Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the

Holy Bible, New International Version, 1973, 197, 19!,

"nternational Bible Society, and are used by permission# Scripture
quotations mar$ed %NAS& are ta$en from the New American
Standard Bible, 'he (oc$man )oundation, 19*+, 19*,, 19*,
1971, 1973, 197-, 1977, and used by permission# Scripture quotations
mar$ed %KJV& are ta$en from the .in/ 0ames 1ersion of the Holy Bible#
Scripture quotations mar$ed %NKJV& are from the New King James Version,
1979, 19+, 19, by 'homas 2elson, "nc#, and are used by
permission#
GOD'S PLAN FOR YOUR MONEY
3ere$ 4rince 5inistries6"nternational
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=od>s plan for your money ? by 3ere$ 4rince#
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1# Stewardship, 9hristian#
,# 5oney@Aeli/ious aspects@9hristianity#
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No part of thi s book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by
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2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 / 1 1 10 09 08 07 06 05 04 03
Contents
1. Gods All-Inclusive Plan...........................................................................................9
2. God or Mammon?.......................................................................................................17
3. Oerin! Is Part o "ors#i$..............................................................................2%
&. 'o( to Put God )irst...........................................................................................33
%. God C#allen!es *s..................................................................................................&1
+. ,#e Grace o Givin!..............................................................................................&9
7. )irst Give -oursel...................................................................................................%7
.. A ,(o-"a/ 0elations#i$......................................................................................+%
9. Givin! Is 1o(in!.......................................................................................................73
12. Gods 3evel Is A4undance................................................................................1
A4out t#e Aut#or............................................................................................................7
Gods All-inclusive Plan
Chapter One
1. Gods All-Inclusive Plan
ou may be surprised to learn that =od has a
plan for your money# Bou may haCe the idea
that money is too sordid for spiritual people#
(i$e some of us, you may haCe /rown up with a
reli/ious bac$/round that referred to money as
Dfilthy lucre#D HoweCer, this is not a biblical Ciew of
money#
B
"n contemporary culture, money plays a lar/e role
in each of our liCes# "f =od does not haCe a plan for
our money, then a maEor part of our liCes is not
under His control# "n turn, this circumstance will
ineCitably affect other areas of our liCes# 'he truth is
that many 9hristians, whose liCes are not really
under =od>s control, try to solCe their problems by
becomin/ more spiritual# HoweCer, many times the
answer is to be more practical#
"f you are not handlin/ your finances in line with
=od>s plan, then your whole life is out of Eoint# 2o
9
God5s Plan or -our Mone/
matter how spiritual you may be in other areas, you
will neCer $now the real blessin/ and oCerrulin/ of
=od in your life until you brin/ your money into line
with the will of =od as reCealed in His <ord# Bou
see, the Bible clearly reCeals that =od does haCe a
plan for our money#
;s a teacher of =od>s <ord, it is my responsibility
to share with you =od>s plan for your money Eust as "
would share His plan for any other area of your life#
"n ;cts 4aul said this:
20
You know that I hae not hesitated to !reach an"thing
that would be hel!#ul to "ou but hae taught "ou !ublicl"
and #rom house to house$
2%
&or I hae not hesitated to !roclaim to "ou the whole will
o# 'od$
%;cts ,+:,+, ,7&
"n other words, 4aul was sayin/ that he had
declared to them the (whole will o# 'od,( and that he
had tau/ht eCerythin/ in the <ord of =od that would
be helpful to =od>s people# 'he whole will of =od
includes His will for our money# "t is part of the total
counsel or plan of =od#
" want to point out in a /eneral way that =od
really does haCe a plan that coCers eCery area of our
liCes# "n Aomans, 4aul said:
)
*here#ore, I urge "ou, brothers, in iew o# 'od+s merc", to
o##er "our bodies as liing sacri#ices, hol" and !leasing to
'od,this is "our s!iritual act o# worshi!$
%Aomans 1,:1&
2otice that spiritual worship includes our bodiesF
it moCes ri/ht into the physical world# Some people
thin$ the body is not spiritual# Bein/ spiritual
10
Gods All-Inclusive Plan
includes doin/ the ri/ht thin/ with your body@
presentin/ it to =od as a liCin/ sacrifice# 4aul
continued in the ne8t Cerse,
2
-o not con#orm an" longer to the !attern o# this world,
but be trans#ormed b" the renewing o# "our mind$ *hen
"ou will be able to test and a!!roe what 'od+s will is,
his good, !leasing and !er#ect will$
%C# 1,:,&
=od>s will is unfolded in three successiCe phases
by three beautiful words# 'he will of =od is (good,
!leasing Gor (acce!table( .01H and !er#ect$( 'hese
three words represent three phases in our
perception of the will of =od#
<hen we first be/in to perceiCe =od>s will, we
discoCer that it is /ood# =od neCer wants anythin/
bad for any of His people# 'hen we learn that His will
is pleasin/ or acceptable# 'he more we perceiCe it,
the more we want to embrace it# )inally, as we moCe
on in the perception and the application of =od>s
will, we realiIe that it is perfect or complete# 'he
whole, complete will of =od coCers all areas of your
life@and that includes your money#
4aul pointed out two essential steps to findin/
=od>s will# )irst, surrender yourself without
reserCation to =od# 4aul said to place your body on
=od>s altar (as a liing sacri#ice( %Aomans 1,:1&# He
was comparin/ the body with the 7ld 'estament
sacrifices in which the animals that were offered
were first $illed and then placed on the altar# "n this
manner they were set apart for =od# 4aul said that
you must do the same with your body: put it on the
altar of =od>s serCice without reserCation# 'he only
difference is that you do not $ill the body, but rather
11
God5s Plan or -our Mone/
present it as a liCin/ sacrifice#
'he second essential step to findin/ =od>s will is
learnin/ to thin$ =od>s way# 4aul called it bein/
renewed in your mind# 'his means chan/in/ your
whole outloo$, includin/ the way you thin$, your
Calues, your standards, and your priorities# 7nly as
your mind is renewed can you perceiCe what is =od>s
will#
" want to point out somethin/ else about your
money that is Cery important# 3o not underestimate
your money, belittle it, or thin$ it is unspiritual or
unimportant# <hat does your money really
representJ " su//est that it represents four Cery
important aspects of you: your time, your stren/th,
your talents, and, quite possibly, your inheritance#
Bour inheritance may be money or other Caluable
thin/s, li$e houses or lands, which were passed on
to you from people who loCed and cared for you
when their liCes came to an end# 4erhaps you went
to colle/e and had a fairly elaborate education# ;ll
those years of education are represented by your
money because if you did not haCe the education,
you could not ma$e the money that you do# 7r you
mi/ht haCe special talents or abilities that are not in
the academic field, that are more practical in nature#
'hose talents and abilities are represented in your
money# 9ertainly, too, your money represents your
time# "f you wor$ ei/ht hours a day, fiCe days a wee$,
that is forty hours of your life inCested in the money
you earn#
<hen you inCest your money, you are inCestin/ a
maEor part of yourself for /ood or bad# " hope you
can be/in to see how important it is that you inCest
12
Gods All-Inclusive Plan
yourself throu/h your money in that which is /ood
and in accordance with =od>s will and plan#
=od>s plan for your life, includin/ your money, is
summed up in one beautiful word: !ros!erit"$ 'his
idea is stated in 3 0ohn, where the writer said to a
fellow 9hristian,
2
Beloed, I !ra" that in all res!ects "ou ma" !ros!er and
be in good health, .ust as "our soul !ros!ers$
%3 0ohn ,:, 2;S&
2otice that the $ey word in this Cerse is
(!ros!er$( "t coCers three areas: your soul, your
physical health, and your finances or material
needs# "n each area the reCealed will of =od is
prosperity or success# =od wants you to succeed in
the area of your soul, in the area of your physical
body, and in the area of your finances#
)ailure, defeat, frustration, and poCerty are not
the will of =od# " /rew up in a reli/ious tradition
where bein/ holy meant you had to be poor# " respect
people who hold that Ciew, but it is not a scriptural
one#
13
God or Mammon?
Chapter Two
2. God or Mammon?
e need to see that our personal attitudes
toward money are Cery important# 'his
truth can be stated as the followin/
principle:
<
-our attitude to(ard mone/ actuall/ reveals /our attitude
to(ard God 'imsel.
" want to quote to you the words of 0esus on the
subEect# "n the Sermon on the 5ount, we find that
0esus stated the followin/ about this topic:
2/
No one can sere two masters0 #or either he will hate the
one and loe the other, or he will hold to one and des!ise
the other$ You cannot sere 'od and mammon$
%5atthew *:,! 2;S&
17
God5s Plan or -our Mone/
)irst, let us loo$ for a moment at the meanin/ of
the word (mammon$( 'he New International
translation says, (You cannot sere both 'od and
mone" (but that does not fully e8press the meanin/
of the word, because mammon is more than Eust
money# 5ammon is an eCil, spiritual power that
/rips men and enslaCes them throu/h the medium of
money# 5ammon is not money itself, but the
spiritual power that wor$s in the world and the liCes
of millions of people throu/h their attitudes toward
money#
0esus said that you cannot serCe =od and
mammon# 'hen He said, (1ither GyouH will hate the
one and loe the other, or GyouH will hold to one and
des!ise the other$( "n each case, 0esus naturally put
=od first and mammon second# Kither you will hate
=od and loCe mammon, or you will hold onto =od
and despise mammon# 'hat is a serious thou/ht# "f
you loCe mammon, you hate =od# 7n the other
hand, if you hold onto =od and your life is
committed to Him, you will despise mammon# 'his
attitude is not hatin/ money, but loathin/ that
satanic force that enslaCes men and women throu/h
money# Bou will detest it, and you will not let it
dominate you# Bou cannot maintain a position of
neutrality on this subEect# <e must ac$nowled/e in
our liCes the claim of one or the other# "t is not a
choice of whether we will serCeF it is a choice only of
whom we will serCe@either =od or mammon#
0esus said that it is a question of priorities:
22
But seek #irst 3is 4'od+s5 kingdom and 3is
righteousness0 and all these things shall be added to "ou$
%5atthew *:33 2;S&
18
God or Mammon?
