My wrath like water (Hosea 5:10).

Hear this, you who trample the needy, to do away with the humble of the land, saying, “When will the new moon be over, so that we may buy grain, and the sabbath that we may open the wheat market, to make bushel smaller and the shekel bigger, and to cheat with dishonest scales, so as to buy the helpless for money and the needy for a pair of sandals, and that we may sell the refuse of the wheat.” The Lord has sworn by the pride of Jacob, “Indeed, I will never forget any of their deeds. Because of this will not the land quake and everyone who dwells in it mourn? Indeed, all of it will rise up like the Nile, and it will be tossed about, and subside like the Nile of Egypt. And it will come about in that day,” declares the Lord God, that I shall make the sun go down at noon and make the earth dark in broad daylight. Then I shall turn your festivals into mourning and all your songs into lamentation; and I will bring sackcloth on everyone’s loins and baldness on every head, and I will make it like a time of mourning for an only son, and the end of it will be like a bitter day (Amos 8:4-10).

Is there yet a man in the wicked house, along with treasures of wickedness, and a short measure that is cursed? Can I justify wicked scales and a bag of deceptive weights? For the rich men of the city are full of violence, her residents speak lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth. So also I will make you sick striking you down, desolating you because of your sins. You will eat but you will not be satisfied, and your vileness will be in your midst. You will try to remove for safekeeping, but you will not preserve anything, and what you do preserve I will give to the sword. You will sow but you will not reap. You will tread the olive but you will not anoint yourself with oil; and the grapes, but you will not drink wine . . . I will give you up for destruction and your inhabitants for derision, and you will bear the reproach of My people” (Micah 6:10-16).

And Jesus entered the temple and cast out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who were selling doves. And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer;’ but you are making it a robbers’ den” (Matthew 21:12-13).

And He entered the temple and began to cast out those who were selling, saying to them, “It is written, ‘And My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a robbers’ den”

(Luke 19:45-46).

3. Curse of death/destruction
. . . they [Israel] have even taken some of the things under the ban and have both stolen and deceived . . . the one who is taken with the things under the ban shall be burned with fire, he and all that belongs to him . . . all Israel stoned them [Achan and his family] with stones; and they burned them with fire after they had stoned them with stones (Joshua 7:11, 15, 25).

You destroy those who speak falsehood . . . (Psalm 5:6).

You [mighty man] love evil more than good, falsehood more than speaking right. You love all words that devour, O deceitful tongue. But God will break you down forever; He will snatch you up, and tear you away from your tent, and uproot you from the land of the living (Psalm 52:3-5).

So are the ways of everyone who gains by violence, it takes away the life of its possessors (Proverbs 1:19).

A worthless person, a wicked man, is the one who walks with a false mouth . . . his calamity will come suddenly; instantly he will be broken, and there will be no healing (Proverbs 6:12, 15).

. . . a lying tongue is only for a moment (Proverbs 12:19).

The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor, the pursuit of death (Proverbs 21:6).

He who sows iniquity will reap vanity, and the rods of his fury will perish (Proverbs 22:8).

Do not rob the poor because he is poor, or crush the afflicted at the gate; for the Lord will plead their case, and take the life of those who rob them (Proverbs 22:22-23).

But your eyes and your heart are intent only upon your own dishonest gain, and on shedding innocent blood and on practicing oppression and extortion. Therefore thus says the Lord in regard to Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah . . . He will be buried with a donkey’s burial, dragged off and thrown out beyond the gates of Jerusalem” (Jeremiah 22:17-19).

Then he may have a violent son who . . . commits robbery . . . will he live? He will not live! He has committed all these abominations, he will surely be put to death; his blood will be on his own head . . . As for his father, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother, and did what was not good among his people, behold, he will die for his iniquity” (Ezekiel 18:10-13, 18).

But a certain man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife’s full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit . . . You have not lied to men, but to God.” And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last . . . Peter said to her, “Why is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they shall carry you out as well.” And she fell immediately at his feet, and breathed her last . . . (Acts 5:1-10).

4. Curse on the family
He who profits illicitly troubles his own house . . . (Proverbs 15:27).

Therefore I [the Lord] will give their wives to others, their fields to new owners; because from the least even to the greatest one is greedy for gain; from the prophet even to the priest every one practices deceit (Jeremiah 8:10).

Woe to those who scheme iniquity . . . They covet fields and then seize them, and houses, and take them away. They rob a man and his house, a man and his inheritance. Therefore, thus says the Lord: Behold I am planning against this family a calamity from which you cannot remove your necks . . . (Micah 2:1-3).

5. Curse on possessions
Yet your father [Laban] has cheated me [Jacob] . . . Thus God has taken away your father’s livestock and given them to me (Genesis 31:7, 9).

Ill-gotten gains do not profit . . . (Proverbs 10:2).

Wealth obtained by fraud dwindles . . . (Proverbs 13:11).

And their houses shall be turned over to others, and their fields and their wives together; for I will stretch out My hand against the inhabitants of the land,” declares the Lord. For from the least of them even to the greatest of them, every one is greedy for gain, and from the prophet even to the priest every one deals falsely (Jeremiah 6:12-13).

As a partridge that hatches eggs which it nor laid, so is he who makes a fortune, but unjustly; in the midst of his days it will forsake him . . . (Jeremiah 17:11).

Arise and thresh, daughter of Zion, for your horn I will make iron and your hoods I will make bronze, that you may pulverize many peoples, that you may devote to the Lord their unjust gain and their wealth to the Lord of all the earth (Micah 4:13).

6. Curse of pride
He who sows iniquity will reap vanity . . . (Proverbs 22:8).

7. Curse on a leader’s subordinates
If a ruler pays attention to falsehood, all his ministers become wicked (Proverbs 29:12).

8. Curse in eternity
But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murders and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death (Revelation 21:8).

And nothing unclean and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it [heaven], but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life (Revelation 21:27).

Outside [heaven is] . . . everyone who love and practices lying (Revelation 22:15).

9. Curses in general
Cursed is he who moves his neighbor’s boundary mark. And all the people shall say, ‘Amen’ (Deuteronomy 27:17).

Bread obtained by falsehood is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth will be filled with gravel (Proverbs 20:17).

Woe to the bloody city [Nineveh], completely full of lies and pillage . . . (Nahum 3:1).

a. View of God not punishing dishonesty
Why are times not stored up by the Almighty, and why do those who know Him not see His days? Some remove the landmarks; they seize and devour flocks . . . yet God does not pay attention to folly (Job 24:1-2, 12).

I. COMMANDED NOT TO BE AN IDOL WORSHIPER
You shall not make other gods besides Me; gods of silver or gods of gold, you shall not make for yourselves (Exodus 20:23).

A. IDOLS ARE MADE BY PEOPLE
Their idols are silver and gold, the work of man’s hands (Psalm 115:4).

The idols of the nations are but silver and gold, the work of man’s hands (Psalm 135:15).

1. God provides everything, even the materials people use for idols
[Israel] does not know that it was I [the Lord] who . . . lavished on her silver and gold which they used for Baal . . . therefore I will punish her for the days of the Baals when she used to offer sacrifices to them (Hosea 1:8, 13).

B. GREED EQUATED WITH IDOLATRY
Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to . . . greed, which amounts to idolatry (Colossians 3:5).

II. GOD JUDGES THOSE WHO WORSHIP IDOLS
They [your enemies] will deal with you in hatred, take all your property . . . these things will be done to you [Jerusalem] because . . . you have defiled yourself with their idols (Ezekiel 23:29-30).

All of her [Israel] idols will be smashed, all of her earnings will be burned with fire, and all of her images I [the Lord] will make desolate . . . (Micah 1:7).

A. EXAMPLE OF GOD’S PEOPLE DESTROYING IDOLS, THEN LORD BLESSING

And you [God’s people] will defile your graven images, overlaid with silver, and your molten images plated with gold.  You will scatter them as an impure thing; and say to them, “Be gone!”  Then He will give you rain for the seed which you will sow in the ground, and bread from the yield of the ground, and it will be rich and plenteous; on that day your livestock will graze in a roomy pasture (Isaiah 30:22-23).

III. EXAMPLE OF IDOLATRY CLOAKED IN RELIGION
“The eleven hundred pieces of silver which were taken from you, about which you uttered a curse in my hearing, behold, the silver is with me; I took it.”  And his mother said, “Blessed be my son by the Lord.”  He then returned the eleven hundred pieces of silver to his mother, and his mother said, “I wholly dedicate the silver from my hand to the Lord for my son to make a graven image and a molten image; now therefore, I will return them to you.”   So when he returned the silver to his mother, his mother took two hundred pieces of silver and gave them to the silversmith who made them into a graven image and a molten image, and they were in the house of Micah (Judges 17:2-4).

I. IT IS PROPER TO LEAVE AN INHERITANCE
A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children . . . (Proverbs 13:22).

House and wealth are an inheritance from fathers . . . (Proverbs 19:14).

In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. And Isaiah the prophet son of Amoz came to him and said to him, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live’” (Isaiah 38:1).

Children are not responsible to save up for their parents, but parents for their children (2 Corinthians 12:14).

A. OLD TESTAMENT LAWS OF INHERITANCE
You may even bequeath them [foreign slaves] to your sons after you . . . (Leviticus 25:46).

If a man dies and has no son, then you shall transfer his inheritance to his daughter. And if he has no daughter, then you shall give his inheritance to his brothers. And if he has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his father’s brothers. And if his father has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his nearest relative in his own family (Numbers 27:8-11).

The Lord commanded my lord [Moses] to give the land by lot to the sons of Israel as an inheritance, and my lord was commanded by the Lord to give the inheritance of Zelophehad our brother to his daughters. But if they marry one of the sons of the other tribes of the sons of Israel, their inheritance will be withdrawn from the inheritance of our fathers and will be added to the inheritance of the tribe to which they belong . . . every daughter who comes into possession of an inheritance of any tribe of the sons of Israel, shall be wife to one of the family of the tribe of her father, so that the sons of Israel each may possess the inheritance of his father. Thus no inheritance shall be transferred from one tribe to another tribe, for the tribes of the sons of Israel shall each hold to his inheritance (Numbers 36:2-9).

. . . except what they [Levites] receive from the sale of their fathers’ estates (Deuteronomy 18:8).

If a man has two wives, the one loved and the other unloved, and both the loved and the unloved have borne him sons, if the first-born son belongs to the unloved, then it shall be in the day he wills what he has to his sons, he cannot make the son of the loved the first-born before the son of the unloved, who is the first-born. But he shall acknowledge the first-born, the son of the unloved, by giving him a double portion of all that he has . . . to him belongs the right of the first-born (Deuteronomy 21:15-17).

. . . If the prince gives a gift out of his inheritance to any of his sons, it shall belong to his sons; it is their possession by inheritance. But if he gives a gift from his inheritance to one of his servants, it shall be his until the year of liberty; then it shall return to the prince. His inheritance shall be only his sons’; it shall belong to them. And the prince shall not take from the people’s inheritance, thrusting them out of their possession; he shall give his sons inheritance from his own possession so that My people shall not be scattered, anyone from his possession (Ezekiel 46:16-18).

1. The Lord and the tithe were the Levites inheritance
Then the Lord said to Aaron, “You shall have no inheritance in their land, nor own any portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance among the sons of Israel. And to the sons of Levi, behold, I have given all the tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service which they perform . . . I have given to the Levites for an inheritance; therefore I have said concerning them, ‘They shall have no inheritance among the sons of Israel.’” (Numbers 18:20-24).

It shall be with regard to an inheritance for them [the priests], that I [the Lord] am their inheritance; and you shall give them no possession in Israel – I am their possession. They shall eat the grain offering, the sin offering, and the guilt offering; and every devoted thing in Israel shall be theirs. And the first of all first fruits of every kind and every contribution of every kind, from all your contributions, shall be for the priests; you shall also give to the priest the first of your dough to cause a blessing to rest on your house (Ezekiel 44:28-30).

B. EXAMPLES OF LEAVING AN INHERTIANCE
And Abram said, “O Lord God, what will You give me, since I am childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus . . . since You have given no offspring to me , no one born in my house is my heir.” Then behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir; but one who shall come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir” (Genesis 15:2-4).

The Lord has greatly blessed my master [Abraham], so that he has become rich; and He has given him flocks and herds, and silver and gold, and servants and maids, and camels and donkeys. Now Sarah my master’s wife bore a son to my master in her old age; and he has given him all that he has (Genesis 24:35-36).

Now Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac [his son] . . . (Genesis 25:5).

Rachel and Leah answered and said to him [Jacob], “Do we still have any portion or inheritance in our father’s house? Are we not reckoned by him as foreigners? . . . Surely all the wealth which God has taken from our father belongs to us and our children (Genesis 31:14-16).

Then Israel said to Joseph, “Behold, I am about to die, but god will be with you, and bring you back to the land of your fathers. And I will give you one portion more than your brothers . . . (Genesis 48:21-22).

Now they buried the bones of Joseph . . . in the piece of ground which Jacob had bought . . . and they became the inheritance of Joseph’s sons (Joshua 24:32).

Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must also acquire Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of the deceased, in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance.” And the closest relative said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I jeopardize my own inheritance . . . Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses today.. I have acquired Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, to be my wife in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance . . . (Ruth 4:5-10).

. . . he [Jehoshaphat] gave the kingdom to Jehoram because he was the first-born (2 Chronicles 21:3).

There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: riches . . . were lost through a bad investment and he had fathered a son, then there was nothing to support him (Ecclesiastes 5:13-14).

Wisdom along with an inheritance is good and an advantage . . . (Ecclesiastes 7:11).

C. BLESSING OF GODLINESS AND OBEDIENCE WAS ABILITY TO LEAVE/RECEIVE INHERITANCE
. . . observe and seek after all the commandments of the Lord your God in order that you may possess the good land and bequeath it to your sons after you forever (1 Chronicles 28:8).

. . . never seek their [the Canaanites] peace or their prosperity, that you may be strong and eat the good things of the land and leave it as an inheritance to your sons forever (Ezra 9:12).

Who is the man who fears the Lord? He will instruct him in the way he should choose. His soul will abide in prosperity, and his descendants will inherit the land (Psalm 25:12-13).

A servant who acts wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully, and will share in the inheritance among brothers (Proverbs 17:2).

D. PARABLE USING INHERITANCE AS ILLUSTRATION
And He said, “A certain man had two sons; and the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.’ And he divided his wealth between them. And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living . . . when he came to his senses, he . . . came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him, and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him, and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son. But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.’ And they began to be merry.

Now his older son . . . became angry, and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began entreating him. But he answered and said to his father, ‘Look! For so many years I have been serving you, and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you have never given me a kid, that I might be merry with my friends; but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with harlots, you killed the fattened calf for him.’ And he said to him, ‘My child, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours (Luke 15:11-31).

1. Jesus responds to inheritance question
“Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” But He said to him, “Man, who appointed Me a judge or arbiter over you?” And He said to them, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions” (Luke 12:13-15).

II. INHERITANCE GIVEN TOO SOON WILL NOT BE A BLESSING
An inheritance gained hurriedly at the beginning, will not be blessed in the end (Proverbs 20:21).

A. GUARDIAN APPOINTED UNTIL HEIR OLD ENOUGH TO MANAGE ESTATE
Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything, but he is under guardians until the date set by the father (Galatians 4:1-2).

B. VAIN TO WORK HARD AND LEAVE INHERITANCE TO UNWISE OR HAVE NO HEIRS
Thus I hated all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun, for I must leave it to the man who will come after me. And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the fruit of my labor for which I have labored by acting wisely under the sun. This too is vanity . . . When there is a man who has labored with wisdom, knowledge and skill, then he gives his legacy to one who had not labored with them. This too is vanity and a great evil (Ecclesiastes 2:18-21).

There was a certain man without a dependent, having neither a son nor a brother, yet there was no end to all his labor. Indeed, his eyes were not satisfied with riches and he never asked, “And for whom am I laboring and depriving myself of pleasure?” This too is vanity and it is a grievous task (Ecclesiastes 4:8).

I. IS SAVING/INVESTING SCRIPTURALLY LEGITIMATE?

A. HOW DO WE EXPLAIN VERSES THAT SEEM TO LEGISLATE AGAINST SAVING?
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust destroys, and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also (Matthew 6:19-21).

For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, as to what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, as to what you shall put on. Is not life more that food, and the body than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they . . . why are you anxious about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory did not cloth himself like one of these. But if God so arrays the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more do so for you, O men of little faith? Do not be anxious then, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘With what shall we clothe ourselves?’ For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you (Matthew 6:24-33).

. . . “Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life? . . . but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments . . . The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept; what am I still lacking?” Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me” (Matthew 19:16-21).

He summoned the twelve and began to send them out in pairs . . . and He instructed them that they should take nothing for their journey, except a mere staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belt (Mark 6:8).

[Peter, James and John] . . . left everything and followed Him (Luke 5:11).

“For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, as to what you shall eat; nor for your body, as to what you shall put on. For life is more than food, and the body clothing. Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; and they have no storeroom nor barn; and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds! . . . Consider the lilies, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory did not clothe himself like one of these. But if God so arrays the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you, O men of little faith! And do not seek what you shall eat, and what you shall drink, and do not keep worrying. For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things. But seek for his kingdom, and these things shall be added to you. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves purses which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near, nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also (Luke 12:22-34).

“Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “ . . . You know the commandments . . . And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.” And when

Jesus heard this, He said to him, “One thing you still lack; sell all that you possess, and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when he had heard these things, he became very sad; for he was extremely rich . . . And Peter said, “Behold, we have left our own homes, and followed You.” And He said to them, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who shall not receive many times as much at this time and in the age to come, eternal life” (Luke 18:18-30).

1. We can save and invest only if we also give
And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a certain rich man was very productive. And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘This is what I will do; I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, `Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.”‘ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’ So is the man who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God (Luke 12:13-21).

B. PARABLE USING SAVING AND INVESTING
For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves, and entrusted his possessions to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. But he who received the one talent went away and dug in the ground, and hid his master’s money.

. . . Now after a long time, the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. And the one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me; see, I have gained five more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave; you were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things, enter into the joy of your master.’ The one also who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted to me two talents; see, I have gained two more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave; you were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’

And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed. And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground; see, you have what is yours.’ But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I scattered no seed. Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has ten talents’ (Matthew 25:14-28).

“A certain nobleman went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself, and then return. And he called ten of his slaves, and gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business with this until I come back . . . it came about that when he returned, after receiving the kingdom, he ordered that these slaves, to whom he had given the money, be called to him in order that he might know what business they had done. And the first appeared, saying, ‘Master, your mina has made ten minas more.’ And he said to him, ‘Well done, good slave, because you have been faithful in a very little thing, be in authority over ten cities.’ And the second came, saying, ‘Your mina, master, has made five minas.’ And he said to him also, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’ And another came, saying, ‘Master, behold your mina, which I kept put away in a handkerchief; for I was afraid of you, because you are an exacting man; you take up what you did not lay down, and reap what you did not sow.’ He said to him, ‘By your own words I will judge you, you are worthless salve. Did you know that I am an exacting man, taking up what I did not lay down, and reaping what I did not sow? Then why did you not put the money in the bank, and having come, I would have collected it with interest?’ And he said to the bystanders, ‘Take the mina away from him, and give it to the one who has the ten minas’ (Luke 19:12-24).

II. INVESTMENT GOALS

A. ACCEPTABLE INVESTMENT GOALS

1. Providing for your family
But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever (1 Timothy 5:8).

2. Leaving an inheritance (See INHERITANCE scriptures)

B. UNACCEPTABLE INVESTMENT GOALS

1. The desire to become rich
But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction (1 Timothy 6:9).

a. When we want to become rich we are loving money
For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith, and pierced themselves with many a pang (1 Timothy 6:10).

b. How to avoid temptation to become rich
1) Flee from the temptation
But flee from these things [the desire to get rich], you man of God; and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness (1 Timothy 6:11).

2) Worship God only
Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory; and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only’” (Matthew 4:8-10).

And he led Him up and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, “I will give You all this domain and its glory; for it has been handed over to me and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore if You worship me, it shall all be Yours.” And Jesus answered and said to him, “It is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’” (Luke 4:5-8).

III. SAVING (see Saving Scriptures)

IV. GOD’S FRAMEWORK FOR SUCCESSFUL INVESTING

A. KNOW WHERE THE LORD WANTS YOU TO INVEST
I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go (Isaiah 48:17).

B. DIVERSIFY
Divide your portion to seven, or even to eight, for you do not know what misfortune may occur on the earth (Ecclesiastes 11:2).

1. Business/vocation before acquiring home
Prepare your work outside, and make it ready for yourself in the field; afterwards, then, build your house (Proverbs 24:27).

a. Examples of those who owned home
And when Jesus had come to Peter’s home . . . (Matthew 8:14).

. . . they came into the house of Simon and Andrew . . . (Mark 1:29).

