Giving To The Church Is Necessary
GIVING TO THE CHURCH IS NECESSARY
Everything that God has ever done He has had a plan. Just take a look at creation. For example, God has a plan for crops to receive water. God's plan is for it to snow or rain in the mountains. The rain and snow forms lakes and rivers. The rivers flow into the ocean and from the ocean the waters evaporate and form more clouds that take snow and rain to the mountains. You can not improve on that or change it. If you could change it, you will encounter a draught. God also has a plan for finances. And if you try to change God's plan for finances, you're going to encounter a draught financially. We have a choice, we can ignore those principles and struggle financially, or we can get in on God's plan, and realize that it beats any investment.
There are 3 people who are very interested in your finances. 1st of all, you are interested in your finances. If I know anything about you, it is that you would like to meet your financial obligations, and have some money left over. 2nd not only are you interested in your finances, Satan is also interested in your finances. Satan wants to keep you in financial bondage so he can control your life.
3rd God is interested in your finances. God is not interested in your finances because He needs it.
You don't have to give money to receive forgiveness of sins. It doesn't cost you anything to have your sins forgiven. But it cost God everything. It cost Him His Son. But after you are born again, God asks you to give your time, your talent, and your treasury.
Will giving to God make you spiritual? No.
FIRST -- Why then should WE give to GOD?
1ST -- WHEN YOU GIVE TO GOD, YOU CONTINUE THE EXAMPLE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT AND NEW TESTAMENT SAINTS.
When you give to God, you are following in the footsteps of the Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, or David. You are doing what those who loved God did. You are giving to God just like those who lived before the Old Testament law and after the law. Do you know how the Old Testament saints gave. They gave from a willing heart.
Look at Exodus 35:5:
Exodus 35:5
5 From what you have, take an offering for the LORD. Everyone who is willing is to bring to the LORD an offering of gold, silver and bronze; (NIV)
The gave from a willing heart in the Old Testament. Yes, giving was a command. But when ever you give to God grudgingly or under compassion God doesn't want it.
These are people who have been salves. They had virtually noting in Egypt. But when they left Egypt, the Egyptians gave them gifts. And for the first time in their life, they had money. And what did they do with their money? They were so grateful for their deliverance that they gave to God with a willing heart.
Because we have been delivered from the penalty of your sins, we ought to give to God with a willing heart, just like the Old Testament saints.
How did then give in the New Testament?
2 Corinthians 9:7
Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (NIV)
2ND -- WHEN YOU GIVE TO GOD YOU SHOW YOUR LOVE AND GRATITUDE TO GOD.
2 Corinthians 8:7-8
7 But just as you excel in everything -- in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us -- see that you also excel in this grace of giving. 8 I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. (NIV)
Men, I want to ask you a question. How can you prove that you really love your wife? Guys, how do you prove that you really love your girlfriend? You prove it by spending money on her. If you really love a girl you buy her a ring. You'll buy her flowers. You buy her different things that make her happy. God wants you to prove that you love Him and you do it by giving to Him. When you give to God you show your love and gratitude to God.
3RD -- WHEN YOU GIVE TO GOD, YOU ARE OBEDIENT TO GOD'S COMMAND.
Giving will not make you spiritual, but it makes you obedient.
Malachi 3:10
10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse. (NIV)
1 Corinthians 16:2
2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. (NIV)
The command, bring them.
4TH -- WHEN YOU GIVE TO GOD, YOU PROSPER BOTH SPIRITUALLY AND FINANCIALLY.
Luke 6:38
38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." (NIV)
Who said that? Jesus did. Is Jesus a liar? Do you always get money back? No. Maybe God will prosper your soul, your spirit. He will make you happy. God will give you things that money can never buy.
Money can buy you a bed, not sleep. Money can buy you a house, but not a home. Money can buy books, but not brains. Money can buy food, but not an appetite. Money can buy luxuries, not comfort. Money can buy medicine, but not health. Money can buy makeup, but not beauty. Money can buy insurance, not assurance. Money can buy a crucifix, not a Savior. Money can buy a church, but not heaven. Money can buy companionship, but not friendship. Money can buy a circus, but not happiness. Money can't buy love.
In Florida, a man was suing his church. Why? Because the church promised that those who gave to God would be blessed. For the entire year, the man did not believe that he was blessed. What was the church going to do? What did the church do? The Deacon board decided to give back all the money that the man had given to the church. How much did the man give in a year? They give back to the man $15.00 dollars. No wonder the man was not blessed in a large way.
