Spiritual Barometer

A. Opening illustration: 2019 Church Giving Report. Compilation of various reports and statistical studies to trends in American church giving. In 1983 U.S. churchgoers donated $21.5 billion. But if churchgoers had donated 10% of income, they would have given $134 billion. 80% of the money given paid the congregation’s expenses. DISCLAIMER – I am not going to fix the tithe/not tithe in the NT debate today, only offer my opinion. The exact regulations of giving may change, but the principles do not. In fact, I believe that the NT, like Jesus did so often, ups the ante for giving

B. Background to passage: Malachi is preaching God’s message to a group of former exiles, who had been freed from exile and captivity and returned to Jerusalem for many years. They were frustrated that all the great glory that had once been Jerusalem was not immediately restored. But God was waiting on them to return to the true practice of the faith, before He showered them with promised blessings. After having pointed out their failures in faith in the areas of true worship, oppression of the poor, unfaithfulness to their wives, idolatry, etc, God points to another area that demonstrates their lack of faithfulness to God: the use of their money. When God mentioned them forsaking His commands, they accusingly asked, “How?” They had deceived themselves (camp out here) into thinking that they were OK; that they were good little followers of God because they came to the synagogue once a week and said an occasional prayer. But God show them that their use of money is a good barometer of their faith.

C. Main thought: God uses money as an indication of trust in him.

A. A Potential Point of Great Rebellion (v. 8-10)

1. As a theocratic government the tithe (10% of everything) was given to support the government, the priesthood, and the poor. The second word here is the word used for a voluntary heave offering to God over and above the tithe. But God had instituted tithing with a dual purpose—first to support the three things above mentioned, but also to test the faith of the believer. God knows that our checkbooks reflect our attitude of money. These Israelites had been robbing God. This is very harsh language. They were taking what was God’s and using it on themselves. And God said that they would be under a curse, lose blessings, until that recognized His ownership of all. Malachi also indicates that some were holding back a portion, maintaining their self-righteousness and greed simultaneously.

2. Lev 25:23, 23:10, Deut 14:23, Luke 16:10-13,

3. Illustration: Jason asking the question about giving on the gross or the net, W. A. Criswell tells of an ambitious young man who told his pastor he’d promised God a tithe of his income. They prayed for God to bless his career. At that time he was making $40.00 per week and tithing $4.00. In a few years his income increased and he was tithing $500.00 per week. He called on the pastor to see if he could be released from his tithing promise, it was too costly now. The pastor replied, “I don’t see how you can be released from your promise, but we can ask God to reduce your income to $40.00 a week, then you’d have no problem tithing $4.00.” Take a look at your own heart, and you will soon find out what has stuck to it and where your treasure is. It is easy to determine whether hearing the Word of God, living according to it, and achieving such a life gives you as much enjoyment and calls forth as much diligence from you as does accumulating and saving money and property. - Martin Luther, “Give according to your income, lest God make your income according to your giving” - Peter Marshall

4. We are to have the attitude that God is the owner of all, and we are the stewards of some. How we regard money demonstrates our view of Christ’s lordship in our lives, our dependence on Him, and our gratitude toward Him. This applies not only in our giving, but in our saving, in our spending, in our investing. Our money is simply a means to ministry. There are over 3000 verses on money in the bible and Jesus spoke more about money than He did about heaven or hell. QUESTION: The language or tithing is not used often in the NT, WHY? The emphasis in the NT is not on a legal system, but on willing, cheerful, trustful giving. The NT didn’t want to have a limit to how little or how much, yet it still emphasized proportionate giving. The NT didn’t you’re your tithe to be another bill, but a sacrifice of gratitude. However Jesus did affirm tithing in principle to the Pharisees, but not in requirement. Ultimately giving is a matter of faith that God will supply your needs as He uses you to supply others’ needs. Because it doesn’t logically work out that God can provide for you better on 90% or 80% or 60% of your income than He can on 100%. Do you trust God with “your” money? There are some young people and young believers here that need to make the commitment now to trust God, as it is much more difficult to revert back to it later.