A COMMUNITY OF FAITHFUL STEWARDS

God has been in business of giving – first promise, his son & everything etc. The best we can give God is our hearts. ***Good stewardship helps us to realise that everything we have is not ours. We are just managers of God given resources who will one day give an account***

God’s money not my money, God willing not my time……………………

Psalms 50: 9 – “I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens,10 for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.11 I know every bird in the mountains, and the insects in the fields are mine.12 If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it.”

Haggai 2:8 –  The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts.

A General Revelation on Giving:

As you probably recall, the Dead Sea is really a Lake, not a sea. It’s so high in salt content that the human body can float easily in it. The salt in the Dead Sea is as high as 35% – almost 10 times that of normal ocean water. And all that saltiness has meant that there is no life at all in the Dead Sea. No fish. No vegetation. No mammal. In fact, nothing lives in the Dead Sea. And hence the name: Dead Sea.

The other sea is the Sea of Galilee. It happens that the Sea of Galilee is just North of the Dead Sea. Both the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea receive their water from River Jordan. And yet, they are very, very different.

Unlike the Dead Sea, the Sea of Galilee is pretty, rich and resplendent with colourful marine life, plants and fish. So, the Sea of Galilee is home to well over twenty different types of fish. Same region, same source of water, and yet while one sea is full of life, the other is dead. How come?

Here’s apparently why.

The River Jordan flows into the Sea of Galilee and then flows out. The water simply passes through the Sea of Galilee, in and out – and that keeps the sea healthy and vibrant, teeming with so much marine life.

But the Dead Sea is way below the mean sea level that it has no outlet. The water flows in from the River Jordan, but does not flow out. There are no outlet streams. It is estimated that over 7 million tons of water evaporate from the Dead Sea every day. Leaving it salty, too full of minerals and unfit for any marine life.

So the Dead Sea takes water from the River Jordan, and holds it. It does not give out. The result? No life at all. Mind you, the Sea of Galilee does not discriminate. It gives off its water freely to the open sea. This is what keeps it fresh and alive.

MORAL:

Think about it. Life is not just about getting. It’s about giving. We all need to be a bit like the Sea of Galilee.

We are fortunate to have wealth, knowledge, love and respect. But if we don’t learn to give, we could all end up like the Dead Sea. The love and the respect, the wealth and the knowledge could all evaporate like the water in the Dead Sea.

If we get the Dead Sea mentality of merely taking in more water, more money and more everything, the results can be disastrous. In the sea of your own life, make outlets; many outlets. For love, peace, happiness, joy and everything else you receive in your life, make sure you don’t just get; but make sure give as well. Open the taps to give and you’ll open the floodgates to happiness.

WHAT GIVING IS NOT

1. Not a Means of Salvation

This is incredibly important to understand. Our salvation is based on Jesus’ finished work on the cross, not on works. You can’t earn your way to Heaven by giving.  “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” –Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)

God Loves a Cheerful Giver

The fact is that HOW we give is of utmost importance. As with everything, man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart. If we are giving to impress people, we are wasting our time. If we are giving because we are being pressured or coerced to give, we are missing it.

2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV) makes this as clear as day: “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

God wants us to regularly give willing and cheerfully, from the heart, according to our ability in love and appreciation to Him. These principles are found in both the Old and New Testaments (see Exodus 35 and 36, 2 Corinthians 8 and 9, 1 Chronicle 29:1-9).

Christians should be generous. Our God is the giver of all good things and He expects His children to give as well.  Giving is Biblical.  Christians are to be generous with our time and treasure.  God empowers us to live above the sins of covetousness and greed.

Luke 12:15-21 “And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” ***God wants us to be rich towards him***

Timothy 6:9 “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.”

TYPES OF BIBLICAL GIVING

1. Tithes

Tithing is an important theme for Christians because it is a symbol of how God calls us to live our lives as stewards rather than owners. If you search for the word tithing in the Bible (and tithe), you will find about 14 scriptures mentioning it (depending on which version you are using).