You prosper both spiritually and financially.
FIVE -- WHEN YOU GIVE TO GOD, YOU BECOME A TESTIMONY AND A BLESSING TO OTHERS.
When you give, it says something to everyone. It says, "You are a not stingy. It says, "There's someone who loves God." It says, "There's someone who is like God. Just as God gave to you, you give to God.
Philippians 4:15-17
15 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; 16 for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need. 17 Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account. (NIV)
When you give, you become a testimony to others. It says something to others what you give.
6TH -- WHEN YOU GIVE TO GOD, YOU FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS CHRIST.
2 Corinthians 8:9
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. (NIV)
Anytime that you say in your heat, "I don't want to give because ... think of what Christ gave you. Someone might say, "I don't want to give to my church, because... there are problems there. Christ gave Himself to the church. If anybody could have said, "My church doesn't deserve this," Jesus could have said that, but he didn't. He gave everything. If the Lord can give himself, for us, who are we to think that we can not give back to Him.
7TH -- WHEN YOU GIVE TO GOD, YOU BECOME A MATURE CHRISTIAN.
The word mature means to be complete in everything. Stewardship is life changing. God is concerned about you being mature. When you become a disciple of Jesus Christ you discipline your mind, your money, and you mouth.
SECOND - WHY DO SOME CHRISTIANS NOT GIVE?
First, some are ignorant of the biblical standard. Some people just don't know better, so they don't give.
Second, some people are rebellious. They have said no in their heart.
Third, others know what they ought to do, but greed or selfishness prevents them. Some people live with a close hand so long, so that it has becomes a habit for them not to give. They don't give to any charity. They don't give to their neighbors. They don't give a tip. The Christian ought to live with an open hand and with an open heart. God is the one who keeps the records.
Fourth, some people don't give because they are careless. There financially bound.
How did they give in the first church? In the first church, they gave to God anything that God could use.
Acts 2:44-45
44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. (NIV)
At first you find the believers giving to others, as others had need. But in Acts 4:34-35 they changed the way they gave. Notice, that in Acts 4:34-35 they now give their gifts to the church, and the church distributed the gifts.
Acts 4:34-35
34 There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need. (NIV)
The recognized that everything they had, belonged to God.
THIRD -- WHY GIVE A TITHE?
First, because tithing was introduced before the law was given. Abraham was the first one recorded in scripture to give a tithe. Jacob continued it. Moses confirmed it. Malachi commanded it. Christ commended it.
Second, tithing was the standard in the law.
Third, Jesus reinforced the tithe.
Matthew 23:23
23 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices -- mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law -- justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. (NIV)
Jesus is saying, you tithe your spices, but you lie, you break the law. Jesus said, they should tithe, but don't forget about justice and mercy. The Pharisees tithed to gain merit before God. We tithe because we have merit.
Fourth, we tithe because believers were never told to stop tithing. Believers were only told to stop the sacrificial system.
FOURTH -- WHY TITHE TO THE CHURCH?
The tithe is given to the church, because God commanded it to be given to the church.
FIFTH -- CAN I GIVE OUTSIDE MY CHURCH?
First, Your tithe belongs to the church. You ought to give from the table from which you eat. You ought to help set that table. It is biblical. It's work is your work. It ministers to you and your family.
Second, you can give beyond your tithe to organizations that are Bible believing. That are similar to your church in doctrine and lifestyle. That have proven themselves.
Dr. Russell Conwell, founder of Temple University in Philadelphia, once asked for testimonies in prayer meeting of those who had tithed for several years. Seven people volunteered. Six people gave flowing testimonies say they were blessed in giving. The seventh to speak, a frail woman of seventy, reluctantly said, "I wish I could bear such testimony but I cannot. I have scrimped and saved and denied myself through the years to keep a vow made many years ago that I would tithe my income. And now I'm about to retire, and have no means of support. I don't know what I shall do." When she sat down, the meeting was closed in a depressing chill. The next day Dr. Conwell was lunching with John Wanamaker, founder of Wanamaker Department store. Wanamaker said, "Dr. Conwell, I think you will be interested to know that our store is about to inaugurate a pension system for our employees. We have thought about it for years. Finally the plan has been worked out. We are about to issue our first life pension today to a woman who has served our firm for 25 years." Then he mentioned the name of the woman. It was she who had given the pessimistic testimony in prayer meeting the night before.
Tom Myers