Tithing! A Clue, A Choice, or A Command? Malachi 3:6-10
Introduction: Army firing range in basic training.
One thing I quickly learned, if you want to get off the firing range unharmed you listen carefully to the instructions of the instructor & do exactly what he says.
Can you imagine what life would be like if we listened to the instructions of God & did exactly what he said?
John 14:15 "If you love me, you will obey what I command.
That’s exactly the message of Malachi to Israel...Obey God & be blessed in a great way!
Malachi 3:6-12 Robbing God
6 "I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. 7 Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you," says the LORD Almighty. "But you ask, ’How are we to return?’
8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, ’How do we rob you?’ "In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse-the whole nation of you-because you are robbing me. 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.
Malachi was a prophet who spoke to God’s people after their return to Jerusalem from Babylonian captivity. Most likely he was a contemporary of Nehemiah.
The words of Malachi are a reminder of God’s love & faithfulness.... but there’s also a rebuke of willful disobedience in the area of the tithe! God had an issue w/ His people! His people were disobedience....His people were thieves.
It’s one thing to disobey God.... yet another to steel from Him! Only a fool would steel from the sovereign Lord!
Here in Malachi 3 God’s people were guilty of both!
Just what is the tithe? The word tithe in Hebrew means “tenth”.
In God’s economy He requires a tithe as a matter of fact He says in...
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
-A tithe is 10% of your income given to God for His purposes. -A tithe is merely a portion of what God has already giving to you! -The tithe was instituted in the OT & embraced in the NT.
For example OT before the law:
-Genesis 14 ....Abraham gave a tenth to the priest Mel-chiz-edek.
-Genesis 28 ...Jacob pledges to give God a tenth of all that he receives.
OT During the law:
- The Israelites were required to give a tithe to the Levites. Num. 18:21, 24
- The tithe was taken from things like grain, fruits, & animals. Lev. 27:30-32
New Testament: - Jesus commended tithing. Matthew 23:23 & Luke 18:11-13
-16 of the 38 parables of Jesus deal w/ money
-288 verse in the Gospels deal w/ money
-Jesus spoke more on the topic of money than he did heaven & hell combined.
-There’re 2000 verse on money in the Bible & only 500 on prayer & 500 on faith
- Paul taught it. I Corinthians 16:2
Our relationship to Money is very important to God!
Now I am not going to get into the debate of tithing being an OT & Jewish obligation thus not applicable to Christians today! I personally believe that the New Testament embraces, teaches & calls for obedience in the area of giving to God & others.
But unfortunately just as in Malachi day many are guilty of disobedience & thief!
Many Christian today are steeling from God! Ironically they steel from themselves, God’s blessing, provision, protection thus hindering their relationship w/ God!
Quote: The average church member contributes between 1.5% and 2.5% of his total income specifically to the Lord’s work.
Quote: The cost of obedience is nothing compared to the cost of disobedience.
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What’s the big deal about tithing? Does it matter? Does it make a difference? Does God expect me to give a tithe of my income?
Well in an attempt too answer these questions consider the following...
When we are faithful & obedient in tithing: Several things take place.
1. We provide the resources for God’s work.
It’s an amazing thought but God has allowed...invites...& expects His children to be involved in kingdom work through their giving!
We see this truth throughout scripture......
Matthew 23:23 Jesus commends the Pharisees .....“you tithe & that you ought”, Jesus
Luke 6:38 Jesus said.... give & it shall be given unto you!
1 Corinthians 16:1-2 Paul says when you come together you are to take a collection!
1Now about the collection for God’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. 2On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.
2 Corinthians 9:6-9 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to
Some might say well that an OT teaching & not applicable today!
The OT is not done away w/ in the NT as a matter of fact Jesus said...
Matthew 5:17 The Fulfillment of the Law
"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
God’s design is still in effect...He provides for His people through His people!
Quote: Abraham commenced it, Jacob continued it, Moses commanded it, Jesus commend it, Paul continued it, so who are we to discontinue it?
When we are faithful in tithing we provide the resources for God’s work. V.B.S. ; Camps ; Revivals ; Retreats ; Mission trips ; Counseling ; Staff
My friend, SBG is no different; when we fall short in the area of giving we fall short in the area of ministry!
2. We testify to God’s faithfulness. Our faithfulness testifies to the faithfulness of God.
Did you catch the promise here in Malachi 3 ? God says if you honor Me I will honor you...but....If you don’t honor me I will not honor you!
Quote: “Partial obedience is disobedience in disguise.”
-Our obedience speaks of our faith & trust in God! -It’s our actions more than anything else which testifies to our relationship with God.
When we are faithful in the area of giving in a non-verbal way we are saying “God I have found you faithful in this area of my life.”
1 Corinthians 4:2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.
Illustration: One of the most tragic events during the Reagan Presidency was the Sunday morning terrorist bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut. Marine Corps Commandant Paul X Kelly, Corporal Jeffrey Lee Nashton, "Semper Fi" the Latin motto of the Marines meaning "forever faithful."
My friend, God is forever faithful! That is His essence & nature so trust Him with all that you are...&...with all that you have!
2 Timothy 2:13 if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.
3. We honor Him & acknowledge that He is worthy of our worship.
The people & things in life that are important to you will always get two things from you...TIME & MONEY!
When we give to God our time & money it says that... -He is important to us. -We acknowledge His worth. –Our obedience is an act of worship.
It’s sad but true few give God any time & fewer give God any money.
Quote: Martin Luther said,......"When a person is converted 3 conversions are necessary. Head, Heart, Purse & of the 3 the Purse is the hardest."
Have you ever thought of tithing as a profession of your faith?
1. Baptism is a profession of ones faith
2. Giving a testimony is a profession of ones faith
3. Taking communion is a profession of ones faith
4. Worship is a profession of faith
5. Obedience is a profession of your faith & giving is just that!
Tithing...
-Speaks of your relationship w/ God.
-It speaks of obedience to His word.
-It speaks of His Lordship in your life.
Illustration: Radio....this is a test....beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep!
-Have you ever consider that tithing is a test?
-Tithing is not God’s way of raising money...its God’s way of raising men!
-Tithing is for your benefit.....not God’s......it’s a test!
One that exposes what’s really in your heart! Selfishness, self-centeredness...or... faithfulness & obedience to God!
Luke 6:38 "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
The truth about tithing is this....when we are faithful & obedient in the tithe:
-We are doing what God has asked of us.
-We provide the resources for His work.
-We testify to His faithfulness in our lives.
-We honor Him & acknowledge that He is worthy of our worship.