“But nothing that a person owns and devotes to the LORD—whether a human being or an animal or family land—may be sold or redeemed; everything so devoted is most holy to the LORD. “No person devoted to destruction may be ransomed; they are to be put to death. A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD. Whoever would redeem any of their tithe must add a fifth of the value to it. Every tithe of the herd and flock—every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd’s rod—will be holy to the LORD.” –Leviticus 27:28-32. This refers to 10% of income and cannot count as an offering.

We can only be able to give by recognising God as the provider of everything. It’s also a way of giving thanks for all the blessings that you are receiving. Since all our income came from God, tithing is a way of showing gratitude for what you have received.

The first recorded act of tithing was by Abraham Melchizedek, priest of the most High and king of Salem, who attributed Abraham’s victory to God and blessed him for it. Then Abraham gave him a tenth of everything (Genesis 14:19-20).

Though tithing was commanded in the Old Testament, the New Testament tells us that we should not neglect the weightier issues.

What Did Jesus Say About Tithing?

In Matthew 23:23 and Luke 11:42 Jesus referred to tithing as something that should not be neglected…“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.”

So if you have been wondering what Jesus said about tithing or if “tithe” is in the New Testament, you have it right there in Luke 11:42.  These should go hand in hand. We can’t practice one while neglecting the other. Yes, it’s good to offer a portion of our income to God but we should not forget to offer justice, mercy, and faithfulness.

God Said We Could Test Him and see if it really works?

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the LORD of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.” Mal 3:10 NASB *It is an act of stepping into FAITH*

The Question about if we are cursed if we do not tithe should be answered in the light of what Christ has done:

Malachi 3:8–11 “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, Even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, If I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, And he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; Neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.”

“Christian believers have been specifically REDEEMED from the Curse of the Law (Galatians 3:13)…If we have been redeemed from the curse of the law, then there is no way we can be cursed for not tithing…So under an entirely New Covenant, it seems to me unscriptural to be telling people that if they don’t tithe, they’re going to fall under a curse because the Curse of the Law no longer applies to believers…” But it’s because of what He did for us that we should willingly and gladly obey. We are blessed if we tithe, because blessings of the LAW still remain. Jesus fulfilled the LAW by dying for us (Matt. 5:17-18).

To whom should Tithe Be Given?

Before tithe became a law and a command in the Old Testament that it should be paid to the Levites, it had been a practice. Over 500 years before it became a command Abraham have offered a tithe to Melchizedek (who was a priest of God Genesis 14:18-20).  He tithed silver, gold, animals, etc. (He did this before the Law was given concerning the tithe). If Abraham paid a tithe to Melchizedek, the priest of God, and Israel also were commanded by God to offer tithe to the Levitical priesthood, to whom then should Christians pay tithe to? The answer is Jesus. The merciful and faithful High Priest (Hebrews 2:17,18). He is referred to as the Apostle and High Priest (Hebrews 3:1). He is again referred to in Hebrews 7:11 as a High Priest in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron. (In Chapters 7 and 8). If Jesus is the High Priest whose ministry is superior, then all tithe must be offered to Him. All lovers of Jesus, those who acknowledge Him as High Priest in the order of Melchizedek, should offer their tithe to Him. When you are offering your tithe, have a notion that you are not paying to pastor or church but Jesus the Most High Priest. Don’t be deceived that tithing have been abolished. Nowhere is that stated in the Bible.  We offer tithe as our gratitude to God that He is the owner of everything we have including our lives. **Three that receive(d) Tithe: Melchizedek, Levites and Jesus our High Priest. ¬Anonymous¬

Yes, it is true we are not under the law. That is the judgment that we had because no one could keep the law. This does not mean we are free from its general way of life. Jesus said, “in the law it was stated do not kill. I say if you are angry with your brother without because you are in danger of judgment.” He said, “in old times you knew not to commit adultery, I say if you look with lust you have committed adultery already in your heart”.  (Matthew 5:21, 27)

