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This course deals with money. In this booklet, we consider the topics of tithes, offerings, and alms (are we still under the tithe — if so, where should it be given?); taxes (should we pay taxes to a wicked government that legalizes abortion and outlaws the Bible and prayer?); loans (is it okay to take out a loan to buy something?); and interest (the thing that keeps you in debt most of your life).

Bible Study Course

Money

Part 1

Welcome to Book 4 in the Practical Christian Living series of the Liberty Bible Course. This booklet deals with money. In this booklet, we consider the topics of tithes, offerings, and alms (are we still under the tithe — if so, where should it be given?); taxes (should we pay taxes to a wicked government that legalizes abortion and outlaws the Bible and prayer?); loans (is it okay to take out a loan to buy something?); and interest (the thing that keeps you in debt most of your life). This study is written to be used with the KING JAMES version of the Bible, otherwise your answers are going to be incorrect. Please get your Bible, and begin another exciting study in God’s Word, that just might change your life!

Chapter 1

I. Tithes, Offerings, & Alms

A. Tithes were practiced before the Old Testament Law.

1. According to Genesis 14:18, Melchizedek was not only the king of Salem, but was also “the ____________ of the most high God.”

2. Concerning Melchizedek, Abraham “gave him ____________ of all.” (Genesis 14:20)

Note: A tithe is “one-tenth” of an amount. For every $1, it would require a dime; for every $10, it would be $1; for every $100, the tithe would be $10, etc. Abraham paid tithes to this priest (Melchizedek). So tithing was practiced by believers long before the giving of the Law to Moses.

3. That was not a lone incident, because in Genesis 28:20-22, Jacob vowed a vow, and part of it was, “and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the __________ unto thee.”

It is clear that tithing was not just a once-in-a-while

thing, because Jacob vowed to tithe out of all that God

would give him. It is clear that the principle of regular

tithing was practiced by believers long before God

gave the Law commanding His people to do it.

A. Tithes were practiced before the Old Testament Law.

B. Tithes were commanded under the Old Testament Law.

1. Deuteronomy 14:22 says, “Thou shalt truly __________ all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.”

2. Malachi 3:8 tells what the Lord said about those who did not tithe. “Will a man ______ God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In ____________ and offerings.”

3. Verse 10 of that same chapter says, “Bring ye all the ____________ into the storehouse.”

God promised a blessing to those who would tithe (Malachi 3:10),

and a curse to those who would not (Malachi 3:9).

A. Tithes were practiced before the Old Testament Law.

B. Tithes were a command under the Old Testament Law.

C. Tithes are expected during the Church Age.

1. I Timothy 5:17 says, “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the ________ and doctrine.”

2. The “double honour” is defined by referring to an Old Testament command in the next verse about not muzzling the ox as he treads out the corn, and it then relates that principle to the man of God who brings forth the Word of God and says, “The labourer is worthy of his _____________.”

It would be mean to make an ox labor hard to tread

out the corn, and then not let him eat any of the food.

The Bible uses that as an illustration to show that it is

not right to have a man of God labor for the Lord,

and then not be supported from that work.

3. In I Corinthians 9:1-14, Paul explained that he and Barnabas willingly chose to also work other jobs (other than preaching and teaching), but he makes it clear that they had the right to live of the offerings of the church, if they so chose. He then referred back to the Old Testament again about the ox that labors, and states the reason for that law (verses 6-10), “Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear ______________? Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? Say I these things as a man? or saith not the ______ the same also? For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For ______ sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.”

4. The Bible goes on to say in I Corinthians 9:13,14, “Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things ________ of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are __________________ with the altar? Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should ________ of the gospel.”

Note: The context is that the priests in the Old Testament were supported off of the tithes brought to the Lord at the Tabernacle and the Temple.

This passage is saying that New Testament ministers

of the gospel should be supported the same way — from

the tithes of God’s people that they bring to the Lord.

5. The time that the tithes and offerings are to be brought in to the church is made clear in I Corinthians 16:1, 2, “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the __________ day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.”

Note: The first day of the week is Sunday. This would be the natural time to collect the tithes, seeming that is when the church would begin meeting.

According to the above Scriptures, tithing was

practiced in the New Testament, just like it was

in the Old Testament. In the Old Testament,

the tithes supported the priests; and in the New

Testament, the tithes are to support those

who labor in the Word—the pastor(s).

A. Tithes were practiced before the Old Testament Law.

B. Tithes were a command under the Old Testament Law.

C. Tithes are expected during the Church Age.

D. Tithes and offerings are expected from a willing heart.

1. II Corinthians 9:7 says, “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not ____________________, or of necessity: for God loveth a ________________ giver.”

Note: Whether a person is giving his tithe, or an offering above the tithe, God wants His people to give with a pure, willing heart.

