80/20 RULE

1. Introduction

a) Have we wonder why we are not able to give to God without fail? Sometimes we can't give because of some failures in life. We can't give because we don't have enough.

b) Giving tithes and offerings seems to be done on an ad-hoc basis. There seems to be some insufficiency of money in our hands despite the fact that we have earnings that are considered healthy. Money seems to have wings that fly away easily.

c) Today, we want to examine God's word about the concept of "80% : 20%".

2. Joseph's rags to riches

a) 1Two full years later, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing on the bank of the Nile River. 2In his dream he saw seven fat, healthy cows come up out of the river and begin grazing in the marsh grass. 3Then he saw seven more cows come up behind them from the Nile, but these were scrawny and thin. These cows stood beside the fat cows on the riverbank. 4Then the scrawny, thin cows ate the seven healthy, fat cows! At this point in the dream, Pharaoh woke up. (Genesis 41:1-4 NLT)

b) 5But he fell asleep again and had a second dream. This time he saw seven heads of grain, plump and beautiful, growing on a single stalk. 6Then seven more heads of grain appeared, but these were shriveled and withered by the east wind. 7And these thin heads swallowed up the seven plump, well-formed heads! Then Pharaoh woke up again and realized it was a dream. 8The next morning Pharaoh was very disturbed by the dreams. So he called for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. When Pharaoh told them his dreams, not one of them could tell him what they meant. (Genesis 41:5-8 NLT)

c) By this time Joseph was in dungeon and the wine taster told Pharaoh that Joseph could interpret dams and it would happen exactly what was interpreted. (Genesis 41:9-13 NLT)

d) Pharaoh sent at once for Joseph and told him about the 2 dreams that he had. (Genesis 41:14-24 NLT)

e) With God's help, Joseph told Pharaoh that both dreams meant the same thing. "God was telling you what he is going to do her in the land of Egypt. The 7 fat cows (and also then7 fat, well-formed heads of grain) mean that there are 7 years of prosperity. The 7 skinny cows (and also the 7 thin and withered heads of grain) indicate that there will be 7 years of famine following 7 years of prosperity." (Genesis 41:25-27 NLT)

@1. 28“This will happen just as I have described it, for God has revealed to Pharaoh in advance what he is about to do. 29The next seven years will be a period of great prosperity throughout the land of Egypt. 30But afterward there will be seven years of famine so great that all the prosperity will be forgotten in Egypt. Famine will destroy the land. 31This famine will be so severe that even the memory of the good years will be erased. 32As for having two similar dreams, it means that these events have been decreed by God, and he will soon make them happen. (Genesis 41:28-32 NLT)

f) Joseph gave this suggestion to Pharaoh.

@1. 33"Therefore, Pharaoh should find an intelligent and wise man and put him in charge of the entire land of Egypt. 34Then Pharaoh should appoint supervisors over the land and let them collect one-fifth of all the crops during the seven good years. 35Have them gather all the food produced in the good years that are just ahead and bring it to Pharaoh’s storehouses. Store it away, and guard it so there will be food in the cities. 36That way there will be enough to eat when the seven years of famine come to the land of Egypt. Otherwise this famine will destroy the land.” (Genesis 41:33-36 NLT)

g) Joseph's suggestion was well received by Pharaoh and his assistants. Pharaoh appointed Joseph as the second-in-command who had complete charge over all the land of Egypt (Genesis 41:37-42 NLT)

h) And sure enough, for next 7 years there were bumper crops everywhere. (Genesis 41:47 NLT)

i) So at last the 7 years of plenty came to an end. Then the 7 years of famine began, just as Joseph had predicted. There were crop failures in all the surrounding countries too, in Egypt there was plenty of grain in the storehouses. (Genesis 41:53-54 NLT)

j) The people began to starve and they pleaded with Pharaoh for food. Pharaoh sent them to buy grain from Joseph. (Genesis 41:55-57 NLT)

k) When the people were out of money, they came to Joseph, crying for food. Joseph traded food in exchange for the livestock. Next, they traded themselves and their land for food so that they could live and the land would not be abandoned. (Genesis 47:15-19 NLT)

l) 23Then Joseph said to the people, “Look, today I have bought you and your land for Pharaoh. I will provide you with seed so you can plant the fields. 24Then when you harvest it, one-fifth (20%) of your crop will belong to Pharaoh. You may keep the remaining four-fifths (80%) as seed for your fields and as food for you, your households, and your little ones.” (Genesis 47:23, 24 NLT)

m) 25"You have saved our lives!” they exclaimed. “May it please you, my lord, to let us be Pharaoh’s servants.” 26Joseph then issued a decree still in effect in the land of Egypt, that Pharaoh should receive one-fifth of all the crops grown on his land. Only the land belonging to the priests was not given to Pharaoh. (Genesis 47:25, 26 NLT)

3. "80/20" concept

a) "I will provide you with seed so you can plant the fields." (Genesis 47:23 NLT)

i) Seeds have to be sowed back to the land. Otherwise, there won't be any harvest at all. Similarly we need seeds (grain) to be sowed for our business.

b) "when you harvest it, one-fifth (20%) of your crop will belong to Pharaoh" (Genesis 47:24 NLT)

i) 17“Well, then,” Jesus said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.” His reply completely amazed them. (Mark 12:17 NLT)

ii) Set aside for God - our tithes and offerings.

c) "keep the remaining four-fifths (80%) as seed for your fields and as food for you, your households, and your little ones.” (Genesis 47:24 NLT)

i) Next year seeds. This may implies a portion of our finances for business and investment.

ii) Foods for ourselves. In other words, a portion for our personal needs.

iii) Household i.e a portion for our family needs.

iv) Little ones. Set aside for the needy.

d) If we give all away 100%, will we be able to

i) Sow and harvest again?

ii) Buy foods for ourselves, our household and little ones.

e) In God's way, giving is a cyclic process because we will have the opportunity to sow and harvest again. Following God's way will ensure that we will not only have enough but also be able to give without fail. This has to be out of our abundance!

4. Prayer focus

a) Many people do things out of emotion rather than according to God's word. Pray that we follow what the word of God says and experience the reality of being able to give without fail.