0esus did not say we haCe to be without (these
things,( but He says we must not put these thin/s
first# <e must put the $in/dom of =od and His
ri/hteousness first in our liCes on a consistent basis
@that is, commitment to =od, His $in/dom, and His
purposes# 0esus said that if we do not run after
mammon and ma$e it our /od, but if we serCe the
true =od and see$ His $in/dom and ri/hteousness,
then =od will see to it that all the material and
financial thin/s we need are added to us#
4ursuin/ money is such an awful strain and
leads to so much frustration# 3o not chase after
money# 'hat is what 0esus says# (et money pursue
you# "f you haCe followed the ri/ht course in your
life, then the money will be added to you# Bou do not
haCe to lie awa$e at ni/ht or spend hours hatchin/
plans to /et rich#
HaCin/ followed that principle for more than forty
years, by the /race of =od " can attest that =od is
faithful# Sometimes my faith has been tested#
Sometimes " haCe had to deny myself thin/s that the
world esteems Cery hi/hly# But, as " loo$ bac$ at all "
haCe /one throu/h, " haCe to say =od has been
totally faithful#
'he principle of puttin/ =od first runs all the way
throu/h the Bible# "n the third chapter of 4roCerbs,
we find two beautiful Cerses that say the same thin/:
6
3onor the 789- with "our wealth, with the #irst#ruits o# all
"our cro!s0
)0
then "our barns will be #illed to oer#lowing, and "our
ats will brim oer with new wine$
%4roCerbs 3:961+&
19
God5s Plan or -our Mone/
'he (barns( and the (ats( are all of your material
needs# 'hey will be abundantly supplied and will
oCerflow when you honor =od with your wealth# 'he
way in which you honor =od with your wealth is by
/iCin/ Him the (#irst#ruits$('his means settin/ aside
the first %or best& portion for =od# <e either honor or
dishonor =od with our money# 'here is no neutral
/round#
(et me say, loCin/ly, that =od does not want your
tipsL <hen the offerin/ plate comes around at
church, do not drop a quarter in# 'hat is insultin/
=od# ;s a matter of fact, for most people today,
/iCin/ a dollar is an insult to =od# Bou would slip a
dollar into the hand of the restaurant par$in/ lot
Calet who par$s your car# 3o not treat =od li$e that,
because you are insultin/ and dishonorin/ Him#
Similarly, the Scripture points out that puttin/
money ahead of =od is also idolatry:
:
*here#ore !ut to death "our members which are on the
earth; #ornication, uncleanness, !assion, eil desire, and
coetousness, which is idolatr"$
%9olossians 3:- 2.01&
2otice that 4aul said coCetousness is idolatry#
<hen you see$ money first, you are ma$in/ money
your /od, which is ri/htly called idolatry# 'he (ord
said to "srael, (*hou shalt hae none other gods
be#ore me Gor (besides <e( AMP] " %3euteronomy -:7
KJV&# "n our contemporary culture, far more people
haCe made money their /od rather than the true
=od# 'hey are /uilty of idolatry#
2otice that in 9olossians 4aul put coCetousness
side by side with many other unpleasant thin/s such
as fornication and uncleanness# 5ost churches
20
God or Mammon?
would not accept people who liCe in fornication
%se8ual immorality&, but, fran$ly, our churches are
full of people who are /uilty of coCetousness and
idolatry#
;nother Scripture, 1 'imothy *:961+, carries a
warnin/ a/ainst ma$in/ money your =od and
desirin/ to be rich:
6
But those who desire to be rich #all into tem!tation and a
snare, and into man" #oolish and harm#ul lusts which
drown men in destruction and !erdition$
)0
&or the loe o# mone" is a root o# all kinds o# eil 4mone"
is not eil0 the loe o# mone" is5, #or which some hae
stra"ed #rom the #aith in their greediness 4or
coetousness5, and !ierced themseles through with
man" sorrows$
%1 'imothy *:961+ 2.01&
2ow here is the remedy or alternatiCe:
))
But "ou, 8 man o# 'od, #lee these things 4coetousness,
loe o# mone", materialism5 and !ursue righteousness,
godliness, #aith, loe, !atience, gentleness$
%1 'imothy *:11 2.01&
2o Cacuum can e8ist in our liCes# "f we are to be
clear of the loCe of money, we must pursue
somethin/ else# Somethin/ else must ta$e its place#
4aul said, (=ursue righteousness, godliness, #aith,
loe, !atience, gentleness$(
)aith is necessary to brea$ the control of
mammon in your life# ;t some point or other, you
are /oin/ to haCe to do somethin/ to release yourself
from the domination of mammon#
4ersonally, " can loo$ bac$ on a point in my life
when " /aCe to the (ord>s wor$ eCerythin/ " owned
21
God5s Plan or -our Mone/
financially and materially# " /aCe up a presti/ious,
well6payin/ Eob with a tremendous future and
stepped out in na$ed faith with nothin/ to uphold
me but the promises of =od# <hen " did so, the
control of mammon oCer my life was bro$en# "
refused to be a slaCe of mammon#
22
Oerin! Is Part o "ors#i$
Chapter Three
3. Oerin! Is Part o "ors#i$
od wants us to see our money as somethin/
holy that we offer in worship to Him, and
that without this offerin/ our worship is
incomplete# <e will start with e8amples from the 7ld
'estament#
=
"n K8odus ,3:1!61-, =od /aCe re/ulations for
eCery male amon/ the children of "srael to come up
to 0erusalem three times a year# 'hey were to offer
worship and to celebrate before =od in the temple#
Here is part of the re/ulation He /aCe:
)/
*hree times a "ear "ou are to celebrate a #estial to me$
):
>elebrate the &east o# ?nleaened Bread0 #or seen
da"s eat bread made without "east, as I commanded "ou$
-o this at the a!!ointed time in the month o# Abib, #or in
that month "ou came out o# 1g"!t$ No one is to a!!ear
be#ore <e em!t"@handed$
%K8odus ,3:1!61-&
67o one is to a$$ear 4eore Me em$t/-#anded.6
25
God5s Plan or -our Mone/
'his was part of =od>s ordinance for worship and
celebration in the temple# "srael had to come up at
=od>s appointed time and in =od>s appointed way,
and no "sraelite was to appear before Him empty6
handed# KCery "sraelite had to haCe an offerin/ for
=od as part of the celebration and worship#
"n 4salm 9*:69 the psalmist said to all of =od>s
people,
A
'ie to the 789- the glor" due 3is name0 Bring an o##ering
and come into 3is courts$
6
8h, worshi! the 789- in the beaut" o# holinessB
%2.01&
'he Scripture says, (Bring an o##ering and come
into 3is courts,( but do not come without an offerin/#
Here are three important facts about the offerin/ of
finances, or anythin/ else, to =od#
1) Brin/in/ an offerin/ /iCes /lory to =od# 'he
psalmist said, ('ie to the 7ord the glor" due 3is
name0 Bring an o##ering$( How are we to /iCe /lory
to =odJ By brin/in/ an offerin/#
2) Brin/in/ an offerin/ /iCes us access to =od>s
courts# <e haCe no ri/ht to claim access to =od if
we do not come with an offerin/# "n K8odus
,3:1-, =od said, (No one is to a!!ear be#ore me
em!t" handed$( "f you want to appear before =od
and come into His courts, you must brin/ an
offerin/#
3) Brin/in/ an offerin/ is a =od6appointed part of
our worship# 'he psalmist continued, (8h,
worshi! the 789- in the beaut" o# holinessB( %4salm
9*:9&# 'his tells us that our worship is not
26
Oerin! Is Part o "ors#i$
complete until we brin/ our offerin/s to =od#
<e saw earlier that when we /iCe our money to
=od, we are /iCin/ a Cery important part of our liCes#
<e are /iCin/ Him our time, our stren/th, and our
talents# 5ost of us put the maEor portion of our
efforts into the wor$ that brin/s our income# <hen
we offer =od the appointed share of our income, we
are offerin/ ourselCes to =od# ;nd there is nothin/
more holy we can offer to =od than ourselCes#
=od says, in effect, D"f you want to come into 5y
courts, to appear before 5e, to /iCe /lory to 5e, and
to worship 5e in the beauty of holiness, then brin/
your offerin/#D Brin/in/ an offerin/, worship, and
holiness are all Cery closely connected in =od>s plan
for our liCes#
;nother important point that many of =od>s
people do not fully understand is that =od $eeps a
record of what His people offer# =od has an account
boo$ for eCery one of us# 'o illustrate this truth, we
need to read the seCenth chapter of 2umbers#
'his chapter describes what the twelCe princes of
the tribes of "srael offered to =od# Kach prince
offered e8actly the same, yet each of their offerin/s is
described in detail, item by item# =od did not say,
D'he second prince offered the same as the first,D or,
D;ll twelCe princes each offered this#D Aather, the
record /oes throu/h eCery item in the offerin/ of
each prince# 'he Bible is a Cery economical boo$ in
that it does not waste any space# <hen =od
enumerated identical offerin/s in this passa/e, He
was illustratin/ for us how Cery carefully He records
what we offer to Him# Here is the account of the first
prince:
27
God5s Plan or -our Mone/
)0
Chen the altar was anointed, the leaders 4or !rinces5
brought their o##erings #or its dedication and !resented
