A FINANCIAL CHECK LIST For everyone who is a Christian
1. Are we giving at least 10% to the work of God which is the tithe? (If not, we are using God's money, and robbing Him.) Malachi 3:10: "Bring 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 blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." Matthew 23:23 "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."
2. Are we giving our tithe to the ministry where we are being fed? (Offerings, above the tithe, may be given to the poor, good works, etc. however, our tithe should go to the spreading of the gospel. Additional offerings also should be given to the church and it's five-fold ministries as listed in Ephesians 4:11; apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers.) 2 Corinthians 9:6-8: "But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work."
3. Are we giving to God first, before paying other bills? Proverbs 3:9-10: "Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine."
4. Are we indifferent to the needs of the poor? Proverbs 28:27: "He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse."
5. Are we going in debt for lustful things? Wants, instead of needs? 1 Timothy 6:6-10: "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content."
6. Are we planning and budgeting our financial spending? Luke 14:28-30: "For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish."
7. Are we lazy or slothful on the job(a day's work for a day's pay)? Ecclesiastes 9:10: "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest." Proverbs 21:25 "The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour."
8. Are we too generous in giving to others without paying our own bills? Do we spend for lustful wants while making our creditors wait for their money? Proverbs 3:27-28: "Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power 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."
9. Are we being wasteful? John 6:12: "When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost."
10. Have we committed all our money and material things to God? Luke 12:34: "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
11. Do we need the things we buy or are they luxuries? Proverbs 21:17: "He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich."
12. Are we selfish in our families, spending more on our own desires? 1 Corinthians 10:24 "Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth."
13. Are we willing to sell or give away anything that God would tell us to? (Make sure you hear God's voice when giving or selling all, as this is a major step and God does not require this of you unless you absolutely understand what His plan is for your life; however, we must all be willing.) Matthew 19:21-22: "Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions."
14. Have we paid our debts or made arrangements to do so when we are having difficulties? Romans 13:8: "Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law."
15. Have we been sowing money into the
16. Have we done our spiritual homework in fasting & prayer over our finances? Isaiah 58:6 & 9: "Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity"
17. Have we been hard on people who owe us money, demanding payment with no mercy? Luke 6:34-36: "And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil."
18. Are there other areas that could be blocking our finances such as any unforgiveness, disobedience, stubbornness, etc.? Matthew 6:14-15: "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
19. Are we spending our money foolishly or are we being wise? Proverbs 24:3-4: "Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches."
20. Are we totally committed and thankful to God, no matter what is happening? This does not mean we are to praise God for bad things as He does not send bad things in our lives as His children. It means we are to be thankful and praise God in the midst of all of our problems as He desires to show us the way out of our troubles. We praise God "in" the trouble, not "for" the trouble. Psalm 34:1: "I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth." Philippians 4:4-7: "Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
21. Do we lack faith in God as our total source? Psalm 121:1-2: "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth." Romans 14:23: "---for whatsoever is not of faith is sin."
22. Are we hoarding things through fear or greed? Luke 12:19-21: "And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." This is different from preparing for the future by saving and storing at God's direction. Proverbs 30:24-25: "There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise: The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer."
23. Are we seeking financial blessing instead of seeking God and His will? (Wanting God's benefits, but not God's ways.) Matthew 15:8: "This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me."
24. Are we giving excessively to God's work in an attempt to ease our guilt, yet are not paying our bills? Although not many are guilty of this sin we felt we should deal with it as the devil tempts us to go to one extreme or the other. If we are giving too much and not paying our bills it would be wise for us just to give a tithe for awhile until the Lord showed us how to pay our debts. Giving 50% to God and not paying our bills is not in harmony with the Scriptures. "Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law" (Romans 13:8). The Lord wants us out of debt, then we will be able to give more to His Kingdom. Some Christians go to the other extreme and say when they are out of debt, then they will give. The devil sees to it they never are out of debt. We must always put God first in our finances, then He will show us the way out of debt.
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