Learning To Tithe

Tithing

By Pastor A.L.Cobbs, Jr |  September 14, 2007

A woman gave her son Billy two quarters. One was for his Sunday School offering; the other was for an ice-cream cone.  On the way home from Sunday School,  Billy was flipping one quarter in the air and catching it on the way down. This happened eight times or so when all of a sudden Billy missed the catch and the quarter rolled down into the sewer and was gone.  Billy looked upward to heaven and prayed, "Sorry God."
 
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I GIVE NOTHING:  I cast a vote to close the church.

 

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I GIVE LESS: I have experienced a decrease in income or I have changed my priorities, or I question the need for the work the church is doing. 

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I GIVE LESS THAN ONE-TENTH OF MY INCOME: I do less than what was required of the poorest Jew.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I GIVE GRUDGINGLY: I find no joy in my giving. I am a disappointment to the Lord, for God loves a cheerful giver (II Cor.9:7) What would life be like if we listened to the instructions of God & did exactly what He said?   John 14:15 "If you love me, you will obey what I command."

 The message of Malachi to Israel...Obey God & be blessed in a great way!
Malachi 3:6-12 Robbing God
 
 
 
Malachi 3:8

What is the tithe?   The word tithe in Hebrew means "tenth."
Leviticus 27:30 "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 hold unto the Lord."

 *A tithe is 10% of your income given to God for His purposes. A tithe is a portion of what God has already giving to you!

 For example OT before the law:
*Genesis 14 ....Abraham gave a tenth to the priest Mel-chiz-edek.
*Genesis 28 ...Jacob pledges to give God a tenth of all that he receives.

 OT Law:
*The Israelites were required to give a tithe to the Levites. Num. 18:21, 24
*The tithe was taken from things like grain, fruits, & animals. Lev. 27:30-32

 New Testament: - Jesus commended tithing. Matthew 23:23 & Luke 18:11-13
 
*Paul taught it. I Corinthians 16:2

 Our relationship to Money is very important to God!
 
In Malachi days, many were guilty of disobedience & theft!
Many Christian today are stealing from God! Ironically they steal from themselves.

 What do they steal?  God's blessings, provision, protection thus hindering our relationship with God!
 
What's the big deal about tithing? Does it matter? Does it make a difference? Does God expect me to give a tithe of my income?

 When we are faithful & obedient in tithing: Several things take place:

1. We provide the resources for God's work.
It's an amazing thought but God has allowed...invites...& expects His children to be involved in kingdom work through their giving!
We see this truth throughout scripture......

 Luke 6:38 Jesus said.... give & it shall be given unto you!

1 Corinthians 16:1-2 Paul says when you come together you are to take a collection!
Now, about the collection for God's people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. Verse 2: On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.

 
2 Corinthians 9:6-9 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to.
 
 Matthew 5:17  The Fulfillment of the Law
"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
 
 

God's design is still in effect...He provides for His people through His people!
Quote: Abraham commenced it, Jacob continued it, Moses commanded it, Jesus commend it, Paul continued it, so who are we to discontinue it?

 

When we are faithful in tithing we provide the resources for God's work.  Camps; Revivals; Retreats; Mission trips; Counseling; Staffing; and Building Maintenance.

2. We testify to God's faithfulness. Our faithfulness testifies to the faithfulness of God.

Did you catch the promise here in Malachi 3? God says, "if you honor Me I will honor you...but....If you don't honor me I will not honor you!"

 When we are faithful in the area of giving in a non-verbal way, we are saying, "God I have found you faithful in this area of my life."

1 Corinthians 4:2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.
 
2 Timothy 2:13 if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself. 

 3. We honor Him & acknowledge that He is worthy of our worship.
The people & things in life that are important to you will always get two things from you...TIME & MONEY!

When we give to God our time & money it says that... "He is important to us. We acknowledge His worth. Our obedience is an act of worship."
It's sad but true, few give God any time & fewer give God any money.
Quote: Martin Luther said,......"When a person is converted 3 conversions are necessary. Head, Heart, Purse & of the 3 the Purse is the hardest."

1. Baptism is a profession of one's faith.
2. Giving a testimony is a profession of one's faith.
3. Taking communion is a profession of one's faith.
4. Worship is a profession of faith.
5. Obedience is a profession of your faith & giving is just that!
6.  Tithing is a profession of your faith.
 
Tithing...
*Speaks of your relationship with God.
*It speaks of obedience to His word.
*It speaks of His Lordship in your life.
 
 
 

 

 

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