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NOTES
MADE FOR MORE: Building For The Future
“Double Down on What Matters”
Carl Nichols
Big Idea: Once you clear out what doesn’t matter, commit to what does.
Nehemiah 9 was repentance.
Nehemiah 10 is reconstruction.
Big Idea: The order of priority determines the outcome of blessing.
If God isn’t first in your finances, he won’t be first in your future.
WHEN BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE…
Trust is the Foundation
Nehemiah 10:30–31
“We promise not to give our daughters in marriage to the peoples around us or take their daughters for our sons.“When the neighboring peoples bring merchandise or grain to sell on the Sabbath, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or on any holy day. Every seventh year we will forgo working the land and will cancel all debts.”
Before they gave anything, they trusted God with everything.
WHEN BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE…
2. First is the Framework
They set up…
An annual yearly offering (vv32-33) - “We assume the responsibility for carrying out the commands to give a third of a shekel each year for the service of the house of our God:
An annual yearly offering (vv32-33) - “for the bread set out on the table; for the regular grain offerings and burnt offerings; for the offerings on the Sabbaths, at the New Moon feasts and at the appointed festivals;
An annual yearly offering (vv32-33) - “for the holy offerings; for sin offerings to make atonement for Israel; and for all the duties of the house of our God.
Special offerings throughout the year (v34)- “Each of our families is to bring to the house of our God at set times each year a contribution of wood to burn on the altar of the Lord our God.”
Firstfruits offering every harvest (v35) “We also assume responsibility for bringing to the house of the Lord each year the firstfruits of our crops and of every fruit tree.”
Firstborn offering (v36) “As it is also written in the Law, we will bring the firstborn of our sons and of our cattle, of our herds and of our flocks to the house of our God, to the priests ministering there.”
Firstborn of Produce and Goods (v37) “Moreover, we will bring to the storerooms of the house of our God, to the priests, the first of our ground meal, of our grain offerings, of the fruit of all our trees and of our new wine and olive oil”
Tithe (v37b) “And we will bring a tithe of our crops to the Levites, for it is the Levites who collect the tithes in all the towns where we work.”
MODERN DAY FRAMEWORK
Tithe 10% —> Save 10-20% —> Spend —> Above and Beyond Generosity
What you fund reveals what you value.
The order of priority determines the outcome of blessing.
WHEN BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE…
3. Obedience is the Outcome
Nehemiah 10:38-39
“A priest descended from Aaron is to accompany the Levites when they receive the tithes, and the Levites are to bring a tenth of the tithes up to the house of our God, to the storerooms of the treasury.“The people of Israel, including the Levites, are to bring their contributions of grain, new wine and olive oil to the storerooms, “where the articles for the sanctuary and for the ministering priests, the gatekeepers and the musicians are also kept. “We will not neglect the house of our God.”
Nehemiah 13:4-14
Before this, Eliashib the priest had been put in charge of the storerooms of the house of our God. He was closely associated with Tobiah, and he had provided him with a large room formerly used to store the grain offerings and incense and temple articles, and also the tithes of grain, new wine and olive oil prescribed for the Levites, musicians and gatekeepers, as well as the contributions for the priests. But while all this was going on, I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I had returned to the king. Some time later I asked his permission and came back to Jerusalem. Here I learned about the evil thing Eliashib had done in providing Tobiah a room in the courts of the house of God. I was greatly displeased and threw all Tobiah’s household goods out of the room. I gave orders to purify the rooms, and then I put back into them the equipment of the house of God, with the grain offerings and the incense. I also learned that the portions assigned to the Levites had not been given to them, and that all the Levites and musicians responsible for the service had gone back to their own fields. So I rebuked the officials and asked them, “Why is the house of God neglected?” Then I called them together and stationed them at their posts. All Judah brought the tithes of grain, new wine and olive oil into the storerooms. I put Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and a Levite named Pedaiah in charge of the storerooms and made Hanan son of Zakkur, the son of Mattaniah, their assistant, because they were considered trustworthy. They were made responsible for distributing the supplies to their fellow Levites. Remember me for this, my God, and do not blot out what I have so faithfully done for the house of my God and its services.
Doubling Down in 2026
When you give to God through Relevant Church you are…
Planting churches in the toughest areas of the United States
Planting churches in Honduras
Improving health and poverty for the people of Honduras
Making room for those individuals and families who are not here yet
Transforming families and communities
Leaving a legacy that outlives you
One-Year Goal - $6,246,000
December Goal - $1,000,000
Do your giving while you’re living so you’ll be knowing where it’s going.