Giving Back to God
Notes
Transcript
Are you Robbing God?
Are you Robbing God?
Tithe, offerings, giving, money,
All words that seem to be cuss words in the church, especially when the preacher preaches on them.
as a pastor, the last thing you want to do is preach on giving becasue you will always have that one or two that will say, “that’s all he cares about is money”
I am not preaching on this because no one is giving,
Im preaching on this because There are some that know they need to start and there are others that know that you can give more.
There are probably some in here that just will not give because of some preconceived notion
There are some here this morning that give but are not giving what God requires.
Maybe because they just dont see how they can and still get by or they just dont know what it is they should give.
There are some in here that give above and beyond what God requires and God is richly blessing them. Not because of the amount they give but because they are obedient to what God has told them to do.
Then there are those that what to give but are just unsure if tithing is really worth it.
Here in our text Malachi is having to deal with similar folk.
It was not easy being a Jew during this time...
The Jews were under the political dominion of Persia.
Harvests were poor and subject to locust damage
they had also became indifferent or resentful toward God.
Both the priests and the people were violating the stipulations of the Mosaic Law regarding sacrifices, tithes, and offerings.
The people’s hope in God’s promises had dimmed, and this was evidenced by their actions
(a) intermarriages with pagans,
b) divorce
(c) general moral behavior problems of neglect, expediency, and outright disobedience.
Sounds a lot like todays churches.
Craig A. Blaising, The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, 1985, 1, 1573.
Preachers today deal with the same kind of problems.
People have become cold and indifferent to the things of God
People place the world before God
People have become unfaithful to the Lord’s house
People have become selfish and unthankful, essentially robbing God of what he deserves!
Malachi has been dealing with the indiffrence of God’s people for the past two chapters.
They questioned God’s love 1:2
They feared man more than God 1:6-8
They offered cursed things unto God 1:10-14
They sinned with no remorse chapter 2
They robbed God of what was rightfully His Tithe’s and offering 3:8
So, What is tithe?
Why would one be robbing God if they dont give?
The word “tithe” actually comes from a Hebrew word that means “ten.”
A tithe is 10 percent of one’s grain, fruit, animals, or money (Lev. 27:30–34; Neh. 13:5).
You may not like to consider it, but there is a biblical mandate for you to tithe.
Throughout the OT there are examples after examples of people coming to the Lord’s house and tithing.
You say, yeah that was the Law we are not under the law, but under grace.
You are correct, we are not under the law but tithing did not start with the mosaic law, it started back with with cain and able.
They brought their first fruits to God
You say that is nice, but the NT doesnt tell me that I have to tithe.
You are right it does not specifically use the word ‘tithe’.
But, Paul gives instruction to the NT Churches that they should give as God has prospered them. 1Cor.16:1-3.
This is what we call grace giving.
I would say this is above and beyond ten percent.
Jesus gave several examples of tithing.
The widows mite
Mary and the Alabaster box
the ten servants (they brought to the master what they made)
And many more
Now, You may choose not to tithe, and that is fine but, in the end, you are only hurting yourself
That is what God was warning them of in verses 9 and 11.
Can I just say, You cannot out-give the Lord,
and if you give with a cheerful and willing heart, He will bless you.
I realize that we have experienced some difficult economic times in recent years and most if not all of us have felt it in the pocketbook.
It is no surprise that when times are tough, it affects the church.
When money is tight, the tithe is usually the first to come off the budget.
The average church could accomplish much more then it is and would even need to look for new areas of ministry if people would just give as God requires.
A little girl was given two dollars by her father. He told her that she could do anything she wanted with one and that the other was to be given to God on Sunday at church. The girl nodded in agreement and asked if she could go to the candy store. With visions of all that she could buy with her dollar, she happily skipped toward the store, holding tightly to the two dollars in her hand. As she was skipping along, she tripped and fell and the wind blew one of the dollars into a storm drain at the curb. Picking herself up, the little girl looked at the dollar still in her hand and then at the storm drain and said, “Well, Lord, there goes your dollar.”
Sadly, many Christians have the same attitude toward giving.
It is Me First, then if there is enough, God.
we tend to give people our best and God our last
I want to start a two part mini series this morning on Giving Back to God.
This morning we will look at tithing and next week we will look at sacrificial giving or offering.
So Using this passage in Malachi as our text, I want to examine the biblical principles regarding tithing as we consider
Giving back to God: Are you a Robbing Him?
I. The Problem with Tithing
I. The Problem with Tithing
(8)—Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
God asks two rhetorical questions here.
will a man rob God
wherein have we robbed thee
God asked these questions to get their attention.
If God would have said, Will a man not give to God? the people would say why give to him, he has everything
But to say you have robbed God, gets their attention.
God did not need their tithes and offerings he needed them to be faithful and obedient.
The giving of tithes and offerings is pleasing unto the Lord.
We are without question a blessed people.
God has met our needs and many of our wants.
The child of God should be mindful of these blessings.
However, there are many who choose not to honor God with His tithe.
We would never think of taking something that isn’t ours.
We were taught as children not to steal.
It is the 8th commandment; Thou shalt not steal.
Even though we know this, many are guilty of robbing God!
It is foolish to think that God isn’t aware of what we owe Him.
I don’t know your salary; it’s none of my business, but God does and it is His business.
Consider the events in Acts 5:1–11.
It is evident that God views our honesty and attitude in tithing a serious matter.
If you are not tithing, you are robbing God.
That is a serious problem.
Have you considered that if you willingly gave God what he has asked for, He may allow you to have more with less?
I’m not saying bargain with God, but He will honor what you give Him when you do it with a pure and cheerful heart.
II. The Pattern for Tithing
II. The Pattern for Tithing
(10a)—Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse.
