Beyond Tithing
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Humans grow, humans learn, and humans adapt. As humans grow they learn every day and as they learn they use what they have learned to adapt. As Christians you must treat your faith the same way. As you grow in your faith you must learn and use what you learn to adapt to life as a Christian in a fallen world. Tithing is one of the areas that Christians must grow. What I mean by this is that tithing is a good place to start and a great way to get people into the habit of giving to the Lord. Tithing however is not the greatest level of growth for a believer. A believer must grow beyond tithing. Tithing if you will is the mothers milk and after so long we must grow past the milk and get to the meat. The meat for Christians is giving. I know that these sound the same but today you will see that these are completely different aspects of growth and faith. Tithing is the mindset that I need to give one tenth of what I have to God and I must do so through the church. Today you will learn how tithing and giving are different. To those of you who have tithed your whole life I am not saying you are doing anything wrong and I am not saying that you are not faithful growing believers. I do however desire to show a deeper aspect about our lives and how we view the things we give. For some of you there is a fear about this church remaining open and operating if you are not following standard tithing practices. If that is you, stop it. If God wants these doors open and this church on this corner it will be here until He decides to stop it. Turn in your Bible to Acts 4:32-37 and in these scriptures you will see 3 aspects this morning. The early church was of One Heart, the church delivered One Message, and the believers were One Family. You will see the way they approached giving.
One Heart
One Heart
32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.
The believers in the first Christian church shared the same heart and had all things in common with each other. Did you see what it said in that second part?
English Standard Version Chapter 4
and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common
One thing about marriage is that it forces you to share things with each other. Prior to being married even when my wife and I were dating we never had to share food when we went out to eat. Now my wife orders what she wants for later because she knows I’m going to order what she wants to eat now. I used to have money now I am given allowance. The greatest part of being married though is how we have begun to finish each others sentences. We share a lot of the same mindsets on things and are of the same heart on most issues. Even things that I don’t agree with her on I agree with her on. You know exactly what I am talking about.
In order for a church to grow into the next phase of believers they must share everything in common. How does our church check out in this area. One of the facts of church is that there are people from all different walks of life and from all different backgrounds. We can spend days and months discussing all the differences in opinion out there. The fact is that we must get past all those things and share a common mindset. How can this happen? This happens when churches realize 2 things. First we are all sinners saved by grace and second The only way you get to heaven is believing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. In all honesty everything else can be debated and discussed and argued about but it really does not matter. When believers understand their own humanity and depravity and understand that the only way that was resolved was through the gift of Jesus blood, then they will have a true community of believers. The early church was of one Heart. They were all believers that had been saved by grace and saw Jesus die on the cross for their sins. The bible is clear about the fact that we are called to be of the same heart with each other.
10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.
16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.
5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus,
The church shared this heart and because of that they shared One Message.
One Message
One Message
33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.
Below are articles from a news paper clarified section in the 70’s
Monday: "The Rev. A.J. Jones has one color TV set for sale. Telephone 626-1313 after 7 p.m. and ask for Mrs. Donnelley who lives with him, cheap."
Tuesday: "We regret any embarrassment caused to Rev. Jones by a typographical error in yesterday's paper. The ad should have read: 'The Rev. A.J. Jones has one color TV set for sale, cheap...Telephone 626-1313 and ask for Mrs. Donnelley, who lives with him after 7 p.m.'"
Wednesday: "The Rev. A.J. Jones informs us that he has received several annoying telephone calls because of an incorrect ad in yesterday's paper. It should have read: 'The Rev. A.J. Jones has one color TV set for sale, cheap. Telephone 626-1313 after 7 p.m. and ask for Mrs. Donnelley who loves with him.'"
Thursday: "Please take notice that I, the Rev. A.J. Jones, have no color TV set for sale; I have smashed it. Don't call 626-1313 anymore. I have not been carrying on with Mrs. Donnelley. She was, until yesterday, my housekeeper.'"
Friday: "Wanted: a housekeeper. Usual housekeeping duties. Good pay. Love in, Rev. A.J. Jones. Telephone 626- 1313.'"