them be#ore the altar$
))
&or the 789- had said to <oses, (1ach da" one leader is
to bring his o##ering #or the dedication o# the altar$( 4&or
twele da"s this !rocess o# o##ering went on$5
)2
*he one who brought his o##ering on the #irst da" was
Nahshon son o# Amminadab o# the tribe o# Judah$
)2
3is o##ering was one siler !late weighing a hundred
and thirt" shekels, and one siler s!rinkling bowl
weighing seent" shekels, both according to the
sanctuar" shekel, each #illed with #ine #lour miDed with oil
as a grain o##ering0
)/
one gold dish weighing ten shekels, #illed with incense
4that would be worth thousands o# dollars toda"50
):
one "oung bull, one ram and one male lamb a "ear old,
#or a burnt o##ering0
)E
one male goat #or a sin o##ering0
)%
and two oDen, #ie rams, #ie male goats and #ie male
lambs a "ear old, to be sacri#iced as a #ellowshi! o##ering$
*his was the o##ering o# Nahshon son o# Amminadab$
%2umbers 7:1+617&
=od $ept an absolute record of what each leader
offered and then caused it to be preserCed in
Scripture in minute detail# <e need to ta$e note of
the de/ree of importance =od places on our
offerin/s#
'he 2ew 'estament teaches us that 0esus
Himself watches how we /iCe# <e read in 5ar$
1,:!16!!:
/)
Jesus sat down o!!osite the !lace where the o##erings
were !ut and watched the crowd !utting their mone" into
the tem!le treasur"$ <an" rich !eo!le threw in large
amounts$
28
Oerin! Is Part o "ors#i$
/2
But a !oor widow came and !ut in two er" small co!!er
coins, worth onl" a #raction o# a !enn"$
/2
>alling his disci!les to him, Jesus said, (I tell "ou the
truth, this !oor widow has !ut more into the treasur" than
all the others$
//
*he" all gae out o# their wealth0 but she, out o# her
!oert", !ut in eer"thing, all she had to lie on$(
%5ar$ 1,:!16!!&
0esus thou/ht it worthwhile to sit and watch
what and how the people offered# He does the same
today# <e may not see Him, but He is watchin/ how
and what we /iCe#
'here are two important points here: first, 0esus
loo$ed at what eCerybody /aCe and estimated its true
CalueF second, =od /au/es what we /iCe by what we
$eep# 0esus stated that the one who put in the least
in actual amount /aCe the most because she had
nothin/ left# Bear in mind that when =od measures
what you /iCe, He loo$s at what you retain for
yourself#
7ne final point is that one day all of us will haCe
to answer for ourselCes to =od:
)2
So then, each o# us will gie an account o# himsel# to
'od$
%Aomans 1!:1,&
'hat account lies ahead for eCery one of us# ;nd
the phrase in the ori/inal =ree$, Dto /iCe account,D is
used primarily in reference to financial matters# So,
eCery one of us is /oin/ to /iCe a financial
accountin/ to =od#
29
'o( to Put God )irst
Chapter Four
&. 'o( to Put God )irst
e haCe seen that =od wants us to Ciew our
money as somethin/ holy# <e mista$enly
tend to thin$ of money as somethin/ dirty
or unworthy# HoweCer, money is a part of us# <hen
we offer our money, we are offerin/ a maEor part of
ourselCes to =od# <e need to offer our money in
worship to =odF our worship is complete only in this
way#
<
<e will now consider a simple way to put =od
first in handlin/ our money that is both practical
and scriptural# 'o honor =od in our finances, we
must first see$ =od>s $in/dom and His
ri/hteousness and then honor the (ord with our
firstfruits# 'he $ey word is #irst all the way throu/h#
"f we put money first rather than =od, then we are
idolaters#
33
God5s Plan or -our Mone/
; simple, practical, and scriptural way to put
=od first with your money is by consistently settin/
aside for =od the first tenth of your income# 'his
practice is traditionally $nown as Dtithin/#D *ithe
comes from an 7ld Kn/lish word meanin/ Dthe
tenthD and is used in the .in/ 0ames 1ersion#
'ithin/ is the re/ular practice of settin/ apart the
first tenth of your total income for =od# <hen you do
that, you haCe laid a foundation for honorin/ =od
with your money#
'ithin/ /oes bac$ to ;braham# Some 9hristians
thin$ that tithin/ was first instituted under the (aw
of 5oses, but that is incorrect# 'ithin/ is at least
four hundred years older than the law# =enesis
1!:1,617 records that ;braham had Eust won a /reat
battle oCer certain $in/s and that, in winnin/ the
battle, he had /athered a /reat quantity of booty#
'he narration continues,
)A
*hen <elchiFedek king o# Salem brought out bread and
wine$ 3e was !riest o# 'od <ost 3igh,
)6
and he blessed Abram, sa"ing, (Blessed be Abram b"
'od <ost 3igh, >reator o# heaen and earth$
20
And blessed be 'od <ost 3igh, who deliered "our
enemies into "our hand$(
%=enesis 1!:16,+&
5elchiIede$ was the priest of the 5ost Hi/h =od,
or =od>s representatiCe in the earth at that
particular time, and he blessed ;braham# How did
;braham respondJ ;braham /aCe 5elchiIede$ a
tenth of eCerythin/ he had /ained in Cictory#
"t is important to see that ;braham is presented
in the 2ew 'estament as a father and a pattern to all
subsequent belieCers# Aomans !:1161, states:
34
'o( to Put God )irst
))
So then, he 4Abraham5 is the #ather o# all who beliee$$$$
)2
And he is also the #ather o# the circumcised who not onl"
are circumcised but who also walk in the #ootste!s o# the
#aith that our #ather Abraham had be#ore he was
circumcised 4which was at the time <elchiFedek met him5$
"n order to be children of ;braham, we must wal$
in the steps of ;braham>s faith# 'his includes
handlin/ our money the way ;braham handled his
money# "n the fourth chapter of Aomans, 4aul
continued:
)E
*here#ore, the !romise comes b" #aith, so that it ma" be
b" grace and ma" be guaranteed to all Abraham+s
o##s!ring,not onl" to those who are o# the law but also to
those who are o# the #aith o# Abraham$ 3e is the #ather o#
us all$
%Aomans !:1*&
;braham is our father when we wal$ in the
footsteps of his faith# ;nd when we deCelop the same
$ind of faith he had, we will ac$nowled/e the areas
of finances and material possessions as belon/in/ to
=od, Eust as his faith did#
2ow let us consider 0acob, ;braham>s /randson#
0acob became a refu/ee because of the way he had
tric$ed "saac, his father, and Ksau, his brother# He
left the land of inheritance and went off to see$ his
fortune in 5esopotamia# <hen he set out, all he had
in his hand was one staff# 'his is what 0acob said in
=enesis ,:,+6,,:
20
*hen Jacob made a ow, sa"ing, (I# 'od will be with me
and will watch oer me on this .ourne" I am taking and
will gie me #ood to eat and clothes to wear
2)
so that I return sa#el" to m" #ather+s house, then the 789-
will be m" 'od
35
God5s Plan or -our Mone/
22
and this stone that I hae set u! as a !illar will be 'od+s
house, and o# all that "ou gie me I will gie "ou a tenth$(
Here we find tithin/ a/ain# "n essence, 0acob
said, D'hat>s the basis of my relationship with =od#
He proCides my needs, and in return, " /iCe Him
bac$ a tenth of all that He proCides for me#D
'hen we read 0acob>s testimony twenty years
later#
6
*hen Jacob !ra"ed, (8 'od o# m" #ather Abraham, 'od
o# m" #ather Isaac, 8 789-, who said to me, +'o back to
"our countr" and "our relaties, and I will make "ou
!ros!er+ 4notice that ke" word (!ros!er(5$
)0
I am unworth" o# all the kindness and #aith#ulness "ou
hae shown "our serant$ I had onl" m" sta## when I
crossed this Jordan, but now I hae become two grou!s$(
(Genesis 32:910)
0acob had tremendous wealth, a Cery lar/e
family, and eCery need had been supplied# <hat was
the reasonJ His faithfulness in tithin/# He left with
one staff, and he came bac$ with abundance# 'he
$ey was that he /aCe =od the first tenth of
eCerythin/ that =od proCided for him#
;s we further e8amine tithin/ amon/ =od>s
people in the 7ld 'estament, we find that under the
(aw of 5oses, the tithe simply belon/ed to =od#
'here was no question about this fact, which is
Cerified in the followin/ Scripture:
20
A tithe o# eer"thing #rom the land, whether grain #rom
the soil or #ruit #rom the trees, belongs to the 789-0 it is
hol" to the 789- 4the tithe is hol"5$
22
*he entire tithe o# the herd and #lock,eer" tenth
animal that !asses under the she!herd+s rod,will be
hol" to the 789-$
36
'o( to Put God )irst
%(eCiticus ,7:3+, 3,&
'he entire tithe is holy to the (ord# "n
3euteronomy 1!:,, =od said: (Be sure to set aside a
tenth o# all that "our #ields !roduce each "ear$( 'hat
is tithin/#
5any 9hristians are not aware of this fact, but in
the 2ew 'estament, tithin/ reappears in the
priesthood of 0esus# Hebrews *:19 spea$s about (the
inner sanctuar" behind the curtain,( and the ne8t
Cerse tells us,
20
Jesus, who went be#ore us, has entered on our behal#$
3e has become a high !riest #oreer, in the order o#
<elchiFedek$
%C# *:,+&
So 0esus is our Hi/h 4riest in the order of
5elchiIede$#
"n the ne8t chapter of Hebrews, the writer
e8plained the part tithin/ played in the priesthood of
