[music] I4m John
Bradshaw and this
00:00:00.40\00:00:03.80
is It Is Written.
00:00:03.80\00:00:06.10
Thanks for joining me today.
00:00:06.10\00:00:07.40
I am at the financial
nerve center of the world,
00:00:07.40\00:00:11.20
right outside the New York
Stock Exchange, on the corner
00:00:11.20\00:00:16.23
of Wall Street and Broad Street
in Lower Manhattan, in the heart
00:00:16.23\00:00:19.40
of New York City.
00:00:19.40\00:00:20.53
What takes place here
affects the financial well-being
00:00:20.53\00:00:24.76
of every corner of the globe.
00:00:24.76\00:00:27.76
Fortunes are made here
and they are lost here.
00:00:27.76\00:00:31.83
National and global economies
are fueled here and they
00:00:31.83\00:00:35.46
are depressed here.
00:00:35.46\00:00:37.16
It is here that the movers
and the shakers of the financial
00:00:37.16\00:00:40.36
world, sometimes the Bulls
and the Bears, make decisions
00:00:40.36\00:00:43.33
that affect the material
destiny of millions of people
00:00:43.33\00:00:46.83
all over the world and sometimes
it4s even a whispered rumor
00:00:46.83\00:00:51.00
emanating from this
place that can have enormous
00:00:51.00\00:00:55.26
consequences,
sometimes devastating
00:00:55.26\00:00:57.26
consequences.
00:00:57.26\00:00:58.26
Now there are plenty of people
who believe that what takes
00:00:58.26\00:01:01.86
place here on Wall Street
is nothing but a legalized form
00:01:01.86\00:01:05.60
of high stakes and gambling,
which one investor said
00:01:05.60\00:01:08.63
"lacks the
dignity of Las Vegas."
00:01:08.63\00:01:10.66
Of course, there are plenty
of people who invest here and in
00:01:10.66\00:01:14.73
other places in good faith
and with the best of motives.
00:01:14.73\00:01:18.83
But what we know is
this: Wealth is a dynamic thing
00:01:18.83\00:01:22.83
and it can even be a
very dangerous thing.
00:01:22.83\00:01:26.60
Apart from what it can do
to economies, it holds major
00:01:26.60\00:01:30.26
potential for either inflating
or collapsing our emotional
00:01:30.26\00:01:33.70
self-worth.
00:01:33.70\00:01:35.20
Wealth can mean the difference
and often in extreme terms
00:01:35.20\00:01:38.73
between comfort and crisis.
00:01:38.73\00:01:41.63
And also, wealth can
impact our relationships,
00:01:41.63\00:01:46.56
often in dramatic ways.
00:01:46.56\00:01:48.86
Our relationships with people
and our relationship with God.
00:01:48.86\00:01:54.76
[Intro music] It has
stood the test of time,
00:01:57.40\00:02:05.86
God's book, the Bible.
00:02:07.56\00:02:11.56
Still relevant in
today's complex world.
00:02:12.33\00:02:15.23
It Is Written,
sharing hope around the globe.
00:02:17.00\00:02:24.96
[music] In the
1920's, the United States
00:02:31.96\00:02:34.63
firmly believed it had reached
the summit of material success.
00:02:34.63\00:02:39.50
President Herbert Hoover spoke
expansively of how the country
00:02:39.50\00:02:43.00
was drawing closer in, in
his words, to such a complete
00:02:43.00\00:02:48.06
triumph over poverty unlike
anything that had ever occurred
00:02:48.06\00:02:50.56
in the history of any land.
00:02:50.56\00:02:52.56
Investors bought feverishly.
00:02:52.56\00:02:55.23
Some, even embezzling
company funds in the confidence
00:02:55.23\00:02:58.86
that they could easily
pay the money back because,
00:02:58.86\00:03:02.03
in the words of one person,
the stock market was about
00:03:02.03\00:03:04.76
to climb to the moon.
00:03:04.76\00:03:08.16
[Music]
00:03:08.16\00:03:12.23
Let's go back to that fateful
fall and the waning months
00:03:16.93\00:03:19.66
of 1929.
00:03:19.66\00:03:22.23
As September began to
unroll, New York City streets
00:03:22.23\00:03:27.06
were filled with back to school
and back to the city shoppers.
00:03:27.06\00:03:30.63
Fifth Avenue windows drew
crowds of admiring shoppers
00:03:30.63\00:03:33.63
looking at the latest fashions.
00:03:33.63\00:03:35.60
Theater ticket brokers
were rushed off their feet.
00:03:35.60\00:03:37.46
Broadway musicals were
sold out months in advance.
00:03:37.46\00:03:41.00
The building
industry was booming.
00:03:41.00\00:03:43.60
Towers and terraces were
rising along streets and avenues
00:03:43.60\00:03:47.20
all around the city.
00:03:47.20\00:03:50.06
And through it all, the stock
market was at an all-time high.