And He . . . entered Simon’s home . . . (Luke 4:38).

b. Examples of those who did not own home
And Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head” (Matthew 8:20).

He [Paul] stayed two full years in his own rented quarters . . . (Acts 28:30).

C. AVOID RISKY INVESTMENTS
There is a grievous evil which I [Solomon] have seen . . . riches were lost through a bad investment . . . (Ecclesiastes 5:13-14).

There is another problem I have seen everywhere – savings are put into risky investments that turn sour, and soon there is nothing left to pass on to one’s son. The man who speculates is soon back to where he began – with nothing. This, as I have said, is a serious problem, for all his hard work has been for nothing; he has been working for the wind. It is all swept away (Ecclesiastes 5:13-16, TLB)

D. BE A STEADY PLODDER
The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage . . . (Proverbs 21:5).

Steady plodding brings prosperity (Proverbs 21:5, TLB).

1. Do not be hasty
. . . everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty (Proverbs 21:5).

. . . he who makes haste to be rich will not go unpunished (Proverbs 28:20).

A man with an evil eye hastens after wealth, and does not know that want will come upon him (Proverbs 28:22).

E. TIMING IMPORTANT
There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1).

F. SEEK COUNSEL (See COUNSEL Section)

G. KNOW YOUR FINANCIAL CONDITION TO PROVIDE FOR YOUR NEEDS AND ACCOMPLISH YOUR OBJECTIVES
Know well the condition of your flocks, and pay attention to your herds; for riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to all generations. When the grass disappears, the new growth is seen, and the herbs of the mountains are gathered in, the lambs will be for your clothing, and the goats will bring the price of a field, and there will be goats’ milk enough for your maidens (Proverbs 27:23-27).

For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him (Luke 14:28-29).

H. PLANNING AND ORDER ENCOURAGED
Prepare plans by consultation . . . (Proverbs 20:18).

The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage . . . (Proverbs 21:5).

Any enterprise is built by wise planning, becomes strong through common sense, and profits wonderfully by keeping abreast of the facts (Proverbs 24:3-4, TLB).

But let all things be done properly and in an orderly manner (1 Corinthians 14:40).

For God is not a God of confusion . . . (1 Corinthians 14:33).

V. INSTRUCTIONS TO SUCCESSFUL INVESTORS

A. DO NOT BE PROUD
Thus says the Lord, “ . . . let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me . . . (Jeremiah 9:23-24).

Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited . . . (1 Timothy 6:17).

. . . let the rich man glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with a scorching wind, and withers the grass; and its flower falls off, and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away (James 1:9-11).

B. DO NOT TRUST IN RICHES
For because of your [Moab] trust in your own achievements and treasures, even you yourself will be captured (Jeremiah 48:7).

. . . [Ammon] trusts in her treasures, saying, ‘Who will come against me?’ Behold, I am going to bring terror upon you, declares the Lord God of hosts (Jeremiah 49:4-5).

Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy (1 Timothy 6:17).

C. GIVE GENEROUSLY
Instruct them [the rich] to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share (1 Timothy 6:18).

D. DO NOT BECOME INACCESSIBLE
Woe to those who add house to house and join field to field, until there is no more room, so that you have to live alone in the midst of the land! (Isaiah 5:8).

VI. GENERAL INVESTING PRINCIPLES

A. PAY A FAIR PRICE FOR AN INVESTMENT
If you make a sale, moreover, to your friend, or buy from your friend’s hand, you shall not wrong one another. Corresponding to the number of years after the jubilee, you shall buy from your friend; he is to sell to you according to the number of years of crops. In proportion to the extent of the years you shall increase its price, and in proportion to the fewness of the years, you shall diminish its price; for it is a number of crops he is selling you. So you shall not wrong one another . . . (Leviticus 25:14-17).

1. Many deceive to avoid paying fair price
“Bad, bad,” says the buyer; but when he goes his way, then he boasts (Proverbs 20:14).

VII. ACCEPTABLE FOR A WIFE TO INVEST
An excellent wife . . . considers a field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard . . . She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies belts to the tradesmen (Proverbs 31:10, 16 ,24).

I. IN OLD TESTAMENT BELIEVERS WERE TO LEND TO NEEDY BELIEVERS
If there is a poor man with you, one of your brothers . . . you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand from your poor brother; but you shall freely open your hand to him, and shall generously lend him sufficient for his need in whatever he lacks. Beware, lest there is a base thought in your heart, saying, ‘The seventh year, the year of remission, is near,’ and your eye is hostile toward your poor brother, and you give him nothing; then he may cry to the Lord against you, and it will be a sin in you (Deuteronomy 15:7-9).

A. THE LENDER WAS BLESSED
It is well with the man who is gracious and lends . . . (Psalm 112:5).

B. NEW TESTAMENT BROADENED THIS OBLIGATION TO INCLUDE THOSE ASKING FOR LOAN
Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you (Matthew 5:42).

II. NO INTEREST WAS TO BE CHARGED
If you lend money to My people, to the poor among you, you are not to act as a creditor to him; you shall not charge him interest (Exodus 22:25).

Now in case a countryman of yours becomes poor and his means with regard to you falter . . . Do not take usurious interest from him . . . You shall not give him your silver at interest . . . (Leviticus 25:35-37).

You shall not charge interest to your countrymen: interest on money, food, or anything that may be loaned at interest (Deuteronomy 23:19).

A. EXAMPLE OF VIOLATING THIS LAW
“We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our homes that we might get grain because of the famine.” Also there were those who said, “We have borrowed money for the king’s tax on our fields and our vineyards . . . we are forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters are forced into bondage already, and we are helpless because our fields and vineyards belong to others . . . [Nehemiah] said to them, “You are exacting usury, each against his brother!” Therefore, I held a great assembly against them. And I said to them, “We according to our ability have redeemed our Jewish brothers who were sold to the nations; now would you even sell your brothers that they may be sold to us?” . . . I, my brothers and my servants are lending them money and grain. Please, let us leave off this usury. Please, give back to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money and of the grain, the new wine, and the oil that you are exacting from them.” Then they said, “We will give it back and will require nothing from them; we will do exactly as you say” (Nehemiah 5:3-12).

B. BLESSED IF INTEREST NOT CHARGED
. . . to your countryman you shall not charge interest, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all that you undertake in the land which you are about to enter to possess (Deuteronomy 23:20).

O Lord, who may abide in Thy tent? Who may dwell on Thy holy hill? He who . . . does not put out his money at interest . . . (Psalm 15:1, 5).

“If a man . . . does not lend money on interest . . . he is righteous and will surely live,” declares the Lord God . . . [a son] does not . . . take interest or increase, but executes My ordinances, and walks in My statutes; he will not die for his father’s iniquity, he will surely live (Ezekiel 18:7-17).

C. CURSED IF INTEREST CHARGED
He who increased his wealth by interest and usury, gathers it for him who is gracious to the poor (Proverbs 28:8).

a violent son who . . . lends money on interest and takes increase; will he live? He will not live! He has committed all these abominations, he will surely be put to death (Ezekiel 18:10, 13).

[rulers of Israel] have taken interest . . . Behold, then, I smite My hand at your dishonest gain . . . (Ezekiel 22:12-13).

‘Woe to him who increases what is not his – for how long – and makes himself rich with loans?’ Will not your creditors rise up suddenly, and those who collect from you awaken? Indeed, you will become plunder for them (Habakkuk 2:6-7).

D. PERMISSIBLE TO CHARGE FOREIGNER INTEREST
You may charge interest to a foreigner, but to your countryman you shall not charge interest (Deuteronomy 23:20).

III. PLEDGE THAT WAS NECESSITY WAS NOT TO BE TAKEN TO SECURE A LOAN
If you ever take your neighbor’s cloak as a pledge, you are to return it to him before the sun sets, for that is his only covering; it is his cloak for his body . . . (Exodus 22:26-27).

No one shall take a handmill or an upper millstone in pledge, for he would be taking a life in pledge . . . When you make your neighbor a loan of any sort, you shall not enter his house to take his pledge. You shall remain outside, and the man to whom you make the loan shall bring the pledge out to you. And if he is a poor man, you shall not sleep with his pledge. When the sun goes down you shall surely return the pledge to him, that he may sleep in his cloak and bless you; and it will be righteousness for you before the Lord your God (Deuteronomy 24:6, 10-13).

You shall not . . . take a widow’s garment in pledge (Deuteronomy 24:17).

A. ACCUSED WRONGFULLY OF VIOLATING THIS LAW
Is not your [Job] wickedness great, and your iniquities without end? For you have taken pledges of your brothers . . . (Job 22:5-6).

B. BLESSED IF NO PLEDGE TAKEN
“If a man . . . restores to the debtor his pledge . . . he is righteous and will surely live,” declares the Lord God . . . [a son who does not] retain a pledge . . . will surely live (Ezekiel 18:7, 9, 16-17).

If a wicked man restores a pledge . . . he will surely live; he shall not die (Ezekiel 33:15).

C. CURSED IF SUCH A PLEDGE TAKEN
a violent son who . . . does not restore a pledge . . . He will not live! He has committed all these abominations, he will surely be put to death . . . (Ezekiel 18:10, 12-13).

Thus says the Lord, “For three transgressions of Israel and for four I will not revoke its punishment . . . on garments taken as pledges they stretch out beside every altar (Amos 2:6, 8).

1. The wicked take such pledges
[the wicked] take the widow’s ox for a pledge . . . against the poor they take a pledge (Job 24:3, 9).

IV. LOAN REPAYMENT WAS NOT TO BE REQUIRED

A. DEBTS FORGIVEN EVERY SEVEN YEARS (see DEBT Section)

B. IN NEW TESTAMENT, LEND EVEN TO ENEMIES EXPECTING NO RETURN
. . . if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, in order to receive back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High . . . (Luke 6:34-35).

I. HAVE AN ATTITUDE OF THANKFULNESS
For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, if it is received with gratitude (1 Timothy 4:4).

II. HAVE AN ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE
If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.  For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.  Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry (Colossians 3:1-5).

For you . . . accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and an abiding one (Hebrews 10:34).

By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin; considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward (Hebrews 11:24-26).

Do not love the world, not the things in the world.  If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.  And the world is passing away, and also its lusts . . . (1 John 2:15-17).

III. EXAMPLE OF PAUL AND THE DISCIPLES
Just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of the many, that they may be saved (1 Corinthians 10:33).

but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God . . . as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things (2 Corinthians 6:4, 10).

IV. WHEN PEOPLE COME TO KNOW CHRIST THEY FORSAKE COSTLY EVIL THINGS
Many also of those who had believed kept coming, confessing and disclosing their practices. And many of those who practiced magic brought their books together and began burning them in the sight of all; and they counted up the price of them and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver (Acts 19:18-19).

I. BELIEVERS SHOULD AVOID LAWSUITS WITH ONE ANOTHER
Does any one of you, when he has a case against his neighbor, dare to go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints?  Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world?  And if the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts?  Do you not know that we shall judge angels?  How much more, matters of this life?  If then you have law courts dealing with matters of this life, do you appoint them as judges who are of no account in the church?  I say this to your shame.  It is so, that there is not among you one wise man who will be able to decide between his brethren, but brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers?  Actually, then, it is already a defeat for you, that you have lawsuits with one another.  Why not rather be wronged?  Why not rather be defrauded?  On the contrary, you yourselves wrong and defraud, and that your brethren (1 Corinthians 6:1-8).

II. SEEK TO PROMPTLY SETTLE LAWSUITS
Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, in order that your opponent may not deliver you to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.  Truly I say to you, you shall not come out of there, until you have paid up the last cent (Matthew 5:25-26).

For while you are going with your opponent to appear before the magistrate, on your way there make an effort to settle with him, in order that he may not drag you before the judge, and the judge turn you over to the constable, and the constable throw you into prison.  I say to you, you shall not get out of there until you have paid the very last cent   (Luke 12:58-59).

III. JESUS WANTS US TO BE OPEN HANDED WITH POSSESSIONS
And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also (Matthew 5:40).

. . . whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either.  Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back  (Luke 6:29-30).

IV. OLD TESTAMENT EXAMPLE OF UNRIGTHEOUS LAWSUITS
Your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, so that He does not hear . . . No one sues righteously and no one pleads honestly . . . (Isaiah 59:2, 4).

ADULTERY—FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCES
And your hard-earned goods go to the house of an alien [as a result of adultery] (Proverbs 5:10).

He [husband of adulteress wife] will not accept any ransom, nor will he be content though you give many gifts (Proverbs 6:35).

. . . he who keeps company with harlots wastes his wealth (Proverbs 29:3)

DIVORCE—OLD TESTAMENT
And it shall be, if you are not pleased with her, then you shall let her go wherever she wishes; but you shall certainly not sell her for money, you shall not mistreat her, because you have humbled her (Deuteronomy 21:14).

EXAMPLE OF FAITHFUL IN SPITE OF MONEY OFFERED FOR EVIL
Then Joab said to the man who had told him, “Now behold, you saw him!  Why then did you not strike him there to the ground?  And I would have given you ten pieces of silver and a belt.”  And the man said to Joab, “Even if I should receive a thousand pieces of silver in my hand, I would not put out my hand against the king’s son; for in our hearing the king charged you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, ‘Protect for me the young man Absalom!” (2 Samuel 18:11-12).

EXAMPLE OF THOSE WHO HAVE NO CONCERN FOR MONEY
Behold, I [the Lord] am going to stir up the Medes against them [Babylon], who will not value silver or take pleasure in gold . . . (Isaiah 13:17).

Then the Gibeonites said to him, “We have no concern of silver or gold with Saul or his house . . . (2 Samuel 21:4).

FINING THE RIGHTEOUS IS A MISTAKE
It is also not good to fine the righteous.  Proverbs 17:26

HEARTS THAT ARE EVIL IN THE USE OF MONEY
Do not eat the bread of a selfish man, or desire his delicacies; for as he thinks within himself, so he is.  He says to you, “Eat and drink!” But his heart is not with you. You will vomit up the morsel you have eaten, and waste your compliments (Proverbs 23:6-8).

And they come to you [Ezekiel] as people come, and sit before you as My people, and hear your words, but they do not do them, they do the lustful desires expressed by their mouth, and their heart goes after gain (Ezekiel 33:31).

And his master praised the unrighteous steward because he had acted shrewdly; for the sons of this age are more shrewd in relation to their own kind than the sons of light.  And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by means of the mammon of unrighteousness; that when it fails, they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.

He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much.  If therefore you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous mammon, who will entrust the true riches to you?  And if you have not been faithful in the use of that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own?  No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other, or else he will hold to one, and despise the other.  You cannot serve God and mammon.  Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things, and they were scoffing at Him (Luke 16:1-14).

. . . men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.  But godliness actually is a means of great gain, when accompanied by contentment (1 Timothy 6:5-6).

You lust and do not have; so you commit murder.  And you are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel.  You do not have because you do not ask.  You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures (James 4:2-3).

HEARTS THAT ARE GOOD IN THE USE OF MONEY
Here for this third time I [Paul] am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you; for I do not seek what is yours, but you (2 Corinthians 12:14).

KING WAS GOING TO COST PEOPLE MUCH
So Samuel spoke all the words of the Lord to the people who had asked of him a king.  And he said, “This will be the procedure of the king who will rule over you . . . he will take the best of your fields and your vineyards and your olive groves, and give them to his servants.  And he will take a tenth of your seed and of your vineyards, and give to his officers and to his servants.  He will also take your male servants and your female servants and your best young men and your donkeys, and use them for his work.  He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his servants” (1 Samuel 8:10, 11, 14-17).

LEADER’S LAND IN ISRAEL
And the prince shall have land on either side of the holy allotment and the property of the city, adjacent to the holy allotment and the property of the city, on the west side toward the west and on the east side toward the east, and length comparable to one of the portions, from the west border to the east border.  This shall be his land for a possession in Israel; so My princes shall no longer oppress My people, but they shall give the rest of the land to the house of Israel according to their tribes (Ezekiel 45:7-8).

LORD VALUED LITTLE BY UNGODLY
I said to them, “If it is good in your sight, give me my wages; but if not, never mind!”  So they weighed out thirty shekels of silver as my wages.  Then the Lord said to me, “Throw it to the potter, that magnificent price at which I was valued by them.”  So I took the thirty shekels of silver and threw them to the potter in the house of the Lord (Zechariah 11:12-13).

MERCENARIES
And Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah had fortified Ramah in order to prevent anyone from going out or coming in to Asa king of Judah.  Then Asa took all the silver and the gold which were left in the treasuries of the house of the Lord and the treasuries of the king’s house, and delivered them into the hand of his servants.  And King Asa sent them to Ben-hadad [Syrian king] . . . saying, “Let there be a treaty between you and me . . . I have sent you a present of silver and gold; go, break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel so that he will withdraw form me.”  So Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel (1 Kings 15:16-20).

Rezin king of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah, king of Israel, came up to Jerusalem to wage war . . . Ahaz (king of Judah) took the silver and gold that was found in the house of the Lord and the treasuries of the king’s house, and sent a present to the king of Assyria.  So the king of Assyria listened to him; and the king of Assyria went up against Damascus and captured it . . .  (2 Kings 16:5, 8-9).

[to prevent Israel’s blockade] Asa brought out silver and gold from the treasuries of the house of the Lord and the king’s house, and sent them to Ben-hadad king of Syria, who lived in Damascus, saying, “Let there be a treaty between you and me, as between my father and your father.  Behold, I have sent you silver and gold; go, break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel so that he will withdraw from me.”  So Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel . . . (2 Chronicles 16:2-4).

MISCELLANEOUS
Then he [Boaz] said, “May you [Ruth] be blessed of the Lord, my daughter.  You have shown your last kindness to be better than the first by not going after young men, whether poor or rich” (Ruth 3:10).

He who withholds grain, the people will curse him, but blessing will be on the head of him who sells it (Proverbs 11:26).

Better is he who is lightly esteemed and has a servant, than he who honors himself and lacks bread (Proverbs 12:9).

Buy truth, and do not sell it. Get wisdom and instruction and understanding (Proverbs 23:23).

If a man were to give all the riches of his house for love, it would be utterly despised (Song of Solomon 8:7).

For thus says the Lord, “You [Israel] were sold for nothing and you will be redeemed without money” (Isaiah 52:3).

How hard the gold has become, how the pure gold has changed!  The sacred stones are poured out at the corner of every street.  The precious sons of Zion, weighed against fine gold, how they are regarded as earthen jars, the work of a potter’s hands! (Lamentations 4:1-2).

And He said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a head of a household, who brings forth out of his treasure things new and old”  (Matthew 13:52).

A woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years, and had endured much at the hands of many physicians, and had spent all that she had and was not helped at all, but rather had grown worse (Mark 5:25-26).

The commander answered, “I acquired this citizenship with a large sum of money.”  And Paul said, “But I was actually born a citizen” (Acts 22:28).

MONEY USED TO ILLUSTRATE THE JOY OF SALVATION
Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?  And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, “Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost!”  In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents (Luke 15:8-10).

RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD CANNOT BE BOUGHT
Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money come, buy and eat.  Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.  Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy?  Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and delight yourself in abundance (Isaiah 55:1-2).

SPOILS AND PLUNDER
Jacob’s sons came upon the slain and looted the city, because they had defiled their sister.  They took their flocks and their herds and their donkeys, and that which was in the city and that which was in the field; and they captured and looted all their wealth . . . even all that was in the houses. (Genesis 34:27-29).

The sons of Israel returned from chasing the Philistines and plundered their camps (1 Samuel 17:53).

Now Ben-hadad king of Syria . . . besieged Samaria, and fought against it.  Then he sent messengers to the city to Ahab the king of Israel, and said to him, “Thus says Ben-hadad, ‘Your silver and your gold are mine . . . the king of Israel answered and said, “It is according to your word, my lord, O king; I am yours, and all that I have.” The messengers returned and said, “Thus says Ben-hadad, ‘Surely, I sent to you saying, “You shall give me your silver and your gold and your wives and your children,”  but about this time tomorrow I will send my servants to search your house and the houses of your servants; and it shall come about, whatever is desirable in your eyes, they will take in their hand and carry away . . . the elders and the people said to him (Ahab), “Do not listen or consent” (1 Kings 20:1-6, 8).

Judah was defeated by Israel . . . [Jehoash king of Israel]) took all the gold and silver and all the utensils which were found in the house of the Lord, and in the treasuries of the king’s house (2 Kings 14:12, 14).

When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take their [enemies] spoils, they found much among them, including goods, garments, and valuable things which they took for themselves, more than they could carry.  And they were three days taking the spoil because there was so much (2 Chronicles 20:25).

Since the days of our fathers to this day we have been in great guilt, and on account of our iniquities we, our kings and our priests have been given into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to plunder . . . (Ezra 9:7).

[king Ahasuerus] granted the Jews who were in each and every city the right to assemble and to defend their lives, to destroy, to . . . plunder spoil (Esther 8:11).

Thus the Jews struck all their enemies with the sword . . . but they did not lay their hands on the plunder (Esther 9:5, 10).

