Tithing One of the Most important Responsibilities of any true Believer Mat. 23:23-24 23: (Stewardship Day)
Una de las mas importantes Responsabilidades del verdadero Creyente
Numbers 18:21-32, Malc.3:8-12
Lev. 27:30-33, " ’A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD. 31 If a man redeems any of his tithe, he must add a fifth of the value to it. 32 The entire tithe of the herd and flock—every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd’s rod—will be holy to the LORD. 33 He must not pick out the good from the bad or make any substitution. If he does make a substitution, both the animal and its substitute become holy and cannot be redeemed.’ "
NT: "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. 24You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.
Intr.
1. When the builders of a proposed bridge across the Niagara Falls began construction many years ago, the first matter at hand was how to span the river w/ the suspension cables. Launching a simple kite, the builders were able to get a thin string across. Using the string, they drew a rope across, which was followed by a larger rope, then a small cable, and finally a cable heavy enough to use as support in building the bridge. When it was completed, the huge structure, that could support a train, showed no signs of having once been launched by a simple kite! (The Fast Tracks of Faith – Stewardship, Joseph Rodgers www.sermoncentral.com/sermon.asp?SermonID=64240)
2. This story makes me think about the saying that says: great things usually start small. It also says that to do a great work you must begin small and keep it simple. This is one fundamental truth in every sphere of our lives; and the same principle applies to our stewardship. We don’t need to start big, but we need to start at some point and we don’t have to make burdensome what God intends to be rewarding, fulfilling and exhilarating. This passage is an invitation to consider how our stewardship, or what our grade in the class called Stewardship would be?
3. Jesus is teaching his disciples during the last week of his life, and normally, when we know that the time is running out, you want to affirm few things that you consider to be important, critical, fundamental; so here is one of the most important principles and responsibilities of a true believer. Be a good Steward.
I. WE ARE STEWARDS/ SOMOS ADMINISTRADORES
A. WHO IS IN CHARGE/ QUIEN ESTA A CARGO
1. First of all, in order to be good stewards we need to realize that we are stewards. What does it mean to be stewards? Does it means that we are partially owners, and partially stewards or does it means that there is someone else who owns everything we seem to posses? You see, the question is not who owns what you have, but who is in charge? Who is on the throne? Who is honored by the way we administer the resources we have received?
2. What is the problem between Jesus and the Pharisees? Well, it seems that the Pharisees were hypocrites. What is a hypocrite? A hypocrite is someone who does things in appearance. One who hides behind a mask. The dictionary says that a hypocrite is a person who pretends to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs, principles, etc., that he or she does not actually possess. In this passage it is a person who fakes his love for God; who intents to show everyone that he or she loves God by doing things, but their heart is far away from God. In this passage the question is who is in charge of what you seem to have?
B. STEWARDSHIP INVOLVES EVERYTHING / LA ADMINISTRACION ENVUELVE TODO
1. Stewardship is not only about money, it is about a life that you live and it involves every area of your life. It involves your gifts, your talents, time, and money etc. stewardship has to do how you manage everything you have received. It is about giving to God the best of who we are and what we have received.
2. Let’s listen to the Scriptures: Psalm 24:1 The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; 2 for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters. Isaiah 45: 12 It is I who made the earth and created mankind upon it. ?My own hands stretched out the heavens; I marshaled their starry hosts. These passages imply that God is the creator and owner of everything that exist in the heavens and the earth and there is not any Biblical or legal document in which God gave us full power and ownership of what is his. That makes us just stewards, not owners.
Aplic. Does God have any right to ask us for what is his? What would you do in the same situation: you have a house and you allowed people to live there, but you actually pay the bills, and provide food, and health and every need, but the people that use the house use it without any regard, and start treating it as if it were theirs. What would you do?
II. TITHING IS NOT OPTIONAL/ DIEZMAR NO ES OPCIONAL
A. IT IS GOD’S PORTION/ ES LA PARTE QUE LE TOCA A DIOS
1. One of the things that attract me the most from this church was a phrase that uses to come in every bulletin: “Preaching the whole council of God.” Being a Christian person has to do with the whole council of God, not just with those parts that I want, or I need, or I like; but also with the whole council of God. This means talk about your commitment to God in terms of your money. Money is important to God too. So, when you read the Scriptures, tithing is not optional, since it is God’s portion. The word tithe means 10% of everything we receive.
