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“The Stewardship of Tithing”
Introduction: In I Peter 4:10 we read, "As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." In the Bible, a steward is a person who has been given the management of His master’s affairs. Our Master, the Lord Jesus, has entrusted us with the management of His affairs. This morning, I want to address the area of STEWARDSHIP to what the Bible calls TITHING. A study of the Bible shows God appealing to the mind, the will, and the heart of man to pay the TITHE, the FIRST ONE-TENTH of his earnings to the Lord’s work. In the Bible, TITHING goes back to the opening chapters of Genesis, and continues into the New Testament, and on down to our own time.
As we begin, let me appeal to your heart with this very provocative statement.
“Studies conducted over the past several years indicate the percentage of regular church attendees who give 10% or more of their income – a “tithe” – to their church is dropping. These surveys, since the turn of the century, have consistently indicated that percentage to be less than one out of every ten – and that is among self-proclaimed Christians who describe themselves as “deeply religious” or “absolutely committed to the Christian faith.” The report, by the Christian pollster Barna Group, stated that 80% of monies contributed to Bible believing churches came from 20% of their members. Further that the remaining 20% of monies came from 30% of the members, and that roughly half of the church members gave nothing at all.”
Does that sound right to you? Apparently, it is true. Certainly you know that the practice of TITHING is God’s way of providing for the work of His Church. Folks, let’s be realistic. It does take money to operate the church and to keep the CHURCH ALIVE, and the GOSPEL going forth. If we are going to fulfill the great commission and provide a place where the saints are FED the Word of God, and TRAINED to become servants of God, it will cost us in terms of our TIME, TALENTS and TITHES.
It takes money to send forth missionaries.
It takes money to make disciples of our people.
It takes money to purchase church literature.
It takes money to erect buildings and pay the cost of their upkeep.
It takes money to support Pastors and workers.
In I Corinthians 4:2, there is a challenge to be faithful in these areas, "Moreover, it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful."
The way we handle our money is perhaps the truest indicator of the spiritual condition of our heart. Although it is a subject we often feel awkward discussing, God’s Word places a great deal of emphasis on the matter of money and possessions.
Do you realize the Bible contains more than 500 references to PRAYER and almost 500 references to FAITH, but there are more than 2000 references to MONEY and POSSESSIONS?
Out of 38 PARABLES that Jesus told in the Gospels, a full 16 deal with how we handle our money. Jesus said more about money and possessions than about Heaven and Hell combined.
God’s work has always been supported by TITHES andOFFERINGS. Tithing is a universal principle. In Leviticus 27:30 we read, "And all the tithe … it is holy unto the LORD." All we have comes from the gracious hand of God, and good stewardship demands we give a tenth (the TITHE) back to God. We need to be challenged concerning our responsibility in this matter of the stewardship of TITHING. The giving of our TITHES andOFFERINGS is a matter of OBEDIENCE to God’s command. It is the RIGHT action, the HOLY action for us to take.
Now, when TITHES are mentioned in the Bible,
They are sometimes called the TENTH.
They are sometimes called the FIRSTFRUITS.
They are sometimes called the TITHES.
In this message, I want to point out to you SIX DIFFERENT TIMES in the scriptures, starting with Abraham and moving through to the New Jerusalem. I want to point out what each TIME has in common with the others.
First: The Time of the Patriarchs: This was the time of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The incident in question is found in Genesis 28:16-22 during the days of Jacob. Did you notice three times God’s house was mentioned?
In verse 17 Jacob said, "this is the house of God."
In verse 18 He said, "I am going to call this place Beth-el", which means the house of God.
In verse 22, He said, "And this stone shall be God’s house."
Three times Jacob mentioned the house of God and then he said in verse 22, "I will surely give THE TENTH unto Thee." Jacob was giving God the TENTH at the House of God.
Second: The time of the Wilderness Journey: After Israel had left the land of Egypt and crossed the Red Sea, they spent 40 years wandering in the wilderness. Please turn to Exodus 34:26 where we read, “The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring unto the house of the LORD thy God…”
The Jews had started their journey toward the Promised Land. Moses had been to Mt. Sinai, where he had received the Commandments. Now for the second time, the house of God is mentioned as the place where the TITHE (here called the firstfruits) was to be brought. Remember in the wilderness, the house of God was called the Tabernacle. They followed the Tabernacle everywhere they went, and they were told by God to bring the tithes into the house of God, which at the time was called the Tabernacle.
Third: The Time in the Land of Promise: The wilderness journey now completed, Israel is going into the Promised Land where they will receive instruction concerning the TITHE.
In Deuteronomy 12:10-11 we read, “But when ye go over Jordan, and dwell in the land which the LORD your God giveth you to inherit, and when he giveth you rest from all your enemies round about, so that ye dwell in safety; (11) Then there shall be a place which the LORD your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell there; thither shall ye bring all that I command you; your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, your tithes, and the heave offering of your hand, and all your choice vows which ye vow unto the LORD:” Did you notice in verse 11, "There shall be a place…" This would obviously be the house of God, called the Tabernacle at the time. Did you also notice "thither shall ye bring all that I command you…" Their TITHES were one of the things they were to bring.
