True Lies - The Lie of Giving
John 8:44 (New International Version)
44You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
Malachi 3:8-12 (New International Version)
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. 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.
Statistics
The level of misreporting among born again Christians was as follows: 32% reported tithing, yet only 12% actually did so in 2000.
• Partners - 62.5% Tithe and 37.5% do not
• Whole Church - 65% tithe and 45% do not
Why do you think that so few people tithe?
Facilitator Action Item:
(Write down the following feed back and get back to Lindsay.)
Why do you think we could do as a church to increase our giving?
Myth #2 “I have to tithe.”
Why do some people view this as being true?
You don’t have to tithe just like you don’t have to get saved, just like you don’t have to love you spouse.
(Read the following scriptures.)
John 14:15
"If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”.
What does this mean? (read next scripture)
Mark 12:30
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’
Is where you place your money a direct reflection of your heart? Explain – give examples.
Luke 12:34
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
What does this next statement mean to you?
“Tithing is caught not taught”
Myth #3 – I can give my tithes where I want.
Yes, you can, but it’s no longer a tithe. The tithe is the first 10% and it goes to the local church where you are being fed.
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…
Tithes are an act of obedience to return to God what is his. Your local storehouse is the church.
If you divert your tithes to a
• guest speaker
• Evangelist
• Missions/Missionary
• Fund raising project
Then you have given an offering, and you have robbed God of His tithe.
Have you ever done this? How do you think this affects the church’s ability to function financially is several people did this on a regular basis?
Lie #1: We give out of a desperate need.
What did they think of the VIP of Doug and Skylar? – How does that tie into giving based on compulsion (nessesity)?
2 Corinthians 9:7 (New International Version)
7Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
• YOU CAN’T GIVE WHAT YOU DON’T OWN.
• TITHING ISN’T REALLY GIVING. IT IS RETURNING.
Lie #2: We give if we have any left over.
What did you think of VIP of Clint and Dariel? How does it apply?
Proverbs 3:9-10 (New International Version)
9 Honor the LORD with your wealth,
with the firstfruits of all your crops;
10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
and your vats will brim over with new wine.
Matt 6:33
• KEEPING WHAT BELONGS TO GOD IS STEALING.
• It’s not an act of faith and love if it’s not first.
Lie #4 – Can’t afford to tithe.
SATAN WANTS US TO SERVE MONEY.
1 Timothy 6:10
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
Does God or Money provide us:
• SECURITY.
• SIGNIFICANCE.
• FREEDOM.
Why do some think Money does over God?
If people believe that money provides that better than God, than is money their God?
What are your thoughts on the following statements:
If you love money more than God than you won’t tithe,
If you love God more than money than you will tithe.
Things to highlight:
The Preview
God owns everything.
Psalm 24:1 (New International Version)
1 The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it;
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (King James Version)
19What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
20For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
Love 1 Cor 13
Treasure is
Is tithing enough?
It’s caught not taught
God wants equal commitment not equal contribution
Acts 5:3-5 (New International Version)
3Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God."
5When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened.
