DEVOTIONS: The Offering
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We are to be devoted, in all things, to Christ.
The habits of the redeemed are to be Christward in all things
We are to be devoted to the word of God, the Apostles teaching, which sets us Christward in our thinking and view of the world
We are to be devoted to the Fellowship, the community of believers that are to direct each other Christward in all that we say and do
We are to be devoted to the Breaking of Bread, which is to set our whole worship Christward, that we devote ourselves to meet christ at the table with fellowship each week.
We are to be devoted to the Prayers, praying the Psalms, which keeps our telos, our goals, our affections, emotions, hearts and thoughts Christward
He is the risen king, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, he has been given all authority, he is the Lord not only of our hearts but of our world. For he is the one we are to be devoted too.
So each of these devotions we have looked are devotions that point us Christward toward our ultimate devotion, the King of Kings!
To be devoted to Christ is to see him rightly, it is to see him for who he is.
We are not devoted to modern picture of Jesus as a soft and tender teacher who died as a sacrifice for our sins
We are not devoted to a weak Jesus, one who would never offend or destroy.
The one we are devoted too is the one who rules the universe, who is high and lifted us, and causes the bravest of men to tremble upon his appearing.
As followers of Christ, we pledge our allegiance to him.
Did you know that this is in large part what it means to have faith. Faith (pisitis) in the Bible has a much fuller meaning than the word faith has in our world.
Faith is to be devoted to, to pledge allegiance, reliability, fidelity, commitment.
reliability, fidelity, commitment
So as we think about what is means to have faith in Christ, to be devoted to him we must see our whole lives come under his authority, and our whole lives be devoted to him.
Now, what we are going to talk about this morning is one area that many Christians truly struggle to be devoted to Christ.
This morning we are going to be talking about giving of our financial resources in tithes and offerings as a devotion to Christ.
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.
44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common.
45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.
Acts
These early followers of Christ who had devoted themselves to the aposltes teaching, the fellowship, the breaking of bread, and the prayers, also devoted their resources for the building up of the church.
They were selling their possession and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as they had need.
Here we see the model of generous giving, offering, tithing, at play in the early church. They lived with such a devotion to Christ that they were willing to sell and offer their proceeds to the church.
We live in an age when studies tell us that evangelical Christians give less than 3 percent of their income to the church or any ministry.
The tithe is based on the fact that “The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness”(). God does not need our tithes to finance His kingdom for He is already the owner of everything (; ,).
3% is less than a third of what God has called us to give - as a whole Christians have failed to be devoted to Christ in their giving.
In an age when studies tell us that evangelical Christians give less than 3 percent of their income to the church or any ministry
And what we see in the scriptures is that when the people of God stop obeying, when they don’t give as the Bible commands us to give, the church suffers, and when the church suffers, the world suffers.
So this morning as we look at what the scriptures call us to in regards to tithing we pray that God gives us a heart to joyfully submit ourselves the the teaching of God’s word, the apostles teaching, and devote our full selves, all that we are and all that we have, to Christ.
Tithing in the Bible
Tithing in the Bible
Often times tithing is connected to the Mosaic law, and as such believe that the tithing is no longer required for believers. However, I think even with a short survey of the Bible we will see that tithing is something that is near and dear to the heart of God before, during and after the Mosaic law.
Tithing Before the Law
We see the first explicit references to the tithe appear in , where Abraham tithes a tenth of everything to Melchizedek, and in , where Jacob promises to give God “a full tenth.”
Now, this is helpful to see that the tithe, like the sabbath, and like the promises given to Abraham all come before the Law was given.
Tithing is one of the ways God forms us, and a way we worship God.
Tithing According to the Law
We do see the tithe become an essential part of the Mosaic Law
When God gives the Law to Moses we see in many places the tithe being mentioned as an act of worship before the Lord.
The tithe that the people of God would bring was not so much a gift for the Lord, but it was giving to the Lord a portions of what was already his.
30 “Every tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is the Lord’s; it is holy to the Lord.
So the Israelites would bring a tenth of their produce, grain, and wine, and animals and give them back to the Lord.
These tithes would go to provide for the Levites (priests), help the poor, keep the tabernacle and temple from wearing out.