00:03:50.06\00:03:55.16
On the 3rd of September, 1929,
a single share of Montgomery
00:03:55.16\00:03:58.60
Ward stock bought the previous
year for $132 was selling
00:03:58.60\00:04:03.60
for $469.
00:04:03.60\00:04:06.50
Shares in Radio Corporation
of America, best known
00:04:06.50\00:04:09.60
as RCA sold the previous
year at $95.50 and now they
00:04:09.60\00:04:14.76
were selling at $505.
00:04:14.76\00:04:18.10
There were a lot of people
in those heady days who owned
00:04:18.10\00:04:20.70
thousands of shares like these.
00:04:20.70\00:04:22.46
After all, you could buy
them with only 10% down and owe
00:04:22.46\00:04:27.80
the broker for the rest.
00:04:27.80\00:04:31.96
Then, on the 4th of September,
there was a little slip
00:04:31.96\00:04:35.50
in the market.
00:04:35.50\00:04:36.50
Nobody really noticed.
00:04:36.50\00:04:38.10
The following day, the New York
Times reported that the market
00:04:38.10\00:04:40.93
had dropped by 10 points.
00:04:40.93\00:04:42.83
Surely, nothing for anybody
to get too concerned about.
00:04:42.83\00:04:45.90
But one well-known financial
writer warned that in his
00:04:45.90\00:04:50.36
opinion, the wild
ride of prosperity was over
00:04:50.36\00:04:53.83
and soon a
depression would follow.
00:04:53.83\00:04:57.50
But like so many prophets,
whether secular or sacred,
00:04:57.50\00:05:00.20
he was treated
nothing more than an alarmist.
00:05:00.20\00:05:03.90
After all, people said, surely
things must slip a little bit
00:05:03.90\00:05:06.43
[sad blues music under]
before the rise continues
00:05:06.43\00:05:10.40
in earnest.
00:05:10.40\00:05:12.50
It was on October 21st, though,
that the market slide began
00:05:12.50\00:05:16.60
to pick up speed and brokers
started sending out margin
00:05:16.60\00:05:20.23
calls.
00:05:20.23\00:05:20.76
[Thunder] When the money wasn't
00:05:20.76\00:05:22.70
forthcoming, and how
could it be, the dumping began.
00:05:22.70\00:05:27.00
On October the 24th, later known
as Black Thursday, a structure
00:05:27.00\00:05:32.26
of the market cracked wide open.
00:05:32.26\00:05:38.96
Millions of shares were
pitched into streaming chaos on
00:05:38.96\00:05:41.83
the floor of the Stock Exchange.
00:05:41.83\00:05:44.33
On this very corner right
behind me, crowds gathered ...
00:05:44.33\00:05:47.63
numb and waiting ...
00:05:47.63\00:05:49.23
hoping against hope
that something would happen
00:05:49.23\00:05:51.60
to restore the damage
and to retrieve the losses
00:05:51.60\00:05:54.30
that they and so many
others were experiencing.
00:05:54.30\00:05:56.56
That day became known as
the day of the millionaires
00:05:56.56\00:05:59.70
slaughter.
00:05:59.70\00:06:02.06
For five days the madness
continued until on October 29th,
00:06:02.06\00:06:06.36
the market
really hit rock bottom.
00:06:06.36\00:06:08.53
On one of those five days,
General Electric saw its stock
00:06:08.53\00:06:12.43
price absolutely plummet
and GE had historically been
00:06:12.43\00:06:16.76
a very sound and
well performing company.
00:06:16.76\00:06:20.60
Even though at the
time the people did not
00:06:20.60\00:06:22.60
even realize it, it
was worse yet to come.
00:06:22.60\00:06:25.76
Companies such as US
Steel and General Motors saw
00:06:25.76\00:06:28.36
their share prices
drop precipitously.
00:06:28.36\00:06:32.86
This economic downturn,
this hardship affected people
00:06:32.86\00:06:35.60
so badly that across the country
there were people who took
00:06:35.60\00:06:39.30
their own lives, so
badly had they been affected
00:06:39.30\00:06:43.00
by what had happened
in the stock market crash.
00:06:43.00\00:06:46.16
[sad slow Piano muisc]
Around the city, the towers
00:06:46.16\00:06:48.40
and the terraces stopped rising.
00:06:48.40\00:06:50.40
The building industry, usually
an indicator as to the strength
00:06:50.40\00:06:53.06
of weakness of an economy,
came to a virtual standstill.
00:06:53.06\00:06:56.80
It has been said that children
born in 1929 didn't even hear
00:06:56.80\00:07:01.50
the sound of
builders at work until they
00:07:01.50\00:07:05.46
graduated high school.
00:07:05.46\00:07:07.46
So how does God
feel about money?
00:07:08.96\00:07:10.96
The Bible has a lot to
say about money and finance.
00:07:10.96\00:07:13.96
We'll find out
more in just a moment.