I ask if the old testament principle was 10% what would Jesus say now? Love demands more than the law ever will. I don’t need the law, or Abraham to demand me to give at least 10%, My love for him demands much more than that. If you find the challenge to tithe, I recommend you consider your relationship. Would you not give your kids presents because it is not a law? Would you not give your wife an anniversary gift because it is man’s tradition? Why would anyone look at tithe and say I have been set free from that? ¬Anonymous¬

2. The Seed or Offerings

They are a free will offering, but the Bible gives the principle of the more you give, the more you will receive. (The more seeds a farmer sows, the more plants he harvests) An offering is a freewill gift.  God doesn’t set the amount, but He does command that you give something.  World missions, building programs, church initiatives, etc. are all examples of offerings.

Exodus 35:5    “Take ye from among you an offering unto the Lord: whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the Lord; gold, and silver, and brass,”

Exodus 35:29  “The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the Lord, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the Lord had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses.”

Deuteronomy 16:10   “And thou shalt keep the feast of weeks unto the Lord thy God with a tribute of a freewill offering of thine hand, which thou shalt give unto the Lord thy God, according as the Lord thy God hath blessed thee:”

Deuteronomy 23:23   “That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform; even a freewill offering, according as thou hast vowed unto the Lord thy God, which thou hast promised with thy mouth.”

“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:38

Where should you give your offerings or plant your seed? The Bible says that the source of your spiritual food should receive your offerings. “If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? ¹² If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more? ¹⁴ In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.” (1 Corinthians 9:11-12, 13)

Offerings take on many forms. The Lord Jesus offered Himself to go to the cross for us. Concerning monetary offerings, in 1 Chronicles 29 David gave an offering for the building of God’s house. This offering came from his own possessions. Then his leaders gave from their own possessions as well. In the New Testament 2 Corinthians 9:6-12 is an offering scripture.

Mark 4:8 – “Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.”

Ecclesiastes 11:6 –  Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let your hands not be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well.

Luke 21:1-4, Talks about the offerings of the rich and the widow woman. **Motive Matters**

Willing Offering in the Tabernacle:

• Offering was to be given by those whose heart prompted them to give – Exodus 25:1-2
• **Voluntary contribution for the tabernacle erection was not a direct command.
• v3-7 No amount was specified; each was to give as his heart prompted him.
• v1-2 The gifts were for God, “for me”, not for Moses, but God who had saved them.
• Exodus 35:22, 27 – Both men and women brought their offerings following the example of their leaders.
• v25-26; 36:4 – Women freely used their weaving skills, and “the skilled craftsmen” used their talents as an offering to the Lord.
• Exodus 35:29 – Everything was offered and the tabernacle erected as “the LORD through Moses had commanded.
• In enthusiasm, the people brought more than enough, until Moses retrained
• The same spirit in David’s time when he was preparing to build the temple (1 Chronicles 29:1-3).
• Lesson:
• Our giving should exceed that of the Israelites because Christ “was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty we might become rich” 2 Corinthians 8:9
• **If we give ourselves completely to the Lord, then our giving will be generous, sacrificial and willing. God loves a cheerful giver – 2 Corinthians 8:1-15, 9:6-7.
• Paul compares the church to a body in which every member has God given gifts and ministries to use for the benefit of God’s people – 1 Corinthians 12:1-31

Psalms 126:5 – 6 – Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. ⁶ Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.

1 Chronicles 29:1-20 – David makes provisions for the temple that Solomon was to build

3. The First Fruits

“Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year.” (Deuteronomy 14:22). The first fruits are usually done once a year or for every new blessing that you receive.

For example, the house of God should receive the full amount of your first salary that you get from your new job. An increase in your salary should also be given to your spiritual storehouse. Any new blessings that you receive count as a first fruit, so all these should be offered to God.

“Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.” (Proverbs 3:9-10).

First fruits, in the Old Testament is the best of the animal’s sacrifices, the land (best crops), fruit, honey, wine, wheat harvest, etc. (Exodus 23:19, 34:19, Lev 2:14, 23:20). In the New Testament we are a kind of first fruits of al he created (James 1:18).

Nehemiah 10:36 – “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.”

4. Alms Giving

Alms are for helping mankind through compassion and sympathy to the less fortunate and the needy. It could be money, food, clothing, shelter, etc.  But the Bible, says that alms should be given in secret protecting the dignity of those being helped and the intentions must be pure.

“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. ² “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ³ But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴ so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:1-4)

• Proverbs 3:27-28 – Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,when it is in your power to act.
• Acts 3:6 – Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”
• 1 Kings 17:7-16 – Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath – she sowed in tears to Elijah’s ministry, but reaped in joy.
• Proverbs 11:24-26 – ⁴ One person gives freely, yet gains even more;another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. ²⁵ A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. ²⁶ People curse the one who hoards grain, but they pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell.
• Proverbs 22:9 – The generous will themselves be blessed,for they share their food with the poor.
• Proverbs 25:14 – Like clouds and wind without rainis one who boasts of gifts never given.
• Proverbs 28:8 – Whoever increases wealth by taking interest or profit from the poor amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor.
• James 2:14-17 – ¹⁴ What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? ¹⁵ Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. ¹⁶ If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? ¹⁷ In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
• Proverbs 19:17 – Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.
• Proverbs 18:16 – A gift opens the way and ushers the giver into the presence of the great.
• Spiritual Law vs Natural Law: Sowing and reaping (Galatians 6)
• Titus 3: 4 Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives.
• Psalms 113:5 – Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely,
  who conduct their affairs with justice. v9 – They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor, their righteousness endures forever; their horn will be lifted high in honor.

(Matthew 6:1-4, Acts 10:1-4, Luke 3:11, Romans 12:8, 13, Hebrews 13:16, Deuteronomy 15:10-11, Proverbs 19:17, 22:9, 14:21, 31, 21:13. We all were poor but what the God has done for us through Jesus we are extremely wealthy.

5. Grace Giving

Grace giving is when God supernaturally enables you to give beyond your power.  It happens when God knows He can funnel money through you without you keeping it for yourself.  The Macedonians were able to give by grace in spite of deep poverty and great affliction.  The average Christian looks at their budget and tries to decide what they can afford to give.  The spiritual Christian prays and asks God what they should give.

Tithing is not mentioned much in the New Testament because God doesn’t want us to do only what is required.  He wants us to learn that He can work through us mightily when we yield to Him.  Goes beyond tithing. Tithing is the floor.  The least acceptable gift.  Grace giving is the ceiling.  It is supernatural giving empowered by God.  There is no limit as to how much God could give through you if you would surrender to Him.

2 Corinthians 8:7 “Therefore, as ye abound in everything, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.”

2 Corinthians 9:7–9   “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.” 

The more the law of God is transformed by the grace of God in our lives, we move from a sense of duty to a sense of delight. This is why really in the New Testament you don’t hear a whole lot about tithing, not because believers are not expected to give, they’re just expected to be a lot more generous because of the fullness of the work of Jesus that we celebrate.

Paul demonstrated this in writing to believers in Corinth and reflecting upon a group of very poor Christians in Thessalonica. And he wrote to believers in Corinth because he was trying to generate their interest in caring for a ministry to the poor believers in Jerusalem.

And here’s the way he motivated them, said, “We want you to know about the grace that came to believers in Macedonia, who, out of their extreme poverty and suffering, did not do as we expected. They gave themselves to the Lord, and then they asked us for the privilege of sharing in this offering.”

So in many ways, tithing is kind of the entrance level into a life of grace. The more the grace of the gospel captures my heart, the less I’m going to ask, “How much do I have to give,” but more, “How can I live more fully missionally, generously to the glory of God,” because of the lavish love, the great generosity, God’s lavished upon me in Jesus.

