"Moreover, It Is Required In Stewards, That A Man Be Found Faithful.”

In this sermon we are going to be dealing with stewardship.

Many have come to believe that stewardship is OPTIONAL. But the Bible says, it is REQUIRED.

There is a lot of ignorance concerning the Word of God and what it teaches.

Illus: When it comes to ignorance in the scriptures this reminds me of the Sunday school teacher that was teaching her Sunday school class about the Jericho walls falling down.

She noticed little Johnny a question, “WHO TORE DOWN THE JERICHO WALLS.”

Littlle Johnny said, “I do not know teacher, but I did not do it”

The teacher was concern that Johnny did not know who tore down the Jericho walls.

She expressed her concern to a deacon that she ask little Johnny who tore down the Jericho wall and the deacon said to the teacher… “I know Johnny is a good boy and if he said he did not do it, I BELIEVE HIM!!!

This really got the teacher concern that little Johnny or the deacon did not know who tore down the Jericho walls.

So, she went to the preacher with this concern and when she explained that Little Johnny nor the deacon did not know who tore down the Jericho walls this really concern her greatly!

She was so concern she went to the pastor and explained to him the situation that little Johnny nor the deacon who knew who tore down the Jericho walls.

So the pastor said to the teacher, HOW MUCH WILL IT COST TO REBUILD IT!!!

There is a lot of ignorance about what the Bible teaches about stewardship in the scriptures in the congregation and in the pulpit.

Allow me to show you two things the Bible teaches about stewardship.

(1) I would like to remind you that stewardship is taught in both the OLD and the NEW TESTAMENTS.

In Matthew 23, Jesus rebuked the scribes and Pharisees for what they were NOT DOING, while He praised them for what THEY WERE DOING.

He noted that they were careful to tithe of every plant that produced condiments like mint, anise, and cummin.

He then gave affirmation to their tithing by saying in Matthew 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

That is, He did not tell them not to tithe anymore because that was only for Old Testament days. He said when it comes to tithing this is what you i

(2) Also, I would like to remind you that WE ARE PARTNERS WITH GOD! WE CAN DO NOTHING WITHOUT GOD!

We see in the Old Testament, as God provided His people with healthy bodies and strength to work,

He commanded them through the prophet Malachi, to bring all His tithes into His STOREHOUSE, “...that there may be meat in mine house...”

WHAT IS THE STORE HOUSE OF GOD?

God has created three things for the survival of mankind…

(1) Government

(2) Marriage

(3) Church

All three of these things are important to the survival of mankind.

Illus: But suppose an American citizens gets all the benefits of living in America decides to pay half their taxes to another country and only give half to America that provides all of the benefits to.

That would be ridiculous for an American to do such a thing.

The STORE HOUSE OF GOD IS THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH.

A Church cannot survive without God’s tithes that is why God tells us that tithing is not optional but REQUIRED!!!

It is a place where Christians have a place to WORSHIP IN THE HOUSE OF GOD AND ARE FED SPIRITUAL FOOD.

God’s Word tells us bring ye ALL INTO THE STOREHOUSE OF GOD.

Look at the word ALL, which means ALL!!!

As God provides us with strong bodies, and strength to make money, He expects us to be trustworthy partners by giving Him His portion.

It is critical that Christians recognize that God’s church that preaches the word of God would not be possible if God’s people did not meet this requirement.

Illus: These people who send money to all these false preachers on television would not be there preaching all this heresy if was not for the ignorance of God’s people.

This is why God commanded, I Cor. 16:1-2, “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.”

That is, EVERY ONE OF YOU, AS GOD HAS PROSPERED YOU, GIVE. You do not have to be concerned about giving like the millionaire. Just tithe off of what He has blessed you with.