00:07:13.96\00:07:18.13
In Matthew 4:4 the Word of God
says, "It is written, man shall
00:07:20.13\00:07:24.20
not live by bread alone
but by every word that proceeds
00:07:24.20\00:07:28.10
from the mouth of God.
00:07:28.10\00:07:29.13
Every Word is a one-minute
Bible-based daily devotional
00:07:29.13\00:07:32.83
presented by pastor
John Bradshaw and designed
00:07:32.83\00:07:35.70
especially for
busy people like you.
00:07:35.70\00:07:40.20
Look for Every Word on selected
networks or watch it on-line
00:07:40.20\00:07:42.13
everyday on our
website, itiswritten.com.
00:07:42.13\00:07:45.56
Receive a daily spiritual boost.
00:07:45.56\00:07:47.43
Watch Every Word.
00:07:47.43\00:07:49.50
You'll be glad you did.
00:07:49.50\00:07:53.26
[Traditional style Indian Music]
00:07:54.86\00:07:58.20
Eyes for India is giving sight
to the blind and you can be
00:08:01.80\00:08:05.46
a part of this amazing
work that God is doing.
00:08:05.46\00:08:08.30
15 million blind people live
in India, more than any other
00:08:08.30\00:08:11.70
country in the world.
00:08:11.70\00:08:13.13
And many of the blind in India
could see again if only they
00:08:13.13\00:08:16.83
could have
simple cataract surgery.
00:08:16.83\00:08:19.43
It Is Written is
making that happen.
00:08:19.43\00:08:22.33
Would you
support Eyes for India?
00:08:22.33\00:08:25.40
For just $75, you'll be giving
the gift of sight to someone
00:08:25.40\00:08:29.80
who desperately wants to see.
00:08:29.80\00:08:31.36
Here is all you need to
do: Call 1.800.253.3000.
00:08:31.36\00:08:36.16
That's 1.800.253.3000 to donate
and support Eyes for India
00:08:36.16\00:08:44.26
or you can write to
It Is Written, Box O,
00:08:44.26\00:08:47.13
Thousand Oaks, California 91359.
00:08:47.13\00:08:51.00
You'll also find Eyes for India
on-line at itiswritten.com.
00:08:51.00\00:08:55.96
Every $75 you give gives
someone the precious gift
00:08:55.96\00:08:59.70
of sight.
00:08:59.70\00:09:00.96
Eyes for India, doing the work
of Jesus in opening the eyes
00:09:00.96\00:09:04.76
of the blind, and opening
hearts to the love of God.
00:09:04.76\00:09:09.13
This is It Is Written.
00:09:10.96\00:09:12.33
I'm John Bradshaw.
00:09:12.33\00:09:13.33
Thanks for joining me today.
00:09:13.33\00:09:15.43
It's with good reason that
the writer, George Santiano once
00:09:15.43\00:09:18.43
observed that those who do not
remember the past are condemned
00:09:18.43\00:09:22.10
to repeat it.
00:09:22.10\00:09:23.43
When we think back to the
more recent economic crisis
00:09:23.43\00:09:26.06
this planet has gone
through, we would be excused
00:09:26.06\00:09:29.03
if we thought that people
just don't seem to be very good
00:09:29.03\00:09:33.40
at learning from history.
00:09:33.40\00:09:36.06
The crash of 2008 was really
brought about by the collapse
00:09:36.06\00:09:40.30
of the housing market in 2007.
00:09:40.30\00:09:43.73
Just as people in the
1920's were able to buy stocks
00:09:43.73\00:09:47.10
at ridiculously low
prices, leaving them vulnerable
00:09:47.10\00:09:50.53
to the demands of brokers
when the difficult times came,
00:09:50.53\00:09:53.73
people were able to buy
homes in the first decade
00:09:53.73\00:09:57.00
of this century when
their finances and, in fact,
00:09:57.00\00:10:01.06
the shape or the
financial health of many
00:10:01.06\00:10:04.73
of the institutions suggested
that wasn't a very good idea.
00:10:04.73\00:10:08.13
There was easy credit,
fraudulent underwriting,
00:10:08.13\00:10:10.50
predatory lending practices.
00:10:10.50\00:10:13.90
And what happened was,
when the economy tanked,
00:10:13.90\00:10:16.76
and people lost their
jobs, they became terribly,
00:10:16.76\00:10:20.66
terribly vulnerable.
00:10:20.66\00:10:22.96
Making mortgage
payments became either
00:10:22.96\00:10:25.06
excruciatingly
difficult or, in many cases,
00:10:25.06\00:10:27.36
simply impossible.
00:10:27.36\00:10:28.60
The economy was
in disastrous shape.
00:10:28.60\00:10:34.36
Foreclosures and evictions
multiplied and the pain
00:10:34.36\00:10:38.90
is still being felt today.
00:10:38.90\00:10:41.00
As in 1929, the stock
market soared to record heights
00:10:41.00\00:10:44.96
in October of 2007.
00:10:44.96\00:10:47.50
The Dow Jones got
up past 14,000 points.
