YEA Lesson Library
Give vs. Get
About This Lesson
This lesson teaches the importance of honoring God first with our wealth because it is God who owns everything and who gives us the power to get wealth.
Scriptures
Leviticus 27:30-34
Numbers 18:24-32
Deuteronomy 14:22-29
Deuteronomy 26:12-19
Nehemiah 10:37-39
Malachi 3:8-12
Malachi 3:10
Matthew 6:19-24
Mark 12:41-44
Luke 12:13-15
Hebrews 7:1-12
Words to Know
TITHE - A tenth part of your increase
The Lesson
How would you like to be rich, not just a millionaire, but really, really rich like Donald Trump, Ted Turner or Bill Gates? You might say you’d be happy just winning the lottery. But what would you do with all that money?
Now take a minute and pretend you’ve just come into a few million dollars. What’s the first thing you would do? Would you go buy the most expensive Lexus with all the gold trim on it? Or does your taste run more to one of those sleek Mercedes sports coupes? You may feel those cars are for older people, you just want a brand new Corvette with every extra feature available. Would you go on a long shopping spree buying really neat expensive clothes? Where would you begin spending all that money? If you had enough money to buy everything you want, would you feel that you are really a winner?
Did you know that Jesus probably talked more about money than love, sin, heaven, hell or His return to this earth? Do you think that was because He wanted to have a lot of this world’s goods? Why do you think He kept returning to the subject of money?
Thirteen trumpet-shaped treasury boxes were in the court of the Temple. Both men and women were permitted in this area. Some came frequently to put their tithes into the boxes. The rich often came into this court and gave large sums of money. Then one day a poor widow came in and dropped two pennies into one of the boxes. This was such a remarkable event that Jesus called His disciples together and told them that she had given more than all of the rich men put together. Why? Because she gave the very last penny she had. Jesus was so impressed with this generous act of faith and worship that this incident is included in the Bible for all of us to read.
Does Jesus require that you give your last penny to Him? To answer that question it is important to understand whose penny it really is. “For all the animals of the field and forest are mine! The cattle on a thousand hills! And all the birds upon the mountains! If I were hungry, I would not mention it to you – for all the world is mine, and everything in it” (Psalm 50:10-11 TLB).
But you might say that it’s your hard work that has produced the money in your pocket. Oh now really? “Always remember that it is the Lord your God who gives you power to become rich, and He does it to fulfill his promise to your ancestors” (Deuteronomy 8:18). That kind of leaves you feeling naked before God, doesn’t it? Well, you’re not alone. Job said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” To sum up those three scriptures, God owns everything. He gives you power to produce wealth and He can even take it away. Does this mean God gets to keep the last penny in your pocket?
Malachi 3:8-10 sheds more light on the subject. “Will a man rob God? Surely not! And yet you have robbed me. What do you mean? When did we ever rob you? You have robbed me of the tithes and offerings due to me. And so the awesome curse of God is cursing you, for your whole nation has been robbing me. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so that there will be food enough in my Temple” (TLB). God wants back ten percent of everything He puts in your trust, otherwise you’re a robber with the awesome curse of God. Then what if you give God back ten percent of everything He gives you, what’s in it for you? “I will open up the windows of heaven for you and pour out a blessing so great you won’t have room enough to take it in!” God knows that teenagers like a challenge and He gives you one. He says, “Try it! Let me prove it to you!” (Malachi 3:10-11 TLB). God not only leaves you with ninety percent of what you take in, He promises a great rate of return on the ten percent you give back to Him.
Now back to the question. Why do you think Jesus spent so much time talking about money? He summed it up by saying “Where your treasure is there your heart will be also.” Wealth is not evil in itself. Abraham, David, Solomon and Job were all very wealthy men. But we get in trouble when money becomes a god to us. God won’t settle for second place in our live. He wants to occupy first place in your life! For God to occupy first place in your life means He gets the first tenth of your increase (Leviticus 27:26) not what is left over.
But can you trust God if you put Him in first place in your financial planning? King David said, “I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging for bread. They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be blessed” (Psalm 37:25-26 NIV).
Student Prayer
Holy Father,
You are so generous to give us everything we have. You give us our daily bread, the money we have, and even the power to get wealth. We owe everything to you, the Giver of every good and perfect gift. Help me put you first in my life.
In Jesus’ name.