2. In Genesis 4:3-7, we see some offerings brought unto the Lord.

a. Cain “brought of the fruit of the ____________ an offering unto the Lord.” (vs. 3)

b. Abel “brought of the firstlings of his __________.” (vs. 4)

c. “The Lord had ______________ unto Abel and his offering, but unto Cain and to his offering he had ______ respect.” (vss. 4, 5)

Note: Why did God have respect unto Abel’s offering, but not unto Cain’s? One reason is that Abel’s offering contained blood, but Cain’s did not. Cain’s was a bloodless sacrifice.

d. Hebrews 9:22 says, “And almost all things are by the law purged with __________; and without shedding of blood is no remission.”

Note: Our gifts or money do not mean anything to God, if we do not bring them with a right heart. And a person’s heart is not right, without the precious blood of Christ applied first. Money cannot buy a person’s way into heaven, nor bring favor with God.

e. Psalm 49:6-8 says, “They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; None of them can by any means ____________ his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)”

f. Acts 8:20 says, “But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be _____________________ with money.”

g. I Peter 1:18, 19 states, “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious ____________ of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:”

Besides having a clean heart, we also need to

have a willing heart, when we give to the Lord.

h. When God wanted the Tabernacle made, He told Moses, “Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it ________________ with his heart ye shall take my offering.” (Exodus 25:2).

i. Exodus 35:5 tells us, “Take ye from among you an offering unto the LORD: whosoever is of a ______________ heart, let him bring it, an offering of the LORD; gold, and silver, and brass,”

j. In that same chapter, verses 21, 22, it says, “And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made ______________, and they brought the LORD’S offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments. And they came, both ______ and __________, as many as were ______________ hearted, and brought bracelets, and earrings, and rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold: and every man that offered offered an offering of gold unto the LORD.”

Note: God never forces anyone to get saved. It is a choice of the will. God wants people to come to Him and be saved, because they want to — because they love Him for first loving us.

k. I John 4:19 says, “We ________ him, because he __________ loved us.”

Note: In the same way, God desires that people give to His work from willing hearts — not from grieved, stingy hearts.

l. I John 5:3 says, “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not ________________.”

It should not be hard for the Christian to tithe or

to give offerings above the tithe to the Lord. It should

not be grievous to us, but a blessing to be able to help

out in the Lord’s work. Actually, the record of our

giving shows where our hearts really are.

m. Matthew 6:19 says, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon __________, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:”

n. The next verse tells a better place to store your treasure: “But lay up for yourselves treasures in ____________, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:”

o. And verse 21 brings it all down to home, “For where your treasure is, there will your __________ be also.”

When it comes right down to it, people find a way

to get money to spend on what they really want.

Note: There may be something that comes to your mind right now, that you have been wanting for some time. But does the Lord have any place in your financial future? Do you desire to have a financial part in His work, that will bring you eternal rewards? Matthew 6:20 tells us to lay up treasures in heaven. How can we do that?

p. One way is giving to help missionaries. Philippians 4:15 says, “Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning ____________ and receiving, but ye only.”

Notice that missionaries were supported

through the local church.

q. Verse 16 says, “For even in Thessalonica ye sent ________ and __________ unto my necessity.”

r. The heavenly rewards for that are seen in verse 17, “Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your ______________.”

Note: Some people will say, “But I do not have much money!” It does not take a lot of money to gain a large account in heaven — it simply takes a lovingly, willing, giving heart, as you will see from the next passage.

s. Mark 12:41 tells us, “And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were ________ cast in ________.”

t. The next verse says, “And there came a certain ________ widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.”

u. Jesus then said in verse 43, “And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast ________ in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:”

v. He then tells why, in verse 44, “For all they did cast in of their __________________; but she of her want did cast in ______ that she had, even ______ her living.”

Note: Part of our worship to the Lord is bringing an offering to Him.

w. Deuteronomy 16:16, 17 says, “Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD __________: Every man shall give as he is ________, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee.”

Note: Churches are sometimes accused of being greedy because they take up an offering at every service.

To be Scriptural, churches should give people the

opportunity to give every time they meet, for it is a part of

our worship to the Lord. The example given is that people were

never to appear before the Lord empty. There is no

set amount that people must give (we have already

covered the matter of the tithe, which God does

command). People were just to give with a

willing heart, and to give as they were able.

Question: Are you tithing faithfully to a good, Bible-preaching local church? God’s work would never suffer lack, if God’s people would truly tithe from all of their income.

On the other hand, are you a member of a liberal church that does not preach the gospel in truth, and preaches false doctrine? Are you tithing to it? Then by being a member there, and tithing to that church, you are supporting false doctrine by your tithes and offerings.