00:10:47.50\00:10:51.16
But after the crash,
there was a dramatic decline.
00:10:51.16\00:10:55.06
It picked up pace during
2008 so that by March of 2009,
00:10:55.06\00:11:00.06
rather than being way up at
14,000 points, the Dow Jones
00:11:00.06\00:11:04.46
was way down at 6,600.
00:11:04.46\00:11:08.30
Market analyst Phil Dow
compared the great depression
00:11:08.30\00:11:13.50
and the months and
years that followed that with
00:11:13.50\00:11:15.83
the recent collapse
and the years that followed
00:11:15.83\00:11:18.06
that and he said,
these were his words,
00:11:18.06\00:11:20.60
"it's very troubling
when you have a mirror image."
00:11:20.60\00:11:24.03
Now not all analysts agree
with his assessment and by many
00:11:24.03\00:11:27.96
markers, by many indications,
the US economy has rebounded,
00:11:27.96\00:11:32.13
in some ways, in recent years.
00:11:32.13\00:11:34.00
But as the recent economic
difficulties have shown us,
00:11:34.00\00:11:38.73
when we fail to learn
the lessons of the past,
00:11:38.73\00:11:41.56
it can be ruinous.
00:11:41.56\00:11:44.10
Even though there are certainly
some differences, there are
00:11:44.10\00:11:46.70
many parallels between
what happened in 1929 and what
00:11:46.70\00:11:50.63
happened in 2008.
00:11:50.63\00:11:53.40
But one big difference is this
and this might be just a little
00:11:53.40\00:11:56.60
troubling when
we think about it.
00:11:56.60\00:11:59.13
In 1929, far more Americans
lived in rural areas and on
00:11:59.13\00:12:03.96
farms and could at
least grow their own food.
00:12:03.96\00:12:07.86
Today, many more Americans live
in suburbia and in big cities
00:12:07.86\00:12:13.16
where self-sufficiency
is virtually impossible.
00:12:13.16\00:12:16.93
The civil and the social
unrest that would follow an even
00:12:16.93\00:12:20.16
larger financial melt-down
would be dramatic and would lead
00:12:20.16\00:12:24.20
to scenes of chaos and unrest,
the likes of which you have
00:12:24.20\00:12:28.26
never seen before.
00:12:28.26\00:12:30.20
[Oriental style string
Music] Just as many stories
00:12:31.80\00:12:40.03
of personal tragedy followed
the Wall Street crash of 1929,
00:12:40.03\00:12:44.93
many similar stories followed
the global economic crisis
00:12:44.93\00:12:47.96
of 2008.
00:12:47.96\00:12:50.20
One of them was the story
of Adolf Merkel, a businessman
00:12:50.20\00:12:54.36
and a stock trader and one
of Germany's richest people.
00:12:54.36\00:12:57.70
Merkel was born into a
very wealthy family in the City
00:12:57.70\00:13:01.56
of Dresden.
00:13:01.56\00:13:03.23
He developed his Bohemian
grandfather's chemical wholesale
00:13:03.23\00:13:07.03
company and turned it
into one of Germany's largest
00:13:07.03\00:13:10.20
pharmaceutical outlets.
00:13:10.20\00:13:12.00
His family's holdings
also included a genetic drug
00:13:12.00\00:13:15.06
manufacturer, a cement company
and a vehicle manufacturer.
00:13:15.06\00:13:20.00
Even though he was
trained as a lawyer, he spent
00:13:20.00\00:13:22.80
most of his time and energy
investing and just like many
00:13:22.80\00:13:26.80
people towards the
end of the roaring 20's,
00:13:26.80\00:13:29.36
Adolf Merkel got involved
in some risky and speculative
00:13:29.36\00:13:33.20
investments.
00:13:33.20\00:13:34.60
In 2007 he was worth 12 billion
dollars, but after the global
00:13:34.60\00:13:39.46
financial collapse, his
worth had dropped to 9 billion.
00:13:39.46\00:13:43.36
Still a lot of money and
he was still one of Germany's
00:13:43.36\00:13:45.40
five richest men.
00:13:45.40\00:13:49.20
But the loss of that $3
billion weighed heavily upon him
00:13:49.20\00:13:52.53
to the extent that in the
early days of 2009 near his home
00:13:52.53\00:13:57.60
in Southern Germany,
Adolf Merkel threw himself
00:13:57.60\00:14:00.70
into the path of
an oncoming train.
00:14:00.70\00:14:03.63
He left behind a
wife and four daughters.
00:14:03.63\00:14:07.63
But of course there are
plenty of stories that have much
00:14:13.60\00:14:15.70
happier endings.
00:14:15.70\00:14:17.33
In 2001, Michael
Bloomberg became the Mayor
00:14:17.33\00:14:20.76
of New York City.
00:14:20.76\00:14:22.03
Now he is somebody that many
people have called a genuine
00:14:22.03\00:14:25.20
success story.
