A Generous People - Stewardship and the Tithe

I. Introduction

2 Co 9:6-11 “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.” Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.”

Generosity is the culture of our Father’s house. Their is a training and partnership with God in giving. God’s blessing flowing through you to the world is God’s plan.

“Compulsion” an total obligation leading to distress. Think of debt that causes anxiety due to the obligation to pay. In Christianity the debt has been paid, you owe nothing. This is why giving can’t be a command.

“Cheerful” - “hilaros” - merry, joyous, cheerful. It’s were we get the word “hilarious.” Giving that isn’t out of obligation but instead in thanksgiving is one of the greatest joys.

In the OT giving was an obligation because the debt had not yet been paid. We owe nothing but offerings of thanksgiving.

II. Stewardship and the Tithe

A. Stewardship

Acts 4:32-34 “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them.”

“Own” - one’s own property, ownership. They NT believers from the get go responded radically to their debt being paid by Jesus. They gave God everything, signed over ownership to him and became stewards .

This job of stewardship goes all the way back to the garden. God did give it all to Adam and Eve but in the role is stewardship: “to tend and to keep” with the “dominion” of the owner. (Gen 1:28, 2:15) When man fell he took the responsibility of owning a fallen world, through Christ we can move back to stewardship.

Stewardship has the authority of heaven to rule over possessions and creation without the weight of ownership.

Only through stewardship can financial gains be taken with wisdom and losses with grace. When you lose a possession or asset we have to give an account to the owner but we are not financial responsible. (car being stolen.)

Stewardship is the only way to walk in authority over finances and have peace and it’s the only way to have a community with no needs.

“No needs” - actually means the poor or impoverished. Do you understand within short order the Christian community did what no other civilization has ever done.; eliminated poverty among them. A unified church full of stewards instead of owners can eliminate poverty.

What if one of the greatest hinderances to heaven coming to earth now is the delusion of ownership. What if surrendering ownership is our gateway to the culture of heaven now.

B. Tithe

Genesis 14:18-20 “Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.”

Context - Abraham had just been on a militant journey to rescue his nephew Lot. God gave him victory and he plundered the kings he conquered. He traveled passed an ancient village called Salem which means complete peace. The prince or king of peace , Melchizedek, came out and blessed Abraham and gave him the bread and wine. In this context we see the first reference to the tithe. Abram gave him a tenth of all he had plundered from the kings.

It is a possibility that this figure was Seth, one of Noah’s sons in which the nation of Israel descended from. This would have made all of them family

1). The tithe pre-dates the law. It originally wasn’t an lawful obligation but instead a thankful response. Jesus stated he was a priest not in the order of Aaron but Melchizedek. (Heb 5:10)

2). The tithe was given in response to a blessing with bread and wine. Were are you being blessed spiritually? Where are you being spiritually feed the bread and wine?

Where is your spiritual community were you get teaching, breaking of bread, fellowship, and prayer? (Acts 2:42) It is biblical and appropriate to give 10% of your income where you have spiritual family and are blessed and feed.

III. Conclusion

Practical steps: Sporadic, Consistent, Tithe, Offerings. If you are sporadic move to consistently first. If you are consistent move toward the tithe. If you tithe start a saving account for offerings.

Do you have a need? Financial, Spiritual, Emotional, whatever. I want you to come for prayer. Prayer is where everything starts because we have to take the need to the owner.

The greatest need ever was us lost and enslaved to our sin. Our God is a generous God, “For God so loved the world that He gave..” John 3:16 If you are not a Christian you still owe a spiritual debt and you will never be able to pay. Let Jesus pay it for you.