Biblical Stewardship-Giving As Worship

Introduction

When we think about Biblical Stewardship, we always have to return to the idea that “The Earth is the Lord’s and EVERYTHING in it.” ()

TRUTH: There’s not a way around this, we can’t circumvent this truth to fit what we want it to mean, when Scripture says the word “everything” the literal translation of that word is…you guessed it…EVERY.THING. (God: Drop the Mic and Go!)

Body

Tonight we are going to get into an idea we won’t want to think about…the idea of robbing God. Before you start freaking out though, the boldness of that language is Scripture not our idea.

There’s an underlying Hebrew text that suggests that word to be “deceive” with the intent probably to soften the impact of “robbing” God but the language is intentionally bold and there is no reason to go against reading it that way.

READ

Verse 6: The name Jehovah, meaning His faithfulness in fulfilling His promises; the covenant name of God to the Jews.

“Sons of Jacob”-in reference to God’s covenant with that patriarch (Jacob), and also referring to God’s ongoing commitment to his covenant promises to Israel.

“I do not change”-We are mistaken in inferring that, because He has not yet executed judgement on the wicked that somehow He has changed from what He once was, namely, a God of judgment.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Chapter 3

God’s mercy in store for Israel is made wholly to flow from God’s unchanging faithfulness to His own covenant of love.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Chapter 3

The perseverance of the saints is guaranteed, not by their unchangeable love to God, but by His unchangeable love to them, and His eternal purpose and promise in Christ Jesus

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 3

The primary reason Israel has not been destroyed is because of Yahweh’s faithfulness to His covenants with the nation. Yahweh will not change His mind concerning Israel

Verse 7-8:

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Chapter 3

live as your fathers did when they brought on themselves the Babylonian captivity, and ye wish to follow in their steps. This shows that nothing but God’s unchanging long-suffering had prevented their being long ago “consumed” (Mal 3:6).

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Chapter 3

Yet ye have done so to Me in respect to the tithes due to Me, namely, the tenth of all the remainder after the first-fruits were paid, which tenth was paid to the Levites for their support (Le 27:30–33): a tenth paid by the Levites to the priests (Nu 18:26–28): a second tenth paid by the people for the entertainment of the Levites, and their own families, at the tabernacle (De 12:18): another tithe every third year for the poor, &c. (De 14:28, 29).

The NET Bible First Edition Notes Notes for 3:8

The tithes and contributions mentioned here are probably those used to sustain the Levites (see Num 18:8, 11, 19, 21–24

READ

The question from the Israelites is, “how did we rob you?” and the Lord speaks to the tithes (tenth of produce and livestock) and offerings (offerings based on their own free will)

Verse 9-10: In trying to defraud God we only defraud ourselves. (-next week)

TRUTH: No man has ever lost by serving God with their whole heart, nor gained by serving Him with half of one. We may compromise in giving with conscience for half of what we would give but God will not endorse the compromise.

The NET Bible First Edition Notes Notes for 3:9

17 tn Heb “cursed with a curse” that is, “under a curse” (so NIV, NLT, CEV).

18 tn The phrase “is guilty” is not present in the Hebrew text but is implied, and has been supplied in the translation for clarification and stylistic reasons.

The NET Bible First Edition Notes Notes for 3:10

The Hebrew phrase בֵּית הָאוֹצָר (bet ha’otsar, here translated “storehouse”) refers to a kind of temple warehouse described more fully in Nehemiah (where the term לִשְׁכָּה גְדוֹלָה [lishkah gédolah, “great chamber”] is used) as a place for storing grain, frankincense, temple vessels, wine, and oil (Neh 13:5). Cf. TEV “to the Temple.”

BRING IT (VERSE 10):

Test Me whether I will keep My promise of blessing you, on condition of your doing your part.

pour … out—literally, “empty out”: image from a vessel completely emptied of its contents: no blessing being kept back.

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 3

The point of this passage is not that Yahweh would bless the people based on their giving, but instead that He would honor His covenant with them, as told in the law (Lev 26:1–14; Deut 28:12). The people were currently experiencing only the negative side of the covenant, because they were not in proper relationship with Yahweh