There is a great story in where the craftsman of the tabernacle, those who were building it were receiving everything they needed to build the tabernacle. And the people kept giving and giving to the point where the craftsmen had to talk to Moses and tell him that they had more than enough.
So Moses gave a command
6 So Moses gave command, and word was proclaimed throughout the camp, “Let no man or woman do anything more for the contribution for the sanctuary.” So the people were restrained from bringing, 7 for the material they had was sufficient to do all the work, and more.
Exodus 36.
Here illustrates the difference between tithes and offerings.
The tithe is what we are commanded to give back to the Lord - all we have is his, and he has called us to give back 10% to the church.
Offerings are when we give above that 10%
The people gave their tithes, but when it came to building the sanctuary they continued to give above and beyond their tithe so that that work God had called them to do could be accomplished.
SO even in the law, tithing was worship, intentional, and formative.
Tithing is something that continues into the NT as well.
Tithing After the Law
Jesus often speaks of tithing and offerings.
He condemns the pharisee’s for the tithing in a prideful way, and he praises the widow who gives her two mites.
Jesus condemns the pharisee’s for an unbalanced view of tithing in matthew 23
23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.
Here Jesus actually affirms their tithes, “These you out to have done” BUT you should have done them without neglecting the weightier matters of the law - justice, mercy and faithfulness.
no one, no matter how much they give can purchase God’s favor.
The Apostle Paul never mentions tithing explicitly, but he does build off the principles of tithing as he encourages the people to give generously to the work of the gospel.
Even at the end of revelation we see the nations coming to the kingdom of God bringing tribute, they bring the glorious of their nations to the church as an offering.
1 Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. 2 On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.
So even in this short survey we see that God has called his people to give back to him a portion of what he has given to us.
We see that the tithe did not originate with the law of Moses, and therefore it did not pass away when the law was fulfilled.
“The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness”
“The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness”
The
The tithe is based on the fact that “The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness”().
The tithe is based on the fact that “The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness”(). God does not need our tithes to finance His kingdom for He is already the owner of everything (; ,).
God does not need our tithes to finance His kingdom for He is already the owner of everything (; ,).
God is not wishing you could make him richer by giving money to his church.
God is not in any way in need.
David says,
1 The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein,
Every penny in your bank account, every crumb in your kitchen, and every fiber of clothing in your closet belongs to the Lord.
Everything you have has been given to you by the loving and faithful King.
David continues this point in …
10 For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.
12 “If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine.
Paul likewise makes this point in acts 17
24 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, 25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.
Church, you have nothing that does not belong to the Lord. For all creation and everything in creation is his.
And everything you have has been given to you for you to steward for his glory.
This is why the early church were able to devote themselves to giving generously
This is a very powerful truth that puts so much of life into perspective
Everything you have is a gift of God, and a gift you are to steward faithfully.
The breath in your lungs, the body which holds your lungs are a gift you are to steward faithfully.
The talents you have, the skills you have acquired , the education you have received, are all gifts of God that you are to faithfully steward.
The jobs you have, the houses or apartments you live in, the cars you drive, the food you eat, the clothes you wear are all gifts of God for you to faithfully steward.
And the money you have received or earned likewise are gifts to you, for you to faithfully steward.
And the Bible has told us how to steward our finances faithfully. In fact it has a lot to say about how to steward finances faithfully. And the very first principle; faithful stewardship 101, is to tithe. To give back to God 10% of what he has given to you.
And when we do, when we give our full tithes and offerings, we image the God who has so generously given all things to us.
We serve a God who has generously given us all things,
He Gives Us His Love
He Gives Us His Peace
He Gives Us His Promises
He Gives Us His Riches
He Gives Us His Spirit
He Gives Us His Grace
He Has Already Given us more than we could ever hope to deserve.
And he calls us to give back to him a portion of what he has given us.
He Gives Us His Peace
Yet he has called us to give him back a portion of that thing we most want to hold on to.
He Gives Us His Promises
Yet he has called us to give him back a portion of that thing we most want to hold on to.
Yet he has called us to give him back a portion of that thing we most want to hold on to.