Be a member of a good, Bible-preaching church, and faithfully support it with your tithes and offerings.

REVIEW:

1. Abraham lived before the giving of the Old Testament law to Moses, and he gave Melchizedek “____________ of all.” (Genesis 14:20)

2. Jacob, who also lived before the giving of the Old Testament law, promised God, “of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the __________ unto thee.”

3. Tithing was commanded under the Old Testament law in Deuteronomy 14:22, where it says, “Thou shalt truly ____________ all the increase of thy seed…”

4. Malachi 3:8 says that people who do not tithe are robbing God. “Will a man rob God? Yet have ye robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In ____________ and offerings.”

5. I Timothy 5:17 says that the elders who rule well should “be counted worthy of ____________ honour.”

6. The Bible says that “The labourer is worthy of his ____________.”

7. I Corinthians 9:13,14 teaches us that “Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should ________ of the gospel.” (New Testament ministers should be financially supported from the work of the local church).

8. Tithes and offerings are to be given from a pure, ______________ heart.

9. The Lord had _______________ unto Abel’s offering, but not unto Cain’s.

10. One reason was that Cain’s was a __________________ sacrifice.

11. Hebrews 9:22 reminds us that “Without shedding of __________ is no remission.”

12. Our gifts and money mean nothing to God, if we do not bring them with a __________ heart.

13. Exodus 35:5 tells us, “Take ye from among you an offering unto the LORD: whosoever is of a ______________ heart.”

14. II Corinthians 9:7 says, “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not _____________________, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”

15. Jesus did not condemn the poor widow for only casting in ______ mites into the offering, but commended her for her faith in casting in all that she had.

16. Part of our worship for the Lord is bringing an offering to Him, and the males in the Old Testament were told, “they shall not appear before the LORD ___________: Every man shall give as he is _________.”

17. To be Scriptural, churches should give people the opportunity to give to the Lord ___________ time that they meet (for church services).

Chapter 2

II. Taxes

A. Does the government have the right to charge taxes of its people?

1. Matthew 22:17-21 says “Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is is lawful to give ______________ unto Cæsar, or not?”

2. Verses 18-21 say, “But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. And he saith unto them, Whose is this __________ and superscription? They say unto him, Cæsar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto ____________ the things which are Caesar’s; and unto ______ the things that are God’s.”

Jesus made it very clear — the government does

have the right to collect taxes from the people.

Note: The word tribute means, “Money paid from one ruler or nation to another for protection from invasion; a tax levied for this; a tax paid by a vassal to an overlord; any forced payment” (Webster’s New World Dictionary).

In the Jew’s case, it was a forced payment to the Roman government which was ruling over them at the time. They wanted to get Jesus to criticize the Roman government so they could accuse Him before them.

Note: The 1980’s and 1990’s were a period of Patriot and Militia movements in the United States. Involved in some of those groups were tax evaders. They believed that the government did not have the right to charge taxes of its people, and many of them even used the Bible to try and prove their case. Jesus clearly says, “Pay the government the taxes that are due.”

Question: But what if the government is a corrupt government? Does that mean that we still have to pay taxes to such a system?

A. Does the government have the right to charge taxes of its people?

B. Does a Christian have to pay taxes to a wicked government?

Note: To the above verses, some people say, “The Christians in Jesus’ day had to pay taxes, but our government today is wicked! If you pay taxes to our government, then you are supporting abortion, because part of your tax dollars pay for abortions. You are disobeying God and going against His Word if you support such wickedness!”

How do you answer such an accusation? The answer is not that difficult. Simply consider the government of Rome in Jesus’ day when this command was given. The Roman government was over Israel at the time. They allowed the Jews to govern themselves in little, everyday matters, but not in the larger decisions — like capital punishment.

1. In John 18:28-31, the Jews bring Jesus before Pilate, the Roman government official, to request that he sentence Jesus to death. In verse 29, Pilate says, “What ____________________ bring ye against this man?”

2. The Jews did not like the Roman officials ruling over them, as is seen by their response in verse 30, “If he were not a ____________________, we would not have delivered him unto thee.”

Note: That was a very rude and vague reply to one who was just asking a question, and trying to do his job to see that justice was done in this situation.

A malefactor is “one who commits an offense

against the law.” — Webster’s 11th New Collegiate Dictionary

3. Pilate did not want to play their foolish game, so he told them in verse 31, “Take ye him, and judge him according to ________ law.”

Note: This shows that the Roman government let them take care of the lesser matters.

4. But the Jews knew their limits under the Romans, so they were quick to point out to Pilate in the last half of that verse, “It is not ____________ for us to put any man to death.”

Note: They wanted the death penalty for Jesus, but they knew that the Romans would not allow them to administer it.