Woe to Assyria, the rod of my anger and the staff in whose hand is My indignation, I sent it against a godless nation and commission it against the people of My fury to capture booty and plunder (Isaiah 10:5-6).

So it will be that when the Lord has completed all His work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, He will say, “I will punish the fruit of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria and the pomp of his haughtiness.”  For he has said, “By the power of my hand and by my wisdom I did this, for I have understanding; and I removed the boundaries of the peoples, and plundered their treasures, and like a mighty man I brought down their inhabitants, and my hand reached to the riches of the peoples like a nest, and as one gathers abandoned eggs, I gathered all the earth . . . (Isaiah 10:12-14).

. . . [Babylon] will make a spoil of your [Tyre] riches and a prey of your merchandise . . . (Ezekiel 26:12).

When the slain fall in Egypt, they [Babylon] take away her wealth . . . (Ezekiel 30:4).

. . . [the Lord’s judgment on Ephraim] will plunder his treasury of every precious article (Hosea 13:15).

Thus says the Lord God, “An enemy, even one surrounding the land will pull down your strength from you [Israel] and your citadels will be looted (Amos 3:11).

. . . [Edom] do not gloat over their [God’s people] calamity in the day of their disaster. And do not loot their wealth in the day of their disaster (Obadiah 1:13).

O how Esau will be ransacked, and his hidden treasures searched out . . . [because] you stood aloof, on the day that strangers carried off his [Israel’s] wealth (Obadiah 1:6, 11).

Arise and thresh, daughter of Zion, for your horn I will make iron and your hoofs I will make bronze, that you may pulverize many peoples, that you may devote to the Lord their unjust gain and their wealth to the Lord of all the earth (Micah 4:13).

Plunder the silver!  Plunder the gold!  For there is not limit to the treasure – wealth from every kind of desirable object . . . [Nineveh] is emptied . . . (Nahum 2:9-10).

Woe to the bloody city [Nineveh], completely full of lies and pillage . . . (Nahum 3:1).

Will not all of these take up a taunt-song against him [Israel], even mockery and insinuations against him, and say, ‘Woe to him who increases what is not his—for how long—and makes himself rich with loans?’  Will not your creditors rise up suddenly, and those who collect from you awaken?  Indeed, you will become plunder for them.  Because you have looted many nations, all the remainder of the peoples will loot you . . . (Habakkuk 2:6-8).

. . . all [the wicked] who weigh out silver will be cut off . . . their wealth will become plunder, and their houses desolate; yes, they build houses but not inhabit them, and plant vineyards but not drink their wine . . . Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to deliver them on the day of the Lord’s wrath . . . (Zephaniah 1:11, 13, 18).

The remnant of My people will plunder them [Moab] . . . (Zephaniah 2:9).

UNFAITHFULNESS EQUATED WITH HARLOTRY
Men give gifts to all harlots, but you give your gifts to all your lovers to bribe them to come to you from every direction for your harlotries.  Thus you are different from those women in your harlotries, in that no one plays the harlot as you do, because you give money and no money is given you; thus you are different (Ezekiel 16:33-34).

VINDICATION
To Sarah he [Abimelech] said, “Behold, I have given your brother [Abraham] a thousand pieces of silver; behold, it is your vindication before all who are with you . . . (Genesis 20:16).

I. LORD GAVE PEOPLE AUTHORITY OVER THE EARTH
. . . God said to them [Adam and Eve], “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it . . . ” (Genesis 1:28).

“You make him [man] to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet” (Psalm 8:6).

The heavens are the heavens of the Lord; but the earth He has given to the sons of men (Psalm 115:16).

“What is man, that You remember him? Or the son of man, that You are concerned about him? You have made him for a little while lower than the angles; You have crowned him with glory and honor, and have appointed him over the works of Your hands. You have put all things in subjection under his feet” (Hebrews 2:6-8).

A. PARABLE ILLUSTRATING LORD GIVING PEOPLE AUTHORITY OVER HIS POSSESSIONS
For it [the kingdom of God] is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves, and entrusted his possessions to them (Matthew 25:14).

II. OUR POSITION AS MANAGER (STEWARD)

A. EXAMPLES OF MANAGERS (STEWARDS)
Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his household, who had charge of all that he owned. . . (Genesis 24:2).

So Joseph . . . became his personal servant; and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he owned he put in his charge. And it came about that from the time he made him overseer in his house, and over all that he owned, the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house on account of Joseph. . . he left everything he owned in Joseph’s charge; and with him there he did not concern himself with anything except the food which he ate . . . (Genesis 39:4-6).

. . . his master’s wife looked with desire at Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.” But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Behold, with me here, my master does not concern himself with anything in the house, and he has put all that he owns in my charge. “There is no one greater in this house than I, and he has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do this great evil, and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:7-9).

. . . I [Paul] have a stewardship entrusted to me (1 Corinthians 9:17).

III. MANAGERS (STEWARDS) HAVE CERTAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

A. RECOGNIZE LORD AS OWNER OF POSSESSIONS AND TRANSFER OWNERSHIP TO LORD
All those who had believed were together, and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions, and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need (Acts 2:44-45).

The congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own; but all things were common property to them. And with great power the apostles were giving witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all. For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales, and lay them at the apostles’ feet; and they would be distributed to each as any had need. And Joseph, a Levite of Cyprian birth, who was also called Barnabas by the apostles [which translated means, Son of Encouragement], and who owned a tract of land sold it and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet (Acts 4:32-37).

1. Must give ownership of possessions to Lord to be a disciple
Not one of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions (Luke 14:33).

2. Leaving everything to follow Lord results in blessings
Then Peter answered and said to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?” And Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you. . . everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name’s sake, shall receive many times as much, and shall inherit eternal life” (Matthew 19:27-29).

Peter began to say to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You.” Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake, but that he shall receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life (Mark 10:28-30).

And Peter said, “Behold, we have left our own homes, and followed You.” And He said to them, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents of children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who shall not receive many times as much at this time and in the age to come, eternal life” (Luke 18:28-30).

3. Examples of leaving everything to follow the Lord
And immediately He called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went away to follow Him (Mark 1:20).

When they [Peter, James, and John] had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him (Luke 5:11).

After that He went out, and noticed a tax gather named Levi, sitting in the tax office, and He said to him, “Follow Me.” And he left everything behind, and rose and began to follow Him (Luke 5:27-28).

4. Parable illustrating leaving everything to follow Lord
The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had, and bought it (Matthew 13:44-46).

B. BE FAITHFUL
. . . it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful (1 Corinthians 4:2 KJV).

1. Blessings of faithfulness
A faithful man will abound with blessings. . . (Proverbs 28:20).

For this reason you be ready too; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will. Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes (Matthew 24:44-46).

a. Blessed with a more intimate relationship with God
His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave; you were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things, enter into the joy of your master’ (Matthew 25:21).

b. Blessed with more responsibility
And the one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me; see, I have gained five more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave; you were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things, enter into the joy of your master.’ The one also who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted to me two talents; see, I have gained two more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave; you were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master’ (Matthew 25:20-23).

. . . By your standard of measure it shall be measured to you; and more shall be given you besides. For whoever has, to him shall more be given; and whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him” (Mark 4:24-25).

The Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and sensible steward, whom his master will put in charge of his servants, to give them their rations at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes. Truly I say to you, that he will put him in charge of all his possessions (Luke 12:42-44).

He [Jesus] said therefore, “A certain nobleman went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself, and then return. And he called ten of his slaves, and gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business with this until I come back. . . when he returned, after receiving the kingdom, he ordered that these slaves, to whom he had given the money, be called to him in order that he might know what business they had done. And the first appeared, saying, ‘Master, your mina has made ten minas more.’ And he said to him, ‘Well done, good slave, because you have been faithful in a very little thing, be in authority over ten cities.’ And the second came, saying, ‘Your mina, master, has made five minas.’ And he said to him also, ‘And you are to be over five cities. . . he said to the bystanders, ‘Take the mina away from him [unfaithful slave], and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’ And they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas already.’ I tell you, that to everyone who has shall more be given, but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away” (Luke 19:12-26)

2. Cursed for unfaithfulness
But if that evil slave says in his heart, ‘My master is not coming for a long time,’ and shall begin to beat his fellow slaves and eat and drink with drunkards; the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour which he does not know, and shall cut him in pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites; weeping shall be there and the gnashing of teeth (Matthew 24:48-51).

For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves, and entrusted his possessions to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one. . . he who received the one talent went away and dug in the ground, and hid his master’s money. Now after a long time, the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. . . the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed. And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground; see, you have what is yours.’ But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I scattered no seed. Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has ten talents.’ For to everyone who has shall more be given, and he shall have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. And cast out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 25:14-30).

But if that slave says in his heart, ‘My master will be a long time in coming,’ and begins to beat the slaves, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk; the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him, and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and assign him a place with the unbelievers. And that slave who knew his master’s will and did not get ready or act in accord with his will, shall receive many lashes (Luke 12:45-47).

He [Jesus] said therefore, “A certain nobleman went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself, and then return. And he called ten of his slaves, and gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business with this until I come back. . . when he returned, after receiving the kingdom, he ordered that these slaves, to whom he had given the money, be called to him in order that he might know what business they had done. . . another came, saying, ‘Master, behold your mina, which I kept put away in a handkerchief; for I was afraid of you, because you are an exacting man; you take up what you did not lay down, and reap what you did not sow.’ By your own words I will judge you, you are a worthless slave. Did you know that I am an exacting man, taking up what I did not lay down, and reaping what I did not sow? Then why did you not put the money in the bank, and having come, I would have collected it with interest?’ And he said to the bystanders, ‘Take the mina away from him, and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’ And they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas already.’ I tell you, that to everyone who has shall more be given, but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away” (Luke 19:12-26).

a. Example of unfaithful steward
Now He was also saying to the disciples, “There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and this steward was reported to him as squandering his possessions. And he called him and said to him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.’ And the steward said to himself, “What shall I do, since my master is taking the stewardship away from me? I am not strong enough to dig; I am ashamed to beg. I know what I shall do, so that when I am removed from the stewardship, they will receive me into their homes.” And he summoned each one of his master’s debtors, and he began saying to the first, “How much do you owe my master?” And he said, “A hundred measures of oil.” And he said to him, “Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.” Then he said to another, “And how much do you owe?” And he said, “A hundred measures of wheat.” He said to him, “Take your bill, and write eighty.” And his master praised the unrighteous steward because he had acted shrewdly; for the sons of this age are more shrewd in relation to their own kind than the sons of light (Luke 16:1-8).

C. BE OBEDIENT AND SEEK THE LORD

1. Blessings of obedience and seeking the Lord
Then it shall come about, because you listen to these judgments and keep and do them, that the Lord your God . . . will also bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground, your grain and your new wine and your oil, the increase of your herd and the young of your flock, in the land which He swore to your forefathers to give to you (Deuteronomy 7:12-13).

However, there shall be no poor among you, since the Lord will surely bless you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance to possess, if only you listen obediently to the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all this commandment which I am commanding you today. For the Lord your God shall bless you as He has promised you, and you will lend money to many nations, but you will not borrow. . . (Deuteronomy 15:4-6).

. . . if you will diligently obey the Lord your God, being careful to do all His commandments which I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you will obey the Lord your God. Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country. Blessed shall be the offspring of your body and the produce of your ground and the offspring of your beasts, the increase of your herd and the young of your flock. Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl . . . The Lord will command the blessings upon you in your barns and in all that you put your hand to . . . the Lord will make you abound in prosperity, in the offspring of your body and in the offspring of your beast and in the produce of your ground, in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers to give you. The Lord will open for you His good storehouse, the heavens, to give rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hand; and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow . . . if you will listen to the commandments of the Lord your God, which I charge you today, to observe them carefully, and do not turn aside from any of the words which I command you today, to the right or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them (Deuteronomy 28:1-14).

So keep the words of this covenant to do them, that you may prosper in all that you do (Deuteronomy 29:9).

Then the Lord your God will prosper you abundantly in all the work of your hand, in the offspring of your body and in the offspring of your cattle and in the produce of your ground . . . if you obey the Lord your God to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this book of law, if you turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and soul (Deuteronomy 30:9-10).

See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity; in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that you may live and multiply, and that the Lord your God may bless you. . . (Deuteronomy 30:15-16).

This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success (Joshua 1:8).

And keep the charge of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His ordinances, and His testimonies, according to what is written in the law of Moses, that you may succeed in all that you do and wherever you turn (1 Kings 2:3).

Only the Lord give you [Solomon] discretion and understanding . . . so that you may keep the law of the Lord your God. Then you shall prosper, if you are careful to observe the statutes and the ordinances which the Lord commanded Moses. . . (1 Chronicles 22:12-13).

. . . observe and seek after all the commandments of the Lord your God in order that you may possess the good land and bequeath it to your sons after you forever (1 Chronicles 28:8).

Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4).

How blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways. When you shall eat of the fruit of your hands, you will be happy and it will be well with you (Psalm 128:1-2).

b. Examples of obedience and blessing
For he [Hezekiah] clung to the Lord; he did not depart from following Him, but kept His commandments, which the Lord had commanded Moses. And the Lord was with him; wherever he went he prospered . . . (2 Kings 18:6-7).

For he [Asa] said to Judah, “. . . The land is still ours, because we have sought the Lord our God; we have sought Him, and He has given us rest on every side.” So they built and prospered (2 Chronicles 14:7).

And he [Uzziah] continued to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding through the vision of God; and as long as he sought the Lord, God prospered him (2 Chronicles 26:5).

[Hezekiah] did what was good, right, and true before the Lord his God. And every work which he began in the service of the house of God in law and in commandment, seeking his God, he did with all his heart and prospered . . . (2 Chronicles 31:20-21).

And you will defile your graven images, overlaid with silver, and your molten images plated with gold. You will scatter them as an impure thing; and say to them, “Be gone!” Then He will give you rain for the seed which you will sow in the ground, and bread from the yield of the ground, and it will be rich and plenteous . . . (Isaiah 30:22-23).

2. Curse of disobedience and not seeking the Lord
. . . if you will not obey the Lord your God, to observe to do all His commandments and statutes with which I charge you today, that all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you. Cursed shall you be in the city, and cursed shall you be in the country. Cursed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. Cursed shall be the offspring of your body and the produce of your ground, the increase of your herd and the young of your flock . . . A people whom you do not know shall eat up the produce of your ground and all your labors (Deuteronomy 28:15-18, 33).

So all these curses shall come on you and pursue you and overtake you until you are destroyed, because you would not obey the Lord your God by keeping His commandments and His statutes which He commanded you. And they shall become a sign and a wonder on you and your descendants forever. Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joy and a glad heart, for the abundance of all things; therefore you shall serve your enemies whom the Lord shall send against you, in hunger, in thirst, in nakedness, and in the lack of all things . . . as the Lord delighted over you to prosper you, and multiple you, so the Lord will delight over you to make you perish and destroy you; and you shall be torn from the land where you are entering to possess it (Deuteronomy 28:45-48, 63).

See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity . . . if your heart turns away and you will not obey, but are drawn away and worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today that you will surely perish . . . (Deuteronomy 30:15-18).

And whoever will observe the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be executed upon him strictly, whether for death of for banishment or for confiscation of goods . . . (Ezra 7:26).

a. Examples of disobedience and cursing
So they forsook the Lord and served Baal and the Astartes. And the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and He gave them into the hands of plunderers who plundered them . . . (Judges 2:13-14).

Then a letter came to him from Elijah the prophet saying, “Thus says the Lord God of your father David, ‘Because you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father and the ways of Asa king of Judah, but have walked in the way of the kings of Israel . . . the Lord is going to strike your people, your sons, your wives, and all your possessions with a great calamity . . . the Lord stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines and the Arabs who bordered the Ethiopians; and they came against Judah and invaded it, and carried away all the possessions found in the king’s house . . . (2 Chronicles 21:12-14, 16-17).

Then the Spirit of God came on Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest; and he stood above the people and said to them, “Thus God has said, ‘Why do you transgress the commandments of the Lord and do not prosper? Because you have forsaken the Lord, He has also forsaken you’” (2 Chronicles 24:20).

You are just in all that has come upon us; for You have dealt faithfully, but we have acted wickedly. For our kings, our leaders, our priests, and our fathers have not kept Your law or paid attention to Your commandments and Your admonishments with which You have admonished them. But they . . . did not serve You or turn from their evil deeds. Behold we are slaves today, and as to the land which You gave to our fathers to eat of its fruit and its boundary, behold, we are slaves on it (Nehemiah 9:33-36).

For the shepherds [leaders of Israel] . . . have not sought the Lord; therefore they have not prospered. . . (Jeremiah 10:21).

“You also took your beautiful jewels made of My gold and of My silver, which I had given you, and made for yourself male images that you might play the harlot with them. Then you took your embroidered cloth and covered them, and offered My oil and My incense before them. Also My bread which I gave you, fine flour, oil, and honey with which I fed you, you would offer before them for a soothing aroma; so it happened,” declares the Lord God. . . I shall also give you into the hands of your lovers, and they will tear down your shrines, demolish your high places, strip you of your clothing, take away your jewels, and will leave you naked and bare (Ezekiel 16:17-19, 39).

Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses while this house lies desolate? Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts, “Consider your ways! You have sown much, but harvest little; you eat, but there is not enough to be satisfied; you drink, but there is not enough to become drunk; you put on clothing, but no one is warm enough; and he who earns, earns wages to put into a purse with holes.” Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Consider your ways! Go up to the mountains, bring wood and rebuild the temple, that I may be pleased with it and be glorified,” says the Lord. “You look for much, but behold, it comes to little; when you bring it home, I blow it away. Why?” declares the Lord of hosts, “Because of My house which lies desolate, while each of you runs to his own house. Therefore, because of you the sky has withheld its dew, and the earth has withheld its produce. And I called for a drought on the land, on the mountains, on the grain, on the new wine, on the oil, on what the ground produces, on men, on cattle, and on all the labor of your hands” (Haggai 1:4-11).

But now, do consider . . . when one came to a grain heap of twenty measures, there would be only ten; and when one came to the wine vat to draw fifty measures, there would be only twenty. I smote you and every work of your hands with blasting wind, mildew, and hail; yet you did not come back to Me, declares the Lord (Haggai 2:15-17).

D. TRUST IN THE LORD, NOT OURSELVES OR POSSESSIONS

1. Blessings and prosperity for those who trust in God
. . . How blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in His commandments . . . wealth and riches are in his house. . . (Psalm 112:1, 3).

The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord, are riches, honor and life (Proverbs 22:4).

. . . he who trusts in the Lord will prosper (Proverbs 28:25).

2. Consequences of trusting in ourselves and/or our possessions
He who trusts in his riches will fall . . . (Proverbs 11:28).

Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes his flesh his strength, and whose heart turns away the Lord. For he will be like a bush in the desert and will not see when prosperity comes . . . (Jeremiah 17:5-6).

For because of your [Moab] trust in your own achievements and treasures, even you yourself will be captured (Jeremiah 48:7).

How boastful you [Ammon] are about the valleys! Your valley is flowing away, O backsliding daughter who trusts in her treasures, saying, `Who will come against me?’ Behold, I am going to bring terror upon you, declares the Lord God of hosts (Jeremiah 49:4-5).

IV. WE ARE GOING TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR OUR MANAGEMENT (STEWARDSHIP)
For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves, and entrusted his possessions to them . . . after a long time, the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them (Matthew 25:14, 19).

. . . Give an account of your stewardship . . . (Luke 16:2)

Therefore also we have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ, that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad (2 Corinthians 5:9-10).

And I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it . . . I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne . . . and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books according to their deeds (Revelation 20:11-12).

I. GOD IS NOT PARTIAL
For the Lord your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God who does not show partiality . . . (Deuteronomy 10:17).

. . . the Lord our God will have no part in unrighteousness, or partiality . . . (2 Chronicles 19:7).

[the Lord] shows no partiality to princes, nor regards the rich above the poor, for they all are the work of His hands? (Job 34:19).

And, masters, do the same things to them [servants], and give up threatening, knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him (Ephesians 6:9).

II. WE ARE NOT TO BE PARTIAL
To show partiality is not good . . . (Proverbs 28:21).

A. IT IS SIN TO BE PARTIAL
If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law, according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.  But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors (James 2:8-9).

B. DO NOT BE PARTIAL TO THE RICH
My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism.  For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and you say to the poor man, “You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool;” have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives?  Listen, my beloved brethren; did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?  But you have dishonored the poor man.  Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court?  Do they not blaspheme the fair name by which you have been called? . . . if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors (James 2:1-9).

C. DO NOT BE PARTIAL TO THE POOR
. . . nor shall you be partial to a poor man in his dispute (Exodus 23:3).

You shall do no injustice in judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor nor defer to the great, but you are to judge your neighbor fairly (Leviticus 19:15).