He Gives Us His Riches
He Gives Us His Spirit
We struggle to faithfully tithe because we either forget or don’t believe that he will provide for us
We struggle to faithfully tithe because we are fearful and faithless.
He Gives Us His Grace
We struggle to faithfully tithe because we find ourselves loving the gift more than the gift giver.
We struggle to tithe because we don’t actually believe in his promises, nor do we believe that all we have actually belongs to God.
He has given us his own Son so that we might have eternal life.
If we believed that all we have is God’s and God has called us to give back to him 10% and we refused, what would that be? It would be attempted robbery.
If I offer you to my truck because your car broke down, and then I ask for it back and you refuse to give it back, what would that be?
God has given us all things, and he has called us, for our own good, to give back to him 10% of what he has given, and we refuse… we end up like Israel in the book of Malachi
Mal 3
6 “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.
7 From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’
8 Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions.
9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you.
10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.
6 “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.
7 From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’
8 Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions.
9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you.
10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.
11 I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts.
12 Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.
God accuses his people of “robbing” him by failing to tithe (3:8).
8 Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions.
When we refuse to offer back to God our tithes and offerings we assume the role of a robber.
This reflects the biblical teaching that the tithe belongs to God.
We rob the body of Christ of faithful community when we neglect our tithes -
We Rob the body of Christ of faithful ministry, When the whole body works together, when they all give generously the body is able to minister and serve effectively.
And when we fail to tithe we rob God of our worship. We show that our true love lies with money and our ability to hold on to it and increase it.
And it also robs us of the joy and blessing of seeing God’s faithfulness when we trust and obey him.
2. In almost unprecedented fashion, God challenges his people to test him. Tithing is always a test of faith. It’s big enough to hurt, and it forces us to trust God to provide. But it’s not big enough to distress God’s people who are living within their means and leveraging their resources for his glory.
44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.
In almost unprecedented fashion, God challenges his people to test him.
10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.
Tithing is always a test of faith. It’s big enough to hurt, and it forces us to trust God to provide.
And God is telling us that he is up for the test. He is not going to fail you.
If you trust and obey God and what he has called you to do, he will take care of your every need. And he will lavish blessings upon you.
24 One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.
25 Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.
26 The people curse him who holds back grain, but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it.
28 Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.
Church, God promises to pour abundant blessings on his people when they tithe Paul says in
God promises to pour abundant blessings on his people when they tithe (cf. ). No other ceremonial aspect of the Mosaic law draws condemnation in quite this way, except for offering corrupt sacrifices. God treats the lack of tithing as contemptible.
10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.
Paul likewise believes in the blessing that comes to those who faithfully tithe, he says in 2 cor 9.6...
6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
A man goes on a journey and called his servants and entrusted to them his property.
Acts 2:
to one he gave five talents
to another he gave two
to another he gave one.
After the man had left
The man who was given five traded and made five more
The man who had two traded and made two more
the man who had one dug a hole in the ground and buried his masters money.
When the master returned
He rewarded the man who had five and made five
He rewarded the man who had two and made two
When the master came to the servant who buried his money he was rebuked as a wicked and lazy servant. And he was cast out into the outer darkness in judgement.
Christ is the master, who upon his ascension left us to steward his creation.
And are we stewarding his creation faithfully?
If you are not tithing as God has commanded than you are not stewarding what he has given you well.
Giving is to image God
Giving is to image God
We serve a God who has given generously to us.
, “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.”
II. HE GIVES US HIS PEACE
A. , “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
III. HE GIVES US HIS PROMISES
9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.