00:14:25.20\00:14:26.66
Not only has he earned plenty
of money but he has devoted
00:14:26.66\00:14:29.70
a lot of his time
and many of his resources
00:14:29.70\00:14:32.26
to public
service and philanthropy.
00:14:32.26\00:14:35.63
Michael Bloomberg was born
to an immigrant father, a real
00:14:35.63\00:14:38.76
estate agent in
Boston, Massachusetts.
00:14:38.76\00:14:41.93
Young Michael worked his
way through college as a parking
00:14:41.93\00:14:45.33
lot attendant, helping to
pay for his tuition at Johns
00:14:45.33\00:14:48.50
Hopkins University.
00:14:48.50\00:14:49.73
He earned an MBA from Harvard
Business School and then he
00:14:49.73\00:14:53.63
began his career as a general
partner at Solomon Brothers
00:14:53.63\00:14:57.40
on Wall Street.
00:14:57.40\00:14:58.46
Eventually he found his own
company and by the year 2012
00:14:58.46\00:15:04.26
he was worth $27 billion,
making him the 13th richest
00:15:04.26\00:15:10.36
man in the world.
00:15:10.36\00:15:12.56
But what is most important?
00:15:12.56\00:15:15.16
To hear some preachers
tell it, God wants everybody
00:15:15.16\00:15:18.56
to be wealthy.
00:15:18.56\00:15:19.56
You're not
blessed until your rich.
00:15:19.56\00:15:22.56
But looking at it biblically,
that can't possibly be true.
00:15:22.56\00:15:25.53
1 Timothy 6:10 says
that, "the love of money
00:15:25.53\00:15:30.00
is the root of
all kinds of evil."
00:15:30.00\00:15:32.26
Jesus told one man
who evidently had plenty
00:15:32.26\00:15:35.06
of resources to sell
everything that he had and give
00:15:35.06\00:15:38.73
the proceeds to the poor.
00:15:38.73\00:15:41.30
In fact, the Bible
contains a lot of warnings about
00:15:41.30\00:15:43.53
the misuse of wealth,
how we ought to be careful
00:15:43.53\00:15:46.70
about money and careful
that finance, money, wealth,
00:15:46.70\00:15:50.66
doesn't become an idol to us.
00:15:50.66\00:15:53.46
One interesting thing the Bible
says is this, in Proverbs 23:5,
00:15:53.46\00:15:57.03
it says: "For riches
certainly make themselves wings.
00:15:57.03\00:16:00.66
They fly away as an
eagle towards heaven.
00:16:00.66\00:16:08.83
That's the thing with money.
00:16:08.83\00:16:09.83
It can be here
today and gone tomorrow.
00:16:09.83\00:16:13.90
So, does God have a plan?
00:16:13.90\00:16:15.80
Does he have a plan to
bless and prosper his people.
00:16:15.80\00:16:19.63
We will find that
out in just a moment.
00:16:19.63\00:16:23.60
[Music÷ Planning
for your financial
00:16:24.26\00:16:26.60
future is a vital aspect
of Christian stewardship.
00:16:26.60\00:16:29.56
For this reason, It Is Written
is pleased to offer free planned
00:16:29.56\00:16:32.83
giving and estate services.
00:16:32.83\00:16:34.80
For information on how
we can help you, please call
00:16:34.80\00:16:39.40
1.800.992.2219.
00:16:39.40\00:16:40.40
To receive additional material
on the advantages of Life Income
00:16:40.40\00:16:44.03
Plans such as a Charitable Gift
Annuity, which could provide you
00:16:44.03\00:16:48.60
with tax benefits and
income for life, call today
00:16:48.60\00:16:51.23
or visit our special
website, www.hislegacy.com.
00:16:51.23\00:16:57.00
You could also write to
It Is Written, Planned Giving
00:16:57.00\00:17:00.06
and Trust Services, Box
O, Thousand Oaks, California
00:17:00.06\00:17:03.50
91359.
00:17:03.50\00:17:04.73
Our toll free number
again 1.800.992.2219.
00:17:04.73\00:17:09.13
And our web
address www.hislegacy.com.
00:17:09.13\00:17:19.16
Just a couple of years ago one
California businessman earned
00:17:20.60\00:17:23.80
$33 million in just one year.
00:17:23.80\00:17:28.56
He had 5 homes, a fleet
of luxury cars, including
00:17:28.56\00:17:31.66
a chauffer
driven $320,000 Maybach.
00:17:31.66\00:17:35.83
He socialized with lots of
big name people, he had Wolfgang
00:17:35.83\00:17:38.86
Puck to his house
to cook him dinner.
00:17:38.86\00:17:41.46
The man was
doing very, very well.
00:17:41.46\00:17:43.46
But then, his company hit
some difficult circumstances,
00:17:43.46\00:17:47.00
which meant that before
long, his company was bankrupt.
00:17:47.00\00:17:51.83
No more charter jets.
