The Christian and Material Possessions

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The Christian andMaterial Possessions
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The Old Testament

• God creates a good material world, but sin
  corrupts it.
• The Law of Moses
• Private property is good, but
• Laws protect against its idolatrous use
• Particularly in costly sacrifices for sins
  forgiveness
• Particularly in the system of tithes

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The 23 1/3 Tithe of the OT

• 10 to Levites and priests for work of
  tabernacle/temple (Lev. 2730-33)
• 10 for festivals in which people themselves
  participated (Deut. 1422-28)
• Every third year for poor (Deut. 1429), but
  later 3 1/3 collected annually beyond the other
  two tithes

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Four Intriguing Models

• The Manna Economy (Exod. 1616-18)
• Cycles of Obedience Disobedience in Israel
• But these apply only to Israel, not other
  countries
• But these apply to nation as a whole, not
  individuals
• Righteousness, Wickedness Their Results
• Psalm 112 (but see v. 9)
• Psalm 73 (but see v. 17)
• Give Me Neither Poverty nor Riches (Prov.
  308-9)

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The New Testament (Gospels)

• Only Reference to Tithe is in Debate with
  Jewish Leaders while Law still in force (Matt.
  2323/Luke 1142)
• Yet even Jesus commends diverse models during
  this same period

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Luke on Wealth Stewardship
191-10 Zacchaeus Conversion The half of my
goods I give to the poor, and if I have defrauded
anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold. v. 8
1911-27 The Parable of the Pounds Why then did
you not put my money into the bank and at my
coming I should have collected it with
interest? v. 23
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The New Testament (Acts)Three Models for
Helping the Poor
61-7 The First Deacons Fund
1127-30 A Special Offering for a Special Need
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The New Testament (Paul)

• Four Key Principles from 2 Corinthians 8-9
• Sacrificial giving (81-9)
• Proportional giving (810-15)
• Accountability in giving (816-95)
• Rewards of giving (96-15)

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The NT (Other Letters and theBook of Revelation)

• Two Scary Passages (or True faith does lead to
  stewardship or else!)
• James 214-17
• 1 John 317-18
• One Grand Finale (or We can have it all!)
• Revelation 21-22 New heavens and new earth
• But on Gods terms and in his timing