Tithing with a heart of thankfulness!

Introduction

My Favorite Illustrations More than a Financial Plan

More Than a Financial Plan

Someone said that tithes and offerings are not simply God’s plan for financing His work. Primarily it is a means by which the Lord develops His people. Giving is an acknowledgment that all we have and are belongs to God. What we possess has been entrusted to us to use for His glory. As His stewards we own nothing but are responsible for everything.

Does anyone have any subscriptions?

Why do you subscribe to the things you subscribe to?

We subscribe to different services like Hulu, Netflix, Apple Music, or Xbox game pass because they give us joy.

Today, I want us to dive into scripture and learn what God’s word teaches us about tithing. I not only want to talk about “what is tithing” but also I want to work through how we can develop a heart of thankfulness in our tithing.

Tithe - One-tenth of a person’s goods, whether agricultural or monetary, dedicated to God.

I do not encourage people to tithe in hope of becoming rich, nor do I encourage people to tithe simply because it is their duty. I encourage people to tithe for the joy of it.

R. C. Sproul

2 Corinthians 9:7 CSB

7 Each person should do as he has decided in his heart—not reluctantly or out of compulsion, since God loves a cheerful giver.

What do you think that means when it says we should not give reluctantly or out of compulsion?

Compulsion - Feeling forced to do something

Tithing should give us joy! God wants us to use our gifts for his glory! Financial, physical, all gifts for his glory

To give a tithe was an act whereby a person acknowledged that everything he had belonged to God.

Allen P. Ross

Why do you think it’s so hard for people to acknowledge that everything we have belongs to God?

Mark 12:41–44 CSB

41 Sitting across from the temple treasury, he watched how the crowd dropped money into the treasury. Many rich people were putting in large sums. 42 Then a poor widow came and dropped in two tiny coins worth very little. 43 Summoning his disciples, he said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 For they all gave out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had—all she had to live on.”

Why do so many find their worth in how much they give rather than the heart they give with?

2 Corinthians 9:11 CSB

11 You will be enriched in every way for all generosity, which produces thanksgiving to God through us.

What does it mean that we will be enriched?

Matthew 6:19–21 CSB

19 “Don’t store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

What are some ways we try to store up treasure on the earth?

What’s it mean when it says that “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”?

How can we store up treasure in heaven?