5elchiIede$ and in the hi/h priesthood of 0esus:
/
Just think how great he 4<elchiFedek5 was; een the
!atriarch Abraham gae him a tenth o# the !lunderB
:
Now the law reGuires the descendants o# 7ei who
become !riests to collect a tenth #rom the !eo!le,that is,
their brothers,een though their brothers are descended
#rom Abraham$
E
*his man, howeer, did not trace his descent #rom 7ei,
"et he collected a tenth #rom Abraham and blessed him
who had the !romises$ 4Notice the em!hasis on the tenth$5
%
And without doubt the lesser !erson is blessed b" the
greater$ 4Abraham was lesser than <elchiFedek because
he was blessed b" <elchiFedek$5
A
In the one case 4the case o# the law5, the tenth is collected
37
God5s Plan or -our Mone/
b" men who die0 but in the other case, b" him who is
declared to be liing$
%Hebrews 7:!6&
'he priesthood of 5elchiIede$ is an eternal
priesthood because the one who is in the priesthood
neCer dies# 'he writer stated that 0esus liCes foreCer
as a Hi/h 4riest after the order of 5elchiIede$# ;nd
in His priesthood He receiCes the tithes of His
people#
<e can see that tithin/ has a continuous history
from ;braham onwards: from ;braham to 0acob, to
the nation of "srael, and then to the ministry of
0esus as our Hi/h 4riest# ;ccordin/ to Scripture,
when we set aside our first tenth and offer our tithe
to 0esus, we are actually ac$nowled/in/ that 0esus
is our Hi/h 4riest accordin/ to the priesthood of
5elchiIede$# 'his is one of the ways we are able to
honor Him and ac$nowled/e Him as our Hi/h 4riest#
38
God C#allen!es *s
Chapter Fi!e
%. God C#allen!es *s
ow we wi"" #onsi$er how Go$ %i&se"' a#tua""(
#ha""en)es us to put Him to the test by
followin/ the scriptural e8amples of tithin/#
'his complete challen/e is /iCen in 5alachi when
=od was spea$in/ to "srael:
*
%
(1er since the time o# "our #ore#athers "ou hae turned
awa" #rom m" decrees and hae not ke!t them$ 9eturn to
me, and I will return to "ou,( sa"s the 789- Almight"$ (But
"ou ask, +3ow are we to returnH+
A
Cill a man rob 'odH Yet "ou rob me$ But "ou ask, +3ow
do we rob "ouH+ In tithes and o##erings$(
%5alachi 3:76&
2otice that withholdin/ =od>s appointed portion
is called robbin/ =od# 5ost of us would neCer rob
another human bein/, but we mi/ht be /uilty of
robbin/ =od#
=od then told "srael the result of robbin/ Him
and the remedy:
41
God5s Plan or -our Mone/
6
(You are under a curse,the whole nation o# "ou,
because "ou are robbing me$ 4Now here is the remed";5
)0
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there ma"
be #ood in m" house$ *est me in this,( sa"s the 789-
Almight", (and see i# I will not throw o!en the #loodgates
o# heaen and !our out so much blessing that "ou will not
hae room enough #or it$(
%5alachi 3:961+&
Upon what condition does =od promise the
blessin/J <hen we brin/ the whole tithe into the
storehouse# He says, D'est 5e# See if ">ll do what ">Ce
promised#D =od requires us to test Him with our
financesF in other words, we must act in faith#
)inally, He /oes on to spea$ of further results:
))
(I will !reent !ests #rom deouring "our cro!s, and the
ines in "our #ields will not cast their #ruit,( sa"s the 789-
Almight"$
)2
(*hen all the nations will call "ou blessed, #or "ours will
be a delight#ul land,( sa"s the 789- Almight"$
%CC# 1161,&
=od says that if you will honor Him in that way,
then He will pour out such a blessin/ that you will
not find room to contain it# He will preCent the pests
%the deCourer& from eatin/ up anythin/ that is yours#
;ll nations will loo$ at you and say you are a blessed
people and will reco/niIe that =od has truly blessed
and prospered you# ;ll this is promised as a result of
brin/in/ the whole tithe into the storehouse#
(et me summariIe four points from this passa/e
in 5alachi:
1) )or more than one thousand years, =od $ept a
record of "srael>s /iCin/# He had required them to
42
God C#allen!es *s
/iCe the tithe to Him more than a thousand years
earlier# 'hen at a certain point He told them He
had $ept a record, and they had been robbin/
Him# So, remember, =od $eeps a record#
2) .eepin/ bac$ =od>s portion is robbery@not
robbery of man, but robbery of =od@and it
brin/s a curse upon those who do it#
3) )aithful tithin/ brin/s a blessin/, and throu/h
the results =od is /lorified in the blessin/ that
comes on His people#
4) 'ithin/ is a test of our faith and of =od>s
faithfulness# But please ta$e note: it must be
done in faith#
(et us consider what the storehouse is in this
passa/e# " want to illustrate this concept from the
natural realm# ; storehouse is basically two thin/s:
first, it is the place we /et the food we eatF second, it
is the place we obtain seed to sow for future
harCests# ;s 9hristians, we receiCe our spiritual food
from a certain source or sources, and we probably
receiCe seed to sow in the liCes of others from the
same source# " su//est that whereCer that source is
for you is your storehouse and where you need to
brin/ your tithe# "f you belon/ to a local church that
supplies those needs, then by all means that is your
storehouse# Be faithful to tithe there# But many
9hristians today are not priCile/ed in that way# 'hey
must consider what is the source of their food and
the seed that is sown#
(et me share a little parable, which " will not see$
to interpret# 2ormally, you do not eat in the Holiday
"nn and pay your bill at Howard 0ohnson>s# 5editate
43
God5s Plan or -our Mone/
on this, and you will understand it for yourself#
2ow, we must understand that tithin/ is not the
end of /iCin/ to =od, it is the be/innin/# 'ithin/ lays
a foundation for our systematic, continual /iCin/ to
=od# 'he Bible also spea$s of /iCin/ in two other
main cate/ories: offerin/s and alms# <e really do not
offer our tithe to =od, because it is His le/al portion#
But, beyond our tithe, what we /iCe is offerin/s# (oo$
at all the options "srael had for /iCin/:
E
Bring "our burnt o##erings and sacri#ices, "our tithes and
s!ecial gi#ts, what "ou hae owed to gie and "our
#reewill o##erings, and the #irstborn o# "our herds and
#locks$
%3euteronomy 1,:*&
Si8 specific $inds of offerin/s are mentioned:
1& burnt offerin/s
,& sacrifices
3& special /ifts
!& what you haCe Cowed
-& freewill offerin/s
*& the firstborn of your herds and floc$s
"n other words, there is a Cery wide ran/e of
different $inds of offerin/s that we can /iCe to =od#
But we do not offer our tithesF we simply return to
=od that which is His scriptural portion#
"n addition to offerin/s, there are what the Bible
calls Dalms,D or what is $nown today as charity# 'his
is not what we /iCe to =od, but what we /iCe to the
needy, the poor and the afflicted# 'he Bible has a lot
more to say about /iCin/ to the poor than many
44
God C#allen!es *s
9hristians haCe heard# 'his is what 0esus said:
22
-o not be a#raid, little #lock, #or "our &ather has been
!leased to gie "ou the kingdom$
22
Sell "our !ossessions and gie to the !oor$ =roide
!urses #or "ourseles that will not wear out, a treasure in
heaen that will not be eDhausted, where no thie# comes
near and no moth destro"s$
2/
&or where "our treasure is, there "our heart will be also$
%(u$e 1,:3,63!&
<here you put your money is where your heart
is# Bou cannot haCe your money in one place, your
heart in another# 0esus said to act li$e children of a
$in/# Bour )ather has /iCen you the $in/dom, so you
can afford to be /enerous# =iCe to the poor and lay
up treasure for yourself in heaCen#
"n Kcclesiastes 11:16, there is another marCelous
picture of what we do when we /iCe to the poor:
)
>ast "our bread u!on the waters, #or a#ter man" da"s
"ou will #ind it again$
2
'ie !ortions to seen, "es to eight, #or "ou do not know
what disaster ma" come u!on the land$
" hope you can see that point# <hen you /iCe to
the poor, then you are layin/ up insurance with =od#
'he writer said, ('ie to seen,(@that>s your duty
@(and to eight,(@/o a little beyond duty@(because
"ou do not know what disaster might come u!on the
earth$( "n other words, if you do what =od says with
your money, =od will ta$e care of you when the
disaster comes# 'hat is His /uarantee and that is
your insurance# =iCin/ is an insurance a/ainst bad
times#
9onsider the testimony of 7swald 0# Smith, who
45
God5s Plan or -our Mone/
was pastor of the 4eople>s 9hurch in 'oronto,
9anada, for many years# 3urin/ the =reat
3epression, hundreds of men came to his office
eCery day to as$ for financial help from the church#
He said they /aCe aid to hundreds, but that he
always chec$ed with each man whether that man
had been faithful when he had an income to /iCe the
tithe to =od# He reported that in all his e8perience,
no man who came for help had eCer been faithful in
tithin/# He concluded that =od too$ care of all those
who faithfully tithed#
46
,#e Grace o Givin!
