I am so grateful for the book "The Blessed Life" by Robert Morris. I have many quotes and excerpts from the book. Great book on giving and tithing.
Living the Blessed Life: The Principle of Tithing
Theme: To teach people the proper attitude and view of tithing.
Text:
Introduction
As we begin this series of “Living the Blessed Life” my goal is to help you have a proper attitude toward giving unto the kingdom of God. Many times with talk about subjects like tithing, giving, or missions giving we seem to approach in a negative mandated type of attitude. We think about it as an obligation when the Lord wants us think about it as a joy. As an opportunity for God to do something great (blessed) in our lives as surrender part of our income to Him.
In other words I want you to understand the principle of tithing and giving is not LAW but it is LIFE
It should never be that we feel that drudgery of giving. Too me this almost takes away from the purpose. Especially if we are fighting over what to do. As one lady told me, “Pastor I would love to tithe but I look at my money and I say, ‘Give to the church or pay my light bill’”. This is not what God expects.
So over this next few weeks I hope that we have a new attitude of giving. The good news is that most of the principles I am about to give is common to many of your lives. You don’t have a problem with giving. You don’t have a problem with that Pastor preaching about giving. Yet some have a problem of their attitude toward giving.
Some give because they expect something back from the church.
Principles of Tithing
#1 The Principle of the First Fruits
The principle of first fruits is a command from the Lord that all the first born belonged to the Lord
Exo 13:2 "Consecrate to Me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and beast; it is Mine."
They were either to be sacrificed or redeemed. If they were a perfect sacrifice they were to be sacrificed. If they were blemished they were to be redeemed.
As far as the man was concerened, they became the heir in apparent. In other words they were expected to carry out the work of the Lord for the family.
A. The principle of first fruits is a major principle of the Old Testament
B. This is a principle of faith as a person does not know how many will be born after this.
A person who raises sheep and gives the first born of each sheep to the Lord has no idea how many will be born after this. They have to put their faith in God.
There was much more at stake when Abraham offered his son the Lord. Abraham didn’t know how many more children he would have.
C. This first was to be brought into the House of God
Exodus 23:19 "The first of the firstfruits of your land you shall bring into the house of the LORD your God. You shall not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.
Pro 3:9 Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; 10 So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.
Note: Jericho was the first city to be conquered in the promise land. Do you know what God told them to do with the spoils of the city. Not to take any for themselves but they were the Lords. Yet we know the sin of Achan who died because he took the Lords “first fruits”
Now we will get into tithing in a moment but just look at Mal 3:8-9
Mal 3:8 "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.
So we see that these first fruits became a curse to him. Either they are consecrated or they are cursed.
This is probably why God rejected Cain’s offering in Genesis, notice
Gen 4:3 And in the process of time (over time)it came to pass that Cain brought an offering (notice the wording here) of the fruit of the ground to the LORD. 4 Abel also brought of the firstborn (the firstborn) of his flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering, (5) but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.
D. Jesus Christ was the firstborn (only begotten of the father).
He was God’s only Son. Yet He gave Him to us for our sins. And He gave Him out of faith. In other words He died for us before we knew Him.
Rom 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
E. The disciples met on the First Day of the week after Jesus was risen from the dead.
Illustration: Here are 10 one-dollar bills on this table. Now my first question is, How much is a tithe? 10% good. Ok next question is which on is the tithe. Which one should be first? The one that you spend first.
#2 The Principle of the Tithe 10%
A. God has always expected His people to be good stwards with what He has given them. Genesis 2 Adam & Even
B. Tithing is an Old Testament principle that transcends into the New Testament.
Abraham tithed to Melchizedek – Genesis 14 (Note: Melchizedek is a type of Christ)
Mystery of Tithing
Heb 7:1-10 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, (2) to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated "king of righteousness," and then also king of Salem, meaning "king of peace," (3) without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually. 4 Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils. 5 And indeed those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to receive tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren, though they have come from the loins of Abraham; 6 but he whose genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better. 8 Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives. 9 Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak, 10 for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.
Jacob promised a tithe to the Lord Genesis 28:22
Lev 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 holy to the LORD.
Mal 3:10 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.
New Testament
Jesus told the Pharisees
Mat 23:23 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.
Paul told the church
1Co 16:1-2 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: (2) On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.
C.
#3 The Principle of Testing God
A. Tithing is a principle of “testing God”
Mal 3:10 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.
B. “Your heart will follow your treasure
Mat 6:21 "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Conclusion
