Managing for the Master Till He Comes
Sabbath School Lesson 7
Unto the Least of These
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Managing for the Master Till He Comes
Sabbath School Lesson 6
Laying Up Treasure in Heaven
You may use this for presenting and studying the current Sabbath School Lesson.
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Nowhere in The Bible does it tell us that we should not file for bankruptcy. It does, however, discourage getting so far into debt that you cannot repay it. God's children were never to be slaves to anyon or anything, except The Master, Jesus Christ. In Romans 1:1, Paul calls himself just that.
For people today it is easy to go into debt. Many people file bankruptcy. The Christian thing to do it to pay your debts. Avoid going into bankruptcy by looking at all options.
There are times when you feel as if you have reached the end, and the only solution is bankruptcy. There are several ways that even a Christian might consider a reason to allow bankruptcy.
Sometimes it might be that a credtitor is able to force you into bankruptcy. Although this is rare, it could happen. Depending on the number of creditors, one of them could force it. Bankruptcy actually helps the creditors, as they will recoup some of what is owed them.
Financial hardships become so great that there is no other alternative. Your life can change in an instant. All this could add to emotional suffering and stress. The pressure and shame is too great to bear. Your very health is at risk.
Would you like a case where bankruptcy is an option for even a Christian? Consider when a spouse dies or abandons the family. There might be several debts due and the remaining spouse is unable to afford to pay them. Creditor phone calls add to the emotional pain.
How about a natural disaster? Lack of enough insurance sends many to fall behind and into debt.
Bankruptcy in these cases will ease the financial burdens and mental anguish.
We know that many Christians also go through unwanted divorces. Christians should not feel shamed by going into bankruptcy for the above and similar reasons.
If you are spending money that you don't have, for things you don't need, your lifestyle is not exactly Christ-like. We always encourage a Christ-like life, filled with prayer, Bible study, worship, and fellowship.
Can You Send Your Tithe Money Anywhere?
Many people send their tithe money to other charitable or religious causes. They do this under the assumption that tithe money is your main giving, so anywhere it goes is fine. As long as you give 10%, you are okay. Some may claim that the New Testament says nothing about Christians tithing, just giving in general. So now our choice is to give whatever we want to whoever we want.
Let's clear that last one up. Jesus told a lot of parables about money. None of those parables is actually on what we should do with out money. Jesus used stories involving money to make a point about Christian life and salvation.
Many times Jesus spoke about giving, but it was never in regards to how to tithe. The incident of the the widow's mite is one example. This was not a tithe. How do we know this? Because tithe money was not collected in that manner. Jesus commented on the offering of the wealthy and how it relates to the widow. They have large sums in a public showing as a way of showing off and getting praise from men. The widow gave out of love to support the church.
This story was not a commentary on tithing. It did not demonstrate how we can give any amount and consider that a tithe. Jesus remained silent on tithing for one main reason. There was no argument ever over tithing. The Pharisees pointed out the Sabbath, hand washing, being around sinners and other things, but never on tithing. It was not an issue. Jesus did not have to teach on tithing, nor did He ever say not to tithe. Nowhere in the New Testament does it say not to tithe.
In fact, the one example that Jesus mentions tithing, is when He accuses that Pharisees are tithing, but not fulfilling the rest of the law.
Matthew 23:23 (KJV): "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone."
He did not tell them to stop tithing.
The tithes were collected regularly for the work of the church. In the times of Jesus, this would have been to support the Levites and all temple services. Nowhere in The Bible does it ever mention sending your tithe to the charity of your choice. There is only one strange alternative found in Deuteronomy.
Why should a church member give their tithe to the local church, marked as tithe? Because it then gets sent to the local conference treasury, similarly as in ancient Israel. The tithe is the spent on the work of the church across the globe.
This includes paying the salary of your pastor. Some of it does make its way back to the local church for evangelism or things like building loans.
If you are a church member, regularly attending church services, and you do not send your tithe to the church, shame on you. You are enjoying the fruits of other people's tithing. You are led spiritually by the pastor who would not be there if not for the tithing of others.
If you truly do not agree with where your tithe money is spent, and keep it from the church, you are essentially robbing God. You should not even call yourself a church member. After all, why would you want to be a member of an organization that you do not support?
Send your tithe money to the church. That is the only Biblical instruction. Jesus criticized the leaders of the church all the time. Never did He ever say to stop giving to church.