00:17:51.83\00:17:53.50
No more chauffer driven vehicle.
00:17:53.50\00:17:55.90
all that wealth, disappeared
He had had a net worth of $230
00:17:55.90\00:18:02.00
million but suddenly
all the wealth was gone
00:18:02.00\00:18:07.50
just like that, gone!
00:18:07.50\00:18:11.80
Now, let's not think
for a moment that the Bible
00:18:11.80\00:18:14.60
says that God doesn't
want anybody to be rich,
00:18:14.60\00:18:17.20
that's just not true.
00:18:17.20\00:18:18.30
And Jesus certainly doesn't
say that everybody should sell
00:18:18.30\00:18:21.73
their possessions and
give the money to the poor.
00:18:21.73\00:18:24.03
In fact, in Deuteronomy 8:18,
the Bible says it is God who
00:18:24.03\00:18:29.36
gives you power to get wealth.
00:18:29.36\00:18:32.40
Wealth and material prosperity
are simply gifts given us
00:18:32.40\00:18:36.10
by God.
00:18:36.10\00:18:37.36
And like all gifts given
us by God, here is the key.
00:18:37.36\00:18:41.66
God wants that our wealth
and our prosperity be used
00:18:41.66\00:18:45.06
in ways that bring glory to him.
00:18:45.06\00:18:48.86
[Electronic Music]
00:18:49.86\00:18:52.20
The Bible contains a lot
of stories about people who
00:18:54.23\00:18:56.40
were very wealthy in
terms of this world's goods
00:18:56.40\00:19:00.96
and yet they
remained faithful to God.
00:19:00.96\00:19:03.30
One person like that was Job.
00:19:03.30\00:19:04.96
He had 7000 sheep, 3000 camels,
500 yoke of oxen and 500 female
00:19:04.96\00:19:08.86
donkeys.
00:19:08.86\00:19:09.86
This man was rich and yet
the Bible says of him that he
00:19:09.86\00:19:13.40
shunned evil and he feared God.
00:19:13.40\00:19:16.60
In fact, when he lost
everything, virtually all
00:19:16.60\00:19:19.53
of his family and all of
his possessions, the Word of God
00:19:19.53\00:19:22.43
says in all of
this, Job did not sin.
00:19:22.43\00:19:25.53
In fact, during one point
in his affliction, Job said:
00:19:25.53\00:19:29.46
"Though he slay me
yet will I trust in him."
00:19:29.46\00:19:34.26
After Job lost everything, God
gave back to him twice as much
00:19:34.26\00:19:39.13
as he had before.
00:19:39.13\00:19:40.46
So clearly God
doesn't disapprove of wealth.
00:19:40.46\00:19:43.83
What God disapprove of is when
wealth becomes the overruling
00:19:43.83\00:19:48.26
passion, the overriding passion
in our lives to the extent
00:19:48.26\00:19:52.00
that when suffer a
loss of means, we consider,
00:19:52.00\00:19:55.03
like Adolf Merkel, that
maybe life isn't worth living.
00:19:55.03\00:19:58.96
When we live to get and
acquire and to have for selfish
00:19:58.96\00:20:03.36
purposes, that
becomes a problem.
00:20:03.36\00:20:06.66
In Luke 12:15 Jesus said, "Take
heed and beware of covetousness
00:20:06.66\00:20:12.60
for one's life does not consist
in the abundance of the things
00:20:12.60\00:20:16.40
he possesses.
00:20:16.40\00:20:18.33
The Patriarch Abraham was also
a man of great wealth, yet God
00:20:18.33\00:20:22.06
said of him at one point: For I
have known him in order that he
00:20:22.06\00:20:25.93
may command his children
and his household after him,
00:20:25.93\00:20:28.73
that they keep the way of
the Lord to do righteousness
00:20:28.73\00:20:32.73
and justice.
00:20:32.73\00:20:35.23
Though he had plenty of
it, material wealth wasn't
00:20:35.23\00:20:38.23
the focus of Abraham's life.
00:20:38.23\00:20:39.93
Now, it was the focus
of the life of the rich
00:20:39.93\00:20:42.83
young ruler, the young
man Jesus spoke to in the 19th
00:20:42.83\00:20:45.76
Chapter of the
Gospel of Matthew.
00:20:45.76\00:20:48.06
Jesus told him to sell
everything that he had and give
00:20:48.06\00:20:50.53
the proceeds to the
poor because his possessions
00:20:50.53\00:20:53.36
were coming between him
and a right relationship
00:20:53.36\00:20:56.53
with God.
00:20:56.53\00:20:57.53
Now, in his final address
to the nation of Israel, King
00:20:57.53\00:21:01.60
David said this: For all things
come from you and of your own,
00:21:01.60\00:21:07.06
we have given you.
00:21:07.06\00:21:08.06
Here is where we see
the principle of what we
00:21:08.06\00:21:11.26
could call Biblical stewardship.