Chapter +i,
+. ,#e Grace o Givin!
s we #ontinue our stu$(- we want to #onsi$er the
spiritua" .e( to the on"( .in$ o' )i!in) that is tru"(
a##epta/"e to Go$0 1t is e,presse$ in one si&p"e
an$ /eautiful word: grace$ "n the 2ew 'estament we
are not tal$in/ about /iCin/ by law or
commandment, but about /iCin/ that comes out of
/race# 4aul spo$e about this /race in the /reat /iCin/
chapter found in , 9orinthians# <ritin/ to the
9hristians in 9orinth, he e8horted:
2
%
But .ust as "ou eDcel in eer"thing,in #aith, in s!eech, in
knowledge, in com!lete earnestness and in "our loe #or
us,see that "ou also eDcel in this grace o# giing$
%, 9orinthians :7&
'he 9orinthian church was well equipped with
spiritual /ifts and /races# "t also had a /ood attitude
of loCe# But 4aul said, DBe sure you don>t miss out
on this other tremendously important /race, the
/race of /iCin/#D
49
God5s Plan or -our Mone/
"n this chapter that deals with /iCin/, the word
grace occurs seCen times# "t is the $ey word# Unless
we understand /race and how /race motiCates
/iCin/, we really cannot understand =od>s plan for
our money as reCealed in the 2ew 'estament#
'he Bible spea$s of both law and /race# (aw is
e8ternal, written on stone tablets in front of our
eyes# "t says, D3o this# 3on>t do that#D But the law is
not inside us, the old nature is# 'his rebel nature
resists what is written on the tablets of the law
outside#
HoweCer, /race is different# =race is internal# "t
wor$s from within, not from without# "t is written on
the heart, not on tablets of stone# "t is written there
only by the Holy Spirit# 2o other a/ent can write the
/race of =od in our hearts but the Holy Spirit# %See ,
9orinthians 3:3#&
<e need to see how the 2ew 'estament contrasts
law and /race# "n 0ohn we read:
)%
&or the law was gien through <oses0 grace and truth
came through Jesus >hrist$
%0ohn 1:17&
'he law came throu/h 5oses, but /race comes
only throu/h 0esus 9hrist# "f we want /race, it is
made aCailable to us only throu/h 0esus 9hrist#
)urthermore, it is made aCailable only throu/h the
cross and what 0esus did on the cross# )rom the
cross /race has been released and made aCailable to
the human race# 'his is true also in the area of
finance# <hat 0esus did on the cross made proCision
for our prosperity:
6
&or "ou know the grace o# our 7ord Jesus >hrist, that
50
,#e Grace o Givin!
though he was rich, "et #or "our sakes he became !oor, so
that "ou through his !oert" might become rich$
%, 9orinthians :9&
2otice the $ey word there at the be/innin/:
(grace$( "t is not lawF it is /race# <e cannot earn it#
=race is manifested here in an e8chan/e# 0esus was
rich, but He became poor out of His /race in order
that we, throu/h His /race, bein/ poor, mi/ht
become rich with His riches# 0esus e8hausted the
poCerty curse that results from the bro$en law so
that, in return, throu/h /race, we mi/ht receiCe the
wealth of the $in/dom of =od# =od>s /race is throu/h
0esus 9hrist and throu/h the cross#
;lso concernin/ /race, the 2ew 'estament
reCeals that /race is receiCed only throu/h faith# 'he
Cery essence of /race is that it cannot be earned#
'here is nothin/ we can eCer do that will deserCe the
/race of =od# 4aul said this in Kphesians:
A
&or it is b" grace "ou hae been saed, through #aith,
and this not #rom "ourseles, it is the gi#t o# 'od,
6
not b" works, so that no one can boast$
%Kphesians ,:69&
2otice the order: (b" grace(,(through #aith(,(not
b" works$( " am not teachin/ you about a plan by
which you can earn your money# " am teachin/
about somethin/ that you can receiCe only by /race
throu/h faith# "n =alatians, 4aul said:
E
&or in >hrist Jesus neither circumcision nor
uncircumcision means an"thing, but #aith working
through loe$
%=alatians -:* 2;S&
)aith is the only way we can appropriate the
51
God5s Plan or -our Mone/
/race of =od# 'he faith that appropriates =od>s /race
wor$s by loCe# 'his is the spiritual $ey to ri/ht
/iCin/# " want to state it Cery clearly:
,#e s$iritual 8e/ to ri!#t !ivin! is !race 9not la(: received
t#rou!# ;esus and t#rou!# t#e cross 4/ ait#< and (or8in! 4/
love.
" want to emphasiIe that the Bible>s principles of
finance, as unfolded in the 2ew 'estament, can only
be apprehended by faith# Bou must respond to this
messa/e with faith# )urther, faith means that we act#
)aith without actions is dead# <hat do we doJ <e
/iCe# <e /iCe before we haCe receiCed# 'his is
contrary to the thin$in/ of the carnal mind# 'he
carnal mind says, D" can>t afford to /iCe#D )aith says,
DBou can>t afford not to /iCe because that is the $ey
to receiCin/#D "n (u$e, 0esus said:
2A
'ie, and it will be gien to "ou0 good measure, !ressed
down, shaken together, running oer, the" will !our into
"our la!$ &or b" "our standard o# measure it will be
measured to "ou in return$
%(u$e *:3 2;SB&
<hat happens firstJ 3o we receiCe, or do we /iCeJ
<e /iCe# =iCe, and it will be /iCen bac$# <e /iCe to
=od, and =od causes men to /iCe bac$ to us# 'hat is
=od>s control oCer the situation#
'hen 0esus brou/ht out this second principle:
D<hateCer measure you deal out to others, it will be
dealt to you in return#D "f you want to receiCe
/enerously, then 0esus said you haCe to /iCe
/enerously#
'hat truth is remar$able# "n actual fact, you haCe
52
,#e Grace o Givin!
the $ey to your financial prosperity in your hands# "t
is the $ey of faith, respondin/ to =od>s /race# Bou
can do two thin/s# )irst, you can ta$e the initiatiCe
by /iCin/# Bou do not haCe to wait, you can /iCe#
Second, you can set the proportion that you wish to
receiCe, because the proportion that you /iCe
determines the proportion that you receiCe# Bou do
not haCe to sit passiCely wishin/ or hopin/# Bou can
be/in to act in faith with your finances accordin/ to
=od>s reCealed plan in the 2ew 'estament# <hen
you do this, your finances then become =od>s
responsibility#
53
)irst Give -oursel
Chapter +e!en
7. )irst Give -oursel
ur ne,t +#ripture #o&es 'ro& the ei)hth #hapter o'
2 Corinthians0 1 su))est that (ou ta.e ti&e to rea$
#hapters ei)ht an$ nine throu)h se!era" ti&es with
#are'u" #onsi$eration to /et the full impact of the
passa/e# 'he entire theme of both chapters is
finances# <hoeCer said the Bible does not haCe
much to say about moneyJ
O
4aul was writin/ to the 9orinthians about the
5acedonian churches, and he was tellin/ how the
Holy Spirit moCed on the 5acedonians to be
/enerous in their /iCin/# 'hen he drew a lesson from
that# "n , 9orinthians :,6-, we read:
2
8ut o# the most seere trial, their oer#lowing .o" 4the
<acedonian churches5 and their eDtreme !oert" welled
u! in rich generosit"$
2
&or I testi#" that the" gae as much as the" were able,
and een be"ond their abilit"$ 1ntirel" on their own,
/
the" urgentl" !leaded with us #or the !riilege o# sharing
57
God5s Plan or -our Mone/
in this serice to the saints$
:
And the" did not do as we eD!ected, but the" gae
themseles #irst to the 7ord and then to us in kee!ing with
'od+s will$
%, 9orinthians :,6-&
'he important sentence here is, (*he" gae
themseles #irst to the 7ord$( <hat is the first thin/
we haCe to /iCe to the (ordJ 2ot our money, but
ourselCes# 'hat is how it must be/in with each of us#
3o not /iCe your money to =od if you haCe not /iCen
yourself# Bou must be/in with yourself# Bou cannot
buy a /ood relationship with =od# ;ctually, =od can
/et on all ri/ht without your money# "t is for your
benefit that =od requires you to /iCe, but He has an
order# He wants you first# 'hen, out of the /iCin/ of
yourself, by His /race, the $ind of /iCin/ the 2ew
'estament tal$s about will naturally flow#
"n Aomans 1,:16,, we see this same principle:
)
*here#ore, I urge "ou, brothers, in iew o# 'od+s merc", to
o##er "our bodies as liing sacri#ices, hol" and !leasing to
'od,this is "our s!iritual act o# worshi!$
2
-o not con#orm an" longer to the !attern o# this world,
but be trans#ormed b" the renewing o# "our mind$ *hen
"ou will be able to test and a!!roe what 'od+s will is,
his good, !leasing and !er#ect will$
%Aomans 1,:16,&
'he $ey to findin/ =od>s will, and that includes
=od>s will for your money, is offerin/ yourself as a
liCin/ sacrifice# 'hat means ma$in/ yourself totally
and unreserCedly aCailable to =od for His serCice#
<hen you do that, your mind is renewed by the Holy
Spirit, and you be/in to thin$ a different way# ;s you
be/in to thin$ differently, then you can find =od>s
58
)irst Give -oursel
will in its three successiCe phases: (good, !leasing
and !er#ect$( 'hen, as you find =od>s will, you should
be/in to discoCer that =od>s plan for your money is
included in His will# =od>s plan for your life coCers
eCery facet of liCin/#
2othin/ e8ists for which He has not made
proCision and for which He does not accept
responsibility# But you must meet Him on His terms#
3o not start by /iCin/ your moneyF start by /iCin/
yourself# 4resent yourself and all that you are to the
(ord as a liCin/ sacrifice on the altar of His serCice#
'hen your mind will be/in to /rasp the fullness of
=od>s proCision and plan for you#
" haCe wal$ed in this way for more than forty
years, and " want you to $now that there are still
many areas of =od>s perfect will for my life into
which " haCe not fully entered# But, as far as
finances are concerned, " haCe applied the principles
" am sharin/ with you to my own life and can testify
that they wor$#
7nce we haCe /iCen ourselCes to =od, the /iCin/
of our money %or whateCer other /ifts we may offer to
=od& completes and establishes our ri/hteousness# "t
is Cery important to see that what you do with your
money can establish you foreCer in =od>s
ri/hteousness# "n , 9orinthians, 4aul quoted from
the boo$ of 4salms in the 7ld 'estament:
6
As it is written (3e has scattered abroad his gi#ts to the
!oor0 his righteousness endures #oreer$(
%, 9orinthians 9:9&
2otice the order: the ri/hteous man first /iCes