Jesus refocused attention on inward attitudes. He criticized some who went so far as to tithe tiny grains of spice — not because they tithed, but because they neglected the weightier matters of the law (Matt 23:23). He regarded stewardship of finances as an indication of trustworthiness with spiritual things (Luke 16:11), which were more important (Matt 6:19-20).

Nowhere does the New Testament require Christians to tithe in the sense of giving 10 percent, but it does reiterate many things associated with tithing: those who minister are entitled to receive support ( 1 Cor 9:14); the poor and needy should be cared for (1 Cor 16:1; Gal 2:10); those who give can trust God, as the source of all that is given (2 Cor 9:10), to supply their needs (2 Cor 9:8; Philippians 4:19); and giving should be done joyously (2 Cor 9:7).

The New Testament directs that taxes be paid to the state (Romans 13:6-7), which replaced Israel’s theocracy. Paul’s vocabulary and teaching suggest that giving is voluntary and that there is no set percentage. Following the example of Christ, who gave even his life (2 Cor 8:9), we should cheerfully give as much as we have decided (2 Cor 9:7) based on how much the Lord has prospered us (1 Cor 16:2), knowing that we reap in proportion to what we sow (2 Cor 9:6) and that we will ultimately give account for our deeds (Romans 14:12).

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:

Under the New Covenant, our salvation is not based upon our obedience to the 10 Commandments, but does that mean that we shouldn’t still follow them? Are they suddenly of no value? I think the same can be said of tithing. While you can debate all day long about whether or not it is a command for New Testament believers, there is no reason why it would not still provide a blessing just like it did in the Old Covenant.

Do The New Testament  Command Tithing?

Is tithing a new testament principle? Jesus does NOT command us to tithe.  But, that in no way means that we shouldn’t do it!

 “Many believers who don’t want to tithe say that there are no scriptures in the New Testament that tell us we (must) tithe. And I say there weren’t any scriptures for Abram and Jacob either. Why would there be scriptures to repeat for us to do something that God has ALREADY said can be done of one’s FREE WILL in exchange for a blessing? For those who don’t tithe, what are you doing that is scripturally superior to honor God sufficiently enough to warrant His favor and blessing in return?” ¬ Rev. Bill Miller

Is tithing required for Christians today?

“There is only one time in your Bible where tithing was a REQUIREMENT and that was during the fifteen hundred years before Jesus came while Israel was under the LAW.

Before that, there was a bigger picture of HONORING God with one’s substance. An honoring occurs when something that is of value to the one doing the giving is freely or voluntarily giving to someone as a sacrificial gesture of thanksgiving or appreciation. Is God worthy to be highly esteemed for what He has done and what He still does in our lives that we would specially HONOR Him for it? If it was that way before the LAW, how much more should He be esteemed under the New Covenant where we have been given a BETTER Covenant with all things in Christ (Hebrews 8:6)?

Even during the LAW where a specific form of tithing was REQUIRED, it was only for some of the people. There was never a universal tenth that was REQUIRED from everybody. In addition, even during that time after the tithe was instituted at the beginning of the Israelites’ second year in the wilderness, God PREFERRED freewill offerings. Study all this out for yourself starting in Exodus 35:5. Giving to God is about HONORING Him for the great things He has done in our lives. It ALWAYS has been that way even under the LAW. We are not REQUIRED to tithe under the New Covenant. But where is the scripture that says we can stop honoring God under the New Covenant?”

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 Can You Be Blessed Without Tithing?