D. LEADERS/JUDGES ARE NOT TO BE PARTIAL
You [judges] shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small and the great alike.  You shall not fear man, for the judgment is God’s . . .  (Deuteronomy 1:17).

You shall appoint for yourself judges . . . and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment.  You shall not distort justice; you shall not be partial . . .  (Deuteronomy 16:18-19).

. . . Consider what you are doing, for you do not judge for man but for the Lord who is with you when you render judgment.  Now then let the fear of the Lord be upon you; be very careful what you do, for the Lord our God will have no part in unrighteousness, or partiality . . . (2 Chronicles 19:6-7).

III. CURSED IF PARTIAL
So I have made you despised and abased before all the people, just as you are not keeping My ways, but are showing partiality . . . (Malachi 2:9).

IV. CORRECT ATTITUDES

A. BE OF THE SAME MIND TOWARDS ONE ANOTHER
Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind (Romans 12:16).

B. CONSIDER OTHERS MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOURSELF
Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself (Philippians 2:3).

I. PROPHECY ALREADY FULFILLED

It will come about in that day [devastation of Judah], that every place where there used to be a thousand vines, valued at a thousand shekels of silver, will become briars and thorns (Isaiah 7:23).

And her [Tyre] gain and her harlot’s wages will be set apart to the Lord; it will not be stored up or hoarded, but her gain will become sufficient food and choice attire for those who dwell in the presence of the Lord (Isaiah 23:18).

His [the Messiah] grave was assigned to be with wicked men, yet He was with a rich man in His death . . .  Isaiah 53:9

The word of the Lord came to me [Jeremiah], saying: ‘Behold, Hanamel the son of Shallum your uncle is coming to you saying, Buy for yourself my field . . . I bought the field . . . I commanded Baruch in their presence, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, “Take these deeds, this sealed deed of purchase, and this open deed, and put them in an earthenware jar, that they may last a long time . . . Houses and fields and vineyards shall again be bought in this land”  (Jeremiah 32:6-7, 9, 14-15)

You have said to me [Jeremiah], O Lord God, “Buy for yourself the field with money, and call in witnesses” – although the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans (Jeremiah 32:25).

II. PROPHECY NOT YET FULFILLED
FROM OLD TESTAMENT
Behold, the Lord [during His judgment] lays the earth waste, devastates it, distorts its surface, and scatters its inhabitants. And the people will be like the priest, the servant like his master, the maid like her mistress, the buyer like the seller, the lender like the borrower, the creditor like the debtor (Isaiah 24:2).

Violence has grown into a rod of wickedness.  None of them [the wicked] shall remain, none of their multitude, none of their wealth, nor anything eminent among them.  The time has come, the day has arrived.  Let not the buyer rejoice nor the seller mourn; for wrath is against all their multitude.  Indeed, the seller will not regain what he sold as long as they both live; for the vision regarding all their multitude will not be averted, nor will any of them maintain his life by his iniquity . . . They shall fling their silver into the streets, and their gold shall become an abhorrent thing; their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the Lord.  They cannot satisfy their appetite, nor can they fill their stomachs, for their iniquity has become an occasion of stumbling (Ezekiel 7:11-13, 19).

Thus says the Lord God, “It will come about on that day, that thoughts will come into your [Gog] mind, and you will devise an evil plan, and you will say, ‘I will go up against those who are at rest, that live securely, all of them living without walls, having no bars or gates; to capture spoil and to seize plunder, to turn your hand against the waste places which are now inhabited, and against the people who are gathered from the nations, who have acquired cattle and goods, who live at the center of the world.  Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all its villages, will say to you, ‘Have you come to capture spoil?  Have you assembled your company to seize plunder, to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to capture great spoil?’ (Ezekiel 38:10-13).

In a time of tranquility he [king of the North] will enter the richest parts of the realm, and he will accomplish what his fathers never did, nor his ancestors; he will distribute plunder, booty, and possessions among them . . . (Daniel 11:24).

. . . [the evil king] will honor him [a god of fortresses] with gold, silver, costly stones, and treasures (Daniel 11:38).

[the king of the North] will gain control over the hidden treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt . . . (Daniel 11:43).

Behold, a day is coming for the Lord when the spoil taken from you will be divided among you.  For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city will be captured, the houses plundered (Zechariah 14:1-2).

. . . the wealth of all the surrounding nations will be gathered, gold and silver and garments in great abundance (Zechariah 14:14).

FROM NEW TESTAMENT
It [the second coming of Christ] was the same as happened in the days of Lot; they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building (Luke 17:28).

But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.  For men will be . . . lovers of money . . . (2 Timothy 3:1-2).

I heard as it were a voice in the center of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius . . . (Revelation 6:6).

The kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; and they said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb . . . (Revelation 6:15-16).

The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, so as not to worship demons, and the idols of gold and of silver and of brass and of stone and of wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk; and they did not repent of their murders nor of their sorceries nor of their immorality nor of their thefts (Revelation 9:20-21).

He [antichrist] causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand, or on their forehead, and he provides that no one should be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name (Revelation 13:16-17).

The woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a gold cup full of abominations . . . (Revelation 17:4).

For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the passion of her [Babylon] immorality . . . and the merchants of the earth have become rich by the wealth of her sensuality (Revelation 18:3).

Merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her [Babylon], because no one buys their cargoes any more; cargoes of gold and silver and precious stones and pearls and fine linen and purple and silk and scarlet, and every kind of citron wood and every article of ivory and every article made from very costly wood and bronze and iron and marble, and cinnamon and spice and incense and perfume and frankincense and wine and olive oil and fine flour and wheat and cattle and sheep, and cargoes of horses and chariots and slaves and humans lives.  And the fruit you long for has gone from you, and all things that were luxurious and splendid have passed away from you and men will no longer find them.  The merchants of these things, who became rich from her, will stand at a distance because of the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, she who was clothed in fine linen an purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls; for in one hour much great wealth has been laid waste!’  And every shipmaster and every passenger and sailor, and as many as make their living by the sea, stood at a distance, and were crying out as they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What city is like the great city?’  And they threw dust on their heads and were crying out, weeping and mourning, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, in which all who had ships at sea became rich by her wealth, for in one hour she has been laid waste!’ (Revelation 18:11-19).

I. RESTORE ANY STOLEN PROPERTY

If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and slaughters it or sells it, he shall pay five oxen for the ox and four sheep for the sheep . . . He shall surely make restitution; if he owns nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.  If what he stole is actually found alive in his possession, whether an ox or a donkey or a sheep, he shall pay double (Exodus 22:1-4).

If a man gives his neighbor money or goods to keep for him, and it is stolen from the man’s house, if the thief is caught, he shall pay double.  If the thief is not caught, then the owner of the house shall appear before the judges, to determine whether he laid his hands on his neighbor’s property.  For every breach of trust, whether it is for ox, for donkey, for sheep, for clothing, or for any lost thing about which one says, “This is it,” the case of both parties shall come before the judges; he whom the judges condemn shall pay double to his neighbor (Exodus 22:7-9).

And if a man borrows anything from his neighbor, and it is injured or dies while its owner is not with it, he shall make full restitution (Exodus 22:14).

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “When a person sins and acts unfaithfully against the Lord, and deceives his companion in regard to a deposit or a security entrusted to him, through robbery, or if he has extorted from his companion, or has found what was lost and lied about it and sworn falsely, so that he sins in regard to any one of the things a man may do; then it shall be, when he sins and becomes guilty, that he shall restore what he took by robbery, or what he got by extortion, or the deposit which was entrusted to him, or the lost thing which he found, or anything about which he swore falsely; he shall make restitution for it in full, and add to it one-fifth more.  He shall give it to the one to whom it belongs on the day he presents his guilt offering to the Lord (Leviticus 6:1-5).

. . . When a man or woman commits any of the sins of mankind . . . he shall make restitution in full for his wrong, and add to it one-fifth of it, and give it to him whom he has wronged.  But if the man has no relative to whom restitution may be made for the wrong, the restitution which is made for the wrong must go to the Lord for the priest (Numbers 5:5-8).

Then David’s anger burned greatly against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, surely the man who has done this deserves to die.  And he must make restitution for the lamb fourfold, because he did this [unjustly took the poor man’s ewe] thing and had no compassion” (2 Samuel 12:5-6).

Men do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy himself when he is hungry; but when he is found, he must repay sevenfold; he must give all the sustenance of his house (Proverbs 6:30-31).

But when I say to the wicked, ‘You will surely die’ and he turns from his sins and practices justice and righteousness, if a wicked man restores a pledge, pays back what he has taken by robbery . . . he shall surely live; he shall not die (Ezekiel 33:14-16).

Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord . . . if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much” (Luke 19:8).

This is what applies to the Levites: from twenty-five years old and upward they shall enter to perform service in the work of the tent of meeting.  But at the age of fifty years they shall retire from service in the work and not work any more . . . they themselves shall do no work . . . (Number 8:24-26).

I. BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE OF POSSESSIONS

A. LORD’S PERSPECTIVE OF RICHES
To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this: I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) . . . (Revelation 2:9).

1. Man’s perspective of possessions
And the schemer is eager for their wealth (Job 5:5).

He [wicked man] will not become rich, nor will his wealth endure . . . (Job 15:29).

His [wicked man] sons favor the poor, and his hands give back his wealth . . . He swallows riches, but will vomit them up; God will expel them out of his belly . . .as to the riches of his trading, he cannot even enjoy them.  For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor; he has seized a house which he has not built . . .his prosperity does not endure . . .darkness is held in reserve for his treasures . . . The increase of his house will depart; his possessions will flow away in the day of His anger (Job 20:10, 15, 18-20, 26, 28).

They [the wicked] spend their days in prosperity, and suddenly they go down to Sheol . . .their prosperity is not in their hand (Job 21:13, 16).

If you [Job] return to the Almighty, you will be restored; if you remove unrighteousness far from your tent, and place your gold in the dust, and the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks, then the Almighty will be your gold and choice silver to you (Job 22:23-25).

This is the portion of a wicked man from God . . . Though he piles up silver like dust, and prepares garments as plentiful as the clay; he may prepare it, but the just will wear it, and the innocent will divide the silver (Job 27:13, 16-17).

If they [people] hear and serve Him, they shall end their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures (Job 36:11).

Will your riches keep you from distress . . . (Job 36:19).

Wisdom along with an inheritance is good and an advantage to those who see the sun.  For wisdom is protection just as money is protection (Ecclesiastes 7:11-12).

B. WE TAKE NOTHING WITH US WHEN WE DIE
Do not be afraid when a man becomes rich, when the glory of his house is increased; for when he dies he will carry nothing away; his glory will not descend after him.  Though while he lives he congratulates himself – and though men praise you when you do well for yourself – he shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see the light.  Man in his pomp, yet without understanding, is like the beasts that perish (Psalm 49:16-20).

There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: riches being hoarded by their owner to his hurt . . . As he had come naked from his mother’s womb, so will he return as he came.  He will take nothing from the fruit of his labor that he can carry in his hand (Ecclesiastes 5:13-15).

For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either (1 Timothy 6:7).

Surely every man walks about as a phantom; surely they make an uproar for nothing; he amasses riches, and does not know who will gather them (Psalm 39:6).

C. YOU CANNOT BUY REDEMPTION FOR YOUR SOUL
Why should I fear in days of adversity, when the iniquity of my foes surrounds me, even those who trust in their wealth, and boast in the abundance of their riches?  No man can by any means redeem his brother, or give to God a ransom for him – for the redemption of his soul is costly (Psalm 49:5-8).

Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death (Proverbs 11:4).

For what will a man be profited, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his soul?  Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matthew 16:26).

For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?  For what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (Mark 8:36-37).

For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself? (Luke 9:25).

D. RICHES PRODUCE MANY “FRIENDS”
. . .those who love the rich are many (Proverbs 14:20).

Wealth adds many friends . . . (Proverbs 19:4).

E. WEALTH TRANSIENT/TEMPORAL
Do not weary yourself to gain wealth, cease from your consideration of it.  When you set your eyes on it, it is gone. For wealth certainly makes itself wings, like an eagle that flies toward the heavens (Proverbs 23:4-5).

By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin; considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward (Hebrews 11:24-26).

that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire . . . (1 Peter 1:7).

You were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold . . . (1 Peter 1:18).

F. ALL POSSESSIONS ARE NOTHING COMPARED TO KNOWING JESUS
But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.  More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ . . . (Philippians 3:7-8).

G. RICHES ARE UNCERTAIN
Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God . . . (1 Timothy 6:17).

1. Riches useless apart from the Lord
I enlarged my works: I built houses for myself, I planted vineyards for myself; I made gardens and parks for myself, and I planted in them all kinds of fruit trees; I made ponds of water for myself from which to irrigate a forest of growing trees, I bought male and female slaves, and I had homeborn slaves.  Also I possessed flocks and herds larger than all who preceded me in Jerusalem.  Also, I collected for myself silver and gold, and the treasure of kings and provinces.  I provided for myself male and female singers and the pleasures of men – many concubines.  Then I became great and increased more than all who preceded me in Jerusalem . . . I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted, and behold all was vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the sun (Ecclesiastes 2:4-11).

H. THINGS MORE VALUABLE THAN RICHES
Pure gold cannot be given in exchange for it [wisdom], nor can silver be weighed as its price.  It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, in precious onyx, or sapphire.  Gold or glass cannot equal it, nor can it be exchanged for articles of fine gold.  Coral and crystal are not to be mentioned; and the acquisition of wisdom is above that of pearls.  The topaz of Ethiopia cannot equal it, nor can it be valued in pure gold (Job 28:15-19).

Better is the little of the righteous than the abundance of many wicked (Psalm 37:16).

I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches (Psalm 119:14).

The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces (Psalm 119:72).

Therefore I love Your commandments above gold, yes, above fine gold (Psalm 119:127).

How blessed is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding.  For its profit is better than the profit of silver, and its gain than fine gold.  She is more precious than jewels; and nothing you desire compares with her.  Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor (Proverbs 3:13-16).

Take my instruction, and not silver, and knowledge rather than choicest gold.  For wisdom is better than jewels; and all desirable things can not compare with her (Proverbs 8:10-11).

Riches and honor are with me [wisdom], enduring wealth and righteousness.  My fruit is better than gold, even pure gold, and my yield than choicest silver.  I walk in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice, to endow those who love me with wealth, that I may fill their treasuries (Proverbs 8:18-21).

Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasure and turmoil with it (Proverbs 15:16).

Better is a little with righteousness than great income with injustice (Proverbs 16:8).

How much better it is to get wisdom than gold!  And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver (Proverbs 16:16).

It is better to be of humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud (Proverbs 16:19).

Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity, than he who is perverse in speech and is a fool (Proverbs 19:1).

There is gold, and an abundance of jewels; but the lips of knowledge are a more precious thing (Proverbs 20:15).

A good name is to be more desired than great riches, favor is better than silver and gold (Proverbs 22:1).

Better is the poor who walks in his integrity, than he who is crooked though he be rich (Proverbs 28:6).

I. RESPONSIBILITIES OF WEALTH

1. Much required from those who have been given much
. . .from everyone who has been given much shall much be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more (Luke 12:48).

II. BLESSINGS OF WEALTH

A. THE RIGHTEOUS WILL BE REWARDED WITH PROSPERITY
Adversity pursues sinners, but the righteous will be rewarded with prosperity (Proverbs 13:21).

Much wealth is in the house of the righteous . . . (Proverbs 15:6).

B. WEALTH FOR MAN WHO MEDITATES ON WORD
How blessed is the man who . . .delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. And he will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers (Psalm 1:1-3).

C. THE PROSPEROUS WILL WORSHIP THE LORD
All the prosperous of the earth will eat and worship . . . (Psalm 22:29).

D. PRAYING FOR PROSPERITY
That I may see the prosperity of Your chosen ones . . . (Psalm 106:5).

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you.  May peace be within your walls, and prosperity within your palaces” (Psalm 122:6-7).

. . . may you [those who fear the Lord] see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life (Psalm 128:5).

Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers (3 John 2).

1. Rich godly people
Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his nephew, and all their possessions which they had accumulated, and the persons which they had acquired in Haran . . . (Genesis 12:5).

Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver and in gold (Genesis 13:2).

God said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years. But I will also judge the nation whom they will serve; and afterward they will come out with many possessions” (Genesis 15:13-14).

Now Abraham was old, advanced in age; and the Lord had blessed Abraham in every way (Genesis 24:1).

Then the servant took ten camels from the camels of his master [Abraham], and set out with a variety of good things of his master’s in his hand . . . (Genesis 24:16).

The Lord has greatly blessed my master [Abraham], so that he has become rich; and He has given him flocks and herds, and silver and gold, and servants and maids, and camels and donkeys (Genesis 24:35)

Now Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold. And the Lord blessed him, and the man became rich, and continued to grow richer until he became very wealthy; for he had possessions of flocks and herds and a great household . . . (Genesis 26:12-14).

[Jacob] became exceedingly prosperous, and had large flocks and female and male servants and camels and donkeys (Genesis 30:43).

Please take my [Jacob] gift which has been brought to you [Esau], because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have plenty . . . (Genesis 33:11).

Then Pharaoh took off his signet ring from his hand, and put it on Joseph’s hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen, and put the gold necklace around his neck (Genesis 41:42).

Now you must tell my father of all my [Joseph] splendor in Egypt . . . (Genesis 45:13).

[Jacob’s family] took their livestock and their property, which they had acquired in the land of Canaan . . . (Genesis 46:6).

Now Israel lived in the land of Egypt, in Goshen, and they acquired property in it and were fruitful . . . (Genesis 47:27).

[Joshua] said to them [tribe of Manasseh], “Return to your tents with great riches and with very much livestock, with silver, gold, bronze, iron, and with very many clothes; divide the spoil of your enemies with your brothers” (Joshua 22:8).

Now Naomi had a kinsman of her husband, a man of great wealth . . .whose name was Boaz (Ruth 2:1).

O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet, who put ornaments of gold on your apparel (2 Samuel 1:24).

When the queen of Sheba perceived all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built . . .[she said] You exceed in wisdom and prosperity the report which I heard . . . (1 Kings 10:4, 7).

And God said to him, “Because you have asked this thing and have not asked for yourself . . .riches . . .but have asked for yourself discernment to understand justice, behold, I have done according to your words.  Behold, I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you. And I have also given you what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you all your days” (1 Kings 3:11-13).

Then Solomon sat on the throne . . . and he prospered . . . (1 Chronicles 29:23).

Then he [David] died in a ripe old age, full of days, riches and honor . . . (1 Chronicles 29:28).

God said to Solomon, “Because you had this in mind, and did not ask for riches, wealth . . .but you have asked for yourself wisdom and knowledge, that you may rule My people, over whom I have made you king, wisdom and knowledge have been granted to you.  And I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings who were before you has possessed, nor those who will come after you (2 Chronicles 1:11-12).

So King Solomon became greater than all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom (2 Chronicles 9:22).

. . . [Jehoshaphat] had great riches and honor (2 Chronicles 17:5).

The Philistines brought gifts and silver as tribute to Jehoshaphat; the Arabians also brought him flocks, 7,700 rams and 7,700 male goats.  So Jehoshaphat grew greater and greater . . . (2 Chronicles 17:11-12).

Now Jehoshaphat had great riches . . . (2 Chronicles 18:1).

Now Hezekiah had immense riches and honor; and he made for himself treasuries for silver, gold, precious stones, spices, shields and all kinds of valuable articles, storehouses also for the produce of grain, wine and oil, pens for all kinds of cattle and sheepfolds for the flocks.  And he made cities for himself, and acquired flocks and herds in abundance; for God had given him very great wealth . . . Hezekiah prospered in all that he did (2 Chronicles 32:27-30).

They captured fortified cities and a fertile land.  They took possession of houses full of every good thing, hewn cisterns, vineyards, olive groves, fruit trees in abundance.  So they ate, were filled, and grew fat, and reveled in Your great goodness (Nehemiah 9:25).

His [Job] possessions also were 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and very many servants; and that man was the greatest of all the men of the east (Job 1:3).

Then the king caused Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego to prosper in the province of Babylon (Daniel 3:30).

There came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus (Matthew 27:57).

You are already filled, you have already become rich . . . we [Apostles] are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless . . . (1 Corinthians 4:8, 11-12).

Not that I speak from want; for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.  I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.  I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.  Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction . . . I have received everything in full, and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent . . . (Philippians 4:11-18).

E. LORD DELIGHTS IN PROSPERITY OF HIS SERVANTS
. . . The Lord be magnified, who delights in the prosperity of His servant (Psalm 35:27).

F. NOT ALL WILL PROSPER
and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment.  They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.  And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect (Hebrews 11:36-40).

G. JESUS IS WORTHY TO RECEIVE RICHES
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing (Revelation 5:12).

H. THE WISE BECOME RICH
The crown of the wise is their riches . . . (Proverbs 14:24).

I. HOW WEALTH IS ACQUIRED
By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; and by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches (Proverbs 24:3-4).