The bottom line is this. Pilate was the official

judge over Jesus’ trial. What was his verdict?

“I find in him ____ fault at all.” (John 18:38)

5. So what did Pilate do, release Jesus? No. Look at John 19:1, “Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and ________________ him.”

Note: Scourging is whipping a person. Jesus was totally innocent, but Pilate had Him whipped. Why? To try and appease the Jewish leaders. But was Pilate having second thoughts about Jesus’ innocence? Was Pilate beginning to think that maybe Jesus really was guilty? No.

6. John 19:4 says, “Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find ____ fault in him.”

7. Again in John 19:6 Pilate says, “I find ____ fault in him.”

Note: The pressure gets more fierce, and the Jews actually try and pressure Pilate that he is not being loyal to his own Roman government.

8. John 19:12 says, “Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not _______________ friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.”

9. After more pressure (John 19:16), Pilate gives in, “Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be __________________. And they took Jesus, and led him away.”

10. It was the Roman soldiers who crucified Jesus. John 19:23 says, “Then the ________________, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part.”

The point is this, how much more wicked could a

government possibly be, than to put to death the totally innocent

and pure Son of God? That is exactly what the Roman government did.

That is the government to which Jesus said people should pay the taxes that are due.

Note: The religious tax evaders say, “If you pay taxes to a government that allows little babies to be put to death in the womb (abortion), then you are a murderer!”

It is terrible wickedness to put precious little babies

to death by abortion. That sin pollutes the land,

and will eventually require bloodshed because of it.

11. Numbers 35:33 says, “So ye shall not ______________ the land wherein ye are: for __________ it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it.”

Note: But there is one thing even worse than shedding the blood of innocent babies — and that is SHEDDING THE BLOOD OF THE PERFECT, PRECIOUS SON OF GOD. But it was to this very government — the wicked Roman government that put Jesus to death, that Jesus made His statement that they were to pay what was due to the government.

Some still argue, “Well the Scripture prophesied that

Jesus had to die, so that does not count.” That is not a legitimate argument,

because what about the other innocent people that the Roman government put to death?

12. Acts 12:1, 2 says, “About that time Herod the ________ stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed __________ the brother of John with the sword.”

Note: Herod was the Roman king of that area, and he killed one of the apostles, but that was not all that he planned to do.

13. Acts 12:3 says, “And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take __________ also.” He was planning to put him to death after Easter, according to verse 4.

14. It was of this Roman government, that the instructions went forth to the churches in Romans chapter 13. Verse 1 says, “Let every soul be ______________ unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.”

Note: This does not mean that God always approves of a government’s decisions, as in the case with Pilate.

15. A conversation took place between Pilate and Jesus in John 19:10, 11. “Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from __________: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the GREATER SIN.”

Summary:

#1 — Government leaders only get into power

because God allows them.

16. Psalm 75:6, 7 says, “For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But ______ is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.”

#2 — Government leaders will one day answer

to God for how they have ruled.

17. Remember that Jesus did not say unto Pilate, “That is okay, you are innocent.” Jesus simply said unto him, “He that delivered me unto thee hath the ______________ sin.” (John 19:11).

Note: They ALL SINNED in letting an innocent person die — the Jewish leaders, as well as the Roman leaders — but the GREATER SIN was on the part of the Jewish leaders who had the Word of God, and should have received Jesus as the Messiah and Savior.

#3 — A believer may have to sometimes disobey

a law of the government, if it would cause him to

directly and personally disobey a law of God.

18. Such was the case in Egypt. In Exodus 1:15,16, the king of Egypt told the midwives, “When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall ________ him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live.”

19. The midwives chose to obey God, which meant disobeying the king of Egypt. In verse 17 it says, “But the midwives feared God, and did ______ as the king of Egypt had commanded them, but saved the men children alive.”

Note: Some of the tax evaders claim that if we pay taxes, then we are no better than the the doctors and nurses who perform the abortions, or the German soldiers who obeyed Hitler and slaughtered the Jews. But from the above example, we see that that is a false accusation.

If the government commands you to kill innocent people,

then you have to disobey the government and take what-

ever punishment comes to you. But paying taxes to the

government does not make you a murderer because of

what they do, or do not do with the money that they

collect from you. They will be the ones who answer to

God if they misuse their power as government leaders.

20. It was to the wicked Roman government that the Christians in the churches were commanded, “Render therefore to all their dues: ______________ to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour” (Romans 13:7).

Note: So the answer is “Yes, God does expect a Christian to pay taxes — even to a wicked government.”

In a free country, we are all the more responsible

to get out and vote, and elect righteous people into

office. But even if we do not succeed, we still

have a duty as citizens to pay our taxes.

