Legacy
Malachi: A legacy of Financial Integrity
Malachi 3:6-15
Part Ten
Intro: Story of the context – 433; sinning like Judges; Malachi is raised up; lots of issues but it focuses on tithing and stewardship; The temple was completed under the leadership of Zerubbabel, Haggai, and Zechariah in 516 B.C. But almost 100 years had passed, and whatever reforms had been instituted were being ignored and spiritual apathy had set in. The people were disregarding the priests and the temple, they were not bringing their tithes and offerings and there was intermarriage with foreigners and divorce taking place.
Why does God make such a big deal about tithing?
Video
1. It’s a heart thing!
Mal 3:6-10 "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.
NIV
a. All that I am and have is God’s.
Ps 24:1 The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it; NIV
b. Giving to God is a heart response to what God has given me.
Malachi said… “Return to me…” “Don’t rob me…”
Jesus said… Matt 6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. NIV
c. Be sure to always keep it a heart thing!
Matt 23:23-24 "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. 24 You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel. NIV
2 Cor 9:6-9 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. NIV
Why does God make such a big deal about tithing?
2. It’s a vision thing.
Mal 3:8-10 "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 (2 Chron. 31:11-12; Acts 28:10; Rom. 15:27; 1 Cor. 9:5-14; 2 Cor. 9:8f; Gal. 6:6; Phil. 2:29; 1 Tim. 5:3, 17-18) , that there may be food in my house. NIV
a. “Tithing and giving have always been the God appointed means by which His ministry on the earth is funded.” (Gen. 28:22; 14:18-20; Lev. 27:30-32; Matt. 23:23; 2 Cor. 9:6-8; )
b. Our vision statement… In a city…Loving a city…Impacting a city…for Jesus!
c. Is God’s vision for ministry my vision?
d. Do I see this also as a heart issue?
Why does God make such a big deal about tithing?
3. It’s a miraculous thing.
Mal 3:10-12
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.
NIV
a. God “shows up” in a powerful way when we step out in faith.
…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.
b. Be careful of an attitude of entitlement. (wealth is relative)
Mal 3:13-15
13 "You have said harsh things against me," says the LORD.
"Yet you ask, ’What have we said against you?’
14 "You have said, ’It is futile to serve God. What did we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the LORD Almighty? 15 But now we call the arrogant blessed. Certainly the evildoers prosper, and even those who challenge God escape.’"
NIV
c. Tithing and a generous heart unlock other powerful spiritual experiences. (protection and ministry opportunity)
Luke 16:10-13 "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12 And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?
13 "No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." NIV
d. Do I believe that God will bless me?
Great Resource: More Than Finances – by Larry Burkett
http://www.new-life.net/tithe.htm
Testimonies:
Dear Pastor Mike and Teresa,
I don’t know if I’ve ever expressed how much I love our church! As you know I am recovering from surgery. I can’t tell you how thankful I am for all the people in my life who really care about me! Because of past brokenness in being raised I’ve never felt totally nurtured and cared for! I never would have thought that these people would become so much like family, only they are better!
Being in a small group is vital, I relish getting together with women who know I’m broken and they listen, love, care, and pray for me and I try to do the same for them. It’s a place I can really be myself… warts and all!
Truly this church is an oasis in a world that is often hard to navigate. Thank you for being the examples you are to our body! I’ve learned how to be my authentic self and that God truly loves me. Thank you for being the greatest mentors ever! I love You.
Beth :-)
Sometimes, when reading my Bible, it seems that what is read gets dramatized throughout the day, and that’s been happening to me lately. Recently I started reading my Bible cover to cover rather than jumping around... So when I got to the book of Job I decided that I wanted to read that one extra fast! Even though I got through that book in a day or so, I think that I should have read through a lot more books after that faster as well, as they seem to bring up more points to ponder for when your in valleys.
I have been going through the fire these last 5 months or so, as I learn to cope with the dreadful silence that comes with living so far from anyone that speaks your own language or knows Christ; adjusting to life without electricity, phones, running water; learning how to deal with fury pests and others... And yet, even though I often get side tracked looking at what there is to complain about, I still cannot find enough complaints to match the number of things I have to praise God for!