1. Things that will keep you from wealth
He who loves pleasure will become a poor man; he who loves wine and oil will not become rich. (Proverbs 21:17).

He who oppresses the poor to make much for himself or who gives to the rich, will only come to poverty (Proverbs 22:16).

III. DANGERS OF WEALTH

A. DANGER OF LOVING WEALTH
If riches increase, do not set your heart upon them (Psalm 62:10).

B. RICHES PRODUCE PRIDE
By your [king of Tyre] wisdom and understanding you have acquired riches for yourself, and have acquired gold and silver for your treasuries.  By your great wisdom, by your trade you have increased your riches, and your heart is lifted up because of your riches (Ezekiel 28:4-5).

Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God . . . (1 Timothy 6:17).

1. Rich should not be proud because life is short
But let the brother of humble circumstances glory in his high position; and let the rich man glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away.  For the sun rises with a scorching wind, and withers the grass; and its flower falls off, and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away (James 1:9-11).

2. Boast in Lord not riches
Thus says the Lord, “ . . .let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord (Jeremiah 9:23-24).

C. RICHES AFFORD A SENSE OF SECURITY
The rich man’s wealth is his fortress . . . (Proverbs 10:15).

A rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall in his own imagination (Proverbs 18:11).

Now as for me, I said in my prosperity, “I will never be moved.” O Lord, by Your favor You have made my mountain to stand strong; You hid Your face, I was dismayed (Psalm 30:6-7).

1. Those who trust in riches
Why should I fear in days of adversity, when the iniquity of my foes surrounds me, even those who trust in their wealth, and boast in the abundance of their riches?  No man can by any means redeem his brother, or give to God a ransom for him – for the redemption of his soul is costly . . .even wise men die; the stupid and the senseless alike perish, and leave their wealth to others.  Their inner thought is, that their houses are forever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they have called their lands after their own names.  But man in his pomp will not endure; he is like the beasts that perish (Psalm 49:10-12).

D. WEALTH TENDS TO SEPARATE PEOPLE
Now Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents.  And the land could not sustain them while dwelling together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to remain together. And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock  . . . Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife between you and me, nor between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we are brothers. Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me; if to the left, then I will go to the right; or if to the right, then I will go to the left.” And lot lifted up his eyes and saw all the valley of the Jordan, that it was watered everywhere this was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah – like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt as you go to Zoar. So Lot chose for himself all the valley of the Jordan . . . Thus they separated from each other (Genesis 13:5-11).

Now Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold.  And the Lord blessed him, and the man became rich, and continued to grow richer until he became very wealthy; for he had possessions of flocks and herds and a great household, so that the Philistines envied him . . .Then Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go away from us, for you are too powerful for us” (Genesis 26:12-16).

Then Esau took his wives and his sons and his daughters and all his household, and his livestock and all his cattle and all his goods which he had acquired in the land of Canaan, and went to another land away from his brother Jacob.  For the property had become too great for them to live together, and the land where they sojourned could not sustain them because of their livestock (Genesis 36:6-7).

Woe to those who add house to house and join field to field, until there is no more room, so that you have to live alone in the midst of the land! (Isaiah 5:8).

1. Riches can separate Christians
When you come together as a church, I hear that divisions exist among you . . . when you meet together, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper, for in your eating each one takes his own supper first; and one is hungry and another is drunk.  What!  Do you not have houses in which to eat and drink?  Or do you despise the church of God, and shame those who have nothing?  What shall I say to you?  Shall I praise you?  In this I will not praise you (1 Corinthians 11:18-22).

E. RICHES ARE DECEITFUL/CAN CHOKE FRUITFULNESS
The wicked earns deceptive wages, but he who sows righteousness gets a true reward (Proverbs 11:18).

And He [Jesus] spoke many things to them in parables, saying, “Behold, the sower went out to sow; and as he sowed . . . others fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them out . . . And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful (Matthew 13:7, 22)

He was teaching them many things in parables and was saying to them in His teaching, “Listen to this!  Behold, the sower went out to sow . . . and other seed fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it, and it yielded no crop . . . the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word, and the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful” (Mark 4:2-3, 7, 18-19).

And other seed fell among the thorns; and the thorns grew up with it, and choked it out . . . the seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity (Luke 8:7, 14).

F. HARD FOR RICH TO ENTER KINGDOM
And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”  And when the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, “Then who can be saved?”  And looking upon them Jesus said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:16-26).

And Jesus, looking around, said to His disciples, “How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!”  And the disciples were amazed at His words.  But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!  It is easier for a camel to go thorough the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”  And they were even more astonished and said to Him, “Then who can be saved?”  Looking upon them, Jesus said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God” (Mark 10:17-27).

And Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!  For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”  And they who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?”  But He said, “The things impossible with men are possible with God” (Luke 18:28-30).

1. Rich who do not know Lord will be separated from God for eternity
There was a certain rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, gaily living in splendor every day.  And a certain poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores, and longing to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich man’s table; besides, even the dogs were coming and licking his sores. Now it came about that the poor man died and he was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried.  And in Hades he lifted up eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away, and Lazarus in his bosom.  And he cried out and said, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue; for I am in agony in this flame.” But Abraham said, “Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things, but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony” (Luke 16:19-25).

G. RICH THINK THEY ARE WISE
The rich man is wise in his own eyes . . . (Proverbs 28:11).

H. RICH TREATMENT OF THE POOR
The poor man utters supplications, but the rich man answers roughly (Proverbs 18:23).

The rich rules over the poor . . . (Proverbs 22:7).

. . .Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court?  Do they not blaspheme the fair name by which you have been called?  (James 2:6-7).

I. DANGER OF MANY POSSESSIONS – FORGETTING GOD
Then it shall come about when the Lord your God brings you into the land which He swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you, great and splendid cities which you did not build, and houses full of all good things which you did not fill, and hewn cisterns which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant, and you shall eat and be satisfied, then watch yourself, lest you forget the Lord who brought you from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery (Deuteronomy 6:10-12).

For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing forth in valleys and hills; a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey; a land where you shall eat food without scarcity, in which you shall not lack anything; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills you can dig copper.  When you have eaten and are satisfied, you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which He has given you. Beware lest you forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments and His ordinances and His statutes which I am commanding you today; lest, when you have eaten and are satisfied, and have built good houses and lived in them, and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and gold multiply, and all that you have multiplies, then your heart becomes proud, and you forget the Lord your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.  He led you through the great and terrible wilderness, with its fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty ground where there was no water; He brought water for you out of the rock of flint.  In the wilderness He fed you manna which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do good for you in the end.  Otherwise, you may say in your heart, ‘My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth.’  But you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day (Deuteronomy 8:9-18).

For when I bring them into the land flowing with milk and honey, which I swore to their fathers, and they have eaten and are satisfied and become prosperous, then they will turn to other gods and serve them, and spurn Me and break My covenant (Deuteronomy 31:20).

Two things I asked of Thee, do not refuse me before I die: keep deception and lies far from me, give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is my portion, lest I be full and deny Thee and say, “Who is the Lord?” . . . (Proverbs 30:7-9).

I [the Lord] spoke to you [Jehoiakim] in your prosperity; but you said, ‘I will not listen!’ This has been your practice from your youth, that you have not obeyed My voice . . . you will surely be ashamed and humiliated because of your wickedness (Jeremiah 22:21-22).

Because you [church in Laodicea] say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich, and white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see (Revelation 3:17-18).

J. WEALTH CREATES ENVY
Now Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold.  And the Lord blessed him, and the man became rich, and continued to grow richer until he became very wealthy; for he had possessions of flocks and herds and a great household, so that the Philistines envied him . . .Then Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go away from us, for you are too powerful for us” (Genesis 26:12-14, 16).

Now Jacob heard the words of Laban’s sons, saying, “Jacob has taken away all that was our father’s, and from what belonged to our father he has made all this wealth” (Genesis 31:1).

IV. CURSES OF WEALTH

A. CURSE OF KIDNAPPING
The ransom of a man’s life is his riches . . . (Proverbs 13:8).

B. CURSE OF LACK OF SLEEP
The sleep of the working man is pleasant, whether he eats little of much.  But the full stomach of the rich man does not allow him to sleep (Ecclesiastes 5:12).

C. WOES PRONOUNCED UPON THE RICH
[Jesus said] woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full (Luke 6:24).

Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you.  Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten.  Your gold and your silver have rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire.  It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure! . . . You have lived luxuriously on the earth and led a life of wanton pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter (James 5:1-5).

V. WHY DO THE WICKED PROSPER?
For the wicked boasts of his heart’s desire, and the greedy man curses and spurns the Lord.  The wicked, in the haughtiness of his countenance, does not seek Him, all his thoughts are, “There is no God.”  His ways prosper at all times; Your judgments are on high, out of his sight . . . (Psalm 10:3-5).

Do not fret because of evildoers, be not envious toward wrongdoers.  For they will wither quickly like the grass, and fade like the green herb . . . Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who carries out wicked schemes . . .evildoers will be cut off . . . Yet a little while and the wicked man will be no more; and you will look carefully for his place, and he will not be there. But the humble will inherit the land, and will delight themselves in abundant prosperity (Psalm 37:1-2, 7, 9-11).

Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart!  But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling; my steps had almost slipped.  For I was envious of the arrogant, as I saw the prosperity of the wicked . . . They are not in trouble as other men; nor are they plagued like mankind.  Therefore pride is their necklace; the garment of violence covers them . . . the imaginations of their heart run riot . . .[godly people] say, “How does God know?  And is there knowledge with the Most High?”  Behold, these are the wicked; and always at ease, they have increased in wealth.  Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure, and washed my hands in innocence; for I have been stricken all day long, and chastened every morning.

If I had said, “I will speak thus,” behold, I should have betrayed the generation of Your children.  When I pondered to understand this, it was troublesome in my sight until I came into the sanctuary of God; then I perceived their end.  Surely You do set them in slippery places; You do cast them down to destruction.  How they are destroyed in a moment!  They are utterly swept away by sudden terrors!  Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when aroused, You will despise their form (Psalm 73:1-20).

A gracious woman attains honor, and violent men attain riches (Proverbs 11:16).

Righteous are You, O Lord, that I would plead my case with You; indeed I would discuss matters of justice with You; why has the way of the wicked prospered?  Why are all those who deal in treachery at ease?  You have planted them, they have also taken root; they grow, they have even produced fruit.  You are near to their lips but far from their mind (Jeremiah 12:1-2).

A. UNGODLY RICH
Now there was a man [Nabal] in Maon whose business was in Carmel; and the man was very rich, and he had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats . . . (1 Samuel 25:2).

[king Ahasuerus] displayed the riches of his royal glory . . .  for many days, 180 days (Esther 1:4).

Then Haman recounted to them the glory of his riches . . . and every instance where the king had magnified him, and how he had promoted him . . . (Esther 5:11).

Their [Israel] land has also been filled with silver and gold, and there is no end to their treasures; their land has also been filled with horses, and there is no end to their chariots (Isaiah 2:7).

When your [Tyre] wares went out from the seas, you satisfied many peoples; with the abundance of your wealth and your merchandise you enriched the kings of earth (Ezekiel 27:33).

. . . a fourth [Persian king] will gain far more riches than all of them; as soon as he becomes strong through his riches . . . (Daniel 11:2).

. . . [Zaccheus] was rich (Luke 19:2).

B. COMMANDED NOT TO SEEK PROSPERITY OF PARTICULAR PEOPLE
You shall never seek their [Ammonite or Moabite] peace or their prosperity all your days (Deuteronomy 23:6).

. . . and never seek their [Canaanites] peace or their prosperity . . . (Ezra 9:12).

VI. WRONG WAY TO PROSPER

A. SOME PROSPER BY SINNING WITHOUT ACKNOWLEDGING SIN
And Ephraim said, “Surely I have become rich [by oppression], I have found wealth for myself; in all my labors they will find in me no iniquity, which would be sin” (Hosea 12:8).

Those who buy them slay them and go unpunished, and each of those who sell them says, ‘Blessed be the Lord, for I have become rich!’ (Zechariah 11:5).

B. SOME ACT RELIGIOUS TO BE PROSPERED
Micah then said to him, “Dwell with me and be a father and a priest to me, and I will give you ten pieces of silver a year, a suit of clothes, and your maintenance.”  So the Levite went in.  And the Levite agreed to live with the man; and the young man became to him like one of his sons.  So Micah consecrated the Levite, and the young man became his priest and lived in the house of Micah.  Then Micah said, “Now I know that the Lord will prosper me, seeing I have a Levite as priest” (Judges 17:13).

VII. MISCELLANEOUS
If you seek her [wisdom] as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures (Proverbs 2:4).

. . . in your sleeping rooms do not curse a rich man, for a bird of the heavens will carry the sound, and the winged creature will make the matter known (Ecclesiastes 10:20).

A. MEN SOMETIMES DECEIVE AS TO THEIR FINANCIAL STATUS
There is one who pretends to be rich, but has nothing; another pretends to be poor, but has great wealth (Proverbs 13:7).

B. MONEY USED TO ILLUSTRATE THE VALUE OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD
The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field.  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had, and bought it (Matthew 13:44-46).

C. RIGHTEOUS LIVING EQUATED WITH SILVER
The tongue of the righteous is as choice silver . . . (Proverbs 10:20).

D. JUDGMENT ON WEALTHY, UNGODLY NATIONS
Therefore the abundance which they [Moab] have acquired and stored up they carry off over the brook of Arabim [during their judgment] (Isaiah 15:7).

O you [Babylon] who dwell by many waters, abundant in treasures, your end has come, the measure of your end (Jeremiah 51:13).

“Say to Tyre . . . merchant of the peoples to many coastlands . . . Tarshish was your customer because of the abundance of all kinds of wealth; with silver, iron, tin, and lead, they paid for your wares.  Javan, Tubal, and Meshech, they were your traders; with the lives of men and vessels of bronze they paid for your merchandise.  Those from Beth-togarmah gave horses and war horses and mules for your wares . . . coastlands were your market; ivory tusks and ebony they brought as your payment.  Aram was your customer because of the abundance of your goods, they paid for your wares with emeralds, purple, embroidered work, fine linen, coral, and rubies.  Judah and the land of Israel, they were your traders; with the wheat of Minnith, cakes, honey, oil, and balm they paid for your merchandise.  Damascus was your customer because of the abundance of your goods, because of the abundance of all kinds of wealth, because of the wine of Helbon and white wool.  Vedan and Javan paid for your wares from Uzal; wrought iron, cassia, and sweet cane were among your merchandise.  Dedan traded with you in saddlecloths for riding.  Arabia and all the princes of Kedar, they were your customers for lambs, rams, and goats; for these they were your customers.  The traders of Sheba and Raamah, they traded with you; they paid for your wares with the best of all kinds of spices, and with all kinds of precious stones, and gold . . .They traded with you in choice garments, in cloths of blue and embroidered work, and in carpets of many colors, and tightly wound cords, which were among your merchandise.  The ships of Tarshish were the carriers for your merchandise . . .Your wealth, your wares, your merchandise, your sailors, and your pilots, your repairers of seams, your dealers in merchandise . . .will fall into the heart of the seas on the day of your overthrow (Ezekiel 27:3, 12-27).

Israel is a luxuriant vine; he produces fruit for himself.  The more his fruit, the more altars he made; the richer his land, the better he made the sacred pillars.  Their heart is faithless; now they must bear their guilt.  The Lord will break down their altars and destroy their sacred pillars (Hosea 10:1-2).

. . .all who [wicked] weigh out silver will be cut off . . . their wealth will become plunder, and their houses desolate; yes, they build houses but not inhabit them, and plant vineyards but not drink their wine . . . Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to deliver them on the day of the Lord’s wrath . . . (Zephaniah 1:11, 13, 18).

For Tyre built herself a fortress and piled up silver like dust, and gold like the mire of the streets.  Behold, the Lord will dispossess her and cast her wealth into the sea; and she will be consumed with fire (Zechariah 9:3-4).

E. THE KING WAS NOT TO BECOME TOO RICH
Moreover, he [the king] shall not multiply horses for himself, nor shall he cause the people to return to Egypt to multiple horses, since the Lord has said to you, ‘You shall never again return that way . . .nor shall he greatly increase silver and gold for himself (Deuteronomy 17:16-17).

1. Kings disobeyed command not to become too rich
And Solomon had 40,000 stalls of horses for his chariots, and 12,000 horsemen (1 Kings 4:26).

Now the weight of gold which came in to Solomon in one year was 666 talents of gold, besides that from the traders and the wares of the merchants and all the kings of the Arabs and the governors of the country.  And King Solomon made 200 large shields of beaten gold, using 600 shekels of gold on each large shield.  And he made 300 shields of beaten gold, using three minas of gold on each shield, and the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.  Moreover, the king made a great throne of ivory and overlaid it with refined gold.  There were six steps to the throne and a round top to the throne at its rear, and arms on each side of the seat, and two lions standing besides the arms. And twelve lions were standing there on the six steps on the one side and on the other; nothing like it was made for any other kingdom.  And all King Solomon’s drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold.  None was of silver; it was not considered valuable in the days of Solomon.  For the king had at sea the ships of Tarshish with the ships of Hiram; once every three years the ships of Tarshish came bringing gold and silver, ivory and apes and peacocks.  So King Solomon became greater than all the kings of the earth in riches . . . Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen; and he had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen . . . the king made silver as common as stones in Jerusalem, and he made cedars as plentiful as sycamore trees that are in the lowland.  Also Solomon’s import of horses was from Egypt . . . (1 Kings 10:14-28).

Solomon amassed chariots and horsemen.  He had 1,400 chariots, and 12,000 horsemen, and he stationed them in the chariot cities and with the king at Jerusalem.  And the king made silver and gold as plentiful in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedars as plentiful as sycamores in the lowland.  And Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and from Kue; the king’s traders procured them from Kue for a price.  And they imported chariots from Egypt for 600 shekels of silver apiece, and horses for 150 apiece, and by the same means they exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Aram (2 Chronicles 1:14-17).

Now the weight of gold which came to Solomon in one year was 666 talents of gold, besides that which the traders and merchants brought; and all the kings of Arabia and the governors of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon.  And King Solomon made 200 large shields of beaten gold, using 600 shekels of beaten gold on each large shield.  And he made 300 shields of beaten gold, using three hundred shekels of gold on each shield  . . . the king made a great throne of ivory and overlaid it with pure gold.  And there were six steps to the throne and a footstool in gold attached to the throne, and arms on each side of the seat, and two lions standing beside the arms.  And twelve lions were standing there on the six steps on the one side and on the other; nothing like it was made for any other kingdom.  And all King Solomon’s drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold; silver was not considered valuable in the days of Solomon.  For the king had ships which went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram; once every three years the ships of Tarshish came bringing gold and silver, ivory and apes and peacocks.  So King Solomon became greater than all the kings of the earth in riches . . . Solomon had 4,000 stalls for horses and chariots and 12,000 horsemen . . . the king made silver as common as stones in Jerusalem . . . (2 Chronicles 9:8-27).

F. PROPHECY
The rich among the people will entreat your [God’s people] favor (Psalm 45:12).

And Hezekiah was pleased, and showed them [Babylonians] all his treasure house, the silver and the gold and the spices and the precious oil and his whole armory and all that was found in his treasuries . . . [Isaiah] said, “What have they seen in your house?”  So Hezekiah answered, “They have seen all that is in my house; there is nothing among my treasuries that I have not shown them . . . Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord of hosts: ‘Behold, the days are coming when all that is in your house, and all that your fathers have laid up in store to this day shall be carried to Babylon; nothing shall be left,’ says the Lord (Isaiah 39:2, 4-6).

The wealth of the nations will come to you [Zion].  A multitude of camels will cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba will come; they will bring gold and frankincense . . . their silver and their gold . . . men may bring to you the wealth of the nations . . . (Isaiah 60:5-6, 9, 11).

[afflicted] will eat the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast.  Instead of your shame you will have a double portion, and instead of humiliation they will shout for joy over their portion . . . (Isaiah 61:6-7).

‘I will shake all the nations; and they will come with the wealth of all nations; and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the Lord of hosts (Haggai 2:7).

“Again, proclaim, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, My cities will again overflow with prosperity, and the Lord will again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem’” (Zechariah 1:17).

Are not these the words which the Lord proclaimed by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and prosperous with its cities around it . . . (Zechariah 7:7).

The kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; and they said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb . . . (Revelation 6:15-16).

He [antichrist] causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand, or on their forehead, and he provides that no one should be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name (Revelation 13:16-17).

The woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a gold cup full of abominations and of the unclean things of her immorality (Revelation 17:4).

For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the passion of her [Babylon] immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed acts of immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich by the wealth of her sensuality (Revelation 18:3).

Merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her [Babylon], because no one buys their cargoes any more; cargoes of gold and silver and precious stones and pears and fine linen and purple and silk and scarlet, and every kind of citron wood and every article of ivory and every article made from very costly wood and bronze and iron and marble, and cinnamon and spice and incense and perfume and frankincense and wine and olive oil and fine flour and wheat and cattle and sheep, and cargoes of horses and chariots and slaves and humans lives.  And the fruit you long for has gone from you, and all things that were luxurious and splendid have passed away from you and men will no longer find them.  The merchants of these things, who became rich from her, will stand at a distance because of the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, she who was clothed in fine linen an purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls; for in one hour such great wealth has been laid waste!’  And every shipmaster and every passenger and sailor, and as many as make their living by the sea, stood at a distance, and were crying out as they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What city is like the great city?’  And they threw dust on their heads and were crying out, weeping and mourning, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, in which all who had ships at sea became rich by her wealth, for in one hour she has been laid waste!’ (Revelation 18:11-19).

G. PROSPECTS OF WEALTH USED AS A MOTIVATION
[Jacob] shall live with us, and the land shall be open before you; live and trade in it, and acquire property in it . . . but give me the girl in marriage (Genesis 34:10-12).

[Jacob’s family] are friendly with us; therefore let them live in the land and trade in it, for behold, the land is large enough for them . . . Will not their livestock and their property and all their animals be ours [Shechem’s neighbors]? . . . (Genesis 34:21, 23)

. . . the king will enrich the man who kills him [Goliath] with great riches . . . (1 Samuel 17:25).

H. THE MESSIAH WILL PROSPER
Behold, My servant [the Messiah] will prosper, He will be high and lifted up, and greatly exalted.  (Isaiah 52:13).

. . . the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His [Messiah] hand (Isaiah 53:10).

I. COMMANDED TO PAY TAXES
It is necessary to be in subjection [to the government], not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake.  For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing.  Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due . . . (Romans 13:5-7).

A. JESUS APPROVED OF PAYING GOVERNMENT TAXES
“. . . Is it lawful to give a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?”  But Jesus perceived their malice, and said, “Why are you testing Me, you hypocrites?  Show Me the coin used for the poll-tax.”  And they brought Him a denarius.  And He said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?”  They said to Him, “Caesar’s.”  Then He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s” (Matthew 22:17-21).

“. . . Is it lawful to pay a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?  Shall we pay, or shall we not pay?”  But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why are you testing Me?  Bring Me a denarius to look at.”  And they brought one.  And He said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?”  And they said to Him, “Caesar’s.”  And Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Mark 12:14-17).

“Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”  But He detected their trickery and said to them, “Show Me a denarius.  Whose likeness and inscription does it have?”  And they said, “Caesar’s.”  And he said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” (Luke 20:22-25).

II. EXAMPLES OF TAXES PAID
Mesha king of Moab . . . used to pay the king of Israel 100,000 lambs and the wool of 100,000 rams (2 Kings 3:4).

Then Menahem exacted the money from Israel, even from all the mighty men of wealth, from each man fifty shekels of silver to pay the king of Assyria.  So the king of Assyria returned and did not remain there in the land (2 Kings 15:20).

. . . [Pharaoh Neco] imposed on the land a fine of one hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold . . . so Jehoiakim gave the silver and gold to Pharaoh, but he taxed the land in order to give the money at the command of Pharaoh.  He exacted the silver and gold from the people of the land, each according to his valuation, to give it to Pharaoh Neco (2 Kings 23:33, 35).

I [Darius] issue a decree concerning what you are to do for these elders of Judah in the rebuilding of this house of God: the full cost is to be paid to these people from the royal treasury out of the taxes of the provinces beyond the River . . . (Ezra 6:8).

A. SPECIAL REWARD – TAXES NOT REQUIRED TO BE PAID
. . . the king will enrich the man who kills him [Goliath] with great riches . . . and make his father’s house free [of taxes] in Israel (1 Samuel 17:25).

B. NO TAXES/TRIBUTE REQUIRED OF LEVITES
. . . it is not allowed to impose tax, tribute or toll on any of the priests, Levites, singers, doorkeepers, Nethinim, or servants of this house of God (Ezra 7:24).

C. JESUS PAID TEMPLE TAX TO AVOID OFFENSE
. . . those who collected the two-drachma tax came to Peter, and said, “Does your teacher not pay the two-drachma tax?”  He said, “Yes.”  And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon?  From whom do the kings of earth collect customs or poll-tax, from their sons or from strangers?”  And upon his saying, “From strangers,”  Jesus said to him, “Consequently the sons are exempt.  But lest we give them offense, go to the sea, and throw in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a stater.  Take that and give it to them for you and Me.” (Matthew 17:24-27).

III. EXAMPLES OF TRIBUTE PAID
Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the River to the land of the Philistines and to the border of Egypt; they brought tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life (1 Kings 4:21).

. . . Hoshea the son of Elah became king over Israel . . . Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against him, and Hoshea became his servant and paid him tribute (2 Kings 17:1-3).

So the Lord established the kingdom in his control, and all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat . . . (2 Chronicles 17:5).

And some of the Philistines brought gifts and silver as tribute to Jehoshaphat; the Arabians also brought him flocks, 7,700 rams and 7,700 goats (2 Chronicles 17:12).

[Jotham] fought also with the king of the Ammonites and prevailed over them so that the Ammonites gave him during that year one hundred talents of silver, ten thousand kors of wheat and ten thousand of barley.  The Ammonites also paid him this amount in the second year and in the third year (2 Chronicles 27:5)

Then the king of Egypt deposed him [Joahaz] at Jerusalem, and imposed on the land a fine of one hundred talents of silver and one talent of gold (2 Chronicles 36:3).

. . . mighty kings have ruled over Jerusalem, governing all the provinces beyond the River, and that tribute, custom, and toll were paid to them . . . (Ezra 4:20).

A. THREAT OF TRIBUTE NOT BEING PAID
Now let it be known to the king, that if that city [Jerusalem] is rebuilt and the walls are finished, they will not pay tribute, custom, or toll, and it will damage the revenue of the kings . . . (Ezra 4:13).

I. COMMANDED NOT TO OPPRESS THE POOR
You shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. You shall not afflict any widow or orphan. If you afflict him at all . . . My anger will be kindled, and I will kill you with the sword . . . (Exodus 22:21-24).

[the wicked] caused the cry of the poor to come to Him, and that He might hear the cry of the afflicted [judgment result] (Job 34:28).

A poor man who oppresses the lowly is like a driving rain which leaves no food (Proverbs 28:3).

A. WICKED OPPRESS THE POOR
For a fool speaks nonsense, and his heart inclines wickedness, to practice ungodliness . . . to keep the hungry person unsatisfied and to withhold drink from the thirsty . . . to destroy the afflicted with slander, even though the needy one speaks what is right (Isaiah 32:6-7).

1. Description of people oppressing the poor
Like a roaring lion and a rushing bear is a wicked ruler over a poor people (Proverbs 28:15).

There is a kind of man whose teeth are like swords, and his jaw teeth like knives, to devour the afflicted from the earth, and the needy from among men (Proverbs 30:14).

B. JUDGMENT ON THOSE WHO OPPRESS THE POOR
His [the wicked man] sons favor the poor, And his hands give back his wealth . . . He swallows riches, but will vomit them up; God will expel them out of his belly . . . as to the riches of his trading, he cannot even enjoy them. For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor; he has seized a house which he has not built . . . his prosperity does not endure . . . Complete darkness is held in reserve for his treasures . . . The increase of his house will depart; his possessions will flow away in the day of His anger ( Job 20:10, 15, 18-20, 26, 28).

The wicked have drawn the sword and bent their bow, to cast down the afflicted and the needy, to slay those who are upright in their conduct. Their sword will enter their own heart, and their bows will be broken (Psalm 37:14-15).

Let the creditor seize all that he has; and let strangers plunder the product of his labor . . . Because he did not remember to show lovingkindness, but persecuted the afflicted and needy man . . . (Psalm 109:11, 16).

He who oppresses the poor to make much for himself or who gives to the rich, will only come to poverty (Proverbs 22:16).

Do not rob the poor because he is poor, or crush the afflicted at the gate; for the Lord will plead their case, and take the life of those who rob them (Proverbs 22:22-23).

The Lord enters into judgment with the elders and princes of His people: “. . . the plunder of the poor is in your houses. What do you mean by crushing My people, and grinding the face of the poor?” declares the Lord God of hosts (Isaiah 3:14-15).

Woe to those who enact evil statutes, and to those who constantly record unjust decisions, so as to deprive the needy of justice, and rob the poor of My people of their rights, in order that widows may be their spoil, and that they may plunder the orphans (Isaiah 10:1-2).

Thus says the Lord, “Go down to the house of the king of Judah, and there speak this word, and say, ‘Hear the word of the Lord, O king of Judah, who sits on David’s throne, you and your servants and your people who enter these gates. Thus says the Lord, “Do justice and righteousness, and deliver the one who has been robbed from the power of his oppressor. Also do not mistreat or do violence to the stranger, the orphan, or the widow; and do not shed innocent blood in this place. For if you men will indeed perform this thing, then kings will enter the gates of this house, sitting in David’s place on his throne, riding in chariots and on horses, even the king himself and his servants and his people. But if you will not obey these words, I swear by Myself,” declares the Lord, “that this house will become a desolation” (Jeremiah 22:1-5).

The alien they [rulers of Israel] have oppressed in your midst; the fatherless and the widow they have wronged in you . . . the people of the land have practiced oppression and committed robbery, and they have wronged the poor and needy and have oppressed the sojourner without justice [the Lord will judge] (Ezekiel 22:7, 29).

Thus says the Lord, “For three transgressions of Israel and for four I will not revoke its punishment, because they sell the righteous for money and the needy for a pair of sandals. These who pant after the very dust of the earth on the head of the helpless also turn aside the way of the humble . . . (Amos 2:6-7).

Hear this word, you cows of Bashan who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who say to your husbands, “Bring now, that we may drink!” The Lord God has sworn by His holiness, “Behold the days are coming upon you when they will take you away with meat hooks . . . (Amos 4:1-2).

Therefore, because you impose heavy rent on the poor and exact a tribute of grain from them, though you have built houses of well hewn stone, yet you will not live in them; you have planted pleasant vineyards, yet you will not drink their wine. For I know your transgressions are many any your sins are great, you who distress the righteous and accept bribes, and turn aside the poor in the gate (Amos 5:9-12).

Hear this, you who trample the needy, to . . . buy the helpless for money and the needy for a pair of sandals . . . [the Lord promised judgment] (Amos 8:4-6).

The Lord of hosts said, ‘Dispense true justice, and practice kindness and compassion each to his brother; and do not oppress the widow or the orphan, the stranger or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another.’ But they refused to pay attention . . . therefore great wrath came from the Lord of hosts (Zechariah 7:9-12).

“Then I will draw near to you for judgment; and I will be a swift witness against . . . those who oppress . . . the widow and the orphan, and those who turn aside the alien, and do not fear Me,” says the Lord of hosts (Malachi 3:5).

1. Request for Lord to judge oppression of the poor
Rise up, O Judge of the earth; render recompense to the proud . . . They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the orphans. And they have said, “The Lord does not see, nor does the God of Jacob pay heed” (Psalm 94:2, 6-7).

C. EXAMPLE OF OPPRESSING THE POOR
Also on your [the wicked] skirts is found the lifeblood of the innocent poor . . . (Jeremiah 2:34).

1. Religious people oppressing the poor
Beware of the scribes who like to walk around in long robes, and like respectful greetings in the market places, and chief seats in the synagogues, and places of honor at banquets, who devour widow’s houses, and for appearance’s sake offer long prayers; these will receive greater condemnation (Mark 12:38-40)

Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love respectful greetings in the market places, and chief seats in the synagogues, and places of honor at banquets, who devour widow’s houses, and for appearance’s sake offer long prayers; these will receive greater condemnation (Luke 20:46-47).

D. OPPRESSING THE POOR IS COMMON
If you see oppression of the poor and denial of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be shocked at the sight, for one official watches over another official, and there are higher officials over them (Ecclesiastes 5:8).

II. ENCOURAGED TO DEFEND/HELP THE POOR/HELPLESS
Open your mouth for the dumb, for the rights of all the unfortunate. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the rights of the afflicted and needy (Proverbs 31:8-9).

Learn to do good; seek justice, reprove the ruthless; defend the orphan, plead for the widow

(Isaiah 1:17).

O house of David, thus says the Lord: “Administer justice every morning; and deliver the person who has been robbed from the power of the oppressor, that My wrath may not go forth like fire and burn with none to extinguish it, because of the evil of their deeds” (Jeremiah 21:12).

A. GODLY PEOPLE HELP THE POOR
The righteous is concerned for the rights of the poor, the wicked does not understand such concern (Proverbs 29:7).

1. Example of godly helping the poor
Have I [Job] not wept for the one whose life is hard? Was not my soul grieved for the needy? (Job 30:25).

B. LORD BLESSES THOSE WHO HELP THE POOR
How blessed is he who considers the helpless; the Lord will deliver him in a day of trouble. The Lord will protect him, and keep him alive, and he shall be called blessed upon the earth; and do not give him over to the desire of his enemies. The Lord will sustain him upon his sickbed; in his illness, You restore him to health (Psalm 41:1-3).

He who is gracious to a poor man lends to the Lord, and He will repay him for his good deed (Proverbs 19:17).

1. Blessed leader who helped the poor
If a king judges the poor with truth, his throne will be established forever (Proverbs 29:14).

. . . if you truly practice justice between a man and his neighbor, if you do not oppress the alien, the orphan, or the widow . . . then I will let in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers forever and ever (Jeremiah 7:5-9).

2. Feed the poor and the Lord will repay
. . . ”When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return, and repayment come to you. But when you give a reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, since they do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous . . . A certain man was giving a big dinner, and he invited many; and at the dinner hour he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come; for everything is ready now.’ But they all alike began to make excuses . . . Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the city and bring in here the poor and crippled and blind and lame. And the slave said, ‘Master, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ And the master said to the slave, ‘Go out into the highways along the hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled (Luke 14:12-23).

C. JUDGE THE POOR FAIRLY
You shall not pervert the justice due to your needy brother in his dispute (Exodus 23:6).

You shall not pervert the justice due an alien or an orphan . . . (Deuteronomy 24:17).

D. SHOW MERCY TO THE POOR
Therefore, O king [Nebuchadnezzar], may my advice be pleasing to you: break away now from your sins by doing righteousness, and from your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor, in case there may be a prolonging of your prosperity (Daniel 4:25-27).

E. THOSE WHO DO NOT DEFEND THE POOR WILL BE JUDGED
Like a cage full of birds, so their [the godless of Israel] houses are full of deceit; therefore they have become great and rich. They are fat, they are sleek, they also excel in deeds of wickedness; they do not plead the cause, the cause of the orphan, that they may prosper; and they do not defend the rights of the poor. ‘Shall I not punish these people?’ declares the Lord, ‘On a nation such as this shall I not avenge Myself?’ (Jeremiah 5:27-29).

1. Sin of Sodom, not helping the poor
Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had arrogance, abundant food, and careless ease, but she did not help the poor and needy (Ezekiel 16:49).

2. Example of leader who did not defend the poor
Your rulers [Israelites] are rebels . . . They do not defend the orphan, nor does the widow’s plea come before them (Isaiah 1:23).

F. HOW WE TREAT POOR IMPACTS LORD
He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, but he who is gracious to the needy honors Him (Proverbs 14:31).

He who mocks the poor reproaches his Maker (Proverbs 17:5).

III. GOD’S ROLE WITH THE POOR

A. LORD PROVIDES FOR/PROTECTS THE POOR/NEEDY
[the Lord] executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the alien by giving him food and clothing (Deuteronomy 10:18).

But He saves . . . the poor from the hand of the mighty (Job 5:15).

For the needy will not always be forgotten [by the Lord] . . . (Psalm 9:18).

The unfortunate commits himself to You; You have been the helper of the orphan (Psalm 10:14).

“Because of the devastation of the afflicted, because of the groaning of the needy, now I will arise,” says the Lord; “I will set him in the safety for which he longs” (Psalm 12:5).

This poor man cried and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles (Psalm 34:6).

All my bones will say, “Lord, who is like You, who delivers the afflicted from him who is too strong for him, and the afflicted and the needy from him who robs him? (Psalm 35:10).

Since I am afflicted and needy, let the Lord be mindful of me; You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God (Psalm 40:17).

He [the Lord] leads out the prisoners into prosperity (Psalm 68:6).

You did provide in Your goodness for the poor, O God (Psalm 68:10).

For the Lord hears the needy, and does not despise His who are prisoners (Psalm 69:33).

He [the Lord] has regarded the prayer of the destitute, and has not despised their prayer (Psalm 102:17).

But He sets the needy securely on high away from affliction . . . (Psalm 107:4).

For He stands at the right hand of the needy, to save him from those who judge his soul (Psalm 109:31).

He [the Lord] raises the poor from the dust, and lifts the needy from the ash heap . . . (Psalm 113:7).

I (the Lord) will abundantly bless her (Zion) provision; I will satisfy her needy with bread. (Psalm 132:15)

I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and justice for the poor (Psalm 140:12).

[the Lord] executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry . . . (Psalm 146:7).

The Lord protects the strangers; He supports the fatherless and the widow . . . (Psalm 146:9).

The Lord supports the afflicted (Psalm 147:6).

The Lord will . . . establish the boundary of the widow (Proverbs 15:25).

But with righteousness He [Messiah] will judge the poor, and decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth . . . (Isaiah 11:4).

And those who are most helpless will eat, and the needy will lie down in security; I will destroy your root with famine . . . (Isaiah 14:30).

For You have been a defense for the helpless, a defense for the needy in his distress . . . (Isaiah 25:4).

The afflicted and needy are seeking water, but there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst; I, the Lord, will answer them Myself, as the God of Israel I will not forsake them (Isaiah 41:17).

Sing to the Lord, praise the Lord! For He has delivered the soul of the needy one from the hand of evildoers (Jeremiah 20:13).

1. Prayer for God to help the poor
May he [righteous king] vindicate the afflicted of the people, save the children of the needy, And crush the oppressor . . . the kings of Tarshish and of the islands bring presents; the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts . . . For he will deliver the needy when he cries for help, the afflicted also, and him who has no helper. He will rescue their life from oppression and violence; and their blood will be precious in his sight; so may he live; and may the gold of Sheba be given to him; and let them pray for him continually; let them bless him all day long (Psalm 72:4, 10, 12-15).

Let not the oppressed return dishonored; let the afflicted and needy praise Your name (Psalm 74:21).

Vindicate the weak and fatherless; do justice to the afflicted and destitute, rescue the weak and needy; deliver them out of the hand of the wicked (Psalm 82:3-4).

But You, O God, the Lord, deal kingly with me for Your name’s sake; because Your lovingkindness is good, deliver me; for I am afflicted and needy . . . (Psalm 109:21-22).

2. People’s view of God’s role with poor
Some remove the landmarks; they seize and devour flocks. They drive away the donkeys of the orphans; they take the widow’s ox for a pledge. They push the needy aside from the road; the poor of the land are made to hide themselves altogether. Behold, as wild donkeys in the wilderness they go forth seeking food in their activity, as bread for their children in the desert. They harvest their fodder in the field, and they glean the vineyard of the wicked. They spend the night naked, without clothing, and have no covering against the cold. They are wet with the mountain rains, and they hug the rock for want of a shelter. Others snatch the orphan from the breast, and against the poor they take a pledge. They cause the poor to go about naked without clothing, and they take away the sheaves from the hungry . . . yet God does not pay attention to folly . . . The murderer arises at dawn; he kills the poor and the needy . . . (Job 24:2-12, 14).

B. GOD’S PERSPECTIVE OF POOR DIFFERENT THAN MAN’S
To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this: I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) . . . (Revelation 2:9).

Because you [church in Laodicea] say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich, and white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see (Revelation 3:17-18).

1. Lord chose weal to shame the strong
For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, nor many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong (1 Corinthians 1:26-27).

2. Lord made all people
The rich and the poor have a common bond, the Lord is the maker of them all (Proverbs 22:2).

The poor man and the oppressor have this in common; the Lord give light to the eyes of both (Proverbs 29:13).

3. People’s perspective of poor
. . . what advantage does the poor man have, knowing how to walk before the living? (Ecclesiastes 6:8).

IV. PROBLEMS AND BENEFITS FOR POOR

A. PROBLEMS FOR THE POOR

1. Poor have few friends
The poor is hated even by his neighbor . . . (Proverbs 14:20).

Wealth adds many friends, but a poor man is separated from his friend (Proverbs 19:4).

All the brothers of a poor man hate him; how much more do his friends go far from him! (Proverbs 19:7).

2. Poor suffer injustice
Abundant food is in the fallow ground of the poor, but it is swept away by injustice (Proverbs 13:23).

