For every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine.

PSALM 50:10-11

The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world and all those who dwell in it.

PSALM 24:1

[ WORRY ]

Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or stow away in barns, and yet they are your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valueable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

MATTHEW 6:25-27

[ PARABLE OF THE SOWER ]

But the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.

MARK 4:19

[ PARABLE OF THE TALENTS ]

So I was afraid and went and hid your talent in the ground.

MATTHEW 25:25

[ JOY/CHEER ]

Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

2 CORINTHIANS 9:7

[ CONTENTMENT ]

Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing,we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction . . . Some people eager for money, have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

1 TIMOTHY 6:6-10

[ LOVE/HATE ]

No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

MATTHEW 6:24

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices — mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law — justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter without neglecting the former.

MATTHEW 23:23

Bring the best of the first fruits of your soil to the house of the Lord.

EXODUS 34:26

TYPES OF FIRST FRUITS:

barley harvestLEVITICUS 23:10

wheatLEVITICUS 23:16

wine, oil, wool (the first wool from the shearing of the sheep)

DEUTERONOMY 18:14

TYPES OF FIRST FRUITS:

The Israelites generously gave the first fruits of their grain, new wine, oil and honey and all that the fields produced. They brought a great amount a tithe of everything.

2 CHRONICLES 31:5

A son honors his father, and a servant honors his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me? Says the Lord Almighty, “It is you, O priests, who show contempt for my name. But you ask, ‘How have we shown contempt for your name?’ ’’

“You place defiled food on my alter… When you bring blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice crippled or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?” says the Lord Almighty.

2 CHRONICLES 31:5

“You place defiled food on my alter . . . When you bring blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice crippled or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?” says the Lord Almighty.

MALACHI 1:6-8

SACRIFICIAL GIVING:

And now brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints . . .

But just as you excel in everything- in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.

MALACHI 1:6-8

SACRIFICIAL GIVING:

But just as you excel in everything — in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and your love for us — see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.

2 CORINTHIANS 8:1-10