Biblical Giving 1

Introduction about series

A few months ago I began researching the topic of giving biblically

We will take a few weeks and step through what I have found

Today we will look at what happened before the law

Next week we will look at the law and the crippling commands therein

Then, we will look to the New Testament at what Jesus said and the early church practiced

Some will like what I have to say

Some will HATE what I have to say

I don’t make it easy for you!

But, I pray ALL will experience and know the liberation we have in Christ to be SET FREE to worship in any way, but also to include the way of giving

Genesis 4:1–8 NLT

1 Now Adam had sexual relations with his wife, Eve, and she became pregnant. When she gave birth to Cain, she said, “With the Lord’s help, I have produced a man!” 2 Later she gave birth to his brother and named him Abel. When they grew up, Abel became a shepherd, while Cain cultivated the ground. 3 When it was time for the harvest, Cain presented some of his crops as a gift to the Lord. 4 Abel also brought a gift—the best portions of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The Lord accepted Abel and his gift, 5 but he did not accept Cain and his gift. This made Cain very angry, and he looked dejected. 6 “Why are you so angry?” the Lord asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected? 7 You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.” 8 One day Cain suggested to his brother, “Let’s go out into the fields.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother, Abel, and killed him.

Genesis 14:14–24 NLT

14 When Abram heard that his nephew Lot had been captured, he mobilized the 318 trained men who had been born into his household. Then he pursued Kedorlaomer’s army until he caught up with them at Dan. 15 There he divided his men and attacked during the night. Kedorlaomer’s army fled, but Abram chased them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. 16 Abram recovered all the goods that had been taken, and he brought back his nephew Lot with his possessions and all the women and other captives. 17 After Abram returned from his victory over Kedorlaomer and all his allies, the king of Sodom went out to meet him in the valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). 18 And Melchizedek, the king of Salem and a priest of God Most High, brought Abram some bread and wine. 19 Melchizedek blessed Abram with this blessing: “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. 20 And blessed be God Most High, who has defeated your enemies for you.” Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of all the goods he had recovered. 21 The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give back my people who were captured. But you may keep for yourself all the goods you have recovered.” 22 Abram replied to the king of Sodom, “I solemnly swear to the Lord, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, 23 that I will not take so much as a single thread or sandal thong from what belongs to you. Otherwise you might say, ‘I am the one who made Abram rich.’ 24 I will accept only what my young warriors have already eaten, and I request that you give a fair share of the goods to my allies—Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre.”

These text REVEAL the PRIMITIVE/PRIMARY way people worshipped God and what was EXPECTED by God. They are IMPORTANT to an understanding of what biblical worship was - and therefore what biblical giving was.

Let’s look at Cain and Abel

Background

We do not know WHY or HOW they knew to give!

There is no written record of commands given. It seems innate in their expression that God is to be given offerings as an act of worship.

Verse 3 is literally translated , “At the end of days.” This is a phrase used to mark the end of a period of days. Maybe a week, or most likely here, the end of a harvesting, growing season.

Both Cain and Abel bring offerings based upon what they had to offer...

Cain as a farmer/gardener brings from what his fields have produces

Abel is a shepherd and he brings from what his flocks have provided

Both Cain and Abel highlight the 2 lifestyles/ways of living at that time. You either were a keeper of flocks, or you were a keeper of the field.

Both offerings are acceptable in the Law that comes later

Exodus 34:22 NLT

22 “You must celebrate the Festival of Harvest with the first crop of the wheat harvest, and celebrate the Festival of the Final Harvest at the end of the harvest season.

Exodus 23:19 NLT

19 “As you harvest your crops, bring the very best of the first harvest to the house of the Lord your God. “You must not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.

Exodus 23:14–17 NLT

14 “Each year you must celebrate three festivals in my honor. 15 First, celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread. For seven days the bread you eat must be made without yeast, just as I commanded you. Celebrate this festival annually at the appointed time in early spring, in the month of Abib, for that is the anniversary of your departure from Egypt. No one may appear before me without an offering. 16 “Second, celebrate the Festival of Harvest, when you bring me the first crops of your harvest. “Finally, celebrate the Festival of the Final Harvest at the end of the harvest season, when you have harvested all the crops from your fields. 17 At these three times each year, every man in Israel must appear before the Sovereign, the Lord.