himself to =od and then /iCes liberally to others# "t is
59
God5s Plan or -our Mone/
said of him, (3is righteousness endures #oreer$( His
/iCin/ of his money establishes him foreCer in the
ri/hteousness of =od#
" would li$e to quote from the psalm that 4aul
quoted:
)
Blessed is the man who #ears the 789-, who #inds great
delight in his commands$
G'hat includes His commands concernin/ money#H
2
Cealth and riches are in his house, and his
righteousness endures #oreer$
/
1en in darkness light dawns #or the u!right, #or the
gracious and com!assionate and righteous man$
:
'ood will come to him who is generous and lends #reel",
who conducts his a##airs with .ustice$
E
Surel" he will neer be shaken0 a righteous man will be
remembered #oreer$
G'he $ey to this unsha$able ri/hteousness is handlin/
your finances ri/htly, /raciously, with compassion and
/enerosity#H
6
3e has scattered abroad his gi#ts to the !oor, his
righteousness endures #oreer$
%4salm 11,:1, 36*, 9&
'he theme of this psalm is that ri/ht dealin/ with
our finances establishes us foreCer in the
ri/hteousness of =od# " thin$ the conCerse is also
obCiously true# "f we do not handle our money
ri/htly, we will neCer be established in the
ri/hteousness of =od# 'he way we handle our money
is Cery decisiCe#
(et me /iCe you a beautiful teachin/ of 0esus
found in 5atthew:
60
)irst Give -oursel
)6
-o not store u! #or "ourseles treasures on earth, where
moth and rust destro", and where thiees break in and
steal$
20
But store u! #or "ourseles treasures in heaen, where
moth and rust do not destro", and where thiees do not
break in and steal$
2)
&or where "our treasure is, there "our heart will be also$
%5atthew *:196,1&
Ai/ht /iCin/ insures that =od will proCide for us
in this world, but that is not the ultimate# 'he
ultimate truth is that we are layin/ up treasure in
heaCen in proportion to what we /iCe on earth#
Our $rovision is on eart#< 4ut our treasure is in #eaven.
<here you inCest is where you are concerned# "f
you want to be more concerned for the $in/dom of
=od and if you want to haCe a /reater Ieal for the
thin/s of =od, then " will tell you one way to achieCe
that end: inCest more# 'he more you inCest, the more
concerned you will be# (Chere "our treasure is, there
"our heart will be also( %5atthew *:,1&#
61
A ,(o-"a/ 0elations#i$
Chapter 3i)ht
.. A ,(o-"a/ 0elations#i$
e&e&/er that the 'irst )i't we nee$ to )i!e to Go$
is ourse"!es0 4e #annot o''er Go$ an(thin) that is
a##eptable to Him until we haCe offered
ourselCes# HoweCer, once we haCe truly /iCen
ourselCes to =od, as 4aul describes in Aomans 1,,
whateCer we /iCe in faith completes and establishes
our ri/hteousness# 4aul quotes 4salm 11,:9 in this
connection when he spo$e about a certain ri/hteous
man: (3e has scattered abroad his gi#ts to the !oor,
his righteousness endures #oreer$( "n fact, the theme
of 4salm 11, is how /enerosity and compassion and
ri/ht /iCin/ establish endurin/ ri/hteousness that
will neCer be eliminated#
5
<e will now consider /iCin/ as a two6way
relationship between =od and the /iCer# )irst, let us
consider /iCin/ as a proof of our loCe for =od# "n ,
9orinthians :76, we find the followin/:
%
But .ust as "ou eDcel in eer"thing,in #aith, in s!eech, in
65
God5s Plan or -our Mone/
knowledge, in com!lete earnestness and in "our loe #or
us,see that "ou also eDcel in this grace o# giing$
A
I am not commanding "ou, but I want to test the sincerit"
o# "our loe b" com!aring it with the earnestness o#
others$
; complete 9hristian, or a complete 9hristian
church, must be able to e8cel in the (grace o# giing$(
4aul emphasiIed that this is not law, but rather
/race#
4aul had been spea$in/ to the 9orinthians about
the /enerosity of the 5acedonian 9hristians# 'hen
he said, D2ow " want to see if your loCe is really
sincere, and ">ll find out by measurin/ what you /iCe
with what the 5acedonian 9hristians /aCe#D 'hat is
pretty plain tal$# 4aul sincerely loCed the 9orinthian
9hristians# 'hey were his spiritual children and the
fruit of his ministry# But here he said that he wants
to find out whether their loCe for =od was sincere or
whether it was Eust tal$, and that the way he could
find out is by seein/ how much they /aCe# 'he
standard with which he would compare them was
the 5acedonian 9hristians, who /aCe with amaIin/
/enerosity out of their poCerty# 'he 5acedonians
had proCen their loCe# 2ow 4aul was tellin/ the
9orinthians, D'he ball is in your court# How about
youJ How are you /oin/ to respond to this challen/e
to proCe your loCe for =odJD
; little further on in the same chapter, 4aul said:
2/
*here#ore show these men 4the re!resentaties o# the
churches who had come5 the !roo# o# "our loe and the
reason #or our !ride in "ou, so that the churches can see
it$
%, 9orinthians :,!&
66
A ,(o-"a/ 0elations#i$
Some people>s /iCin/ is so secret that nobody
$nows about it# " wonder if it is secret because they
would be embarrassed if anybody did $now# But
4aul said that /iCin/ to =od does not haCe to be
done in secret# He told the 9orinthians to do it in
front of eCerybody# 'hey were to let eCerybody see
their commitment to the (ord# He had boasted about
them, had been proud of them, and it was Cery
important to him that they proCe their loCe in this
Cital matter of /iCin/#
7ur /iCin/ proCes our loCe for =od as well as for
our fellow belieCers# 'his truth was Cery plainly
stated by the apostle 0ohn in 1 0ohn 3:1*61:
)E
*his is how we know what loe is; Jesus >hrist laid
down his li#e #or us$ And we ought to la" down our lies
#or our brothers$ 4Ce ought to do to others as Jesus did #or
us$5
)%
I# an"one has material !ossessions and sees his brother
in need but has no !it" on him, how can the loe o# 'od
be in himH
)A
-ear children, let us not loe with words or tongue but
with actions and in truth$
%1 0ohn 3:1*61&
(ayin/ down our liCes for our brothers includes
helpin/ them with our material resources if they are
in need and we are in a position to help# 'here is a
sayin/ in our contemporary culture that " thin$ is
pretty /ood: D4ut your money where your mouth is#D
'hat is e8actly what 0ohn was sayin/# He said,
DBou>Ce said it, now do itL 3on>t loCe Eust with words
and in ton/ue, +but with actions and in truth$+(
0ohn continued with an amaIin/ statement
about loCe in action:
67
God5s Plan or -our Mone/
)6
*his then is how we know that we belong to the truth,
and how we set our hearts at rest in his !resence
20
wheneer our hearts condemn us$ &or 'od is greater
than our hearts, and he knows eer"thing$
%1 0ohn 3:196,+&
So, if we are feelin/ condemned and wonderin/
whether we are accepted with =od, 0ohn said our
/enerosity will set our hearts at rest# 'hat is e8actly
what 4aul was sayin/ when he was quoted 4salm
11,:9: (3e has scattered abroad his gi#ts to the !oor,
his righteousness endures #oreer$(
<e haCe two alternatiCes when it comes to loCe:
one is to loCe Eust in words and in ton/ueF the other
is to loCe in actions and in truth# 7ne of the ways to
answer that challen/e is by what we do with our
finances# <e will proCe whether our loCe is Eust in
word and in ton/ue, or whether it is in action and in
truth, by the measure of our /enerosity#
;s " haCe already stated, /iCin/ to =od is a two6
way relationship# 'he first aspect of the relationship
is our attitude to =od# <e proCe our loCe for =od by
/iCin/ to Him#
'he second aspect of the relationship is =od>s
response to us# 'he 2ew 'estament teaches that
ri/ht /iCin/ is a cause of =od>s special loCe for us#
=od loCes the world, but He loCes some people in a
special way# 7ne class of people He loCes specially
are those who /iCe /enerously and happily:
%
1ach man should gie what he has decided in his heart
to gie, not reluctantl" or under com!ulsion, #or 'od loes
a cheer#ul gier$
%, 9orinthians 9:7&
68
A ,(o-"a/ 0elations#i$
3o you want to be loCed by =odJ 7ne way is to
/iCe cheerfully# ('od loes a cheer#ul gier$( 'he
=ree$ word that is translated (cheer#ul( is the word
from which we deriCe the Kn/lish word hilarious$ =od
loCes a hilarious /iCer# HaCe you eCer thou/ht of
/iCin/ with hilarityJ
HaCin/ spent fiCe years in Kast ;frica, " can
remember scenes in ;frican churches where the
people /aCe with hilarity# By our ;merican standards
they were e8tremely poor# 5ost did not haCe money,
but they would /iCe in $ind: coffee beans, corn, e//s,
or chic$ens#
" remember seein/ the ;frican women wal$in/ up
to the front of the church with a couple of ears of
corn or eCen a liCe chic$en balanced on top of their
heads# %'hey carried eCerythin/ on top of their
heads#& 'hey would put their /ifts down at the altar,
/o bac$, be touched by =od a/ain, and come
runnin/ up with another /ift# " do not thin$ " haCe
eCer seen people happier than those simple people#
'hey were hilarious /iCers#
<hy should people be hilarious when they /iCeJ
(et me /iCe you three reasons:
)irst, /iCin/ is the supernatural /race of the
Holy Spirit# Aemember, /iCin/ is /race, not law#
'he Holy Spirit is the Spirit of =race, and when
we line ourselCes up with what the Holy Spirit
can bless, He comes upon us with
supernatural /race# <hen He does, we /et
happy in a way we cannot be happy in the
natural realm#
Second, /iCin/ calls down =od>s faCor on us#
69
God5s Plan or -our Mone/
'he Bible says =od>s faCor is li$e a (shield(
%4salm !:11& and li$e (a cloud o# the latter
rain( %4roCerbs 1*:1- KJV&# =iCin/ is the catalyst
for the precipitation of His blessin/s upon us#
'hird, hilarious /iCin/ releases us from slaCery
to Dmammon#D 5ammon is that eCil, satanic
power that enslaCes men and women throu/h
money# <hen we be/in to /iCe hilariously, we
are sayin/ to mammon, D;way with you# Bou>re
not /oin/ to dictate to me# Bou>re not /oin/ to
dominate my thin$in/# ">m /oin/ to /iCe with
Eoy because ">m /iCin/ to =od, and =od loCes a
cheerful /iCer#D
70
Givin! Is 1o(in!