There is undoubtedly a blessing that comes to givers. “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. –Luke 6:38 (NIV)

Tithing the first fruits

“It always requires faith to give the first. That’s why so few Christians experience the blessings of tithing.  It means giving to God before you see if you are going to have enough. By tithing, it is as if we are saying to God, ‘I recognize You first. I am putting You first in my life, and I trust You to take care of the rest of the things in my life.’ That is why tithing is so important.  It is the primary way we acknowledge that God is first.” Robert Morris : https://amzn.to/2HJKkM6

Some other few scriptures for diving more into this: Exodus 13, Deut 18:4, Romans 11:16, Exodus 23:19

Tithing is a heart test

Tithing is the one area where God says that we can test Him. But, tithing is really a test for us.  If you do a Bible study on the number 10, you will see a pattern with it: it often represents a form of testing.

 “How many times did God test Pharaoh’s heart?  The answer is 10. How many commandments are there? … How many times did God test Israel while they were wandering in the wilderness?  And how many times did God test Jacob’s heart (by allowing his wages to be changed) when he was working for Laban? Or how many days was Daniel tested in (Daniel 1)? In each case, the answer is, of course, 10…

In Matthew 25, 10 virgins had their preparedness tested. Ten days of testing are mentioned in Rev 2:10… the number 10 is associated with testing throughout the Bible. And the tithe represents the ultimate ‘heart test’ for the believer.” Robert Morris

***We can’t go wrong giving more.  We cannot outgive God. Tithing is about giving.  God is all about giving, John 3:16 says He loved the world (you!)

HOW DO YOU TREAT GOD? – MALACHI 1:

v6 “A son honors his father, and a slave his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?” says the Lord Almighty. “It is you priests who show contempt for my name. “But you ask, ‘How have we shown contempt for your name?’ v7 “By offering defiled food on my altar. “But you ask, ‘How have we defiled you?’ “By saying that the Lord’s table is contemptible. When you offer blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? v8 When you sacrifice lame or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?” says the Lord Almighty. Malachi 1:6-8

(The priests had been given detailed instructions by Moses on proper sacrifices (Leviticus 22:17–33). Instead, they were offering sick, crippled, or otherwise impure animals. The quality of their offerings was so poor that even a human government official would not have taken them (Malachi 1:8). Likewise, their attitude is bitter and lazy (Malachi 1:13). These are both an insult to God).

They were lighting useless fires on the altar v10🔥(God had refused their sacrifices)

(God’s response to this is a rejection of Israel’s worship. In fact, God says He would rather the priests offer no sacrifices at all, rather than improper ones (Malachi 1:10). The sin of bringing God apathetic, selfish, or profane worship is worse than offering no worship at all)

***Ref: Amos 5:21-25 – 21 “I hate; I despise your religious festivals; your assemblies are a stench to me. 22 Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them. 23 Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps.”

(Israel’s spiritual leaders know what to do, but they find it too much trouble (Malachi 1:13). As a result, God warns them that He will be honoured properly, even by the—supposedly—unclean Gentiles (Malachi 1:11))

v12 They were saying it’s all right to defile the Lord’s table…. serving God/offering sacrifices was a burden to them- too hard. v13 They would bring the injured, lame and sick animals (NLT talks of stolen, crippled and sick). v14 The Lord is a Great King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies and would not accept such. Cheats would promise a fine ram and make a vow to offer it, but when the day came they would bring the blemished animal bringing a curse on themselves.

 MALACHI 3:6-12

The people in Malachi’s day had treated God badly by robbing from him. They had become bored with God. Their worship had turned from relational to ritual. As a result, they offered blemished sacrifices (1:6-14); the priests had become unfaithful (2:1-9); divorce was commonplace and easy (2:10-17); their words wearied God (2:17); businessmen were defrauding their workers, cheating their customers and taking advantage of widows, orphans and aliens (3:1-5).

But the most egregious treatment of God was that they were robbing God (3:6-12). How? By withholding their tithes, by giving the worst instead of the best, by giving the least and not the most. Their attitude was, “How little can I give and still keep God happy?”

In the Old Testament Law there were actually three tithes. The one to which Malachi referred was for the priests. A second tithe helped celebrate the annual sacred feast. The people used these funds to throw a party in honor of God. And then every third year the people would give another ten percent to help the poor. When you add that together, that equals about 23 percent of a household’s income.