And of course, the sacrificial system demanded the offering of animals...

Burnt offerings could be given which was the way to present animals from the field and birds (see Leviticus 1).

Why Was Abel’s offering Accepted, but Cain’s was Not?

The text tells us that Abel’s offering was accepted, but Cain’s was not. The question for US today is WHY?

It CANNOT be about the type of offering. Both were acceptable later. Both offered from what they were able to give. There has to be something more...

Well, let’s look at the text - it gives us clues...

Genesis 4:5 NLT

5 but he did not accept Cain and his gift. This made Cain very angry, and he looked dejected.

The phrase “Looked dejected” has been translated in other texts that his (Cain’s) face became downcast...

What it LITERALLY means is that he turned his face away and down… But, down from who/what?

As the story continues we see that he turned his face AWAY FROM GOD!

God came to speak to him and CAIN IGNORED GOD!

There is NO relationship and NO desire for relationship with God from Cain!

God warns Cain about falling into sin and Cain ignores God and becomes the sin he is warned against

Sin is crouching at your door

1 Peter 5:8 NLT

8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

Cain invited his brother to the field and brutally murdered him. He lay in wait and pounced on him and attacked him

Another hint… Cain did not DO WELL!

Genesis 4:6–7 NLT

6 “Why are you so angry?” the Lord asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected? 7 You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.”

It wasn’t form the heart

Cain offered his gift NOT from a relationship, but from OBLIGATION! He did not offer based upon what God had done in his life. He offered a gift, but it was not accepted because HE was not in relationship with God and HE was NOT allowing God to work in his life.

This is what we are told about Cain in the New Testament

Hebrews 11:4 NLT

4 It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. Abel’s offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man, and God showed his approval of his gifts. Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us by his example of faith.

1 John 3:12 NLT

12 We must not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because Cain had been doing what was evil, and his brother had been doing what was righteous.

Biblical Giving Highlight #1 = God is more concerned about the heart of the giver than He is concerned about the gift!

God is more concerned about the worshipper than the act of worship

God is more concerned about the singer than the song

God is more concerned about the reader than what is being read

God is more concerned about the GIVER than the GIFT!

This is what the prophets declared...

Micah 6:6–8 NLT

6 What can we bring to the Lord? Should we bring him burnt offerings? Should we bow before God Most High with offerings of yearling calves? 7 Should we offer him thousands of rams and ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for our sins? 8 No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

Hosea 6:6 NIV

6 For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.

Jesus references BOTH of these prophets in his ministry...

Matthew 23:23 NLT

23 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.

Matthew 12:7 NLT

7 But you would not have condemned my innocent disciples if you knew the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’

IN BOTH these passages, Jesus challenges the Pharisees on the strict reading of the law that ignores that God is after our HEARTS!

The first is about tithes, and the second challenge is about the Sabbath.

But the point is clear - God is more concerned about the HEART of the worshipper than the ACT of worship itself...

1 Samuel 16:7 NLT

7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Remember, God is more concerned about the HEART of the giver than the gift that is given...

Let’s look at Abram and Melchizedek

Who is Mel?

He’s priest to God Most High

He’s king of Salem (Salem comes from “Shalom/Peace”) and many believe it to be Jerusalem

His name means My King is Righteous (or King of Righteousness/Righteous King)

He speaks on behalf of God (oh, that’s what prophets do…)

He is a prophet, a priest, and a king… hmmm

Psalm 110:4 NLT

4 The Lord has taken an oath and will not break his vow: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”

Abram recognizes, somehow, that this Mel is a priest for the same God he worships and Abram gives him a tenth of what he has

This is the FIRST time someone gives a tenth (or tithe) to God. So, in order to understand what is later meant by this Law (remember, this is BEFORE the Law) we must look at this and see it as a TYPOLOGY of what is expected later...

So, what happened?

First, according to Hebrews it was a tenth of the battle earnings...

Hebrews 7:2 NLT

2 Then Abraham took a tenth of all he had captured in battle and gave it to Melchizedek. The name Melchizedek means “king of justice,” and king of Salem means “king of peace.”

Hebrews 7:4 NLT

4 Consider then how great this Melchizedek was. Even Abraham, the great patriarch of Israel, recognized this by giving him a tenth of what he had taken in battle.