3. Poor relate to rich meekly
The poor man utters supplications, but the rich man answers roughly (Proverbs 18:23).

4. Poor serve rich
The rich rules over the poor . . . (Proverbs 22:7).

5. Poor are not listened to
There was a small city with few men in it and a great king came to it, surrounded it, and constructed large siegeworks against it. But there was found in it a poor wise man and he delivered the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man. So I said, “. . . wisdom of the poor man is despised and his words are not heeded (Ecclesiastes 9:14-16).

6. Poverty
The rich man’s wealth is his fortress, the ruin of the poor is their poverty (Proverbs 10:15).

7. Prayer not to be poor
Two things I asked of You . . . give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is my portion . . . lest I be in want and steal, and profane the name of my God (Proverbs 30:7-9).

B. BENEFITS FOR POOR

1. Poor are called blessed
Turning His gaze on His disciples, he began to say, “Blessed are you are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God . . . woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full” (Luke 6:20, 24).

2. Poor are rich in faith
Listen, my beloved brethren; did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? (James 2:5).

3. Gospel is preached to the poor
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives, and freedom to prisoners (Isaiah 61:1).

a. Jesus preached gospel to poor
Now when John in prison heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples, and said to Him, “Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?” And Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: the . . . poor have the gospel preached to them” (Matthew 11:2-5).

The spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because he anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives . . . to set free those who are downtrodden (Luke 4:18).

And He answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard . . . the poor have the gospel preached to them” (Luke 7:22).

4. Poor will not be kidnapped for riches
The ransom of a man’s life is his riches, but the poor hears no rebuke (Proverbs 13:8).

5. Poor who know God will be comforted in heaven
There was a certain rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, gaily living in splendor every day. And a certain poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores, and longing to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich man’s table; besides, even the dogs were coming and licking his sores. Now it came about that the poor man died and he was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried. And in Hades he lifted up eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried out and said, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue; for I am in agony in this flame.” But Abraham said, “Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things, but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony” (Luke 16:19-25).

6. Poor can glory as children of the King
But let the brother of humble circumstances glory in his high position; and let the rich man glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away (James 1:9-10).

7. During restoration of Israel, poor will benefit
The afflicted also shall increase their gladness in the Lord, and the needy of mankind shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel (during restoration of Israel) (Isaiah 29:19).

8. Poor, but wise, see through the rich
The rich man is wise in his own eyes, but the poor who has understanding sees through him (Proverbs 28:11).

9. Things poverty better than
Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity, than he who is perverse in speech and is a fool (Proverbs 19:1).

And it is better to be a poor man than a liar (Proverbs 19:22).

Better is the poor who walks in his integrity, than he who is crooked though he be rich (Proverbs 28:6).

V. EXAMPLES OF POOR
. . . David said, “Is it trivial in your sight to become the kings’s son-in-law, since I am a poor man and lightly esteemed?” (1 Samuel 18:23).

But I [David] am afflicted and needy . . . (Psalm 70:5).

Incline Your ear, O Lord, and answer me; for I [David] am afflicted and needy (Psalm 86:1).

All her [captive Zion] people groan seeking bread; they have given their precious things for food . . . (Lamentations 1:11).

When the days for their [Mary and Joseph] purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord . . . to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons” (Luke 2:22-24).

To this present hour we [the Apostles] are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless; and we toil, working with our own hands . . . (1 Corinthians 4:11-12).

but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distress, in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger . . . as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things (2 Corinthians 6:4-5, 10).

I (Paul) have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure (2 Corinthians 11:27).

Not that I speak from want; for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction (Philippians 4:11-14).

A. POOR/RICH IN CHURCH
When you come together as a church, I hear that divisions exist among you . . . when you meet together, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper, for in your eating each one takes his own supper first; and one is hungry and another is drunk. What! Do you not have houses in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God, and shame those who have nothing? . . . (1 Corinthians 11:18-22).

VI. GIVING TO THE POOR

A. MECHANISM TO PROVIDE FOR POOR – RETURN OF LAND

You shall have the fiftieth year as a jubilee . . . On this year of jubilee each of you shall return to his own property (Leviticus 25:11-13).

B. LAWS REGARDING POOR BECOMING SLAVES
And if a countryman of yours becomes so poor with regard to you that he sells himself to you, you shall not subject him to a slave’s service. He shall be with you as a hired man, as if he were a sojourner; he shall serve you until the year of jubilee. He shall then go out from you, he and his sons with him, and shall go back to his family, that he may return to the property of his forefathers. For they are My servants whom I brought out from the land of Egypt; they are not to be sold in a slave sale . . . in respect to your countrymen, the sons of Israel, you shall not rule with severity over one another. Now if the means of a stranger or of a sojourner with you becomes sufficient, and a countryman of yours becomes so poor with regard to him as to sell himself to a stranger who is sojourning with you, or to the descendants of a stranger’s family, then he shall have redemption right after he has been sold. One of his brothers may redeem him, or his uncle, or his uncle’s son, may redeem him, or one of his blood relatives from his family may redeem him; or if he prospers, he may redeem himself. He then with his purchaser shall calculate from the year when he sold himself to him up to the year of jubilee; and the price of his sale shall correspond to the number of years. It is like the days of a hired man that he shall be with him. If there are still many years, he shall refund part of his purchase price in proportion to them for his own redemption; and if few years remain until the year of jubilee, he shall so calculate with him. In proportion to his years he is to refund the amount for his redemption. Like a man hired year by year he shall be with him; he shall not rule over him with severity in your sight. Even if he is not redeemed by these means, he shall still go out in the year of jubilee, he and his sons with him (Leviticus 25:39-54).

1. Not obeying laws resulted in judgment
Thus says the Lord God of Israel, ‘I made a covenant with your forefathers in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, saying, “At the end of seven years each of you shall set free his Hebrew brother, who has been sold to you and has served you six years, you shall send him out free from you; but your forefathers did not obey Me, or incline their ear to Me. Although recently you had turned and done what is right in My sight, each man proclaiming release to his neighbor, and you had made a covenant before Me in the house which is called by My name. Yet you turned and profaned My name, and each man took back his male servant and each man his female servant, whom you had set free according to their desire, and you brought them into subjection to be your male servants and female servants. Therefore thus says the Lord, ‘You have not obeyed Me in proclaiming release each man to his brother . . . I will make you a terror to all the kingdoms of the earth” (Jeremiah 34:13-17).

VII. MISCELLANEOUS

A. THINGS THAT MAKE A PERSON POOR
Poverty and shame will come to him who neglects discipline . . . (Proverbs 13:18).

Do not love sleep, lest you become poor; open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with food (Proverbs 20:13).

He who loves pleasure will become a poor man; he who loves wine and oil will not become rich (Proverbs 21:17).

Do not be with heavy drinkers of wine, or with gluttonous eaters of meat; for the heavy drinker and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe a man with rags (Proverbs 23:20-21).

B. NO POOR IN LAND IF PEOPLE FULLY OBEYED
However, there shall be no poor among you, since the Lord will surely bless you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance to possess, if only you listen obediently to the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all this commandment which I am commanding you today (Deuteronomy 15:4-5).

C. ONLY POOR LEFT IN DEFEATED LAND
Then he led away into exile all Jerusalem and all the captains and all the mighty men . . . None remained except the poorest people of the land (2 Kings 24:14).

But the captain of the guard left some of the poorest of the land to be vinedressers and plowmen (2 Kings 25:12).

But some of the poorest people who had nothing, Nebuzaradan the captain of the bodyguard left behind in the land of Judah, and gave them vineyards and fields at that time (Jeremiah 39:10).

. . . those of the poorest of the land who had not been exiled to Babylon (Jeremiah 40:7).

Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away into exile some of the poorest of the people . . . [but] left some of the poorest of the land to be vinedressers and plowmen (Jeremiah 52:15).

OTHER “POOR” AREAS: Lending, Partiality, Work (don’t oppress poor hired employee).

I. BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE OF WORK

A. WORK NECESSARY

1. Lord himself is a worker
By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. . . all His work which God had created and made (Genesis 2:2-3).

And the Lord God planted a garden toward the east, in Eden . . . (Genesis 2:8).

But He [Jesus] answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working” (John 5:17).

2. Required in Old Testament
Six days you shall labor and do all your work . . . (Exodus 20:9).

Six days you are do to your work. . . Exodus 23:12

You shall work six days. . . Exodus 34:21

Six days you shall labor and do all your work. . . Deuteronomy 5:13

3. Required in New Testament
Let him who steals steal no longer; but rather let him labor, performing with his own hands what is good . . . (Ephesians 4:28).

. . . with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we might not be a burden to any of you; not because we do not have the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, that you might follow our example. For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone will not work, neither let him eat. For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies. Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread (2 Thessalonians 3:8-12)

4. Work expected
Man goes forth to his work and to his labor until evening (Psalm 104:23).

B. THE REQUIREMENT TO WORK NOT A CONSEQUENCE OF SIN

1. Lord commanded people to work before the fall
Then the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate and keep it (Genesis 2:15).

2. Lord command people to work after the fall but it was cursed and made more difficult
cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field; by the sweat of your face you shall eat bread . . . the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden, to cultivate the ground from which he was taken (Genesis 3:17-19, 23).

This one [Noah] shall give us rest from our work and from the toil of our hands arising from the ground which the Lord has cursed (Genesis 5:29).

C. ALL HONEST WORK IS HONORABLE

1. Examples of the vocations of godly people

A. Farmer
The Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate and keep it (Genesis 2:15).

. . . Abel was a keeper of flocks, but Cain was a tiller of the ground (Genesis 4:2).

Then Noah began farming and planted a vineyard (Genesis 9:20)

. . . the men [Jacob’s family] are shepherds, for they have been keepers of livestock . . . (Genesis 46:32).

Then Pharaoh said to his [Joseph] brothers, “What is your occupation? “So they said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds, both we and our fathers” (Genesis 47:3).

. . . I [Amos] am a herdsman and a grower of sycamore figs (Amos 7:14).

B. Domestic worker
[Potiphar] made him [Joseph] overseer over his house . . . (Genesis 39:4).

C. Government workers and leaders
And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See I have set you over all the land of Egypt” (Genesis 41:41).

They [Jacob’s sons] told him [Jacob], saying, “Joseph . . . is ruler over all the land of Egypt” (Genesis 45:26).

. . . I [Nehemiah] was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah . . . (Nehemiah 4:14).

He [Pharaoh] made him [Joseph] lord of his house, and ruler over all his possessions (Psalm 105:21).

Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts, and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon (Daniel 2:48).

It seemed good to Darius to appoint 120 satraps over the kingdom, that they should be in charge of the whole kingdom, and over them three commissioners (of whom Daniel was one) . . (Daniel 6:1-2).

Then I [Daniel] got up again and carried on the king’s business . . . (Daniel 8:27).

. . . there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure . . . (Acts 8:27).

D. Fishermen
. . . [Peter and Andrew] were fishermen (Matthew 4:18).

. . . [Peter and Andrew] were fishermen (Mark 1:16).

. . . [James and John] left their father Zebedee in the boat . . . (Mark 1:20).

E. Building Trades
Is not this the carpenter’s son [Jesus]? (Matthew 13:55).

Is not this the carpenter [Jesus]. . . (Mark 6:3).

. . . [Paul] stayed with them [Aquila and Priscilla] and they were working; for by trade they were tent-makers (Acts 18:2-3).

F. Tax collectors
[Jesus] saw Levi the son of Alpheus sitting in the tax office. . . (Mark 2:14).

[Jesus] noticed a tax gather named Levi. . . (Luke 5:27).

[Zaccheus] was a chief tax-gatherer. . . (Luke 19:2).

G. Retailer
. . . Lydia . . . a seller of purple fabrics . . . (Acts 16:14).

D. WORK AS UNTO THE LORD
Whether, then, you eat of drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; not be way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free. And, masters, do the same things to them . . . (Ephesians 6:5-9).

Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus. . . (Colossians 3:17).

Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men; knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve (Colossians 3:23-24).

1. Despairing view of working—a useless vanity
What advantage does man have in all his work which he does under the sun? (Ecclesiastes 1:3).

I enlarged my works: I built houses for myself, I planted vineyards for myself; I made gardens and parks for myself, and I planted in them all kinds of fruit trees; I made ponds of water for myself from which to irrigate a forest of growing trees . . . for my heart was pleased because of all my labor and this was my reward for all my labor. Thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted, and behold all was vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the sun (Ecclesiastes 2:4-5, 10-11).

Thus I hated all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun, for I must leave it to the man who will come after me. And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the fruit of my labor for which I have labored by acting wisely under the sun. This too is vanity. Therefore I completely despaired of all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun. When there is a man who has labored with wisdom, knowledge and skill, then he gives his legacy to one who had not labored with them. This too is vanity and a great evil. For what does a man get in all his labor and in his striving with which he labors under the sun? Because all his days his task is painful and grievous; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is vanity. There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and tell himself that his labor is good . . . (Ecclesiastes 2:18-24).

What profit is there to the worker from that in which he toils? I have seen the task which God has given the sons of men with which to occupy themselves. . . every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor – it is the gift of God (Ecclesiastes 3:9-10, 13).

And I have seen that every labor and every skill which is done is the result of rivalry between a man and his neighbor. This too is vanity and striving after wind. The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh. One hand full of rest is better than two fists full of labor and striving after wind (Ecclesiastes 4:4-6).

Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat, to drink and enjoy oneself in all one’s labor in which he toils under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his reward. Furthermore, as for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also empowered him to eat from them and to receive his reward and rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God (Ecclesiastes 5:18-19).

All a man’s labor is for his mouth and yet the appetite is not satisfied (Ecclesiastes 6:7).

E. OUR WORK SHOULD BE THE WORK GOD INTENDS FOR US
And did I not choose them from all the tribes of Israel to be My priests, to go up to My alter, to burn incense, to carry an ephod before Me . . . (1 Samuel 2:28).

And let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us; and do confirm for us the works of our hands; yes, confirm the work of our hands (Psalm 90:17).

Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to accomplish His work (John 4:34).

Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of man shall give to you . . . (John 6:27).

For David, after he had served the purpose of god in his own generation, fell asleep, and was laid among his fathers . . . (Acts 13:36).

each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it, because it is to be revealed with fire; and the fire itself will test the quality if each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built upon remains, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he shall suffer loss; but himself shall be saved, yet so as through fire (1 Corinthians 3:13-15).

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10).

1. Work that will glorify God
I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do (John 17:4).

2. Productive to know the precise work God has for us
. . . that night they [disciples] caught nothing. But when the day was now breaking, Jesus . . . said to them, “Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you will find a catch.” They cast therefore, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number . . . of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not torn (John 21:3-11).

3. Unless Lord is in our work, it is without merit
Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it . . . (Psalm 127:1).

Commit your works to the Lord, and your plans will be established (Proverbs 16:3).

a. There must be no selfish ambition in our work
[the Lord] will render to every man according to his deeds . . . to those who are selfishly ambitious . . . wrath and indignation (Romans 2:6, 8).

. . . we have as our ambition, whether at home or absent from the body, to be pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ . . . (2 Corinthians 5:9-10).

But if you have . . . selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where . . . selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing (James 3:14-16).

b. Do not desire greatness for self
But you [Baruch], are you seeking great things for yourself? Do not seek them . . . (Jeremiah 45:5).

4. We need to be strong, courageous, and prompt
Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I [the Lord] swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and courageous . . . (Joshua 1:6-7).

“Now, my son, the Lord be with you that you may be successful, and build the house of the Lord your God just as He has spoken concerning you . . . Be strong and courageous, do not fear nor be dismayed . . . Arise and work, and may the Lord be with you (1 Chronicles 22:10, 13, 16).

“Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be courageous and act . . . Then David said to his son Solomon, “Be strong and courageous, and act; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you until all the work for the service of the house of the Lord is finished (1 Chronicles 28:20).

But you [king Asa], be strong and do not lose courage, for there is reward for your work (2 Chronicles 15:7).

“But now take courage, Zerubbabel,” declares the Lord, “take courage also, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and all you people of the land take courage,” declares the Lord, “and work, for I am with you,” says the Lord of hosts (Haggai 2:4).

a. We will encounter difficulties when doing work God has for us
Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah, and frightened them from building, and hired counselors against them to frustrate their counsel all the days of Cyrus . . . (Ezra 4:4-5).

. . . all of us returned to the wall, each one to his work. And it came about from that day on, that half of my servants carried on the work while half of them held the spears, the shields, the bows, and the breastplates; and the captains were behind the whole house of Judah. Those who were rebuilding the wall and those who carried burdens took their load with one hand doing the work and the other holding a weapon. As for the builders, each wore his sword girded at his side as he built . . . we carried on the work with half of them holding spears from dawn until the stars appeared. At that time I also said to the people, “Let each man with his servant spend the night within Jerusalem so that they may be a guard for us by night and a laborer by day” (Nehemiah 4:15-22).

So I [Nehemiah] sent messengers to them [his enemies] saying, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you? . . . all of them were trying to frighten us, thinking, “They will become discouraged with the work and it will not be done” (Nehemiah 6:3, 9).

F. WORK HARD
. . . the precious possession of a man is diligence (Proverbs 12:27).

Whatever your hand finds to do, verily, do it with all your might . . . (Ecclesiastes 9:10).

Sow your seed in the morning, and do not be idle in the evening, for you do not know whether morning or evening sowing will succeed, or whether both of them alike will be good (Ecclesiastes 11:6).

1. Examples of hard workers
. . . by day the heat consumed me [Jacob], and the frost by night, and my sleep fled from my eyes [as I worked] (Genesis 31:38-40).

I [Nehemiah] told them [citizens of Jerusalem] how the hand of my God had been favorable to me . . . So they put their hands to the good work (Nehemiah 2:18).

So we built the wall . . . for the people had a mind to work (Nehemiah 4:6).

. . . In everything I [Paul] showed you that by working hard in this manner . . . (Acts 20:34).

To this present hour we [the Apostles] . . . toil, working with our own hands . . . (1 Corinthians 4:11-12).

I [Paul] have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights . . . (2 Corinthians 11:27).

And for this purpose [proclaiming Christ to the Gentiles] also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me (Colossians 1:29).

For you recall, brethren, our labor and hardship, how working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you . . . (1 Thessalonians 2:9).

. . . with labor and hardship we [Paul] kept working night and day so that we might not be a burden to any of you (2 Thessalonians 3:8).

2. Hunger motivates us to work
A worker’s appetite works for him, for his hunger urges him on (Proverbs 16:26).

3. Hard workers should be paid first
The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops (2 Timothy 2:6).

4. Benefits of work/hard work
a. Personal needs met
He who tills his land will have plenty of bread . . . (Proverbs 12:11).

He who tends the fig tree will eat its fruit . . . (Proverbs 27:18).

He who tills his land will have plenty of food . . . (Proverbs 28:19).

b. Profit and wealth
. . . the hand of the diligent makes rich. He who gathers in summer is a son who acts wisely . . . (Proverbs 10:4-5).

Wealth obtained by fraud dwindles, but the one who gathers by labor increases it (Proverbs 13:11).

In all labor there is profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty (Proverbs 14:23).

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

c. Satisfied soul
. . . the soul of the diligent is made fat (Proverbs 13:4).

d. Become a leader
The hand of the diligent will rule . . . (Proverbs 12:24).

e. Restful sleep
The sleep of the working man is pleasant, whether he eats little or much . . . (Ecclesiastes 5:12).

f. Happiness
When you shall eat of the fruit of your hands, you will be happy and it will be well with you (Psalm 128:1-2).

5. Do not over work
It is vain for you to rise up early, to retire late, to eat the bread of painful labors; for He gives to His beloved even in his sleep (Psalm 127:2).

a. Do not over work to get rich
Do not weary yourself to gain wealth, cease from your consideration of it (Proverbs 23:4).

6. Laziness condemned
Go to the ant, O sluggard, observe her ways and be wise, which, having no chief, officer or ruler, prepares her food in the summer, and gathers her provisions in the harvest (Proverbs 6:6-8).

. . . he who sleeps in harvest is a son who acts shamefully (Proverbs 10:5).

Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the lazy one to those who send him (Proverbs 10:26).

A slothful man does not roast his prey . . . (Proverbs 12:27).

The way of the sluggard is as a hedge of thorns . . . (Proverbs 15:19).

He also who is slack in his work is brother to him who destroys. Proverbs 18:9

The sluggard buries his hand in the dish, and will not even bring it back to his mouth (Proverbs 19:24).

The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside; I shall be slain in the streets!” (Proverbs 22:13).

The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! A lion in the open square!” As the door turns on its hinges, so does the sluggard on his bed. The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is weary of bringing it to his mouth again. The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can give a discreet answer (Proverbs 26:13-16).

a. Results of laziness
1) Hunger
Laziness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle man will suffer hunger (Proverbs 19:15).

The sluggard does not plow after the autumn, so he begs during the harvest and has nothing (Proverbs 20:4).

2) Poverty
How long will you lie down, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest – and your poverty will come in like a vagabond, and your need like an armed man (Proverbs 6:9-11).