The tithe was recognized as God’s. We should always refer to it as God’s tithe not my tithe.

The curse came from disobedience (v. 9) “You are suffering under a curse, yet you – the whole nation – are still robbing Me” (Mal. 3:9).  We rest in the new covenant Christ initiated in His blood. He freed us from the curse of keeping the law. And it’s because of what He did for us that we should willingly and gladly obey.

The storehouse represents God’s work (v. 10)

“Bring the full tenth into the storehouse so that there may be food in My house” (Mal. 3:10). In Israel the people brought their tithes of grain, olives, wine, and meat to be store in the Temple. These goods supported the priests and Levites, those serving God vocationally, since they did not have other jobs. The goods also met the needs of the poor in the community. And, thirdly, these goods met the expenses of the Temple operations.

**Giving has always been God’s way of financing his church. God expected his people to return to support the church with part of their income.

The purpose of the tithe is to support God’s work, but the primary purpose for the tithe is to put God first in our lives. God had a special purpose in asking for the tenth. It was to teach his people to put him first. “Each year you are to set aside a tenth of all the produce grown in your fields . . . so that you will always learn to fear the LORD your God” (Deuteronomy 14:22-23).

When we put God first in our giving, He will be first in every area of life. This simple truth is the heart of giving. We pay God first. Too many reverse this process. If there’s anything left, they give some to God. This is what was happening in Malachi’s day. They were giving God the leftovers and, as a result, robbing God.

The test challenges God to bless (v. 10)

‘Test Me in this way,’ says the LORD of Hosts” (Mal. 3:10). God challenged His people to give according to the Law so that He could bless them. This is the only time in Bible where God puts out that kind of challenge? Too often we get hung up on the amount and miss the promise. If we can trust God for our eternal destiny, don’t you think we can trust God with our careers, our finances, and our giving?

The blessings are out of this world (v. 10)

“‘See if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out a blessing for you without measure’” (Mal. 3:10). This is an amazing passage of Scripture.

***In a giving match, the fact remains that you and I cannot out-give God. When we rob from God we are actually robbing from ourselves. We are robbing ourselves of spiritual blessings, of God’s provisions, of a church that can meet the needs of others.

God looks at the heart of our giving

Your heart speaks louder than the amount that you give. Your money is a part of you so what you do with it says a lot about your heart.

Mark 12:42-44 “But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything–all she had to live on.”

Matthew 6:21 “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

God does bless people with more than enough.

We must never give because we think God will give us more. No! This should not be the reason behind our giving. Often giving requires us to live beneath our means. God does indeed keep those with a generous heart financially secure because they are trusting Him with their finances. Also, God does bless people with the talent of giving. He gives them a desire to freely give and He blesses them with more than enough to help those in need.

1Tim. 6:17 “Command those who are rich in this world’s goods not to be haughty or to set their hope on riches, which are uncertain, but on God who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment.”

2 Corinthians 9:8 “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”

 Proverbs 11:25 “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”

The gospel leads to making sacrifices with our money.

When we make sacrifices that cost us we learn to be more selfless. We become better stewards with God’s resources. Sometimes God is going to ask you to dip into your savings and give more than usual.

2 Samuel 24:24 “But the king replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the LORD. my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them.”

Hebrews 13:16 “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”

Romans 12:13 “Share with the saints who are in need. Practice hospitality.”

Corinthians 8:2-3 “During a severe testing by affliction, their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed into the wealth of their generosity. I testify that, on their own, according to their ability and beyond their ability.”

Giving your time.

It’s one thing to give money, but it’s another thing to give time. Time is priceless. We are always busy doing the next thing that we neglect those who God has put in our lives. We neglect the man who wants to be heard for 15 minutes. We neglect the woman who needs to hear the gospel. We are always in a rush to do things that benefit us.

