Cartoons:
• Denny came to me a few weeks ago and told me it was time to preach on tithing again.
• In the meantime, we talked about some other ways to increase giving – one idea was to recruit some new ushers, or at least train them in some new techniques
• Here’s another possible new look for our ushers
• Or maybe something a little more forceful
• We even thought about uniforms for the ushers
• We researched the latest in church designs
• We even considered some high-tech alternatives
• Someone even suggested an introductory offer
• And it’s our hope this morning that when you leave, this sermon will really make an impact on your giving
Why talk about giving?
• Not so Denny and I can get a raise
• Not because the church needs more money
Two men were marooned on an Island. One man paced back and forth worried and scared while the other man sat back and was sunning himself.
The first man said to the second man, "aren’t you afraid we are about to die." "No," said the second man, "I make $100,000 a week and tithe faithfully to my church every week. My Pastor will find me."...
• Bible mentions it a lot
o Believe, belief, etc – 285 times
o Pray, prayer, intercede – 387 times
o Love – 799 times
o Give, gift, etc. – 2290 times
• Associated blessing I don’t want you to miss out on:
One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
Proverbs 11:24, 25 (NIV)
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 3:10 (NIV)
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."
Luke 6:38 (NIV)
I’ve chosen to sum up that principle this morning by taking some liberty with the Morton Salt slogan “When it rains, it pours”, and changing it to “When He reigns, it pours.”
A lot of people are missing out on those blessings:
• Average Christian give 2.5% of his or her income
• Only 8% of Christians give 10% or more of their income
• 20% give 80% of funds
• 30% give the other 20%
• 50% give nothing
Why my giving releases God’s blessings:
1. It demonstrates the character of God
• It is the nature of God to give:
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son…
• God wants me to become more like Him; when I give, I demonstrate the character of God in my life.
2. It celebrates the provision by God
“But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.”
1 Chronicles 29:14 (NIV)
3. It stimulates my dependence on God
And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19 (NIV)
4. It communicates the worth of God
…“I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing…”
2 Samuel 24:24 (NIV)
5. It participates in the work of God
For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.
2 Corinthians 8:3, 4 (NIV)
Notice that each of these five items is focused on God:
• His character
• His provision
• His faithfulness
• His worth
• His work
My giving is a good indication of just how important God is in my life. When God is the main focus of my life, then the result is that God rains down his blessings upon my life.
In other words…When He reigns, it pours.
How do I give so God reigns in my life?
1. Joyfully
Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV)
• Like everything else in our walk with Christ, our giving is an outward expression of what’s already in our hearts. If I believe…
o Everything I have belongs to God
o God is sovereign and faithful
o God is great and worthy of extravagant worship
then I will give joyfully rather than viewing my giving as an obligation to be endured.
2. Systematically
On 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.
1 Corinthians 16:2 (NIV)
When I take this verse along with 2 Corinthians 9:7, the picture I get is that my giving is not just to be haphazard. I should prayerfully consider ahead of time how much God wants me to give and then give on a regular basis.
3. Generously
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
2 Corinthians 9:6 (NIV)
• Tithe? – up until now I haven’t even mentioned it
o Some people say the tithe is an Old Testament principle; we’re no longer under the law so therefore the tithe is no longer required. We’ll come back to that idea in a minute.
o Tithe literally means one-tenth, but the tithe in Old Testament times was a little different than how most people apply it today. There were actually several different tithes and offerings required in the Old Testament.
Firstfruits – not less than 1/60 of corn, wine, oil
Tithe after firstfruits went to Levites (Levites paid 1/10 to priests)
Second 1/10 paid for needs of Levites and their families at the tabernacle
Every third year, another tithe was put into storage to meet the needs of the poor.
Biblical scholars estimate that altogether these amounted to around 25% of the increase.
o The New Testament changes the emphasis from “How much do I give?” to “How much dare I keep?”
Three examples:
John answered, "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same."
Luke 3:11 (NIV)
50%
But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount."
Luke 19:8 (NIV)
>50%
When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
Luke 18:20 (NIV)
100%
o Tithe or tenth is probably a pretty good guide as a starting point for our giving, but the danger with being too legalistic about the tithe is that there is the danger of thinking we can just give 10% to God and do what we want with the other 90%.
Flip Wilson was a popular comedian several years ago, some of you are old enough to remember him, and some are not.
One of his characters was a Preacher at the "What’s Happening Now Church." In a skit that he did he told about this preacher.
He’d yell: "IF THIS CHURCH IS GOING TO SERVE GOD IT’S GOT TO GET DOWN ON ITS KNEES AND CRAWL!!!" And the audience who was being prompted to be the congregation would yell back "Make it crawl preacher, make it crawl!
And then he would yell: "AND ONCE THIS CHURCH HAS LEARNED TO CRAWL, IT’S GOT TO GET UP ON ITS FEET AND WALK!!!" And the audience would yell back "Make it walk preacher, make it walk."
Then he would say: AND ONCE THIS CHURCH HAS LEARNED TO WALK IT’S GOT BEGIN TO LEARN TO RUN!!!" And they would yell, "Make it run, preacher, make it run!"
Then he would say, "AND IN ORDER TO RUN, ITS GOT REACH DEEP DOWN INTO POCKETS AND LEARN TO GIVE!!!" And there would be a pause, and the people would say "Make it crawl preacher, make it crawl."
