This is week 4 of a 6-week Bible study entitled ‘Honoring God with Our Money’. This week we look at how God provides for us and how He expects us in return to provide for the work of the church.
Think about specific ways have you observed God providing for you and your family? Jot down a few as a record of God’s faithfulness. This record of God’s faithfulness will serve to increase your faith when you walk through times of trouble.
Read the following Bible verses and think about what each verse tell us about God’s provisions for His people?
Deuteronomy 8:17-18
Psalm 37:25
Matthew 7:7 – 8
Read the story of the widow and Elijah in I Kings 17:7 – 16. What can we learn from this illustration?
God provides for all of our needs. What do the following verses tell us about what He ask of us in return?
1 Samuel 15:22 But Samuel replied: “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.”
This verse tells us that God desires ___________________________
1 Corinthians 16:1,2 Now about the collection for God’s people…On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income.
This verse tells us that we are to _______________________________________.
The amount we give should be based on ______________________________.
Exodus 25:2 Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from everyone whose heart prompt them to.
We should give when _______________________________________________.
What do the following verses tell us about how are we to give?
2 Chronicles 24:16 All the officials and all the people brought their contributions ________.
2 Chronicles 31:12 They _______________ brought in the contributions, tithes, and dedicated gifts.
Proverbs 3:9 Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the _____________ ______________of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.
Exodus 35:2 And everyone who was _______________ and whose _________________ moved them came and brought an offering to the Lord for the work on the tent of meeting, for all its service, and for the sacred garments.
What does 2 Corinthians 8:12 tell us about how much are we to give?
“For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.”
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What types of offerings should we give? (Refer to 2 Chronicles 31:12 above).
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Read Malachi 3:8 – 10 and 2 Corinthians 9:10, 11. If we give in accordance with God’s commands, what does He promise us?
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Malachi 3:8-10 You ask, “How do we rob you?” In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. “Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.”
2 Corinthians 9: 10, 11 Now 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. You 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
Life Application:
2 Corinthians 9:6, 7 Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he had decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Please check back throughout the week for my commentary on this lesson.
Susan's Reflections 