There has never been a more wicked government than Rome — the one that crucified the innocent Son of God, but Christians were told to even pay the taxes due to that wicked government.

21. We are thus commanded to pray earnestly for our government officials in I Timothy 2:1, 2, which says, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, ________________, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For __________, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.”

REVIEW:

1. According to Jesus, we are to “Render therefore unto ______________ the things that are Caesar’s; and unto ______ the things that are God’s.” (Matthew 22:18).

2. Jesus made it very clear — the government ________ have the right to collect taxes from the people.

3. The Jews knew their limits under the Romans, and so said, “It is not ____________ for us to put any man to death.”

4. Pilate was the official judge over Jesus’ trial, and his verdict in John 18:38 was, “I find in him ______ fault at all.”

5. It was the Roman soldiers who crucified Jesus. John 19:23 says,

“Then the ________________, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part.”

6. The point is this, How much more wicked could a government possibly be, than to put to death the totally ________________ and pure Son of God?

7. The religious tax evaders say, “If you pay taxes to a government that allows little babies to be put to death in the womb (abortion), then you are a ________________.”

8. But it was to this very government — the wicked Roman government that put Jesus to death, that Jesus made His statement that they were to ______ what was due to the government.

9. Some argue, “Well the Scripture ____________________ that Jesus had to die, so that does not count.”

10. But what about the other innocent people that the Roman government put to death later? Acts 12:1, 2 says, “About that time Herod the _________ stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed ____________ the brother of John with the sword.”

11. Government leaders will one day answer to ______ for how they have ruled.

12. A believer has to sometimes disobey a law of the government, if it would cause him to directly and ____________________ disobey a law of God.

13. An example of this was in Egypt, when the midwives were told in Exodus 1:15,16, “When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall ______ him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live.”

14. “But the midwives feared God, and did ______ as the king of Egypt had commanded them, but saved the men children alive.”

15. Some of the tax evaders claim that if we pay taxes, then we are no better than the doctors and nurses who perform the abortions; or than the German soldiers who obeyed Hitler and slaughtered the Jews, but from the above example, we see that that is a ___________ accusation.

16. It was of the wicked Roman government that the Christians in the churches were commanded, “Render therefore to all their dues: ______________ to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom…” (Romans 13:7)

Chapter 3

III. Loans

A. Be careful about getting loans.

1. Proverbs 22:7 says, “The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is ____________ to the lender.”

Note: It is so easy to go into debt today. Just pick up the newspaper and look at the ads. “Buy now, and make no payments until next year!”

It sounds so good — until you have to start making

the payments, then you feel like a slave.

When you work all week, and discover that your whole check is already gone when you get it (to make all of the payments on the loans that you have incurred), that is when the truth of the Bible hits home — “the borrower is SERVANT to the lender.”

Before taking out a loan, consider carefully if you really need the item, or if you just want it. By taking out a loan, you are placing yourself under bondage to the lender, and you become his servant.

Be willing to pray about things before you rush right

out and buy them on time. Many miracles are missed,

because people are not willing to wait upon God

to provide the things that they need.

2. Philippians 4:19 says, “But my God shall ____________ all your ________ according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

Note: The key to this is “waiting upon God.” You must be willing to wait upon God to give direction as to how to obtain the item needed. Sometimes God wants us to patiently work for things that are needed.

a. Proverbs 13:11 says, “Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by LABOUR shall ________________.”

b. Proverbs 14:23 says, “In all LABOUR there is ____________: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.”

Note: So God may provide the work for you to do, and the strengthto do it, to make it possible for you to purchase what you need. It is up to you to be ambitious and willing to do that, if that is how God leads.

c. I Timothy 5:8 says, “But if any ______________ not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”

Christians ought to be ambitious, and not lazy.

We should never expect things to just be handed to us.

d. Ephesians 4:28 says, “Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him ____________, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.”

e. II Thessalonians 3:11,12 says, “For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, ______________ not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they _________, and eat their own bread.”

3. Psalm 106:13-15 says, “They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his ____________: But ____________ exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert. And he gave them their ______________; but sent leanness into their soul.”

There is one thing worse than not getting what you

want — and that is getting what you want, when it is not

really God’s will to have it, or not yet God’s time.

Note: Israel wanted something, and they wanted it “RIGHT NOW!” So they did not go to God and ask His counsel about it. They just started lusting for it, coveting it, and wanting it. So God went ahead and allowed them to have it, but they were not happy — they had leanness in their soul.

Illustration: Many people have experienced that very thing in regard to vehicles. They drive into a car lot, and drive out with a new car. The salesman was so helpful, and made it so easy. They get their request, but then later have leanness of soul, as they are burdened down with making payments on that new vehicle.