00:21:11.26\00:21:13.56
Now it does not only
apply to our finances but to
00:21:13.56\00:21:17.10
everything that we possess.
00:21:17.10\00:21:18.96
When we dedicate what we have
to God, we are only giving him
00:21:18.96\00:21:23.20
what was his in the first place.
00:21:23.20\00:21:26.36
The children of Israel
acknowledged this principle
00:21:26.36\00:21:28.63
as they returned to God
their tithes and offerings.
00:21:28.63\00:21:32.10
And what God had to say about
this through the prophet Malachi
00:21:32.10\00:21:35.50
contains one of the
most remarkable promises
00:21:35.50\00:21:38.36
in the entire Bible.
00:21:38.36\00:21:41.43
"Bring all the
tithes into the storehouse
00:21:41.43\00:21:44.03
that there may be food
in my house and prove me
00:21:44.03\00:21:47.20
now in this, says the Lord
of Hosts, if I will not open
00:21:47.20\00:21:51.03
for you the windows
of heaven and pour out
00:21:51.03\00:21:54.03
for you such blessing
that there will not be room
00:21:54.03\00:21:56.83
enough to receive it.
00:21:56.83\00:21:58.83
The children of Israel were
to acknowledge God's ownership
00:22:01.00\00:22:04.03
of everything they possessed.
00:22:04.03\00:22:05.83
By returning to God a 10th
of all they earned, this was
00:22:05.83\00:22:10.26
the tithe.
00:22:10.26\00:22:11.66
The tithing system was
established by God long ago,
00:22:11.66\00:22:14.83
even before the establishment
of the Nation of Israel.
00:22:14.83\00:22:17.96
You see this in Genesis
14 where Abraham gave tithes
00:22:17.96\00:22:22.13
to Melchisedec and you see it
in the experience of Jacob, who
00:22:22.13\00:22:27.03
when he was fleeing from his
brother Esau made a similar vow
00:22:27.03\00:22:30.10
to God in Genesis 28:22.
00:22:30.10\00:22:34.40
"And this stone which I
have set as a pillar shall be
00:22:34.40\00:22:37.40
God's house.
00:22:37.40\00:22:38.40
And of all that you give
me I will surely give a 10th
00:22:38.40\00:22:41.76
to you."
00:22:41.76\00:22:44.40
Now of course, there are some
who will say that the tithing
00:22:44.40\00:22:47.06
system was done away with when
Jesus died on the cross so that
00:22:47.06\00:22:50.63
God's people today no longer
have to return to him a 10th
00:22:50.63\00:22:53.86
of their increase as was done
during the Old Testament times.
00:22:53.86\00:22:57.60
But writing to the Corinthians
in 1 Corinthians 9:13, 14,
00:22:57.60\00:23:02.43
Paul couldn't disagree
with that idea more strongly.
00:23:02.43\00:23:05.43
Here is what he said: "Do
you not know that those who
00:23:05.43\00:23:08.76
minister the holy things
eat of the things of the temple
00:23:08.76\00:23:13.26
and those who serve at the
altar partake of the offerings
00:23:13.26\00:23:17.70
of the altar.
00:23:17.70\00:23:19.93
Even so the Lord has
commanded that those who preach
00:23:19.93\00:23:23.03
the gospel should
live from the gospel."
00:23:23.03\00:23:25.36
What we can see is
that the tithing system
00:23:25.36\00:23:28.33
was established by God.
00:23:28.33\00:23:30.60
It existed before Israel was
a nation during the time of his
00:23:30.60\00:23:34.33
realm during Christ's time
on earth and was even endorsed
00:23:34.33\00:23:37.80
by the Apostle Paul after Jesus
had died and gone to heaven
00:23:37.80\00:23:41.30
and it is not just about
tithing as important as that is.
00:23:41.30\00:23:45.40
The believer in God says
God has control of everything,
00:23:45.40\00:23:49.90
everything that I have
and everything that I am.
00:23:49.90\00:23:53.36
When we give it
to God, God blesses.
00:23:53.36\00:23:55.93
Jesus said, "where your treasure
is, there will your heart
00:23:55.93\00:23:58.93
be also."
00:23:58.93\00:23:59.93
If your treasure is parked
in the driveway and never placed
00:23:59.93\00:24:03.23
in the offering plate, it
might be time to think again.
00:24:03.23\00:24:06.33
If your treasure is in your
bank account and in your stock
00:24:06.33\00:24:09.70
portfolio and not given to
God and to the work of God,
00:24:09.70\00:24:12.93
it could be that we have
got things out of balance.
00:24:12.93\00:24:16.36
And remember this,
here is the promise of Jesus
00:24:16.36\00:24:19.20
in Matthew 6:33.
00:24:19.20\00:24:20.20
He said, "Seek ye first
the kingdom of God and his
00:24:20.20\00:24:22.70
righteousness and all these
things will be added unto you.
00:24:22.70\00:24:26.20
You can't out-give God.
00:24:26.20\00:24:27.40
You don't give to
God and end up broke.