Abram did not give a tenth of EVERY POSSESSION HE HAD. We must admit that Abram HAS already been giving offerings to God at different times, upon different occasions. However, in this instance, where the 1st mention of a tithe/tenth is recorded, Abram gives based upon THAT CURRENT ENDEAVOR.

No where does Abram give because he is COMMANDED to give.

Abram gives BECAUSE God has granted him success.

As an act of worship, based upon what God has done, ABRAM GIVES! In THIS INSTANCE we are told that it was a tenth of what Abram had acquired during the campaign to rescue his nephew Lot. He did not give out of compulsion or duty - he gave out of a response of a grateful heart to what God had done!

As a side note, something I find funny… After the interaction between Mel and Abram (where Abram is blessed and God is praised - more likely Mel recognizes that Abram HAS BEEN blessed by God and will CONTINUE to be blessed by God) the king of Sodom seems to try and “make a deal” with Abram about the proceeds of war.

Abram there gives EVERYTHING back to the king of Sodom stating he does not want to get rich off of that king and that it would ONLY be God who blesses him.

I find it interesting that what Abram offers to God is from what he would not keep anyway… hmm...

Compare Abram and Jacob

Abram RECOGNIZED he had been blessed by God, therefore he gave

Jacob does something different (which is a Cain attitude if you ask me…)

Genesis 28:20–22 NLT

20 Then Jacob made this vow: “If God will indeed be with me and protect me on this journey, and if he will provide me with food and clothing, 21 and if I return safely to my father’s home, then the Lord will certainly be my God. 22 And this memorial pillar I have set up will become a place for worshiping God, and I will present to God a tenth of everything he gives me.”

IF God blesses me, THEN I will give!

He does not recognize that God HAS ALREADY blessed him. Also, he might have the story of Abram rescuing Lot and how God blessed that endeavor and through that Abram was able to give. However, there seems to be a bartering, “Lord grant me success! And, if you do… I won’t forget to give you your cut...” THAT IS NOT God’s desire.

Worship is a matter of the heart!

Worship, singing, reading, praying and even giving is a matter of the heart

It is a RESPONSE to God’s goodness.

Giving/offerings CANNOT be any different. It is a response to God from the outflow of our heart and relationship with God.

It recognizes that God has blessed us and taken care of us and that everything we have comes from Him to begin with.

Romans 11:36 NLT

36 For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.

It is also a matter of trust that the God who has taken care of us will CONTINUE to be the God who takes care of us as we respond from our heart and relationship with God.

Be Cautious with Cain

Cain’s problem was his heart!

He gave, but gave out of duty/obligation/that’s what I am told we are supposed to do, etc...

He gave COMPARING his gift to others...

Maybe he thought it was worthless (it wasn’t enough in comparison to others…)

Or, he thought it was better (look how much I GAVE!!!)

The Cain’s among us do the same things today

They give because they HAVE to...

They give to prove something to others...

They give to “Call the shots...” How many times have people said, “Well church/pastor if YOU don’t do what I want I’ll leave and take my gifts with me...”

They give the BASIC necessary requirement… “OK God, I’ll give, but ONLY this amount or percentage...”

But, it’s never been about the amount/percentage! It’s ALWAYS been about the heart!!!

You can be giving MILLIONS and still be a Cain - because it is not a gift flowing from your relationship with God...

You can be giving $1 and NOT be Cain as it flows from your relationship with God!

Likewise, you can be giving $1 and be a Cain as you only give because you are OBLIGATED to...

We need a HEART TRANSPLANT

Many of us need a HEART TRANSPLANT

We give like Cain and Jacob. We give to make deals. We give to compare ourselves with others. We give to call the shots. We give a lot, we give a little, but it is NOT from the overflow of our heart - it’s out of duty, obligation, insincerity...

Here’s the deal… If you are giving like Cain YOUR gift is NOT accepted by God. Oh, it might be used by the organization/church you give to, but it is NOT being blessed by God nor considered an actual offering by God. You might even get TAX CREDIT (which brings up a host of other Cain-like issues) but if your HEART is wrong YOUR CAIN AND YOUR OFFERING IS NOT ACCEPTED!!!