BEFORE YOU MAKE A LARGE PURCHASE — PRAY!

It would be better to walk away from a store with nothing,

than to walk away from that store with the burden of

large payments that you cannot really afford.

Note: If you will be willing to pray about your needs before rushing right out and buying something, then God can provide a way for you to earn the extra money that is needed, or He may cause someone else to see that you have a need, and move them to help you. They key is being willing to WAIT on the Lord.

4. Psalm 27:14 says, “________ on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.”

5. Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek ye __________ the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Note: This last verse reminds us that God rewards a faithful life. God will meet the needs of the one who is saved and serving Him faithfully. We must remember to put God first — in our lives, and in our finances.

a. Proverbs 3:9,10 say, “Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of ______ thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.”

If you do not tithe; that is, give give God 10%

of your income, then you are robbing God.

b. Malachi 3:8-10 says, “Will a man ______ God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In ____________ and offerings. Ye are ____________ with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. _________ ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a ________________, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”

Are you having financial trouble? Have you been

robbing God? There is no way for you to

prosper in life, if you are robbing God.

Note: Is there no way for the Christian to remove himself from the curse? Yes, there is a way. The above verse says, “BRING ye all the tithes into the storehouse…” and the Lord will “pour YOU out a BLESSING.”

You can go from being cursed financially, to being blessed financially, if you will honor the Lord with what is His due. This does not mean that He will make you rich financially, but He promises to meet your needs.

c. Psalm 37:25 says, “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the _________________ forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.”

The Bible does not forbid taking out a loan; because,

as we shall see, the Bible commands people to loan

money to the poor to meet their needs (but certain

restrictions apply, as you will see below).

Note: If you do find yourself in the position to take out a loan (after much prayer), consider the following carefully. If you get a loan to buy a house, the bank/realtor will show you the principal amount of your loan, and the amount of interest that you will pay if you do not pay the loan off early. The principal is the amount that you actually borrow. It is not uncommon to end up paying three times the original amount financed for a house, by the time a 30 year loan is paid off. More will be dealt with about the subject of interest in the next section.

Paying interest literally cripples young couples, and

many will do well to recover by the time that they retire.

Make sure that you buy things that meet your needs, not big and fancy things that you just want.

d. The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 4:6, “Better is an ______________ with quietness, than both the hands ________ with travail and vexation of spirit.”

Note: This is why it is so important to NOT take out loans for items which are not an absolute necessity. Some people buy furniture, appliances, clothes, electronics, lawn/garden equipment, cameras, etc., all on payment plans.

What they are doing is paying for everything more than

once, because of all the interest being charged.

A. Be careful when getting loans.

B. Be careful when giving loans.

1. Please read Psalm 112, and answer the following questions.

a. Verse 4 says, “Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of ____________________, and righteous.”

b. Verse 5 says, “A good man showeth favour, and ______________: he will guide his affairs with ____________________.”

c. Verse 9 says, “He hath dispersed, he hath given to the ________; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.”

Note: This chapter clearly shows that it is God that blesses, and that grants riches to people.

d. Deuteronomy 8:18 says, “But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee __________ to get ____________, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.”

Note: When the Lord blesses financially, He also requires responsibility in regard to what is done with that wealth.

e. I Timothy 6:17,18 says, “Charge them that are ________ in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to ____________________, willing to communicate.”

When God blesses us, He expects us to help others

in need. But remember, He says to “lend with discretion.”

Note: Discretion means “ability to make responsible decisions; individual choice or judgment; power of free decision or latitude of choice within certain legal bounds” (Merriam-Webster’s 11th Collegiate Dictionary).

It is a person’s own choice whether to offer a loan to someone. If a person has a need, but has proven himself to be untrustworthy and/or lazy, then that person will probably not be granted a loan.

f. I Corinthians 4:2 says, “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found __________________.”

Note: When giving a loan to another Christian, it must be given “interest free.” Please see the next section for details.

g. The Bible says in Deuteronomy 15:1-3, “At the end of every __________ years thou shalt make a release. And this is the manner of the release: Every creditor that lendeth ought unto his neighbour shall ______________ it; he shall not exact it of his neighbour, or of his brother; because it is called the LORD’S release. Of a foreigner thou mayest exact it again: but that which is thine with thy brother thine hand shall release.”

Illustration: One man found that the two house loans he had taken out in his life could have been paid off in seven years each (at the monthly payment rate the bank had set), if the loans would have been interest free. That is very interesting in light of what the Bible teaches in those verses above, because in God’s plan, that is exactly what He required — interest free loans to relatives or fellow believers. And the maximum length of time for a loan was to be 7 years.

Think of how many Christians could have their homes

paid for in 7 years, if other Christians whom God has

blessed, would lend interest free loans to them.

