Elijah series Part 7
VII. Opportunity to give
Over the last few weeks we have focused our attention upon the divine opportunities given to the widow of Zarephath. Because of her obedience to Elijah’s God, her family was saved from starvation, and because of this miracle, the widow was given the opportunity to share the food and the news of the miracle with her family, friends, and neighbors.
But this morning, I want to focus on the third opportunity given to this widow: The opportunity to give.
Turn with me once again in your Bibles to 1 Kings 17: 10-16
As we explore the concept of giving, we could go in many different directions, but this morning, I want to focus upon the idea of an opportunity of giving through our tithes and offerings.
We live a different world that is changing every day. Once we could assume a knowledge of the Bible or even an acceptance of its absolute truth, but the day had come and gone. Sadly the place of God and the church in our world is being replaced by a whole host of substitutes. We as Christian leaders and teachers can no longer assume anything. If we forget to teach the basics, then we can never grow strong, and one of those basics is the concept of financially giving to God through tithing.
Richard Halverson chaplain for the US Senate once wrote: Jesus Christ said more about money than about any other single thing because, when it comes to a man’s real nature, money is of first importance. Money is an exact index to a man’s true character. All through Scripture there is an intimate correlation between the development of a man’s character and how he handles his money.”
This morning as examine the basic truth of tithing I feel compelled to tell you what Tithing is and what it is not. Let’s begin first with the Not category.
First, Tithing is Not Situational
When Elijah asked the widow to give her flour and oil, his timing was awful. She was preparing our last meal. She was preparing to die, and yet he still asked and she still obeyed.
Some of you may say… when my paycheck is bigger, or when my bills get smaller or when… or when the church gets better…then I will give… then I will tithe. Waiting upon some elusive magic point in our lives.
Second, tithing is not vague
Elijah told the widow exactly what he wanted. He wanted her last bit of flour and oil. She couldn’t trade or substitute anything. He was clear he wanted a loaf of bread.
For you and I, God is also clear. He wants from us a tithe, 10 percent of our first fruits, our weekly or monthly paycheck. He had every right to ask for 90 or 100 percent but he only chose ten.
Third, Tithing is not self-centered
The widow trusted Elijah even when it made no sense. She used her last resources to make her last loaf of bread- bypassing her son and herself to first feed Elijah.
On any Sunday a plate is passed an envelope with either cash or check is placed in. It is counted and only one or two people in the entire church ever knows what is given. In fact I choose to not even know myself.
Furthermore by placing your tithe in the offering plate, you make the choice to give it to the work of the overall church and its mission in its community and world.
That wasn’t always the situation though. In the New testament church there were 12 large horn-shaped receptacles to receive offerings. The people would come by and toss their money in the horns. Since they didn’t have paper money, coins were dropped, and quickly some figured out that large coins made more noise and if they wanted to impress others then they would place a lot of coins in.
Fourth Tithing is not a genie in a bottle
The widow obeyed and God blessed and saved her family, but while God’s blessing are promised, we shouldn’t give to God with the attitude of Okay, God what are you going to do for me. Or You owe me now God.
This attitude has pervaded our culture as in many ways we choose to believe in or follow teaching that directly benefit us. We tithe Why? Because God told us to which leads us to our fifth point.
Tithing is not a suggestion
Elijah got the widow’s attention and specifically told her what he wanted and needed. In this same way God has commanded us . In MalachI 3:10 we are asked the question How are we robbing God? The answer by holding back out tithes and offerings.
So we have clearly seen what a tithe is not. So now what is it. In defining what a tithe is, I want to come back to the idea of opportunity
First, a Tithe is an opportunity to trust
Over the past weeks we have seen clearly what faith and trust it took for the widow to bake her last loaf of bread and give it to a stranger.