Chapter *ine
9. Givin! Is 1o(in!
nother aspe#t o' )i!in) is sowin) see$0 1n 2
Corinthians 9:67- 6aul said this: 2
E
9emember this; Choeer sows s!aringl" will also rea!
s!aringl", and whoeer sows generousl" will also rea!
generousl"$
%
1ach man should gie what he has decided in his heart
to gie$
"n tal$in/ about /iCin/ our money, 4aul used the
metaphorical fi/ure of sowin/ and reapin/# 'his
analo/y is ta$en from a/riculture, but he is not
tal$in/ about a farmer and his farm# He is tal$in/
about the 9hristian and his /iCin/ to =od and the
$in/dom of =od#
9ertain basic principles of a/riculture must be
followed if you want to succeed in a/riculture# 'he
possibility of success e8ists, but achieCin/ success
73
God5s Plan or -our Mone/
depends upon your followin/ the principles or laws
of a/riculture#
<hen we thin$ of /iCin/ as sowin/ %in
a/ricultural terms&, we understand that we should
e8pect an increase from our /iCin/, but only in
proportion to what we sow# )or e8ample, when
sowin/ seed a farmer sows one bushel of wheat#
<hen harCested, his wheat crop yields a biblical
proportion, a hundredfold increase# By that
proportion of increase, he receiCes one hundred
bushels of wheat# 'hat is an easy calculation# "f he
sows ten bushels and his proportionate increase is
one hundred times the amount sown, he receiCes
one thousand bushels# "n other words, the ori/inal
inCestment of seed sown determines the amount
that is harCested or reaped# 4aul says the same is
true with /iCin/ money to =od and His $in/dom#
(et me /iCe a simple e8ample: ; person /iCes fiCe
dollars# 'he proportion of increase is ten# <hat is he
/oin/ to receiCe bac$J )ifty dollars# "f he /iCes fifty
dollars, and the proportion of increase is the same,
he is /oin/ to /et bac$ fiCe hundred dollars# 'he
de/ree of /enerosity with which he /iCes determines
the proportionate siIe of the return that he will
receiCe bac$#
;lmost eCerybody can understand the principle of
proportion in a/riculture, but so few people
understand it in the finances of the $in/dom of =od#
'he Bible ma$es it Cery clear that the same $inds of
laws that apply in a/riculture also apply in the
finances of the $in/dom of =od# 'his is a principle of
sowin/ and of reapin/#
"n order to obtain the increase, a farmer must
74
Givin! Is 1o(in!
follow certain basic rules# " would su//est that the
followin/ non6e8haustiCe /uidelines that are
employed in a/riculture are also applicable in the
area of /iCin/:
1) 'he farmer must choose /ood, suitable soil and
the ri/ht $ind of crop for the ri/ht $ind of soil#
2) He must ma$e proper preparation of the soil#
3) He must ta$e proper care of the crop as it /rows#
"f he does not meet these conditions, he will not
receiCe the increase that he ou/ht to receiCe# His
failure to receiCe will not be because there is
anythin/ wron/ with the laws of a/riculture, but
because he has not applied some of the basic rules#
; farmer does not wal$ down the street of the
town castin/ his seed into the /utter on either side
of the street and then e8pect a harCest# Bou mi/ht
say that idea is absurd# But " haCe obserCed many
9hristians doin/ somethin/ that is analo/ous to this
with their money# 'hey cast it away without care or
prayer in places where it will neCer brin/ an
increase# 'hen they wonder why =od does not bless
their finances#
<e need to follow certain basic rules that are Eust
li$e the basic principles the farmer follows# <e do
not sow in the /utterF we choose /ood soil# <e ma$e
sure the soil is properly prepared, and we try to see
that care is ta$en of the crop as it /rows#
<hat are the thin/s that we should loo$ at when
we consider /iCin/ to a church or a ministry or an
or/aniIationJ " will /iCe you four questions that "
thin$ you need to as$:
75
God5s Plan or -our Mone/
1) "s the ministry anointed and fruitfulJ "s it
brin/in/ forth real fruit for the $in/dom of =odJ
2) "s it ethicalJ "s it ethical in the way it appeals for
moneyJ "s it ethical in the way it handles moneyJ
"s it a /ood and faithful steward of the money in
=od>s $in/domJ
3) "s it ali/ned with ScriptureJ "s what it is doin/ in
obedience to scriptural principlesJ 'his point is
Cery important, because =od blesses what is in
line with His <ord#
4) ;re the leaders prayerful, industrious, and
efficientJ 'he Bible ma$es it Cery clear that =od
hates sloppiness, waste, and e8traCa/ance# 'hat
does not mean we haCe to be stin/y, but it does
mean we cannot afford to be e8traCa/ant, and we
should not support e8traCa/ance in any ministry#
" would li$e to offer you some other practical
safe/uards in connection with inCestin/ your money
in the $in/dom of =od# <hen people of this world
inCest their money, they li$e to /et /ood adCice from
someone who is proficient in inCestments# " thin$
=od>s children should be equally careful in their own
way# (et me /iCe you four safe/uards for inCestin/:
1) Be prayerful# 2eCer /iCe e8cept after prayer#
2) ;Coid impulsiCe, emotional /iCin/# " haCe seen
countless sums of money squandered by people
who /aCe out of emotion and impulse# 'here are
people /oin/ around deliberately e8ploitin/ =od>s
people to /et money# 'here is no /roup of people
in the world easier to e8ploit than ;merican
9hristians# 'hey are /enerous but, fran$ly, they
76
Givin! Is 1o(in!