In Deuteronomy 14:22-23 we read, “Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year. (23) And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always.” Notice again in verse 22 "Thou shalt truly TITHE all the increase of thy seed…" and then in verse 23 "they were to bring the TITHE in the place which God would choose to place His name." The place would have been the Tabernacle, since that was the place where God would meet with them.
Again God was giving instruction as to the TITHE. They were to bring the TITHE to the place, that being we believe the house of God which would have been the Tabernacle at the time.
Fourth: The Time of the Kings: After Israel came into the Promised Land, they were first ruled by Judges, and then they were ruled by Kings. Please turn with me to II Kings 12:4 where we read, “And Jehoash said to the priests, All the money of the dedicated things that is brought into the house of the LORD, even the money of every one that passeth the account, the money that every man is set at, and all the money that cometh into any man’s heart to bring into the house of the LORD,” Here again the money was to be brought into the house of the Lord. So far, I want you to notice that these passages repeatedly said TO BRING THE TITHE, not to just send it!
Fifth: The Time of Rebuilding: During the time of the Kings, the southern tribes of Judah began a seventy year period that is known as the Babylonian captivity. When the captivity ended, they rebuilt the temple, and the walls, as well as the entire city of Jerusalem. At this time, they were reminded of their responsibility:
FIRST: In Nehemiah 10:38 notice the phrase, "…bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God."
SECOND: In Nehemiah 13:10-12, notice again the phrase the "house of God" and "Then brought all Judah the tithe…"
The Jews were back from captivity, and again God was instructing them what to do about the TITHE. The Levites were the caretakers of the House of God. They were supposed to live on the tithes of God’s people. However the house of God was being forsaken because the Levites were working their fields. God told the rulers to "bring the tithes to the house of God."
THIRD: Malachi 3:8-10, again notice verse 10 "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meet in mine house…"
Here the Lord was rebuking His people for withholding the Tithes and the Offerings.
The OFFERINGS are gifts given over and above the TITHES.
The TITHES were required, the OFFERINGS were voluntary.
When we render our tithes, we look up to the Throne of Divine Government and say: "O God, we acknowledge Thee to be the Ruler of the universe and, therefore entitled to our tithes. We are grateful that in Thee, and in Thee alone, we live and move and have our being. Amen!"
When we bring our offering, we kneel in worship before the Throne of Divine grace and pray: "Our Father in response to Thy redeeming mercy, revealed in Jesus Christ, we bring the offerings of our sacrificial love and surrendered lives. Amen!"
God told them to bring the TITHES to His house, His house being the storehouse. The house of God has not always been known by the same term.
For a time it was the altar.
For a time it was the tabernacle, then the temple.
Today it is the church.
Wherever the house of God was, that was where the tithes were to be brought.
Six: The time of the Millennium: This is the period that is to come when Christ will reign for 1000 years as the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Turn with me to two passages of scripture found in Ezekiel.
Ezekiel 44:30, notice several words here, "FIRSTFRUITS", "shall be the priests," and "in thine house."
Ezekiel 48:10-11 notice the phrase, "…and the Sanctuary of the LORD shall be in the midst thereof. It shall be for the priests…"
The last part of Ezekiel deals with the rebuilding of the new temple in the Kingdom age, or what we call the Millennium. In the millennium God’s people will bring the tithes to the priest, who is in the sanctuary of the house of God.
These six TIMES have taken the Jewish people all the way from the patriarchs in Genesis, into the New Jerusalem of the millennium. In every era they brought the TITHES to whatever was called the house of God at the time.
Whether it was the altar; or
Whether it was the tabernacle, or the temple; or
Whether it is to be the sanctuary of the house of God in the millennium.
Do you think that God would require His people in all six of theses TIMES to bring the TITHES to His house and then change His mind in the New Testament era? God said, "I am the Lord thy God, I change not." Consider,
If Jacob was to bring his TITHE to the house of God,
If the Jews in the wilderness were to bring their TITHES to the house of God,
If the Jews in the Promise Land were to bring their TITHES to the house of God,
If the Jews under the kings were to bring their TITHES to the house of God,
If the Israelites during the time of rebuilding were to bring their TITHES to the house of God, and If God wants TITHES to be brought into the house of God during the millennium,
Would you not think He would also want us to bring our TITHES in this age, the church age, to the house of God? On that question, go with me to I Corinthians 16:1-2 where we read, “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. (2) 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.”
Please notice the TIME of the giving "Upon the first day of the week." That refers to Sunday, the Lord’s Day.
Please notice the PLACE of our giving. "…lay in STORE"
The word store in the Greek is the same as the Hebrew word found in Malachi 3:10 for "storehouse." Remember in the Old Testament:
The storehouse during the patriarchal days was the ALTAR.
