Matters of the Heart Part 2
Notes
Transcript
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Do you know where the battle between God’s blessed will for my life and chaotic drama of this life lies? In my heart! If God owns my heart, He has all of me. My treasure is Him. Listen to the parable Jesus taught His disciples and Lannie just a few weeks ago: Matthew 13:44
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
What do we treasure? I ask myself this often. Do I treasure the kingdom of God above every other thing? I am I willing to give my earthly possession to obtain it? When I say obtain, I mean to be conformed to likeness of Jesus Christ, not miss hell. If all we want to do is miss hell, we found a ticket not a treasure. There is so much more to the kingdom than escaping punishment!
Jesus spoke about money more than any other topic except the Kingdom of God, because:
So much of our life centers around money.
So much of our life is spent pursuing money to provide for our families.
And, primarily he taught so much on money because of the danger of it becoming our god.
Last week I gave you three disclaimers and I want to remind you of those before preaching this message. I also want to say that if you didn’t hear last week’s message, reserve your judgment of this message until you go back and watch last week’s on Facebook or YouTube. 3 disclaimers:
One, I believe Christians want to give. They want to join other believers in contributing towards the work God has given all of us through the church.
Two, I know some of you are going through tough times and what may be a recession to some is a depression for you. I know we are living in a season of inflation and worldly greed that is making it more difficult than ever to live and give.
Third, I believe the principles I’m teaching you today will help you.
Last week we traced tithing back to the OT through the NT. And showed how Abraham commenced it, Jacob continued it before the law, Moses confirmed it in the law, Jesus commended it, and the church celebrated it in the NT. So, today we want to look at the principles of tithing.
“Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try 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 such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it. “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” Says the Lord of hosts; And all nations will call you blessed, For you will be a delightful land,” Says the Lord of hosts.
The Tithing Principle.
The Tithing Principle.
This verse begins with what I believe is a rhetorical question. “Will a man rob God?” I mean if I’m gonna rob someone its not gonna be someone who is omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent.
If I’m gonna rob someone it will be someone I think I have a chance of not getting caught right?
They had robbed Him by failing to bring their tithes and offerings. What are those?
A tithe was a tenth of the first of their crop or animals. It’s a measurement or standard. Offerings are everything above that.
For us it is a starting point for obedience. I love what one said; it is not an equal offering because you’re tenth may be more than mine, but it is equal sacrifice because we both gave the same proportion.
In the OT it was when the crops came in and the people gathered at the temple. In the New Testament Paul instructed them to set that apart first when they received their income and to give it when the church met. 1 Corinthians 16:1-2
Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.
Depending on how we receive income this can look different for all of us. I recommend if 10% seems impossible start somewhere and strive for the standard or above. I know this is scary for some that’s why the Christian life takes faith.
James Cash Penney, the founder of JC Penney’s, became a born-again Christian after hearing the hymn “God Will Take Care of You” written by Civilla D. Martin. Penney closed his stores on Sunday allowing his employees to go to church and he began to tithe of his wealth and income. It is told that he increased his giving until he was living off of 10% and giving 90% of his income to the work of the kingdom. It is interesting to me that since his death the enterprise that he built struggles to survive with 100% percent and 7 days a week.
There’s a principle! When God is first in your finances you can’t lose.
The Tithing Problem.
The Tithing Problem.
The tithing problem is if we don’t honor God with our income, then we essentially excommunicate Him from our finances. Notice Malachi 3:9
You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation.
First, we bring a curse upon ourselves, which I believe is simply the absence of God’s blessing.
Second, when we tithe God rebukes the devourer. Malachi 3:11
“And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” Says the Lord of hosts;
I have found this to be true. If we don’t honor God with what we have, we will need more because our stuff won’t last.
This is truth, its up to you whether you accept it or not. In Kingdom economic 90% will go further than 100%
Listen to Proverbs 3:5-10
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones. Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.
If you want to be blessed, ask God into your financial situation. Partner with Him in kingdom work and it’ll be a partnership you never regret.
The Tithing Promise.
The Tithing Promise.
We are taught not to put God to the test, and there is only one place where we are challenged by God to test Him. Here in Malachi 3:10
Malachi 3:10 (NKJV)
Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try 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 such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.
He gives us the place to bring our tithes. The storehouse was a place build onto the temple to hold the tithes and offerings the people brought for later use. Feed the priest, continue the sacrifices, and provide for the worship of God. It is a reflective of the church and the work of making disciples as Jesus commanded us.
Then the Lord says try me out on this and see if I don’t open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing on you.
Jesus said it this way in the New Testament. Luke 6:38
Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”
The measure we use will be used for us. Tightfisted or open hand.
Paul said this in 2 Corinthians 9:6-8
But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
I speak from experience and I know others can too. I can’t afford not to tithe. I’m not preaching on tithing today because I want your money. I learned long ago that God is the one who provides for me. I can’t make or keep a coin without His divine assistance. I’m preaching on it because I want you to be obedient, faithful, and BLESSED. I want you to be a disciple.
Let’s pray!