The Gospel of Tithing- Part 2

The Gospel of Tithing: Part II

 

Exodus 23:19 “You shall bring the choice first fruits of your soil into the house of the LORD your God.

 

Introduction:

This morning we conclude our two part study on Tithing. Now remember the goal of our study is to look at tithing not merely as a duty (which it is) nor simply as a command (which it also is). Rather, the goal of our study is to look at the Gospel of Tithing. That is, I want us to note the blessings and benefits that God intends tithing to be to His people.

 

Last week we looked at the nature of tithing (what is tithing). We saw that tithing:

  • Grounds us in the fundamental nature of existence (All is from God, All is for God, and therefore we are to honor God with our first and best)
  • Tithing grounds us in the fundamental dynamics of the Gospel (God always goes first. We are saved by grace.) In the same way, God always gives first. In other words, we do not tithe to earn God’s favor or in hopes of what God will one day give us. Rather, we tithe the blessings that God has already put into our hands.
  • Not only that the Gospel reminds us that God’s faithfulness is always intended to enable our own faithfulness (the grace that saves us changes us). In the same way, tithing enables us to bless what God is blessings with the very blessings He has provided us.

The result is that tithing (far from being a money grab or arbitrary command) locates us in the context of God’s great love and then gives us an active part in that love.

 

This morning I want us to look at the practice of tithing. That is, I want us to look at tithing as it plays out in everyday life

 

 

II. The Practice of tithing

A] Remember tithing is God’s command that every believer (rich or poor, stressed out or on easy street) is to bring 10% of their total income to God’s House (Ex 23:19; Matt 23:23)FN #1

 

B] However please note: throughout Scripture, tithing is not where giving ends but where it begins. Notice then there is a vital difference between tithes, and offerings, and alms.

  • Tithing is the 10% brought into God’s house to support its daily operation (remember the picture in Deut 12:6-7)

Leviticus 27:30 ‘Thus all the tithe of the land, of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD’s; it is holy to the LORD.

  • Offerings are any additional gifts you give to support the ministry and work of God’s people

Deuteronomy 12:6 “And you shall bring to the LORD’s house your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the contribution of your hand, your vowed offerings, your freewill offerings

  • Alms are gifts that God calls you to give to assist the needs of others

Deuteronomy 15:11 “For the poor will never cease to be in the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall freely open your hand to your brother, to your needy and poor in your land.’ FN #2

 

Notice the result: when we step back and take in the whole picture of Biblical giving, what we find is that Tithes and Offerings reflect the 1st command. FN #3

Matthew 22:37 “‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’

On the other hand, Alms reflect the 2nd command

Matthew 22:39 ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’

 

Bottom line: Biblical giving aligns us with God’s priorities and God’s values in a concrete manner. As such, it is always a matter of the heart not cash.

 

 

C] Next, as you Tithe, God intends the act of tithing to be a blessing to you. How?

  1. Tithing provides for you- Remember, God uses your tithes to provide for your spiritual nurture and that of His people.

Psalm 65:4 Blessed is the one you choose and bring near, to dwell in your courts! We shall be satisfied (satiated/filled) with the goodness of your house, the holiness of your temple!

 

  1. Tithing proclaims– tithing is a witness that demonstrates firsthand that God is a God you can trust at the very point of your livelihood.

Psalm 37:25 I have been young, and now I am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Or his descendants begging bread.  (Rom 10:11)

 

  1. Tithing breaks– your addiction to money and the false security it brings. To tithe then is to take the first step in actually leaving everything behind and following Christ. FN #4

Luke 14:33 “So therefore, no one of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions. (I Tim 6:17-19)

 

  1. Finally, tithing confronts us- that is, every week tithing brings us to a crisis of faith. It makes me act on my true trust. Do I really trust God or do I feel safer holding on to that 10%. Unfortunately, many Christians begin each week choosing fear instead of faith. Notice the result: we then wonder why the rest of the week is filled with worry and anxiety. Why? We began the week by telling ourselves that we really can’t trust God. Not only that by not following God we have denied ourselves the comfort of knowing firsthand that we can trust Him.

Malachi 3:10 “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the LORD of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven, and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.

 

 

Bottom line: first and foremost tithing is an act of worship not finance. God calls us to trust Him and to value what He values at the very point of our livelihood and priorities. By doing so we begin each week proclaiming the Gospel to ourselves and then acting on it.

 

 

 

Footnotes

1] Importance: when God gives first, He does not merely give you a part of what is needed and then tell you to somehow scrounge up the rest on your own. Instead, if God has provided you $1000, He has already included the tithe of $100 in it. In other words, God has already given to you what He requires from you (a principle that is at the very heart of the Gospel: What God requires of you, Christ fulfilled for you, and now the Spirit applies to you)

2 Corinthians 9:8 God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;

 

 

2] To this list we might also add the category of Charity. Charity then is any general benevolence that you give to a worthy secular cause.  For example, Charity would include things like supporting cancer research, the literacy foundation, or a local school fundraiser. In this regard Charity reflects God’s instruction that His people seek the wellbeing of the communities in which we live and be a blessing to those around us. The believer is not to be indifferent. Instead, he is to be compassionate and generous

Jeremiah 29:7 ‘And seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf; for in its welfare you will have welfare.’

Galatians 6:10 So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.

1 Timothy 2:1 First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men,

 

 

3] Tithing is indicative of the whole (remember tithing is a % of a greater whole). As such, tithing is indicative that the whole of our week has been spent in God’s vineyard in God’s service

 

 

4] Tithing frees– you from worry and self to attend to the needs of others. How? As tithing demonstrates that God is a God you can trust with all your needs, it frees you to attend to the needs of others. In fact, the general notion behind all biblical giving is that because God cares for you, you are free to care for others.

2 Corinthians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; 4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort which we ourselves receive from God

 

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