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How should we finance God's work?

M

MrVersatile48

Guest
I only have 8 mins left today

How many heard several messages about Bible teaching on wealth, money & prosperity on Sat & Sun?

Back to link Christian TV stations..

http://www.christianforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=24248

but do use concordance at http://www.BibleGateway.org & see links to Bible Handbooks & Commentaries

Type increase expand multiply & prosper into it




http://www.thenGodsaid.com - The Net's online Bible Handbook based on classical Christian writings.

http://www.thenGodsaid.com presents the online Bible Handbook.

Learn more about the Bible, Bible authors, read Bible commentaries on every chapter of the Bible. ... In our Bible Handbook section we have several different Bible translations, several commentaries and ... about each Book of the Bible. We also ... set up an Online Bible reading plan to ...

http://www.thengodsaid.com - 5k - Cached - More pages from this site - Save

Here's concordance result for wealth & money:-

http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch ... version=31

Just in from http://www.crosswalk.com

Tithing Principle Not Applied Accurately Today, Author Says
Jody Brown

Forget the fact that most American Christians today choose not to tithe to their local church. One author claims there is mounting opposition to the doctrine of tithing itself -- and he believes his interpretation of the principle backs those who oppose it.

Studies conducted by The Barna Group over the past several years indicate the percentage of regular church attenders who give ten percent or more of their income -- a "tithe" -- to their church is dropping.

For example, Barna's surveys since the turn of the century have consistently indicated that percentage to be less than one out of every ten -- and that is among self-proclaimed Christians who describe themselves as "deeply spiritual" or "absolutely committed to the Christian faith."

And unless the situation has changed since reported in 2000 by Christian Financial Concepts (now Crown Financial Ministries), a small minority of givers are footing the majority of churches' financial obligations.

That report stated that 80 percent of monies contributed to evangelical churches came from 20 percent of their members, that the remaining 20 percent came from 30 percent of the members -- and that roughly half of the church members gave nothing at all.

Perhaps those who choose not to tithe or to give anything at all simply have decided they cannot afford to do so.

Or perhaps, like Dr. Russell Earl Kelly, they believe the tithing principle taught in the Old Testament was never commanded as an eternal moral principle of the New Covenant to the Church.

He believes churches are ignoring the context of Malachi 3:10 when they teach mandatory tithing and take money from the disadvantaged who need it for medicine and basic necessities.

According to a report by Religion News Service, Kelly -- author of Should the Church Teach Tithing? A Theologian’s Conclusions about a Taboo Doctrine -- is convinced that biblical tithing only involved food from farmers and herdsmen in Israel who were under the Old Covenant.

The author tells RNS that subject of tithing is being treated "like a taboo" in churches today. "The most bold preachers suddenly run or get angry when asked to discuss tithing," he asserts, adding that "sincere" church members who might question the doctrine are sometimes accused of being trouble-makers. "We simply request a close re-examination of God's Word concerning tithing," he says.

Kelly also contends that if the doctrine put forth in Malachi really applied today, "then millions of poor tithing Christians would have escaped poverty and would have become the wealthiest group of people in the world instead of remaining poor." And because that has not happened, Kelly says it is evidence that the vast majority of poor tithers are never blessed financially just because they tithe. "Neither the Old Covenant blessings nor curses apply to Christians who were never under that covenant," he says.

Kelly's book, according to Religion News Service, is an expansion of his doctoral dissertation and has been downloaded over the Internet more than 10,000 times.


Just time to post 2 Corinthians 8-9
 
2 Corinthians 8 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)

Generosity Encouraged

1And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.

3For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability.


Entirely on their own, 4they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. 5And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will. 6So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part.

7But just as you excel in everythingâ€â€in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us[a]â€â€see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
8I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

10And here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. 11Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. 12For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.

13Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. 14At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, 15as it is written: "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little."[b]

Titus Sent to Corinth

16I thank God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you. 17For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative. 18And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel.

19What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honor the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help. 20We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. 21For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men.

