Proverbs 3:9-10 Honor the LORD from: Wealth – The Totality of One’s Possessions (Planned Giving) Increase – Your Regular Income (Tithes, Offerings, & Benevolence) A Tithe from WEALTH: Abram Genesis 14:18-20 Abram’s giving was not requested nor required Abram did not give in order to receive a blessing from Melchizedek or God (the blessing had already been given) A Tithe from INCREASE/INCOME: Jacob Genesis 28:19-22 Jacob’s giving was not requested nor required Jacob did not give in order to receive a blessing from God (the blessing had already been given) NOTE: Stewardship = Fiduciary Obligation The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) was established in 1974 by the United States government to protect the retirement investments of its citizenry. According to the ERISA: Anyone who provides investment advice to a plan for compensation or has any authority or responsibility to do so are subject to fiduciary responsibilities… The primary responsibility of fiduciaries is to run the plan solely in the interest of participants and beneficiaries… Fiduciaries who do not follow these principles of conduct may be personally liable to restore any losses to the plan, or to restore any profits made through improper use of plan assets (Labor, 1974). The Living Illustration of a Biblical Steward: Joseph Genesis 41:39-43 Introducing The Abraham Challenge