2. Do not neglect it. In this passage, Jesus does not condemn the Pharisees or the Levites, or the teachers of the law for being faithful in giving to God what is his. You see, Jesus did not abolish tithing, but he encouraged it. Did Jesus understand that it was part of the law teachings? You see, there are many Christians that try to avoid tithing because they think that it is a legalistic teaching, part of the Law, and they are not under the law anymore. But Jesus is saying You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. According to Leviticus 27:30 ’A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD.
B. God Holds Every Person Accountable/ CADA PERSONA ES RESPONSABLES ANTE DIOS
1. How optional is tithing? Do you think that God will hold you accountable for what you have been bless with? In Mexico the farmers does something that illustrates the idea of tithing. These farmers own the land, and sometimes they rented out to other people to seed and to harvest. But the agreement is 50 and 50 for each one. When I think about this agreement; my agreement with God is a lot better. He is the one who gave life, health, a job, a family to share his blessings, etc. Actually, He is the one who puts 100%, I think you get the picture.
2. The question is, are we going to be accountable to God for everything we had received? In this passage Jesus recriminate the teacher of the law and the Pharisees, for not doing what they suppose. Daniel Webster was asked, ¡§What is the most profound thought you have ever had?¡¨ Webster replied, ¡§The most profound and important thought ever to occupy my mind is that I am individually accountable to almighty God.¡¨??Trans: Mr. Webster understood the reality that each of us will stand in judgement before the Lord and give an account for how we have managed the blessing.??Quote: To whom much is given much is required; but all will give an account for what they have been given.
APLI: God is the owner of everything we have, and everything we will ever get, is because of his grace. He has the right to ask us for what it his. We are, personally accountable to him for everything we had received. One day He will ask us about our stewardship job?
III. A COMPLETE VISION OF STEWARDSHIP/ UNA VISION COMPLETA DE LA ADMINISTRACION
A. IT IS PART OF YOUR SPIRITUAL MATURITY/ ES PARTE DE SU MADUREZ ESPIRITUAL
1. The third lesson that makes tithing One of the Most important Responsibilities of any true Believer; is because it completes the vision. You see, God requires you to tithe, but as evidence of what is in your heart. So, in order to complete the vision of stewardship, we need to understand that tithing is a matter of good spiritual relationship with God. You see, if we are able to obey in few things God will put us in charge of more and better things. But if we are not willing to recognize God’s lordship in every area of our lives, how can we expect God to bless us abundantly?
2. Good Stewardship reflects our spirituality. In this passage the problem Jesus saw in the Pharisees, was it that they were so worried about expressing their obedience to the Law, when in fact, they were neglecting the widow, the poor and the stranger. The Lord requires us (Mic. 6:8); to do justly, and love mercy, and humble ourselves by faith to walk with God. This is the obedience which is better than sacrifice or tithe; judgment is preferred before sacrifice, Isa. 1:11. To be just to the priests in their tithe, and yet to cheat and defraud every body else, is but to mock God, and deceive ourselves.
B. WHY IS TITHING IMPORTANT? PORQUE DIEZMAR ES IMPORTANTE?
1. Let me be clear here: you salvation does not depend on your tithing. You money nor all the money in the world can’t buy God’s favor. So, your salvation doesn’t depend on your tithing. Then, why tithe? Where is the benefit? By tithing you tell God a very important message; it is that you trust him, and that He is the Lord in every area of your life, and that there nothing you would not give up for him. Tithing or not tithing God’s love is unchangeable for you. So, your tithing doesn’t vary God love for you.
2. Your tithe is a visible demonstration of your love for God, it is a clear evidence of your commitment to him. It’s a degree of your maturity. It shows your dependence on him.
CONCL.
1. Can everybody tithe? I believe we must if we want to please God. If we want to see God’s glory in our lives, we must obey Him in every area of our lives, and that includes tithing. At the same time, if this is not your practice I want to challenge you today to test God. It is God who says 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the LORD Almighty. 12 "Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land," says the LORD Almighty. Maybe you need to start from a 2%. Test the Lord, or may be a 5%. Do you believe that God can bless you abundantly if you are faithful?
