He Measures The Heart

ME:

Last week we wrapped up the section on “Instruction for Christian Households”

We came to understand the idea of being a Christian and how this should impact our Culture today:

Submitting, Loving, Obeying and Encouraging

We are to Submit to one another as Christ Submitted to the Father.

We are to love one another as Christ Loved.

We are to obey the father as Christ obeyed the Father.

We are to encourage one another as Christ encouraged.

All are Biblical/Spiritual/Christian Principles

This morning I feel led to reveal another Biblical/Spiritual/Christian Principle.

Tithing

Transition Statement: There may be some of you here this morning who has no idea what Tithing is .... whereas most of you have heard of it and you are practicing this principle.

WE:

Look at Tithing in the O.T.

The concept of tithing appears in only two early patriarchal narratives (Gen 14:18-20; Gen 28:12-22), but it is more prevalent throughout the rest of the Pentateuch, particularly in Leviticus, Numbers, and especially Deuteronomy.

Gen. 14:18-20 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) 19 And he blessed him and said,“Blessed be  Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; 20 and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

One-tenth of a person’s goods, whether agricultural or monetary, dedicated to God. The practice of tithing has changed since the Old Testament period, but the concept of setting aside one-tenth of one’s income or goods for religious use has remained the same.

Look at Tithing in the N.T.

New Testament references to tithing most often appear in Jesus’ rebukes of the Pharisees. Specifically, Jesus attacks the Pharisees’ diligence in tithing at the expense of greater needs (Matt 23:23; Luke 11:42).

Hebrews 7:4–19 mentions the Old Testament practice of tithing to highlight the significance of Melchizedek.

Tithing did not become a major matter in Christianity until the patristic period, possibly because tithing was simply assumed prior to then.

The Patristic era began sometime around the end of the 1st century (when the New Testament was almost completed), and ended towards the close of the 8th century.

Look at Tithing in todays culture.

Some of the issues we find in todays society is .....

Not that its a tenth of ones income ....

But what it is not referencing when the Scripture mentions tithing.

Tithing is not of ones “Time or Talents”

Tithing starts at 10%

Tithing is not due’s that are to be paid which gives one “Rights” within the church.

Tithing is an act of worship.

Truthfully, everything we do should be an act of worship.

It is something that should be done between You and God.

Not something publicized but something that is internalized and shared.

Its a Biblical/Spiritual/Christian Principle

Submitting/Loving/Obeying/Encouraging

It’s a heart thing!

Transition Statement: Let me show what I mean from a pericope within the Book of Mark.

GOD:

Mark 12:41-44 “And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.””

Paint the Picture ....

Jesus has just wrapped up 2 discussions with the Pharisees and Scribes.

Dealing with a hypothetical question about a woman who married 7 brothers.

Dealing with the Great Commandments.

In Verse 41 we find Jesus positioning himself

Sitting in the temple treasury (Court of Women) where valuables were stored/offerings were received publically.

The place he was sitting was significant: reserved for the Davidic king. It seems this might be a signal of Jesus’ authority.

Watching the people give their tithes/offerings.

This is one of the thirteen trumpet-shaped collection boxes in the temple.

These were marked to indicate the use to which the funds were put.

He is watching them put their Tithes/offerings in these vessels.

Putting: Ballo

Put something somewhere by throwing it; Throw; cast; put

.... to throw or let go of a thing without caring where it falls.

What we can assume is that this was a very active place with a lot of people and a lot of noise.

Not just from the people talking

But from the sound of the money (Tithe) being placed in the Box.

There would be a lot of noise from those large offerings from the rich people.

Throw 50 pennies into the collection box.

Can you imagine what the Poor Widow thought?

Possibly been begging all day.

May not have ate yet that day. Or has ate very little!

She approaches the offering box to throw (Ballo) her 2 coins in.

Throw 2 coins in the collection box.

By mans standards she just tossed in about 1/64th of a persons daily wages.

We can only speculate that people heard the sound of the offering.

There might have been judgement on the peoples part in regards to this measly amount given to the Lord.

There might have been some who watched her give and placed critical judgment on her based on the amount she gave.

What we can confirm is that there was someone watching ......... Jesus.

Jesus then gathers His disciples for a teaching moment .....

Mark 12:43 “And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box.”

Now I may not have been good in math in my younger days but I believe I can conclude that “Monetarily” this Poor Widow did not give more than all the rest of the others who had given.

Go back up to Mark 12:41 “And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums.”

Jesus is watching.

..... watched the people putting money

In the ESV and the NIV this is how they translate this verse.

They leave out a word. (For what ever reason)

But in the NASB, KJV, and the AB translate this verse like this ....

Watched “how” the people put money (POS)

Amplified Bible: 41 And He sat down opposite the treasury and saw how the crowd was casting money into the treasury.

NASB: 41 And He sat down opposite the treasury, and began observing how the people were putting money into the treasury.

Jesus wasn’t watching “How Much” was being given.

He was watching “HOW” it was being given.

Jesus measures the heart not the amount.

Jesus tells His disciples .... (43-44)

“Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. 44 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty  has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

They all gave out of their wealth.

They still have plenty left in their pockets.

But her gift was all she had to live on.

A major element of Jesus’ teaching is that attitude is more important than action.

The widow’s total giving demonstrates an attitude of absolute trust in God.

Everything she had to live off of for that day, she gave to God.

I wonder if this Poor Widow faith has witnessed God’s provision time and time again so this is why she was able to give ALL.

Could it be church that in order to grow our faith we must place ourselves in a position to where our faith can grow.

Transition Statement: I wonder if this might be hard for some to wrap your minds around?

YOU:

Some might say .... Jesus was chastising the rich or some might say He was praising the poor.

This might be the case.

I believe there are two things Jesus reveals to His disciples and to us today.

How .... not How much!

2 Cor 9:6-7 “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

What we give! (what is HIS!)

Give back a portion of what he has given you to steward.

In Faith! It’s thankfulness! Not in obligation.

You know what I saw in this passage?

We see the Poor widow tithing from a position of submission, love, and obedience. (Faith)

A Biblical, Spiritual, Christian perspective.

We find a similar story right after sin entered into the world.

Gen. 4:3-7 “In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.””

Able gave an offering that was pleasing to the Lord. (Sheep)

Hebrews 11:4 “By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.”

Cain gave an offering that was not pleasing to the Lord. (Crops)

“If you do well”

Isn’t it scary to think that we can be giving to God but it be not pleasing to God.

Transition Statement: Tithing is a biblical/spiritual/Christian principle.

WE:

Challenge

Those who tithe ...... (Thanks and Praise them)

Those who want to but are scared/fearful ..... (Cheer them on)

Maybe ..... in order to grow your faith you must place yourself in a position to where your faith can grow.

Those who don’t ...... (Encourage them)

Mal. 3:8-12 “Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. 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. 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. Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.”