What do you desire more?

---

“There have been times when people have come to me as their pastor, and asked about ‘tithing,’ giving away a Tenth of their annual income. They notice that in the Old Testament there are many clear commands that believers should give away 10 percent.

But in the New Testament, specific, quantitative requirements for giving are less prominent. They often asked me, ‘You don’t think that now, in the New Testament, believers are absolutely required to give away ten percent, do you?’ I shake my head no, and they give a sigh of relief.

But then I quickly add, ‘I’ll tell you why you don’t see the tithing requirement laid out clearly in the New Testament. Think. Have we received more of God’s revelation, truth, and grace than the Old Testament believers, or less?’ Usually there is uncomfortable silence. ‘Are we more ‘debtors to grace’ than they were, or less? Did Jesus ‘tithe’ his life and blood to save us or did he give it all?’ Tithing is a minimum standard for Christian believers. We certainly wouldn’t want to be in a position of giving away less of our income than those who had so much less of an understanding of what God did to save them”

5 Trust

in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil. 8 It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones. 9 Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the first fruits of all your increase; 10 so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.

28

Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, "Which is the first commandment of all?" 29 Jesus answered him, "The first of all the commandments is: 'Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. 30 And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment.

36 Now

as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, "See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?" 37 Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."

23 Whatever

you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

WITH ALL YOUR HEART

5

You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

WHAT DID JESUS SAY IS THE FIRST AND

2I

am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery. 3 Do not have other gods besides Me. 4 Do not make an idol for yourself, whether in the shape of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth. 5 You must not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the fathers’ sin, to the third and fourth ⌊generations⌋ of those who hate Me,

“Wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried.”

If all of our money is not God’s then money may be our God.

5

You must not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the fathers’ sin, to the third and fourth ⌊generations⌋ of those who hate Me.

If you won a major lottery, what would be the first thing you do with the money? mGive a majority to charity

mPay off Debt mInvest/Save it

mGo on a major shopping spree mBuy something for my friends and family

Do you gamble or frequent casinos?

mNo way!

mOnly on special days or when the lotto prize reaches a certain amount mOften

If you do play the lottery or frequent casinos, why?

Is it because you believe that in order to be happy, you must have money.

What is more important?

mTo be loved mTo be rich mTo be rich and loved

When you get a paycheck do you view it as…

mYour money mGod’s money mThe bill collector’s money

Are you influenced by how much money someone makes?

mYes mNo mSometimes

Would you not date someone because they didn’t make enough money?

mI would not mI would mMaybe, how much do they make?

What do you give most of your time to?

mSomething that provides you with money? mSomeone that gives you love?

What do you desire more?

mAn employer who pays you well? mAn employer who cares about you?

Are you more concerned on your job with…

mHow much you make mThe quality of your service?