A. , “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
IV. HE GIVES US HIS JOY
Golden Nuggets—Special Outlines on Tithing 11. God Is Always Giving
I. HE GIVES US HIS LOVE
A. 1 John 4:9, “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.”
II. HE GIVES US HIS PEACE
A. John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
III. HE GIVES US HIS PROMISES
A. 2 Peter 1:4, “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
IV. HE GIVES US HIS JOY
A. Nehemiah 8:10, “Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
V. HE GIVES US HIS RICHES
A. Ephesians 3:8, “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;”
VI. HE GIVES US HIS SPIRIT
A. John 16:13, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”
VII. HE GIVES US HIS GRACE
A. 2 Corinthians 12:9, “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
A. , “Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
V. HE GIVES US HIS RICHES
A. , “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;”
He Gives Us His Peace
VI. HE GIVES US HIS SPIRIT
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
A. , “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”
VII. HE GIVES US HIS GRACE
He Gives Us His Promises
4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
A. , “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
He Gives Us His Riches
8 To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
He Gives Us His Spirit
13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
He Gives Us His Grace
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2
Giving is to be sacrificial
10% minimum
Firstfruits
Giving is to be a Blessing
Giving is to be a Blessing
First of all, tithing is a blessing to the church. A church that receives a tithe from all her members will never be in need. She will never lack any necessary resource to accomplish her mission. She will not need to go into debt, even to obtain a facility. Staffing will not be a problem. Missionary support will be readily available. Other church plants in the area will be possible. A church that receives the tithe is not only blessed locally, but is a blessing to the church as a whole.
She will not need to go into debt, even to obtain a facility. Staffing will not be a problem. Missionary support will be readily available. Other church plants in the area will be possible. A church that receives the tithe is not only blessed locally, but is a blessing to the church as a whole.
Secondly, the tither is blessed. Tithing is test of faith. Do we believe Paul when he says, “My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” ()? When we tithe, God strengthens our faith by showing His wonderful provision. We learn it is more blessed to give than to receive (). The book of Proverbs is a virtual handbook on the good things that will happen when we share our money generously and wisely. And as we saw in , God says, “put me to the test” and then promises that if His people tithe, He will “pour out for you such blessing that there will not be enough room to receive it.” God promises to open the windows of heaven and flood us with blessing.” Church history is filled with the testimonies of happy tithers who have found God’s Word to be true. God asks us to put Him to the test, to try Him in this matter. He guarantees blessing to tithers. It pays to tithe. It’s the best investment we can make. However, God promises nothing but wallets with holes for those who want their religion cheap ().
Lastly, the poor are blessed when God’s people tithe. At least a portion of the tithe is to be dedicated to helping relieve the distress of the impoverished. This aid starts with those who are in the church (), but also goes out beyond the boundaries of the family of God. While no amount of tithing will ever fully alleviate every last trace of poverty in a fallen world (), certainly the church desires to be doing far more than we have been able in this area. Preaching to the poor is not enough; we must minister in word and deed. The tithe finances the mercy ministry of the church, bringing healing to a society.
So Church, may we devote ourselves to generously and faithfully giving of our resources to advance the kingdom of God on earth. And may we receive the glorious blessings that come to those who faithfully give back to God.
Lets pray.
There have been times when people have come to me as their pastor, and asked about ‘tithing,’ giving away a tenth of their annual income. They notice that in the Old Testament there are many clear commands that believers should give away 10 percent. But in the New Testament, specific, quantitative requirements for giving are less prominent. They often asked my, ‘You don’t think that now, in the New Testament, believers are absolutely required to give away ten percent, do you?’ I shake my head no, and they give a sigh of relief.
But then I quickly add, ‘I’ll tell you why you don’t see the tithing requirement laid out clearly in the New Testament. Think. Have we received more of God’s revelation, truth, and grace than the Old Testament believers, or less?’ Usually there is uncomfortable silence. ‘Are we more ‘debtors to grace’ than they were, or less? Did Jesus ‘tithe’ his life and blood to save us or did he give it all?’ Tithing is a minimum standard for Christian believers. We certainly wouldn’t want to be in a position of giving away less of our income than those who had so much less of an understanding of of what God did to save them.
Like the parable of the talents
A man goes on a journey and called his servants and entrusted to them his property.
to one he gave five talents
to another he gave two
to another he gave one.
After the man had left
The man who was given five traded and made five more
The man who had two traded and made two more
the man who had one dug a hole in the ground and buried his masters money.
When the master returned
He rewarded the man who had five and made five
He rewarded the man who had two and made two
When the master came to the servant who buried his money he was rebuked as a wicked and lazy servant. And he was cast out into the outer darkness in judgement.
Christ is the master, who upon his ascension left us to steward his creation.