00:24:27.40\00:24:29.53
Malachi's promise was
God's promise through Malachi
00:24:29.53\00:24:33.46
that when we give to God he will
open up the windows of heaven
00:24:33.46\00:24:36.60
and pour out such a blessing
we won't have room enough
00:24:36.60\00:24:38.60
to receive it.
00:24:38.60\00:24:39.53
Not that we give to God to
be blessed but we give to God
00:24:39.53\00:24:43.36
knowing that he will bless.
00:24:43.36\00:24:47.16
We give to God our stuff,
our finances, we give to God
00:24:47.16\00:24:51.26
everything we have
and everything we are.
00:24:51.26\00:24:55.93
Today we've been talking
about crucial financial issues
00:25:06.40\00:25:09.26
that affect all of us.
00:25:09.26\00:25:10.66
Our goal at It Is
Written is to help you live
00:25:10.66\00:25:12.66
a more satisfying
and God-centered life.
00:25:12.66\00:25:14.80
So this week, our free offer
is a helpful book on finance
00:25:14.80\00:25:18.46
called "God will Provide."
00:25:18.46\00:25:20.83
It is a practical
discussion on how a faithful God
00:25:20.83\00:25:23.70
has promised to
provide for the needs of his
00:25:23.70\00:25:25.93
faithful children.
00:25:25.93\00:25:26.90
And includes a special section
prepared by Ed Reid on Managing
00:25:26.90\00:25:30.60
Finances in Difficult times.
00:25:30.60\00:25:32.66
Please call or write
us and this free book
00:25:32.66\00:25:35.00
will be on its way to you.
00:25:35.00\00:25:36.00
There's no cost
and no obligation.
00:25:36.00\00:25:38.80
Just call 1.800.253.3000
and ask for the book God
00:25:38.80\00:25:43.86
Will Provide.
00:25:43.86\00:25:44.86
You can call any
time day or night.
00:25:44.86\00:25:47.76
If the line is
busy, please keep trying.
00:25:47.76\00:25:50.50
You can also request this
free book by writing to It Is
00:25:50.50\00:25:53.60
Written, Box O,
Thousand Oaks, California 91359.
00:25:53.60\00:25:57.83
And we'll mail a
copy to your address
00:25:57.83\00:26:00.53
in North America.
00:26:00.53\00:26:01.86
Please note, this free
book is limited to the supply
00:26:01.86\00:26:05.06
on hand.
00:26:05.06\00:26:06.06
For immediate access, you
can download a free electronic
00:26:06.06\00:26:09.36
version of the book God
will Provide from our website,
00:26:09.36\00:26:12.66
itiswritten.com.
00:26:12.66\00:26:14.86
It Is Written is a faith-based
ministry made possible
00:26:14.86\00:26:17.86
by viewers like you.
00:26:17.86\00:26:19.23
If you wish to help
the worldwide outreach
00:26:19.23\00:26:21.23
of It Is Written and
help us ensure people continue
00:26:21.23\00:26:23.70
to be blessed by solid Bible
teaching your tax-deductible
00:26:23.70\00:26:26.50
gift may be sent to
the same address or you can
00:26:26.50\00:26:29.43
make a gift
on-line at itiswritten.com.
00:26:29.43\00:26:32.66
Thank you for your letters
and your continued support.
00:26:32.66\00:26:35.10
Our toll-free number is
1.800.253.3000 and our web
00:26:35.10\00:26:38.83
address is itiswritten.com.
00:26:38.83\00:26:43.83
Let's take the time to
pray together for a moment:
00:26:46.03\00:26:48.90
Our father in heaven,
I thank you that you are
00:26:48.90\00:26:51.13
the giver of all good gifts.
00:26:51.13\00:26:52.46
I thank you that you
give us power to get wealth
00:26:52.46\00:26:54.30
and that you bless us as you
do and I know that many people
00:26:54.30\00:26:59.26
are wishing for more blessing
and they are saying Lord,
00:26:59.26\00:27:02.30
I am struggling
to make ends meet.
00:27:02.30\00:27:04.30
Father, irrespective of how
much we have, I pray that all
00:27:04.30\00:27:07.23
we have can be placed on
the altar and given to you.
00:27:07.23\00:27:10.96
You have given what
we have is all yours.
00:27:10.96\00:27:13.93
Take it and please
bless it and bless us.
00:27:13.93\00:27:17.16
Let us be faithful to
you in all things I pray,
00:27:17.16\00:27:19.56
in Jesus' name, Amen.
00:27:19.56\00:27:25.56
Thanks for joining me today.
00:27:43.33\00:27:44.33
I look forward to
seeing you again next time.
00:27:44.33\00:27:46.70
Until then, remember, it
is written, man shall not
00:27:46.70\00:27:51.30
live by bread
alone but by every word
00:27:51.30\00:27:54.63
that proceeds
from the mouth of God.
00:27:54.63\00:27:58.66