22In addition, we are sending with them our brother who has often proved to us in many ways that he is zealous, and now even more so because of his great confidence in you. 23As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; as for our brothers, they are representatives of the churches and an honor to Christ. 24Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you, so that the churches can see it.

Footnotes:

2 Corinthians 8:7 Some manuscripts in our love for you
2 Corinthians 8:15 Exodus 16:18


2 Corinthians 9 (New International Version)

1There is no need for me to write to you about this service to the saints. 2For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action.

3But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove hollow, but that you may be ready, as I said you would be. 4For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, weâ€â€not to say anything about youâ€â€would be ashamed of having been so confident.

5So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given.

Sowing Generously

6Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

7Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

8And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.


9As it is written:
"He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever."[a]

10Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.

11You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

12This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God
.


13Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.

14And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you.

15Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!


Footnotes:

2 Corinthians 9:9 Psalm 112:9
 
Ian, what is God’s work?

The churches in the Bible who were commended for their giving gave to poor believers in other areas where they were unable to support themselves with even the basic essentials. They were not giving so that some people could become rich, fat and lazy doing nothing but becoming television stars preaching false doctrines in order to fleece the flock. Also, those giver’s motivation was love and concern for those in need, not that they would be the recipient of even greater wealth than what they gave away.

James 4:3 You ask, and receive not, because you ask amiss, that you may consume it upon your lusts.


Matthew 25:41 -46 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
For I was hungry, and you gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink:
I was a stranger, and you took me not in: naked, and you clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and you visited me not.
Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.
And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

I wish I knew who wrote it, but someone here said, “God is a starving African child.ââ‚Â
 
Matthew 6:28-29 Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?" Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."
 
Relevant principles also @ new thread @ UK care services 'too rushed'

http://www.christianforums.net/viewtopi ... 711#297711

I've prayed for the right time to testify here that all who know me from daily & weekly prayer meetings can confirm that I've often prayed, "Lord, we don't want fancy houses, as they just invite burglars; we don't want flashy clothes, as they just invite muggers & we don't want flashy cars as they just attract road rage'

"Redeem the time, for the days are evil"

When the Bible said, "This is the work of God: to believe in the One He has sent", that does NOT mean simply to believe that He exists: (even the devil knows that God is real, but rebels against Him, so he'll get the worst punishment in Hell, as in Revelation 20)

It's to take Him at His Word

Jesus said, "If you love Me, obey Me"


Only Gnostic dualism - as in Da Vinci Cods-wallop - divorces mere intellectual reason/belief from appropriate action

True faith in the One true God leads to healthy, wholesome desires & feelings that produce fruitful, helpful actions & build wholesome habits that in turn develop godly character - see 2 Peter 1

2 Peter 1

1Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:

2Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

Making One's Calling and Election Sure

3His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

10Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.


"Faith without works is dead" as James put it

Isaiah 58 talks about what true fasting is: caring for the poor & needy & working for justice

Malachi says, "What does the Lord require of you? To do justly, love mercy & walk humbly with your God

My last pastor often said, "Jesus of Nazareth went about doing good"

Ephesians 2:10 tells us that Christians are saved to serve: that God has pre-planned works of kindness for us all to do

Ephesians 2:10 (New International Version)


10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.


The parable of the talents is also apt, yes?

Hope that helps

God bless!

Ian[/i]
 
Mutzrein quoted:
Matthew 6:28-29 Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?" Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."


And what does it mean to believe in someone, but to trust what they say is true? Jesus tells us to love one another, forgive as we have been forgiven, be humble, turn the other cheek, go the extra mile, be gentle, give to others without expecting anything in return, not to seek treasure on earth but lay up treasure in heaven, repent of sin and many other things in the gospel of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. You can’t separate Jesus from his message. He doesn’t mean to believe in a doctrinal statement about who he is and what he did for us. He wants us to trust in following his way of life and to believe that when we confess and forsake our sin, his blood covers and removes it so that we can be perfect before God, continuing in love and good works. Is that what you mean by quoting that verse, Mutzrein? If so, I agree.

Good post, MrVersatile, btw.
 
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