STEWARDSHIP, TITHING & GIVING
OPENING:
This morning I want to talk to you about the topic of Stewardship, Tithing and Giving.
• This is a challenging topic because some people say, “The church just wants your money!” not to mention all of the abuses seen in TV preachers who manipulate people to give. But what saith the Scriptures?
• QUOTE: Jerry Cook writes, “The subject of money in the church world is loaded with emotional, legalism, fear, nonsense and borderline religious magic.”
• STATS: 16 of the 38 parables Jesus taught are about money. Jesus spoke more on the topic of money than he did heaven & hell combined.
• There are over 2,000 verses on money in the Bible & only 500 on prayer
• SCRIPTURE: “For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27).
• So far this year, I have shared with you God’s Word on relationships, knowing God, defeating discouragement, using your gifts, the death and resurrection of Jesus, Healing, the Kingdom of God, and more. Today, let’s talk about money!
I. STEWARDSHIP
Any discussion about money must begin with the topic of stewardship. What is that?
KEY TEXT:
“The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him.” (Psalm 24:1).
“In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth.” (Gen. 1:1).
“So God created man in His own image… Then God blessed them, and said, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it, have dominion…” (Gen. 1:27-28).
• QUOTE: Tom Gardner writes, “A steward is someone who has been entrusted with the resources of another… A steward stands in stark contrast to the consumer or user… The basis of stewardship is the recognition that God owns everything and we own nothing.” (Purses with Holes).
• It’s not just about money. God wants us to be good stewards of our time, talents, and our tithe.
BIBLE STORY: That illustrates the principle of stewardship
14 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. 16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. 18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ’Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ 21 His lord said to him, ’Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 22 He also who had received two talents came and said, ’Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ 23 His lord said to him, ’Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 24 Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ’Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’ 26 But his lord answered and said to him, ’You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’” (Matthew 25:14-30).
• We must remember that the Earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof.
• It all belongs to Him, and we must be good stewards of all He blesses us with!
II. TITHING:
1. Tithing was not a part of the OT law.
2. Abraham tithed before the Mosaic law was given (Gen. 14:20b).
3. Jacob also tithed before the law (Gen. 28:22).
4. So to say that “tithing is an OT law and we aren’t under the law” is not a valid statement.
5. Plus, Jesus endorsed tithing in two places – in Matthew 23:23 and 22:21
6. Finally, “All Scripture is inspired by God…” (2 Tim. 3:16).
KEY TEXT: “7 Yet from the days of your fathers You have gone away from My ordinances And have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you," Says the Lord of hosts. "But you said, ’In what way shall we return?’ 8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ’In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. 9 You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation. 10 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. 11 "And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes…” (Malachi 3:7-11).
1. The context of this passage is more than just money – “Return to God.”
2. When we don’t tithe, we are robbing God.
3. What is a tithe? 10% of our income.
STORY: I heard a story of a missionary in Africa who received a knock on the door of his hut one afternoon. Answering, the missionary found a native boy holding a large fish in his hands. The boy said, "Reverend, you taught us what tithing is, so here. I’ve brought you my tithe." As the missionary gratefully took the fish, he asked. "If this is your tithe, where are the other nine fish?" At this, the boy smiled and said, "Oh, they’re still back in the river. I’m going back to catch them now."
4. What is an offering? Anything over and above the tithe, offered freely.
5. Where do we tithe? The NT equivalent of the storehouse is the local church.
6. When we don’t tithe, we are under a curse: “You have sown much, and bring in little; You eat, but do not have enough… And he who earns wages, Earns wages to put into a bag with holes. ” (Haggai 1:6).
7. When we do obey God in this area, there is a blessing, “the windows of Heaven.”
8. QUOTE: “The principle of tithing is not magic… it must be married to good stewardship of the resources entrusted into our care and management.” (Tom Gardner).
9. In other words, what are you doing with the other 90% of your income?
II. GIVING:
The Christian life is to be a lifestyle of giving.
TEXT: “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” (Luke 6:38).
• Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35).
A. WHY PEOPLE DON’T GIVE:
1. Fear - that there will not be enough (poverty spirit)
2. Reaction to legalism - you can’t tell me what to do!
3. Ignorance - not knowing what the Bible says about giving
4. Lack of discipline - giving is a discipline of a disciple
5. Misplaced priorities - the consumer mentality of our generation
6. Poor choices - that’s why we need God’s Word to direct us
7. Crippling debt - inability – literally being crippled or hindered
8. Pride - keep up with the Joneses, live beyond means
B. WHY WE SHOULD GIVE:
1. Love for God - this should be our number one reason and motivation
2. Stewardship - the acknowledgement that God owns everything
3. Gratefulness - for what He has done in our lives
4. Trust God - Phil. 4:19 – trust in Jehovah-Jireh
5. Obedience - Jesus said if you love me, keep my commandments
6. Faithfulness - God’s (towards us) and ours (towards Him)
7. Worship - Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, your heart will be”
8. NOT just to receive - or just to be seen by others
CLOSING CHALLENGE:
• God calls us to be stewards of everything – our time, talents and finances
• God calls us to bring all our tithes into His storehouse
• God calls us to live a lifestyle of generous givers
Bibliography: “Purses with Holes” by Tom Gardner, pastor of Sunshine Hills Foursquare Church in Delta, BC, Canada. With gratitude for his mentoring on this topic!
Chris Jordan is the lead pastor of Beausejour Community Church in Beausejour, Manitoba, Canada.
For more sermon outlines, and online audio sermons, go to www.beausejourchurch.ca.