If this principle was followed, churches would not have as many financial problems as they do. The members would have more money to invest in the Lord’s work, instead of spending so much trying to pay all of the interest on their loans.

Why are Christians with wealth not obeying this,

and helping out their fellow Christians?

One reason may be that many Christians are not trustworthy and responsible today. Remember, lend with discretion.

Another reason may be greed. When you have a great deal of money, it can earn a good deal of interest each month. If you loan out your money interest free, then you will lose all of your interest. It is sad that so many people are only thinking about laying up treasure upon earth, instead of in heaven.

h. Matthew 6:19-21 says that we are not to lay up for ourselves treasures upon __________, but we are to lay up treasures in ____________.

Note: How can you really tell if you are laying up treasure in heaven, or upon earth? The next verse gives you the answer.

i. Matthew 6:21 will give you the answer right away. “For where your treasure is, there will your ___________ be also.”

Note: On what is your heart set? Serving the Lord? Or gaining another material possession? You now know the answer as to where your treasure really is. If it is in the wrong place, start putting it in the right place today!

REVIEW:

1. Proverbs 22:7 tells us that “The borrower is ______________ to the lender.”

2. We should be willing to ________ about things before we rush right out and buy them.

3. Many miracles are missed, because people are not willing to ________ upon God to provide the things that they need.

4. Philippians 4:19 reminds us that “God shall supply all your ________ according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

5. There may be times that God will provide some work to do to meet a need, because Proverbs 13:11 tells us, “He that gathereth by ____________ shall increase.”

6. I Timothy 5:8 tells us how God hates laziness, “But if any ______________ not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”

7. We need to be faithfully serving God if we want our needs met, because Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek ye ____________ the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

8. People rob God by withholding something from Him described in Malachi 3:8-10. “Will a man rob God? Yet have ye robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In ____________ and offerings.”

9. A believer is told to give loans to help those in need, but that will not mean to everyone, because Psalm 112:5 says, “A good man showeth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with ___________________.”

10. Loans in the Bible were limited to a certain number of years, revealed in Deuteronomy 15:1-3, “At the end of every ___________ years thou shalt make a release.”

11. One reason that Christians are not helping out others with interest-free loans, is greed. When you have a great deal of money, it can earn a good deal of ________________ each month.

12. It is sad that so many people are laying up treasure upon __________, instead of in heaven.

Chapter 4

IV. Interest

A. The definition of interest.

Note: According to Merriam-Webster’s 11th Collegiate Dictionary, interest is “a charge for borrowed money.”

When you borrow money from the bank, you have to

pay interest to use that money. On a typical house

loan for 30 years, you could actually pay the bank

three times the amount of money that you borrowed.

All of that extra money is interest.

B. The charging of interest.

1. The Bible does allow charging interest to people who are not related to you, or who are not saved.

a. The Bible says in Deuteronomy 23:20, “Unto a ________________ thou mayest lend upon usury.”

Note: The meaning of the word usury is “the lending of money with an interest charge for its use” (Merriam-Webster’s 11th New Collegiate Dictionary).

This instruction was given to Israel. They could lend

money to people of other nations and charge them

interest, but they could not charge another Jew

interest. The Jews referred to each other as brother.

b. The Bible, in Romans 9:3, 4, records Paul’s thoughts about his fellow Jews: “For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my ________________, my kinsmen according to the flesh: Who are Israelites…”

1. The Bible does allow charging interest to people who are not related to you, or who are not saved.

2. The Bible does not allow charging interest to people who are related to you, or who are saved.

Note: The Jews are God’s chosen people, and He is still going to do a work through them. But all Jews are not saved. That is clear by the previous verses, and by other passages as well.

a. Romans 10:1-3 says, “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be __________. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.”

Note: A Jewish person becomes a “child of God” like any other person does — by faith in Christ Jesus.

b. The Bible says in Galatians 3:26, “For ye are all the children of God by __________ in Christ Jesus.”

Seeming the Israelites are God’s chosen people, and

He did not allow them to charge interest to their brethren,

then we can apply that to Christians as well, because

Christian’s are also brethren to each other.

c. Matthew 23:8 says, “But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are ________________.”

Note: A Christian is not a brother to the unsaved, because the unsaved person has a different father.

d. John 8:38 reveals the difference: “I speak that which I have seen with my ____________: and ye do that which ye have seen with your ____________.”

e. John 8:41,42 says, “Ye do the deeds of your _____________. They said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one _____________, even God. Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me…”

f. John 8:44 says, “Ye are of your father the __________.”