Amen.
Daily Devotions
Sunday: Leviticus 27:30-34
Monday: Deuteronomy 14:22-29
Tuesday: Malachi 3:8-12
Wednesday: Deuteronomy 26:12-19
Thursday: Numbers 18:24-32
Friday: Hebrews 7:1-12
Saturday: Nehemiah 10:37-39
Objectives
At the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
1. Explain that tithing is giving back to God the first tenth of their increase.
2. Discuss that God owns everything and He can give or take it away.
3. Demonstrate that it is God who gives us power to get wealth.
Topics & Themes
Attitude
Generosity
Greed
Jesus, His Ministry
Money
Putting God First
Reward
Tithes
Treasure
Wealth
Widow’s Mite
Women
Widow’s Mite
Materials Needed
Bible, YEA students’ and teacher’s books, paper, pencils, songbooks, CD or cassette tape, music player
How to Teach This Lesson
After opening the class with prayer, divide the class into groups of threes or fours.
Have each group brainstorm and come up with as many bumper stickers as they can about greed. They can be ones they have seen or ones they make up. Here are a couple of starters: “A woman’s place is in the mall,” “He who dies with the most toys wins.” Give them five minutes to do this, bring them back together, and seat them in a semicircle. Have all of the students read their “bumper stickers.”
Debrief - What are some likely pitfalls of a greedy person? How would a greedy person be more likely to fall prey to a con man’s scam? What makes him/her more vulnerable? How much money do you think is lost every year by these scams? What can you do to protect yourself from falling prey to one of them? How much money do you think the average person spends a year on the lottery? How many winners do you think still have their millions after three years? (Most are broke again.) Why do you think this is so? What laws do you think those participating in the lottery might break?
The widow’s mite - Do you feel that the widow who put her last coins in the Temple treasury box gave excessively? Why or why not? How do you feel about her as a person?
Who should tithe? - Does Jesus require that you give Him the very last coins in your pocket? Then what kind of tithe and offering does He require of you? Are the obligations for a teen- ager different from your parents or minister when it comes to tithing? How does God determine what your tithe should be? Ask one of the students to read aloud Deuteronomy 14:22. Then ask: What did God stipulate for determining when a tithe is due? (It’s due on the “increase” of what God gives us).
Who benefits from your tithe? - Does God become richer when you tithe or give an offering? Why or why not? When did tithing begin? Ask one of the students to read Genesis 14:20. Point out that Abraham was tithing before there was ever a Temple. So that having a Temple is not a requirement for us to tithe to God. Ask: Have you ever wondered why people have continual financial problems and don’t seem to dig their way out? Why do you think that is? Ask one of the students to read aloud Malachi 3:8- 10. Then what does this say is God’s promise to those who bring their tithes to Him? Have the student continue reading verses 11 and 12. Ask: Why do you think people don’t tithe? (A lack of faith or unbelief and greed.) Discuss the cause/ effect relationship of financial problems and not tithing. Ask one of the students to read Haggai 1:3-9.
Greed Barometer - Remind the students of the Greed Barometer they did in their book. What was the lesson you learned? (The greedier you become, the more vulnerable you are to the con men of our time.
You can’t out give God - Ask: Who made the earth and everything in it? Who owns everything? Who gave you your life, your health, your talents, your mom and your dad, the ability to make money? Then who is the most generous being there is? (God!) He could have asked that you give Him back everything like the widow lady did. But what does He ask that you give back? How much do you have left for yourself?
The first tenth - Ask: When should the tithe be given? (The tithe is the first tenth of your increase. It should be given before you are tempted to borrow from it.) What does God promise to those who bring all the tithes into the store house? Have one of the students to read aloud Malachi 3:8. Ask: Is the word tithe singular or plural? Then say: Before you can be sure of this blessing, another ten percent must be saved to get you to the Feast and to celebrate.
Teacher-Directed Activity
Divide the groups into pairs and have each one explain to the other person: What is a tithe? Was a tithe required before the Temple was built? How do we know? (Genesis 14:20) Who should tithe?
Song
“More Precious than Silver” is on page 25 of The Group Songbook.
Closing Prayer
Have the students form a circle and join hands. Ask for a volunteer to lead in prayer thanking God for being so generous and giving us everything we have. Thank Him for the opportunity and blessings that come from tithing.
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