#11
GIVING TO GOD
Throughout the Old Testament and the New Testament the subject of giving to God a material portion of what He has blessed us with saturates the Scriptures. The controversies surrounding New Testament tithing and the amount that God expects from each of us can be boiled down into one key word- STEWARDSHIP.
The word stewardship comes from the root word STEWARD which means – (a manager or trustee, a chief servant, a guardian of someone else’s material belongings).
(Psalms 24:1; Haggai 2:8) These verses make it crystal clear in that “everything” in this world belongs to God including the people that He allows to live here. Therefore, it behooves us as Christians to understand our responsibility towards God with the material blessings that He has given us while we are still able to make decisions about where those material blessing may go.
I. STEWARDSHIP
1. (I Corinthians 4:2; 6:19-20) Paul is teaching us that God expects His stewards to be faithful.
2. (Mathew 25:14-28) Jesus explains that although there are diversity of gifts and material blessing that He bestows on us, the responsibility of stewardship toward God is the same.
3. (I Peter 4:10) Peter tells us that part of being a “good steward” is to minister to those believers who are less fortunate that you.
4. (Romans 14:12) Paul reminds us that as Christians we will stand before Christ and be judged according to our accounts.
5. (Mathew 6:25-33) Jesus reminds us that a good steward will put God first and us a distant second.
6. (I Kings 17:24) A great Old Testament testimony of a widow woman who “put God first” in her stewardship of life and was blessed by God for her faithfulness.
II. TITHING
(a tenth part)
We certainly cannot discuss Biblical giving without talking about tithing. Once again the Bible is very clear regarding this scriptural guideline regarding the tithe. People who do not like the prospect of giving God 10% of their income argue that tithing was Old Testament and for the nation of Israel only. However, Scripture does not uphold that point of view at all. Wouldn’t the world be chaotic if the civilized world would have thought that the “ten commandments” were from the Old Testament and therefore for the nation of Israel only?
As Christians and part of God’s family, we must understand that several principles of how God would relate to us and how God wants the world to relate to Himself are first found in God’s relationship with Israel. One of those principles is the principle of giving.
One of the most fundamental principles of Bible study is that of first mention. When trying to understand what God wants us to know about a certain matter or subject it is always best to research the scripture from the first place God mentions it and then trace it down from there. Seldom if ever will you come away still not knowing what God wants us to know if we approach a study from this perspective.
1. (Genesis 14:20; Hebrews 7:1-4) First mention of the act of tithing is when Abraham gave tithes to the Great High Priest Melchisedec, who actually was the Lord Jesus Christ. We must consider this fact; at this particular time in history, there was no nation of Israel, there was no ‘ten commandments’ and no ‘Old Testament’ Law for Abraham to live or worship by.
If we take the principle of first mention, then eliminate the false reasoning of tithing being Old Testament, and then bring to light that Abraham was actually paying tithes to The Lord Jesus Christ, what does tithing now mean to Christians in the age of grace?
2. (Mathew 23:23; Luke 11:42) Both Mathew and Dr. Luke are Holy Spirit directed to record the fact that Jesus encouraged the practice of tithing as an important part of worship to God.
3. (Malachi 3:8-9) God makes it pretty clear through the prophet Malachi that we are robbing Him of what rightfully belongs to Him when we do not tithe.
4. (Malachi 3:10; I Corinthians 16:1-3) The tithe being collected in Malachi, and the collection being made in I Corinthians go to the same place; that is the storehouse and store or (the church house).
III. OFFERING
(To volunteer, to put forward an act of devotion to God)
An offering to the Lord has always been regarded as an offering above and beyond our tithe. Once again we must refer to the principle of first mention in Scripture and we can see that in (Genesis 4:3-7) the brothers freely made their offerings to God, but He did not accept them equally. It is noteworthy to mention that God is not obligated to be pleased or to accept our offerings (Malachi 1:7-8) just because we feel like giving Him one.
1. (Exodus 35:4-35) There are several reasons for giving a free will offering to God. In these verses of Scripture Moses encourages the people to give a free will offering in order to help build and furbish God’s house. It takes money to pay for anything extra in your house, my house, and God’s house. If every Christian would tithe, it would be a lot easier. We must give to support the many vehicles that God has given our church to get the Gospel message to as many people as we can; through new buildings, radio, television, internet, bus ministry, Christian school, etc.
2. (Mathew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8) The Great Commission given by Christ gives us plenty of reason to give above and beyond our tithe. Missionaries are called to go into the world with their families to carry out the great commission; who pays their way and supports them?
3. (Galatians 6:9-10; Acts 4:34-35) Our giving should be done with concern for our brothers and sisters in the Church. The best way to help a church member or family is to designate an offering through the church to the persons you want to help. Often times the pastor knows the circumstances much better than we do and may be able to supply you with information that will make your sacrifices as beneficial as possible.
4. (Luke 10:30-37) Our giving should be out of compassion for others and to have a great testimony for God.
5. (Acts 11:29; II Corinthians 8:12) Our free will offering is according to our ability.
6. (II Corinthians 9:7) Our giving should be without remorse, loss, or sadness. The word cheerful in this Scripture actually means hilarious, so God really loves a “hilarious giver”.
7. (Luke 6:38) Our sacrificial giving to the work of God will be rewarded in many ways by God, we have His promise on it.
8. (II Corinthians 9:6) The entire chapter 9 of this particular book written by Paul, is speaking about church offerings, and particular about mission giving for the help of other believers. This particular verse (6) speaks toward the Spiritual rewards to the saints, based on our faith giving, whether it be little or great.
God bless