Mixed messaging can cause much heart ache. The early church ensured that their message was one message. The believers shared it in common and the apostles were giving their testimony of it. The only thing that mattered to the early church was Jesus blood and righteousness. The early church wanted others to know about the Love of Jesus Christ and the power of Christ to set them free. The church did not care about all of the small differences in each of them but cared only that they were all sinners and that Jesus died to save them from their sins. The church today can be very complicated and the messaging cluttered and cloudy. If you listen to one church you will hear that God will love you and you can show your love to God if you send in your money to them. On another channel you will hear that God will make you prosper if you give them your money. On another channel you will hear that God wants you to give up everything and be a living sacrifice. It is so funny that all of these churches have so many differences in their ministry but one thing in common. If you give them your money you will succeed at whatever they say the purpose is. Let us make one thing very clear this morning. God does not want your money. God does not need your money. This church does not need your money. If God wills to do something He can simply make it be. If God wants this church open He will keep it open. Our sole purpose is not to build buildings and to make a great name for our church. Our goal should have nothing to do with these buildings or grounds other than to fill them with people who want to serve Jesus. We are here to share the gospel.
15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.
7 And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’
10 And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations.
The early church did not have mixed messages. The early church was of One heart, they were sharing One Message, but they were also One family.
One Family
One Family
34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. 36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, 37 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
The church shared a message and added to their number daily. When these were added to their number they were not added and forgotten about. What good does it do people to be brought into church and placed in a pew and forgotten about? The early church cared about the needs of each of it’s members. These believers did not tithe 10%. These believers saw everything they had as something that could be used by God to help others. Money is a great tool because it allows the church to help in many avenues. Money though is not the only thing that God can use. If giving money is going to put you in a place of being unable to pay your bills or feed your kids then find another way to give back to God. What about your time with those who need someone to listen? Give your talents to help others. This passage does not say that they gave only money to the apostles. What this scripture says is that they saw everything they had as tools for God. Some people had land that they sold and they brought money. Others gave of their time and their talent to help those in need. While tithing was a great way for believers to get in a habit of giving to the Lord it is time for us to grow past this mindset. We must grow into a giving mindset where when we see people in need we give what we can to help them. As needs are presented we should out due each other in trying to meet that need.
10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
As a parent I have learned that nothing is mine. I do not have candy that is my own, I do not have space in the house that is my own, and my wife has no dinner that is her own. My kids can be given the same thing on their plate as what my wife is eating and theirs is nasty so they will eat hers. My wife now plans for this by putting very little on their plate and overloading her plate. Even if there is something we do not have much of though she is always sharing with the kids. She understands the importance of them eating and is willing to sacrifice even her own eating for them. Parents in here know exactly what I am talking about.
The mindset of the church should not be to give 10%. Lets be honest giving 10% and not meeting the needs of others does absolutely no good. When there are those in the church that need your time, your money does them no good. When there are those in the church need something that God has given you as a talent it does them no good to be given your money. If someone needs a plumber and you are a plumber, break out the tools. If someone needs electrical work and you are skilled, break out the tools. If one of our members needs nursing assistance and you have skill, that's right break out the scrubs. Stewardship is using everything you have for the glory of God. It is time for the church to stop breaking out the checkbook so they can check out of what God wants them to do. Notice what the scripture said
English Standard Version Chapter 4
as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.
This did not address everyone in the church. This passage simply pointed out that financially they were sustained because those who could help financially did. Others were ensuring needs were being meet in other ways. It must be clear that money may not be your offering. Time, talents, spare kitchen appliances, clothes, food, vehicles, all of these things when used to take care of the family of God are offerings. It is time that we look beyond the 10% and understand that it is about what God is calling us to do. Stop with the anxiety of wondering what others will think if your tithing statement does not reflect what others think is 10% of your income. It is time for you to consider what God thinks every time you give money to the church and walk away from what ministries He is calling you to or the people in your life He is calling you to bless and help. Tithing is wonderful and it does help a church survive and it is an offering to God, it is however not the only form of true scriptural stewardship.
38 give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.
8 But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
We must ensure that no one in our family is in need. We must ensure that we are a church that is of One Heart, that we share One Message, and that we are One Family.