The storehouse beginning in Exodus 25 was the TABERNACLE.
The storehouse with Solomon became the TEMPLE.
The storehouse in the millennium will be the REBUILT TEMPLE.
These places are where the TITHES and OFFERINGS were given. They were the place of WORSHIP. They were the HOUSE OF GOD!
In the New Testament the HOUSE of GOD is the CHURCH where we come to worship and to bring our TITHES and OFFERINGS for His glory in order to carry out His work. I believe if every Christian was honest in their giving, there would be no need to plead for funds. Nor would there be any lack of funds to take care of the house of God.
Please notice also the PURPOSE of giving. "As God hath prospered him" This scripture teaches proportionate giving. We are to give as God has prospered us.
"Since God never leaves us to guess, when it comes to matters of faith and practice, why would He abandon us to our own decisions and devices when it concerns one of the most important areas in our whole human existence? Outside of eating, drinking, sleeping, and playing we spend the greater part of our lives earning money. The inescapable issue which follows this observation concerns the management of our money, once we acquire it. It is at this point that God breaks in with those words of prior claim: "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse."
When God said in Malachi 3, "Ye have robbed me in tithes and offering," what did he mean? One tenth of our income is already God’s, if we do not put that in the church, we are robbing God. If we make a vow to give a certain amount to a special fund, or vow to give more than the tenth, the amount of that vow becomes God’s just like the ten percent or tithe.
Someone may ask why this is so. The answer is clear. "Not only has God commanded that we give a tithe and offering, but, we live on God’s earth, drink God’s water, enjoy God’s sunshine, and breath God’s air. Consider the Tithe rent!"
God will not allow us to live on more than 90% of our income. A 10th of it belongs to God. If you make $2000 dollars a month $200 belongs to God. If you make $100 a week, $10 belongs to God. Neither you nor I have the right to divide it up and designate it as you choose. You and I are to regularly give our tithe unto the Lord in the house of God. There is nothing wrong with giving designated gifts as an offering over and above our tithe.
As we think through these scriptures, let me share the Testimony of the late Art DeMoss, founder of the National Liberty Corporation.
"I believe with all my heart there is a strong correlation between giving and spirituality. I have observed that they almost invariably go hand in hand. You say you give as much as you can afford, after taking care of your bills. Personally, I feel we might as well not give to God at all as to give merely what little we have left over. Unfortunately, that is about all that most of us give. However, God’s command in the Scripture is to give Him the firstfruits. Then invariably what we have left will go a great deal further, inasmuch as it will have God’s blessing upon it.
You say that it is impossible for you to give at least one tenth of your income because you do not now have enough money to meet all your obligations. Here enters God’s paradoxical principle of prosperity. If you need more, give more.
After Jesus saved me, I was ten’s of thousands of dollars in debt. However, the Lord saved me and promised to return to me with interest all that I gave Him. He has been faithful to that promise. All I had to do was put God first. The more time and money I gave Him, the more He gave me. He has been so good to me.
Giving, for the Christian, properly understood, is not man’s way of raising money; rather, it is God’s way of raising His children. When, as children of God, we agree to be co-labours together with Him in His great program of redemption by giving back to Him some of the resources which He has entrusted to us, we benefit far more than the recipient."
Please go back with me to Malachi 3:10, “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.” Notice again the promise of God. I believe God is saying, give as I have told you to give, and I will guarantee your every need will be met. God is saying, you give to me, and I WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU. You can believe it!
I don’t believe we can expect to see God send revival to this nation, apart from a spirit of sacrifice and a willingness to defy the god of materialism in our age by giving God everything. And when I speak of sacrificial giving,I mean giving that is measured and motivated by the CROSS OF CHRIST. It is nothing less then GIVING AT ITS BEST.
My prayer is that God will motivate you and I to be good stewards. To give of our TIME, our TALENTS, our TITHES, our LIVES, so that others may be brought to Christ and made spiritually rich in Him.
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If God has spoken to your heart after reading the sermon “The Stewardship of Tithing” then right now talk to God about what He has spoken to you.
Do you have the assurance that one day you will go to heaven? If you have no assurance that you know Jesus Christ, then I trust you will decide to accept Him as your personal Savior. The Bible tells us in
Acts 16:31, “…Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved…”
Romans 10:13, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
This prayer is here for those who need to ask Jesus to be their personal Savior: “I do want to go to Heaven. I know I am a sinner, and I do believe Jesus Christ died for me. I realize I cannot buy this great salvation, nor can I earn it. Knowing Jesus died on the cross and arose from the grave to pay my sin debt and to purchase my salvation, I do now trust Him as my Savior, and from this moment on I am completely depending on Him for my salvation.”
If you made the decision to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, would you please let me know? Please send me an e-mail to pdmikBBM@aol.com. and in return I will send you some literature that will help you in your Christian life.
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