Love thinks about others. We should volunteer more, listen more, witness more, help out our closest friends more, help those who can’t help themselves more, spend time with our families more, and spend time with God more. Giving time humbles us. It allows us to see the beauty of Christ and how blessed that we are. Also, giving time allows us to connect with others and spread the love of God.

Colossians 4:5 “Behave wisely toward outsiders, making the best use of your time.”

***2 Corinthians 9:7 “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

There are times when not to give.

It is so easy for believers to be taken advantage of. Some people have money, but would rather spend your money. Some people are just lazy moochers. Believers should give, but we should not keep giving to someone who is making no effort to help themselves. It is possible that we can help people to remain content in their laziness.

2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 “For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.”

VERSES ON GIVING:

Romans 12:6-8 –  If your gift is giving then give generously.

Acts 20:35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’

Romans 15:26 – Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the Lord’s people in Jerusalem.

Proverbs 11:24 -25 – One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. v25 – A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.

Order in giving:

1 Corinthians 16:1-4.  v2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made Setting aside and saving in accordance to one’s income.

2 Corinthians 9:4-5. v4 For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to say anything about you—would be ashamed of having been so confident.

2 Corinthians 8: 2-5 – Grace given to the Macedonian Churches.  They were experiencing severe trial, had overflowing joy and extreme poverty but were very generous.

V3 They gave as much as they were able, even beyond their ability. v5 exceeding Paul’s expectations (Why?) They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then to Paul (Ministry). V 7 As we excel in everything i.e. in Faith, in Speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in Love – excel in this grace of giving. I.e. Demonstrate their faith by the way they live.

V12 – If the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.

** Spiritual maturity leads to material generosity*** The Corinthians were rich unlike the Macedonians.

V6 Collection called an act of grace.

V8 Paul would know how much that they gave

V14 It was their time of plenty – help, for in times of need others will help you too.

V16 -21 – Titus and another trustworthy man sent to receive the collection. (Representatives of the Churches) v 20-23 – Paul takes precaution concerning his handling of the offerings to avoid criticism (auditor)

2 Corinthians 9:6-15

Law of Sowing and Reaping:

• Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, whoever sows generously will also reap generously. (Also Luke 6: 38 – Give, and it will be given back to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured on your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you).

Freedom and Joy in Giving:

• Everyone should give what they have decide in their heart and not under compulsion/reluctantly for God loves a cheerful giver.
• Fear is an obstacle in giving – That if we give God, we won’t have enough for ourselves. But we should have faith that God will supply our needs as we rest on his promise: God can cause you to abound.

v8 “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good word”

 (Also says to the Philippians, “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Chirst Jesus – Philippians 4:19)

• V9 – The righteous man (Psalm 112:6-9) is full of faith and unafraid. Therefore, through his faith and confidence in the Lord, “he has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor (because he knows that the Lord will supply his needs), and his righteousness endures forever. e. You are given in order to give to others abundantly.
• V 12 – 15 – Giving makes God to be praised by the recipient.

V 10 God will not only supply you seed, but he will increase your store of seed. So that you can have more to give in his kingdom and see a greater harvest of your righteousness.

V 11 God makes us rich so that we can be generous in all occasions, which results to thanksgiving.

In Summary: What giving does:

1. It meets the needs of people v 12
2. Makes people whose needs are met to bring glory to the name of God v12 -13.
3. Is a ministry which proves your obedience to the good news of Christ or your confession of faith. V 13.
4. God counts my giving as righteousness unto me v 9
5. Receivers will pray for you affectionately v 14.

Haggai 1:2-11 – v5 “Give careful thought to your ways. ⁶ You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.”

v 7 – “Give careful thought to your ways.

NB: Giving is worship. Philippians 4: 18  – I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.

 ***Grace should make us more generous because Grace is based on better promises. Example is Barnabas who sold a field belonging to him and brought the money and set it at the apostles’ feet. – Acts 4:37

By Chaplain Stephen.