Note: So unsaved people, whether Jews or Gentiles, have the devil as their father. That means that they cannot be our brothers, unless they get saved.

g. According to the Bible, in Exodus 22:25, “If thou lend money to any of ____ people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury.”

h. In Deuteronomy 23:19 we read, “Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy ______________; usury of money, usury of victuals, usury of anything that is lent upon usury.”

i. Leviticus 25:35-37 says, “And if thy ______________ be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee; then thou shalt relieve him: yea, though he be a stranger, or a sojourner: that he may live with thee. Take thou no usury of him, or ________________: but fear thy God; that thy brother may live with thee. Thou shalt not give him thy money upon usury, nor ________ him thy victuals for increase.”

Note: This last passage is very interesting, in that it talks about not lending to a stranger with interest, when that stranger is your brother. Applying that to Christians, then, it would not be right to charge another Christian interest, even if that Christian is a stranger (not related to you, and maybe not even the same nationality).

Please notice in that passage, that we are not only forbidden to charge interest when we loan these people money, but also if we give them food or lodging. Only the actual amount that it cost us should be charged to them.

If you took a poor brother into your house to stay for a

while, you could charge him for the food that he ate;

for the phone calls that he made; for the hot water that

he used; for the increase in your electric bill since he

came; but you could not “make a profit” off of his

stay with you — only your actual extra costs.

The idea is to spare him extra costs, so that he

can get out on his own as soon as possible.

Note: This is in no way to encourage laziness. A brother taken into your home is to work — not to be lazy and live off of you.

j. The Bible says in II Thessalonians 3:10, “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he ________.”

1. The Bible does allow charging interest to people who are not related to you, or who are not saved.

2. The Bible does not allow charging interest to people who are related to you, or who are saved.

C. The earning of interest.

1. According to Matthew 25:14-30, it is only being a wise steward to use the resources that you have to multiply them, for it says in verse 27, “Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the _____________________, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.”

2. The same principle is seen in Luke 19:12-27, and it is summarized in verse 23 where it says, “Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the ________, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?”

The Bible encourages ambition — but not greed.

3. The Bible says in I Timothy 6:10, “For the ________ of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

4. If you have an amount of money that you do not presently need, then it is okay to put it into a bank account and draw interest on it. The Bible says in Luke 19:23, “Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the ________, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?”

Note: The bank is making money for themselves by loaning out your money. The least that they ought to do is to reimburse you a little interest money for using your money.

The problem comes when people have large

amounts of money in the bank, and do not use it to

help their fellow Christians who have a need.

5. The Bible says in Deuteronomy 15:7,8, “If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother: But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely ________ him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth.”

Note: One reason that people do not lend to their brother in need, is because a loan to such a brother would have to be interest free, to be Scriptural. That would mean that they would lose the interest that they were making at the bank.

Remember, it is not wrong to draw interest on your

money, but if you can use it to draw heavenly interest

by helping those in need, then do not be foolish

enough to lay up earthly treasure.

6. The Bible says in Matthew 6:19-21, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in ____________, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

7. On the other hand, there are times when a relative or another Christian may not get an offer for a loan, because they are unreliable. The Bible tells people to be careful when they lend money. It says in Psalm 112:5, “A good man showeth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with _____________________.” Do not expect people to lend you money, if you carelessly spend that which you get.

Question: Do you have the means to help out a brother in need? Or are you ignoring what you see, and what you could do to help?

8. Proverbs 3:27, 28 says, “Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the __________ of thine hand to do it. Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.”

REVIEW:

1. According to Merriam-Webster’s 11th Collegiate Dictionary, interest is “a charge for ________________ money.”

2. The Bible does allow charging interest to people who are not related, or who are not saved, because Deuteronomy 23:20 says, “Unto a _________________ thou mayest lend upon usury.”

3. The Bible does not allow charging interest to people who are related, or who are saved, because it says in Deuteronomy 23:19, “Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy ______________; usury of money, usury of victuals, usury of anything that is lent upon usury.”

4. If you took a poor brother into your house to stay for a while, you could not “make a profit” off of his stay with you — only your ____________ extra costs.

5. A brother taken into your home is to ________ — not to be lazy and live off of you.

6. The Bible says in II Thessalonians 3:10, “If any would not work, neither should he ______.”

7. It is not wrong to earn interest on money, because Luke 19:23 says, “Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the ________, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?”

8. The Bible encourages ambition — but not __________.

9. It is not wrong to draw interest on your money, but if you can use it to draw heavenly interest by helping those in need, then do not be foolish enough to lay up _______________ treasure.

10. Psalm 112:5 says, “A good man showeth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with _____________________.” Do not expect people to lend you money, if you carelessly spend that which you get.

Final Test

Money Part 1

When you are finished with this test, please return the entire booklet back to us for grading. When it is graded, the booklet will be returned to you, along with the next booklet. May God richly guide you and give you wisdom from your study of this subject!