The matter of tithing is ordained of God; this isn’t just a Baptist thing. It is a Child of God thing.
Many think we only want their money.
I am not telling you to give, God is!
This began before the law was given.
In Gen. 14:19–20 we find Abraham giving tithes.
Genesis 14:19–20 (KJV 1900)
And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
Jacob continued this worship by giving 10 %. Gen. 28:22
And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.
Moses commanded the tithe as part of God’s law. Lev. 27:30–33
Leviticus 27:30–33 (KJV 1900)
And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s: it is holy unto the Lord. And if a man will at all redeem ought of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof. And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the Lord. He shall not search whether it be good or bad, neither shall he change it: and if he change it at all, then both it and the change thereof shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.
Paul gave us insight to tithing in 1 Cor. 16:1–2
1 Corinthians 16:1–2 (KJV 1900)
Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
By this we see:
A. Tithing is Continual
A. Tithing is Continual
—They were commanded to give on the 1st day of the week, the Lord’s day.
It should be the conviction of every Christian to give continually and consistently.
We don’t pay the power bill or mortgage only when we choose.
God deserves and expects His as well.
B. Tithing is Universal
B. Tithing is Universal
—The call to tithe included everyone.
Tithing isn’t just for the pastor, deacons, or church officers; we are all included.
I believe we should encourage our children to tithe wages of summer jobs, birthday money, allowance.
We need to instill their responsibility to giving unto to God
C. Tithing is Provisional
C. Tithing is Provisional
—We are to give as God has prospered us.
He just wants you to give as He has given you.
The amount of 10% is generally accepted, but God has blessed some who could give more.
I would encourage you to give as God leads and as He has blessed you.
He will honor your gift.
The widow’s mites were more in the eyes of the Lord than the riches of the wealthy.
In the Old Testament, God allowed the poor to bring two turtle doves or pigeons as a sacrifice instead of a ram or bullock. Give as you have received.
III. The Purpose of Tithing
III. The Purpose of Tithing
(10b)—Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house.
What is the purpose of tithing?
Why do we do it?
God owns it all anyway; why does He need my money?
Let’s look and see:
A. Its Part of Your Worship
A. Its Part of Your Worship
—It is actually a privilege to pay our tithes.
It is a means by which we worship God for His abundance.
By giving, we recognize that He owns it and we owe it.
We are, in fact, praising God for His blessings.
This must be done properly if our tithe is to honor Him.
It does not matter if your ten percent is ten dollars or 100 dollars
If you are giving without the approval of man and are giving because You just want to thank him for all He has given you. Then you are giving with a pure heart and God will bless you for that.
B. Its Your Part of the Work
B. Its Your Part of the Work
—Tithing is the Biblical method of financing God’s work.
It is an honor to be a part of God’s work.
Your tithe helps Victory carry out the work God has called us to do.
Tithes help support the pastor and family
Tithes purchase Bibles and gospel liture
it keeps the lights on and gives you a comfortable place to sit.
it gives you the ability to not miss a service if you are unable to attend
It helps reach souls for Christ
and much much more.
If the giving stops the ministry stops.
God has chosen to use people like you and I to fund the ministries of this church.
I dont think it is the worlds responsibility to help fund this ministry.
If God wants it done, He will use His people to fund it.
Is it worth thithing?
I dont know, but I sure dont want to be robbing the one that supplies my every need.
C. It is Part of Your Witness
C. It is Part of Your Witness
—Tithing helps develop a sense of responsibility to God.
it really isn’t about your money, it is about obedience.
God is well able to multiply the gift you give.
If God desires for this work to continue, no matter what He will continue it with or without your money.
He is more concerned with the giver than the gift.
God wants you to tithe because you want to.
If you begrudge your tithe or consider it a burden, you have missed what God desires.
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
IV. The Promise of Tithing
IV. The Promise of Tithing
(10)—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.
God has promised to open the windows of heaven for those who tithe with a pure heart.
Remember, this isn’t about bargaining with God.
We cannot give to God just so He will bless us; but, if we obey Him, He will reward us.
It may not be in the form of more money in your account
verse 11 shows us that it may just be
that your tires last a little longer
the washer that was on its last lag may last another year
The widow woman only had one handful of meal and a little oil.
She was simply going to make a cake for her and her son and die, but she obeyed God’s command and God did not fill her barrel he just supplied her need every day.
Illus. To the world, giving to God during our worst financial time of life would look stupid, but not giving is even more ridicules. When heather was taken out of work, we went from making 75 thousand plus to 40 over night. Our house was almost up for foreclosur, we were robing peter to pay paul just to have a warm house and food on the table, but one thing we never did was stop giving. It was during this time that both heather and I realized that God never forsakes His own. God is faithful to those that are faithful and obedient.
One thing that I want to make clear, If you are giving to God only so you can recieve his blessing , stop giving.
Giving should come from a desire to please God.
God only askes for 10 percent of what is rightfully His.
He could have asked for 90 and only given you 10.
I think The Psalmist says it best:
I have been young, and now am old; Yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his seed begging bread.
God will never let His own go without
Dont rob God from blessing you
Giving back to God: Are you robbing Him?
Is tithing really worth it? I dont know, why dont you be obedient to Him and allow Him to answer that question.
Conclusion:
I don’t know where you stand on tithing, but it is clearly a biblical principle.
I would encourage you to give unto the Lord.
If you would simply give God what He has commanded, He will meet your needs.
There are many who have missed out on blessings of God because they were unwilling to give Him their tithe.
Giving Back to God: Is is really worth it?
Wont you come this morning and ask God to strengthen your faith in giving back to Him
Maybe you are here and you give like you should but you know that you have never given of yourself to God becasue you have never recieved His Son as your Savior.
Wont you come this morning and Christ will meet you this morning and you can give him your all.