It is here where we see clearly why tithing is a Christian basic. Imagine this scene a man or a woman gets paid, they’ve worked hard… In fact even before the check is deposited it is already spent. In fact for that man or woman there seems to be more month than check.- Choosing which bills to pay or not pay… Choosing which meals to skip or not skip… and in this scene God says to you give to me a tithe ten percent of that check. And like Elijah to the widow God says to us. Give me mine first. Saying to us Trust Me.
Now we can talk about trusting God all we want, but where the rubber meets the road is when God breaks through into our everyday world and says trust.
It’s like that scene in the Indiana Jones Movie the last Crusade. Indiana trying to find the lost treasure. Faces a riddle obstacle. A obstacle called Faith. In order to conquer the obstacle he had to step out on thin air trusting that he would not fall.
This week when that paycheck comes. God gives to you and I an opportunity to trust
Second, a tithe is a opportunity to be blessed
The widow once she obeyed was saved. She and her family would not die of starvation. To you and I we are challenged to test God and prove his word, by trusting him with our tithe, and when we do he promises to open the windows of heaven pouring blessings upon us. Many of us miss incredible blessings when we refuse to tithe.
The cheerful girl with bouncy golden curls was almost five. Waiting with her mother at the checkout stand, she saw them: a circle of glistening white pearls in a pink foil box
"Oh please, Mommy. Can I have them? Please, Mommy, please?" Quickly the mother checked the back of the little foil box and then looked back into the pleading blue eyes of her little girl’s upturned face.
"A dollar ninety-five. That’s almost $2.00. If you really want them, I’ll think of some extra chores for you, and in no time you can save enough money to buy them for yourself. Your birthday’s only a week away and you might get another crisp dollar bill from Grandma."
As soon as Jenny got home, she emptied her penny bank and counted out 17 pennies. After dinner, she did more than her share of chores and she went to the neighbor and asked Mrs. McJames if she could pick dandelions for ten cents.
On her birthday, Grandma did give her another new dollar bill, and at last, she had enough money to buy the necklace.
Jenny loved her pearls. They made her feel dressed up and grown up. She wore them everywhere Sunday school, kindergarten, even to bed. The only time she took them off was when she went swimming or had a bubble bath. Mother said if they got wet, they might turn her neck green.
Jenny had a very loving daddy and every night when she was ready for bed, he would stop whatever he was doing and come upstairs to read her a story.
One night when he finished the story, he asked Jenny, "Do you love me?" "Oh yes, Daddy. You know that I love you."
"Then give me your pearls."
"Oh, Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have Princess the white horse from my collection. The one with the pink tail. Remember, Daddy? The one you gave me. She’s my favorite."
"That’s okay, Honey. Daddy loves you. Good night." And he brushed her cheek with a kiss.
About a week later, after the story time, Jenny’s daddy asked again, "Do you love me?"
"Daddy, you know I love you."
"Then give me your pearls."
"Oh Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have my baby doll. The brand new one I got for my birthday. She is so beautiful and you can have the yellow blanket that matches her sleeper."
"That’s okay. Sleep well. God bless you, little one. Daddy loves you" And as always, he brushed her cheek with a gentle kiss.
A few nights later when her daddy came in, Jenny was sitting on her bed with her legs crossed Indian-style. As he came close, he noticed her chin was trembling and one silent tear rolled down her cheek. "What is it, Jenny? What’s the matter?" Jenny didn’t say anything but lifted her little hand up to her daddy. And when she opened it, there was her little pearl necklace.
With a little quiver, she finally said, "Here, Daddy. It’s for you."
With tears gathering in his own eyes, Jenny’s kind daddy reached out with one hand to take the dime-store necklace, and with the other hand he reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet case with a strand of genuine pearls and gave them to Jenny. He had them all the time. He was just waiting for her to give up the dime-store stuff so he could give her genuine treasure
So it is with our Heavenly Father. He is waiting for us to give up the cheap things in our lives so that He can give us beautiful treasure. Here’s the question: Are you holding on so tightly that you are missing your opportunity to be blessed.
This morning it is time to return to the basics. Are you willing? Choose today to enter a great adventure with our awesome God.