Poor is he who works with a negligent hand . . . (Proverbs 10:4).

In all labor there is profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty (Proverbs 14:23).

Do not love sleep, lest you become poor . . . (Proverbs 20:13).

. . . drowsiness will clothe a man with rags (Proverbs 23:21).

I passed by the field of the sluggard, and by the vineyard of the man lacking in sense; and behold, it was completely overgrown with thistles, its surface was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down. When I saw, I reflected upon it; I looked, and received instruction. A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, then your poverty will come as a robber, and your want like an armed man (Proverbs 24:30-34).

Through indolence the rafters sag, and through slackness the house leaks (Ecclesiastes 10:18).

3) Death
The desire of the sluggard puts him to death, for his hands refuse to work . . . (Proverbs 21:25).

4) Starved soul
The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing . . . (Proverbs 13:4).

5) Forced labor
. . . the slack hand will be put to forced labor (Proverbs 12:24).

G. TAKE TIME OFF FROM WORK FOR REST AND WORSHIP

1. Sabbath
a. Lord himself established pattern of Sabbath
By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made (Genesis 2:2-3).

For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and made it holy (Exodus 20:11).

. . . for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day He ceased from labor, and was refreshed (Exodus 31:17).

. . . God rested on the seventh day from all His works . . . for the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His (Hebrews 4:4, 10).

b. Sabbath instituted and required in Old Testament
. . . on the seventh day; no work at all shall be done . . . (Exodus 12:16).

Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath of the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you (Exodus 20:9-10).

Six days you are to do your work, but on the seventh day you shall cease from labor in order that your ox and your donkey may rest, and the son of your female slave, as well as your stranger, may refresh themselves (Exodus 23:12).

You shall work six days, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during the plowing time and harvest you shall rest (Exodus 34:21).

For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day you shall have a holy day, a sabbath of complete rest to the Lord; whoever does any work shall be put to death (Exodus 35:2).

For six days work may be done; but on the seventh day there is a sabbath of complete rest . . . (Leviticus 23:3).

Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath of the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter or your male servant or your female servant or your ox or your donkey or any of your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you, so that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you (Deuteronomy 5:13-14).

As for the peoples of the land who bring wares or any grain on the sabbath day to sell, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath . . . (Nehemiah 10:31).

Thus says the Lord, “Take heed for yourselves, and do not carry any load on the sabbath day or bring anything through the gates of Jerusalem. And you shall not bring a load out of your houses on the sabbath day nor do any work, but keep the sabbath day holy, as I commanded your forefathers . . . bring no load in through the gates of this city on the sabbath day, but to keep the sabbath day holy by doing no work on it (Jeremiah 17:21-22, 24).

1) Penalty for violating sabbath
For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there is a sabbath of complete rest, holy to the Lord; whoever does any work on the sabbath day shall surely be put to death (Exodus 31:15).

. . . they found a man gathering wood on the sabbath day . . . the Lord said to Moses, “The man shall surely be put to death; all the congregation shall stone him with stones outside the camp.” (Numbers 15:32-35).

In those days I saw in Judah some who were treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sacks of grain and loading them on donkeys, as well as wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of loads, and they brought them into Jerusalem on the sabbath day. So I admonished them on the day they sold food. Also men of Tyre were living there who imported fish and all kinds of merchandise, and sold them to the sons of Judah on the sabbath, even in Jerusalem. Them I reprimanded the nobles of Judah and said to them, “What is this evil thing you are doing, by profaning the sabbath day? Did not our fathers do the same so that our God brought on us, and on this city, all this trouble? Yet you are adding to the wrath on Israel by profaning the sabbath.” (Nehemiah 13:15-18).

if you do not listen to Me to keep the sabbath day holy by not carrying a load and coming in through the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day, then I shall kindle a fire in the gates, and it will devour the palaces of Jerusalem and not be quenched (Jeremiah 7:27).

2. Sabbatical year
And you shall sow your land for six years and gather in its yield, but on the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow . . . do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove (Exodus 23:10-11).

. . . the land shall have a sabbath to the Lord. Six years you shall sow your field, and six years you shall prune your vineyard and gather in its crop, but during the seventh year the land shall have a sabbath rest, a sabbath to the Lord; you shall not sow your field nor prune your vineyard. Your harvest’s aftergrowth you shall not reap, and your grapes of untrimmed vines you shall not gather; the land shall have a sabbatical year (Leviticus 25:1-5).

. . . we will forego the crops the seventh year . . . (Nehemiah 10:31).

a. Consequences of not observing sabbatical year
Then the land will enjoy its sabbaths all the days of the desolation, while you are in your enemies’ land; then the land will rest and enjoy its sabbaths (Leviticus 26:34).

For the land shall be abandoned by them, and shall make up for its sabbaths while it is made desolate without them . . . (Leviticus 26:43).

3. Year of Jubliee
You shall have the fiftieth year as a jubilee; you shall not sow, nor reap its aftergrowth, nor gather in from its untrimmed vines (Leviticus 25:11).

4. Religious holidays in Old Testament
a. Passover
On the first day shall be a holy convocation, you shall do no laborious work (Numbers 28:18).

on the seventh day you shall have a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work (Numbers 28:25).

. . . on the seventh day there shall be a solemn assembly to the Lord your God; you shall do no work on it (Deuteronomy 16:8).

b. Day of Atonement
. . . in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall . . . not do any work . . . (Leviticus 16:29).

the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement . . . Neither shall you do any work on this same day . . . any person who does any work on this same day, that person I will destroy from among his people. You shall do no work at all (Leviticus 23:27-31).

c. Feast of Unleavened Bread
On the first day you shall have a holy convocation; you shall not do any laborious work . . . the seventh day is a holy convocation; you shall not do any laborious work (Leviticus 23:7-8).

d. Feast of Booths
. . . On the fifteenth of this seventh month is the Feast of Booths for seven days to the Lord. On the first day is a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work of any kind . . . the eighth day you shall . . . do no laborious work (Leviticus 23:34-36).

on the fifteenth day of the seventh month you shall have a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work . . . On the eighth day . . . you shall do no laborious work (Numbers 29:12, 35).

e. Various festivals
On this same day you shall make a proclamation as well; you are to have a holy convocation. You shall do no laborious work . . . (Leviticus 23:21).

. . . In the seventh month on the first of the month, you shall have a rest . . . You shall not do any laborious work . . . (Leviticus 23:24-25).

Also on the day of the first fruits, when you present a new grain offering to the Lord in your Feast of Weeks, you shall have a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work (Numbers 28:26).

Now in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall also have a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work . . . (Numbers 29:1).

on the tenth day of this seventh month . . . you shall not do any work (Numbers 29:7).

II. GOD’S PART IN WORK

A. GOD GIVES JOB SKILLS
You shall speak to all the skillful persons whom I [the Lord] have endowed with the spirit of wisdom, that they make Aaron’s garments. . . (Exodus 28:3).

the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “See, I have called by name Bezalel . . . I have filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftsmanship” (Exodus 31:1-3).

. . . in the hearts of all who are skillful I [the Lord] have put skill . . . (Exodus 31:6).

. . . the Lord has called by name Bezalel . . . and He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding and in knowledge and in all craftsmanship; to make designs for working in gold and in silver and in bronze, and in the cutting of stones for settings, and in the carving of wood, so as to perform in every inventive work. He also has put in his heart to teach, both he and Oholiab . . . He has filled them with skill to perform every work of an engraver and of a designer and of an embroiderer. . . (Exodus 35:30-35).

Bezalel and Oholiab, and every skillful person in whom the Lord has put skill and understanding to know how to perform all the work in the sanctuary, shall perform in accordance with all that the Lord has commanded. Then Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab and every skillful person in whom the Lord had put skill . . . to come to the work to perform it (Exodus 36:1-2).

Only the Lord give you [Solomon] discretion and understanding . . . (1 Chronicles 22:12).

God said to Solomon, “Because . . . you have asked for yourself wisdom and knowledge, that you may rule My people, over whom I have made you king, wisdom and knowledge have been granted to you” (2 Chronicles 1:11-12).

all the kings of the earth were seeking the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom which God had put in his heart (2 Chronicles 9:23).

For to a person who is good in His sight He has given wisdom and knowledge . . . (Ecclesiastes 2:26).

And as for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and intelligence in every branch of literature and wisdom; Daniel even understood all kinds of visions and dreams (Daniel 1:17).

[the Lord] gives wisdom to wise men, and knowledge to men of understanding . . . for You have given me [Daniel] wisdom and power (Daniel 2:21, 23).

B. GOD GIVES SUCCESS
The Lord was with Joseph, so he became a successful man. . . his master saw that the Lord was with him and how the Lord caused all that he did to prosper in his hand . . . (Genesis 39:2-3).

May the Lord reward your work, and your wages be full from the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge (Ruth 2:12).

Now, my son, the Lord be with you that you may be successful, and build the house of the Lord your God just as He has spoken concerning you (1 Chronicles 22:11).

And I [Nehemiah] told them how the hand of my God had been favorable to me. . . then they said, “Let us arise and build.” So they put their hands to the good work . . . I answered . . . The God of heaven will give us success; therefore we His servants will arise and build . . . (Nehemiah 2:18, 20).

. . . when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and that God had frustrated their plan, then all of us returned to the wall, each one to his work . . . And I said. . . “The work is great and extensive, and we are separated on the wall far from one another. At whatever place you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us” (Nehemiah 4:15, 19-20).

So the wall was completed . . . in fifty-two days . . . they recognized that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God (Nehemiah 6:15-16).

John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing, unless it has been given him from heaven” (John 3:27).

C. GOD CONTROLS PROMOTION
. . . You rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great, and to strengthen everyone (1 Chronicles 29:12).

Blessed be the Lord your God who delighted in you, setting you on His throne as king for the Lord your God; because your God loved Israel . . . He made you king over them . . . (2 Chronicles 9:8).

For not from the east, nor from the west, nor from the desert comes exaltation; but God is the Judge; He puts down one, and exalts another (Psalm 75:6-7).

You, O king [Nebuchadnezzar], are the king of king, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, the strength, and the glory; and wherever the sons of men dwell . . . He has given them into your hand and caused you to rule oven them all . . . (Daniel 2:37-38).

. . . [Nebuchadnezzar] recognized that the Most High God is ruler over the realm of mankind, and that He sets over it whomever He wishes (Daniel 5:21).

D. GOD CAN MOTIVATE PEOPLE TO WORK
So the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel . . . and the spirit of Joshua . . . and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and worked on the house of the Lord . . . (Haggai 1:14).

II. EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYEE RESPONSIBILITIES

A. EMPLOYER RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Pay employee a fair wage
Woe to him . . . who uses his neighbor’s services without pay and does not give him his wages. (Jeremiah 22:13).

[the Lord] will draw near to you for judgment; and I will be a swift witness against . . . those who oppress the wage earner in his wages. . . (Malachi 3:5).

a. Example of employer seeking to pay fair wage
Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?” (Genesis 29:15).

[Jacob] Name me [Laban] your wages, and I will give it . . . (Genesis 30:28).

1) Punishment for those who do not pay fair wage
Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you. . . Your gold and your silver have rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure! Behold, the pay of the laborers who mowed your fields, and which has been withheld by you, cries out against you; and the outcry of those who did the harvesting has reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth (James 5:1, 3-4).

2) Parable with illustration of paying fair wage
For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour and saw others and . . . he said, ‘You too go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ And so they went. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did the same thing. And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing; and he said to them . . . You too go into the vineyard.’ And when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last group to the first.’ And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each one received a denarius. And when those hired first came, they thought that they would receive more; and they also received each one a denarius. And when they received it, they grumbled at the landowner, saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day.’ But he answered and said to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what is yours and go your way, but I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own? Or is your eye envious because I am generous? Thus the last shall be first, and the first last (Matthew 20:1-16).

2. Pay employee promptly
The wages of a hired man are not to remain with you all night until morning (Leviticus 19:13).

You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether he is one of your countrymen or one of your aliens who is in your land in your towns. You shall give him his wages on his day before the sun sets, for he is poor and sets his heart on it; so that he may not cry against you to the Lord and it become sin in you (Deuteronomy 24:14-15).

3. Be just and fair
Masters, grant to your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven (Colossians 4:1).

a. Do not threaten employee, rather serve employee
With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free. And, masters, do the same things to them [slaves], and give up threatening, knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him (Ephesians 6:7-9).

b. Be willing to listen to employee complaints
If I have despised the claim of my male or female slaves when they filed a complaint against me, what then could I do when God arises, and when He calls me to account, what will I answer Him? Did not He who made me in the womb make him, and the same one fashion us in the womb? (Job 31:13-15).

4. Give employee adequate time off
Why have we fasted and Thou do not see? . . . on the day of your fast you find your desire, and drive hard all your workers (Isaiah 58:3).

5. Be honest (see HONESTY Section)
a. If employer dishonest, employees become dishonest
If a ruler pays attention to falsehood, all his ministers become wicked (Proverbs 29:12).

6. Special treatment for employees who are believers
If you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve you for six years; but on the seventh he shall go out as a free man without payment [treatment not required for foreign slaves] (Exodus 21:2).

If your kinsman, a Hebrew man or woman, is sold to you, then he shall serve you six years, but in the seventh year you shall set him free. And when you set him free, you shall not send him away empty-handed. You shall furnish him liberally from your flock and from your threshing floor and from your wine vat; you shall give to him as the Lord your God has blessed you (Deuteronomy 15:12-14).

a. Employer blessed for having godly employees
I [Laban] have divined that the Lord has blessed me on your [Jacob] account (Genesis 30:27).

And it came about that from the time he made him overseer in his house, and over all that he owned, the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house on account of Joseph; thus the Lord’s blessing was upon all that he owned, in the house and in the field (Genesis 39:5).

7. Examples of employers
a. Faithful employer
from the day that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah . . . neither I nor my kinsmen have eaten the governor’s food allowance. But the former governors who were before me laid burdens on the people and took from them bread and wine besides forty shekels of silver; even their servants domineered the people. But I did not do so because of the fear of God. And I also applied myself to the work on this wall; we did not buy any land, and all my servants were gathered there for the work. Moreover, there were at my table one hundred and fifty Jews and officials, besides those who came to us from the nations that were around . . . Yet for all this I did not demand the governor’s food allowance, because the servitude was heavy on this people (Nehemiah 5:14-18).

b. Unfaithful employer
The Egyptians compelled the sons of Israel to labor rigorously; and they made their lives bitter with hard labor in mortar and bricks and at all kinds of labor in the field, all their labors which they rigorously imposed on them (Exodus 1:13-14).

8. Be selective in hiring employees
Like an archer who wounds everyone, so is he who hires a fool or who hires those who pass by (Proverbs 26:10).

B. EMPLOYEES RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Be faithful
Then the commissioners and satraps began trying to find a ground of accusation against Daniel in regard to government affairs; but they could find no ground of accusation or evidence of corruption, inasmuch as he was faithful . . . (Daniel 6:4).

a. Serve godly employer even more faithfully
And let those who have believers as their masters not be disrespectful to them because they are brethren, but let them serve them all the more, because those who partake of the benefit are believers and beloved . . . (1 Timothy 6:2).

b. Promotion and success can be result of employee faithfulness
A servant who acts wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully, and will share in the inheritance among brothers (Proverbs 17:2).

. . . he who cares for his master will be honored (Proverbs 27:18).

[because of faithfulness] Daniel enjoyed success in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian (Daniel 6:28).

c. Example of employees so faithful that accountability not required
. . . they [the priests] did not require an accounting from the men into whose hand they gave the money to pay to those who did the work, for they dealt faithfully (2 Kings 12:15).

Only no accounting shall be made with them for the money delivered into their hands, for they [the workmen] deal faithfully (2 Kings 22:7).

d. Example of supervised faithful employees
the men did the work faithfully with foremen over them to supervise them . . . (2 Chronicles 34:12).

e. Faithful employee blessing to employer
Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a faithful messenger to those who sent him, for he refreshes the soul of his masters (Proverbs 25:13).

2. Be honest (See HONESTY Section)

3. Be obedient and submissive to employer because employee actually serving Lord
Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; not be way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free (Ephesians 6:5-8).

Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth, not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men; knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve (Colossians 3:22-24).

Urge bondslaves to be subject to their own masters in everything . . . that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect (Titus 2:9-10).

a. Even when working for unreasonable employer
Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable. For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a man bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly (1 Peter 2:18-19).

4. Honor your employer
Let all who are under the yoke as slaves regard their own masters as worthy of all honor so that the name of God and our doctrine may not be spoken against (1 Timothy 6:1).

a. Do not be argumentative
Urge bondslaves to be subject to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative . . . (Titus 2:9).

5. Do not slander your fellow employees
Do not slander a slave to his master, lest he curse you and you be found guilty (Proverbs 30:10).

6. Be content with your wage
And some soldiers were questioning him [John the Baptist], saying, “And what about us, what shall we do?” And he said to them . . . be content with your wages” (Luke 3:14).

7. Act with moral integrity
. . . his master’s wife looked with desire at Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.” But he refused and said to his master’s wife. . . [my master] has put all that he owns in my charge. There is no one greater in this house than I, and he has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do this great evil, and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:7-9).

IV. GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF WORK AND BUSINESS

A. DO NOT BE IN BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP WITH UNBELIEVERS
Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord. “And do not touch what is unclean; and I will welcome you (2 Corinthians 6:14-17).

B. BUILD YOUR BUSINESS BEFORE BUILDING YOUR HOUSE
Prepare your work outside, and make it ready for yourself in the field; afterwards, then, build your house (Proverbs 24:27).

C. ANYTIME WE ARE PRODUCTIVE THERE IS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF CLUTTER CREATED
Where no oxen are, the manger is clean, but much increase comes by the strength of the ox (Proverbs 14:4).

D. EXCELLENT, SKILLED PEOPLE WILL BE HONORED
Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men (Proverbs 22:29).

E. DO NOT PRESUPPOSE UPON TOMORROW IN YOUR BUSINESS
Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow, we shall go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and also do this or that” (James 4:13-15).

F. ATTEND TO YOUR OWN BUSINESS AND WORK WITH YOUR HANDS
Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you; so that you may behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12).

G. UNGODLY PEOPLE WILL SOMETIMES PERSECUTE THE GODLY TO PROTECT A WICKED BUSINESS
A certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, was bringing no little business to the craftsmen; these he gathered together with the workmen of similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that our prosperity depends upon this business. And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in almost all of Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable number of people, saying that gods made with hands are no gods at all. And not only is there danger that this trade of ours fall into disrepute . . . when they heard this they were filled with rage. . . (Acts 19:24-28).

H. THE LORD CAN USE WORK TO HUMBLE US
Because they [Israel] had rebelled against the words of God, and spurned the counsel of the Most High. Therefore He humbled their heart with labor (Psalm 107:11-12).

I. FAIR COMPENSATION REQUIRED FOR GOODS AND SERVICES RENDERED
. . . command that they cut for me cedars from Lebanon, and my servants will be with your servants; and I (Solomon) will give you (Hiram) wages for your servants according to all that you say . . . (1 Kings 5:6).

. . . the house which I am about to build will be great and wonderful. Now behold, I will give to your servants, the woodsmen who cut the timber, 20,000 kors of crushed wheat, and 20,000 kors of barley, and 20,000 baths of wine, and 20,000 baths of oil (2 Chronicles 2:9-10).

1. Example of unfair compensation
And it came about at the end of twenty years in which Solomon had built the two houses, the house of the Lord and the king’s house (Hiram king of Tyre had supplied Solomon with cedar, cypress, timber and gold), then King Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee. So Hiram came out from Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had given him, and they did not please him (1 Kings 9:10-12).

J. BIBLICAL REFERENCE TO RETIREMENT
This is what applies to the Levites: from twenty-five years old and upward they shall enter to perform service in the work of the tent of meeting. But at the age of fifty years they shall retire from service in the work and not work any more . . . they themselves shall do no work . . . (Number 8:24-26).

K. THE EXCELLENT WIFE WORKS HARD AND IS A BLESSING TO HER HOUSEHOLD
An excellent wife . . . works with her hands in delight. She is like merchant ships; she brings her food from afar. She rises also while it is still night, and gives food to her household, and portions to her maidens . . . she plants a vineyard . . . her lamp does not go out at night. She stretches out her hands to the distaff, and her hands grasp the spindle . . . She makes coverings for herself. . . She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies belts to the tradesmen . . . She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and bless her; her husband also. . . (Proverbs 31:10-28).

. . . encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home . . . that the word of God may not be dishonored (Titus 2:4-5).

L. EMPTY PURSUITS RESULT IN POVERTY
He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, but he who pursues vain things lacks sense (Proverbs 12:11)

He who tills his land will have plenty of food, but he who follows empty pursuits will have poverty in plenty (Proverbs 28:19).

M. THE WRONG TYPE OF AMBITION
But if you have bitter jealously and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing (James 3:14-16).