are often impulsiCe#
3) 5aintain contact with whateCer indiCidual or
or/aniIation you are supportin/# =et reports#
)ind out what is happenin/# 9hec$ on the fruit#
4) Stay within the proportion of your faith# ;llow
=od to increase your faith in a natural way# "f
you are accustomed to thin$in/ in terms of ten
dollars, it is probably unrealistic to thin$
immediately in terms of one thousand dollars#
)aith /rows in a natural way# "f you haCe been
thin$in/ in terms of ten dollars, pro/ress to fifty#
<hen you are comfortable with fifty, then moCe
up to a hundred#
)inally, there are four results of wise sowin/ of
your money# 'hey were stated by 4aul in ,
9orinthians:
)0
Now he 4'od5 who su!!lies seed to the sower and bread
#or #ood will also su!!l" and increase "our store o# seed
and will enlarge the harest o# "our righteousness$
%, 9orinthians 9:1+&
'he four results of wise sowin/ are:
1) Bread for you to eat# Bou will /et bac$ all that
you need for your own life#
2) Bou will /et more seed to sow in =od>s harCest
field# "f you haCe been /iCin/ fifty dollars, you will
find that you can moCe up to one hundred
dollars# 'hat is seed to sow bac$ into =od>s
harCest field, not to squander on your own
selfishness#
3) Bou will /et increased store for sowin/# Bour barn
will /et bi//er# Bou will haCe more to /iCe#
77
God5s Plan or -our Mone/
4) Bou will /et an increased harCest from increased
sowin/# , 9orinthians 9:1+ says, DG=odH will
enlarge the harest o# "our righteousness$(
" want to tell you that learnin/ to /iCe prayerfully,
in a scriptural way, and in the /uidance of the Holy
Spirit is e8citin/, not a dreary duty# "t is e8citin/ to
see how =od will come to your help and e8tend and
increase your faith# =od wants you to inCest in His
$in/dom# "f you will see$ =od>s counsel, He will
ma$e you a successful inCestor#
78
Gods 3evel Is A4undance
Chapter Ten
12. Gods 3evel
Is A4undance
hus 'ar- we ha!e esta/"ishe$ si, i&portant 'a#ts in
#onne#tion with )i!in)0 First- the .e( to ri)ht
/iCin/ is /race# =race comes only throu/h
0esus, throu/h the cross, and is receiCed only by
faith#
T
Second, we must first /iCe ourselCes# <e cannot
buy =od>s faCor# He requires that we first surrender
ourselCes to Him before our /ifts can become
acceptable#
'hird, /iCin/ completes and establishes our
ri/hteousness#
)ourth, /iCin/ is a proof of the sincerity of our
loCe, both for =od and for our fellow belieCers#
81
God5s Plan or -our Mone/
)ifth, /iCin/ calls down =od>s faCor and loCe upon
us# =od loCes a hilarious /iCer#
Si8th, /iCin/ is sowin/ in =od>s harCest field# 'he
same principles that apply to a/riculture apply to
/iCin/# 'he (ord wants us to understand and employ
these principles so that we may be blessed, we may
haCe enou/h food for ourselCes, we may haCe seed to
sow, our barns for stora/e may be enlar/ed, and our
harCest may increase#
)inally, we need to see that the leCel of =od>s
proCision for His people is abundance# 7ne of the
most powerful Cerses in the 2ew 'estament states
this truth:
A
And 'od is able to make all grace abound to "ou, so that
in all things at all times, haing all that "ou need, "ou will
abound in eer" good work$
%, 9orinthians 9:&
;/ain, notice it is by /race@not by law# 'he
principle of /race is stated in , 9orinthians :9:
6
&or "ou know the grace o# our 7ord Jesus >hrist, that
though he was rich, "et #or "our sakes he became !oor, so
that "ou through his !oert" might become rich$
%, 9orinthians :9&
Bou need to $eep these two references in your
mind: , 9orinthians :9 and , 9orinthians 9:# 'he
first spea$s about the /race of the (ord 0esus
9hrist, that on the cross He became poor with our
poCerty so that we mi/ht by faith share His riches# "n
the second one 4aul told us the leCel of the /race
that is released to us throu/h the cross:
A
'od is able to make all grace abound to "ou, so that in all
things at all times, haing all that "ou need, "ou will
82
Gods 3evel Is A4undance
abound in eer" good work$
%, 9orinthians 9:&
"f you analyIe the latter Cerse, you will find two
$ey words: the word (abound( and the word (all$(
(Abound( occurs twice and (all(@or (eer"(,occurs
fiCe times in that one Cerse# "n no way could the
lan/ua/e be more emphatic# <hen spea$in/ about
the leCel of =od>s proCision for His people, it says,
"All grace$$$so that in all things at all times, haing
all that "ou need, "ou will abound in every good
work$( %'he last word in Kn/lish is (eer",( but in the
=ree$ it is the same word as for (all(I "f you haCe all
that you need in all thin/s at all times to abound to
eCery /ood wor$, there is absolutely no room for
unsupplied need anywhere in your life#
(et us consider for a moment the meanin/ of
abundance# )rom its (atin ori/in, the word
abundance spea$s of Da waCe that oCerflows#D Bour
swimmin/ pool has abundance when it oCerflows#
Bour sin$ has abundance when it spills oCer# ; thin/
has no abundance until it oCerflows# 0esus said,
(8ut o# the abundance o# the heart, the mouth s!eaks(
%5atthew 1,:3! 2.01&# <hen your heart oCerflows, it
oCerflows throu/h your mouth#
<hat does it mean to haCe oCerflowin/ proCisionJ
(et me illustrate this concept Cery simply# Bou need
M-+ worth of /roceries, but you haCe only M!+# So
when you /o to the /rocery store, you are shoppin/
out of insufficiency# "f you haCe M-+ and you need
M-+ worth of /roceries, you are shoppin/ out of
sufficiency# Bou haCe Eust enou/h# But if you need
M-+ worth of /roceries and you /o to the store with
M*+, you are shoppin/ out of abundance# Bou haCe
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God5s Plan or -our Mone/
more than enou/hF there is an oCerflow#
=od>s proCision is on that leCel# =od does not
merely offer us Eust enou/h# "f we, by faith,
appropriate His /race, then the leCel of His proCision
is abundance# <e haCe more than enou/h for all our
needs and for ourselCes#
Bou need to ta$e notice that the final purpose of
abundance is (eer" good work( %, 9orinthians 9:&#
"t is not selfish indul/enceF it is bein/ able to do
/ood wor$s#
<hy does =od want His children to haCe
abundanceJ His specific, practical reason is
contained in ;cts, where 4aul was quotin/ 0esus:
2:
*he 7ord Jesus himsel# said; (It is more blessed to gie
than to receie$(
%;cts ,+:3-&
AeceiCin/ has a blessin/, but /iCin/ has a /reater
blessin/# =od has no faCorites amon/ His children#
He wants all His children to enEoy the /reater
blessin/ of /iCin/# =od ma$es His abundance
aCailable to us so that we may not be limited to the
blessin/ of receiCin/, but that we may also be in a
position to enEoy the /reater blessin/ of /iCin/#
'o complete what " haCe been teachin/ about
/iCin/, " want to add a word of warnin/# "f you want
to enter into what " haCe been teachin/, you will
haCe to e8press your faith in action# "t will not be
enou/h Eust to /iCe mental assent to what " am
sayin/# Bou cannot merely say, D<ell, that was /ood
teachin/# "sn>t that wonderfulL =od wants me to
prosper# He wants me to haCe abundance#D 2othin/
will chan/e in your life if you /o no further than
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Gods 3evel Is A4undance
that# ;t some point, you must e8press this teachin/,
if you belieCe it, in your actions by faith#
0ames ,:,* says, (As the bod" without the s!irit is
dead, so #aith without deeds Gor actionsH is dead$(
You can belieCe eCerythin/ but still haCe nothin/ if
you don>t add action to your faith# Bou must act in
faith#
"f you want this $ind of abundance, which comes
by /race, not by law, then you must act in faith, and
that means you must /iCe first# 'he words of 0esus
in (u$e *:3 e8press this idea:
2A
'ie, and it will be gien to "ou$ A good measure,
!ressed down, shaken together and running oer, will be
!oured into "our la!$ &or with the measure "ou use, it will
be measured to "ou$
%(u$e *:,&
3o you want a (good measure( to be /iCen to youJ
'hen you must /iCe first# 'hat is faith# "f you are not
willin/ to act in faith, you will not set in motion the
processes that will brin/ =od>s prosperity and =od>s
abundance into your life#
<e need to bear in mind that usually a time
interCal between sowin/ and reapin/ occurs# 'he
farmer does not sow one day and reap the ne8t# He
first has to let the seed fall into the /round and
apparently die# 'hen, when it has fallen into the
/round and died, the harCest comes up# 'his
important lesson was e8pressed by 4aul:
6
7et us not become wear" in doing good 4and that includes
doing good with our mone"5, #or at the !ro!er time we will
rea! a harest i# we do not gie u!$
%=alatians *:9&
85
God5s Plan or -our Mone/
4aul was sayin/ in this passa/e that we must
wait for =od>s appointed time for the harCest# "t will
come if we do not /iCe up# But if we become
impatient or lose our faith or turn away from these
principles, then =od does not /uarantee the harCest#
<e must liCe and act in faith in eCery area of our
liCes, includin/ our money#
86
;bout the ;uthor
ere$ 4rince was born in "ndia of British
parents# He was educated as a scholar of
=ree$ and (atin at Kton 9olle/e and
9ambrid/e UniCersity, Kn/land, where he held a
)ellowship in ;ncient and 5odern 4hilosophy at
.in/>s 9olle/e# He also studied Hebrew and ;ramaic,
both at 9ambrid/e UniCersity and the Hebrew
UniCersity in 0erusalem# "n addition, he spea$s a
number of other modern lan/ua/es# <hile serCin/
with the British army in <orld <ar "", he be/an to
study the Bible and e8perienced a life6chan/in/
encounter with 0esus 9hrist# 7ut of this encounter
he formed two conclusions: first, that 0esus 9hrist is
aliCeF second, that the Bible is a true, releCant, up6
to6date boo$# 'hese conclusions altered the whole
course of his life# Since then, he has deCoted his life
to studyin/ and teachin/ the Bible# His daily radio
broadcast, Ke"s to Success#ul 7iing, reaches more
than half the world and includes translations into
;ramaic, 9hinese, 9roation, 5ala/asy, 5on/olian,
Aussian, Samoan, Spanish, and 'on/an# He is the
author of oCer -+ boo$s, oCer -++ audio and 1*+
Cideo teachin/ cassettes, many of which haCe been
translated and published in more than *+
lan/ua/es#
3
3ere$>s main /ift is e8plainin/ the Bible and its
teachin/s in a clear and simple way# His non6
denominational, non6sectarian approach has made
his teachin/ equally releCant and helpful to people
from all racial and reli/ious bac$/rounds#
87