TITHES AND OFFERINGS Malachi 3: 7b - 12

There are established principles in the natural world God created, such as: if you want energy, you have to spend energy; if you want more people to like you, you have to spend an effort cultivating their affection; if you want your blessings to grow, you have to invest in God's Kingdom (you have to sow into The Kingdom to reap the abundant blessings).  This is the principle of reaping and sowing.  The return on your investment is amazing.

These days, we say that we have nothing left over from our paycheck.  I understand.  The problem is that we did nothing before the current economic climate.  Show God an effort and He will bless.  It is easier to tithe on $50.00 than on $3,000.00, because greed kicks in when we see that we should tithe $300.00 instead of $5.00.  So, just beginning somewhere will be noted to your account with God.  He wants obedience more than He wants sacrifice.

Rest assured, that God does not need any of the money He has allowed you to earn.  He has done without it even before He created our world.  We don't tithe to make God rich, nor to make the preacher rich.  We do it for the blessings and to honor Him.  We are blessed in ways that we don't even recognize until we meditate on what He has done for us.  Believe me!   

 

  Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:  So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.  Proverbs 3: 9,10  (KJV)  After all, who doesn't want their barns to be filled with plenty?  This is also the law of reaping and sowing.  But recognize that even in the Old Testament, it was understood that we are to tithe.

   In the same chapter of the Book of Matthew (chapter 6) where we receive The Lord's Prayer, Jesus also tells us:  19) "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  20) But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  21) For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."    24) "No one can serve two masters.  Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other.  You cannot serve both God and money."   (KJV)

   In the same chapter of Philippians where the Apostle Paul told the church of Philippi, "I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me.", he also talked of their financial support of him on several occasions.  He first stressed that his greatest concern was that the Church take to heart those things which he had taught them and practice them.  He then thanked them for their support of him without his asking:  In verse 17, he speaks of their gift to him being "fruit that may abound to your account." (blessings to their heavenly account) (18) But I have all, and abound:  I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, AN ODOUR OF A SWEET SMELL, A SACRIFICE ACCEPTABLE, WELL PLEASING TO GOD."  Don't you want God to take in the sweet smell of the gifts you send back to Him?  I know that I do.  19) But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.  (KJV) Then he gives God the glory for ever.
 

   In Mark 12:41 - 44:  Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury.  Many rich people threw in large amounts.  But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.  Calling His disciples to Him, Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.  They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything--all she had to live on."  The widow's actions lives on today:  she deliberately put herself in a position of total dependence, surrender to God.  That's faith!  Furthermore, if we were not to tithe, Jesus would have said so at this time, because He once said, "If it were not so, I would have told you."  So, He could certainly have put a stop to tithing and offerings.  Instead, He is quoted saying elsewhere in Matthew 22:  20, 21:  "And He saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?  They say unto Him, Caesar's.  Then, saith He unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's ; and unto God the things that are God's."

  Here's a parable:  A man adopted a teenager.  The teen immediately began stealing from the man.  The man loved the teen and wanted to bless him with all he had.  He gave him all of the basics:  home, clothes, food, etc. and some special things the teen wanted.  The teen, though, kept stealing from the man.  The man finally told the teen that he knew of the theft but the teen continued.  How long do you think the man should tolerate the stealing?  How much more would he have given the teen if the teen would have just stopped stealing?

   "...Return to Me, and I will return to you," says the Lord Almighty.
"But you ask, 'How are we to return?'
"Will a man rob God?  YET YOU ROB ME."
"But you ask, 'How do we rob You?'
"In tithes and offerings.  YOU ARE UNDER A CURSE--THE WHOLE NATION OF YOU--because you are robbing Me.  Bring the whole tithe into the store-house, that there may be food in my house.  TEST ME IN THIS," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.  I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the Lord Almighty."  Malachi 3: 7b-12  (NIV)

   God says, "test Me in this".  I tell you that it doesn't matter who is in our White House, or Austin, or Sacramento, or anywhere else; YOU ARE LIVING UNDER A CURSE!  We are not dependent upon our politicians.  We are totally dependent upon God.  Give your tithes and see what God does to clean up this country.  

Tithes is 1/10th of your earnings.  God EXPECTS you to live on 9/10ths of what He provides for you, including what you decide to save.
Offerings is a gift to God over and above the tithes.

The sad fact is that statistically, only 3 - 7% of church members tithe.  I am sure the percentage is much lower for those who believe but don't belong to a church.  Please allow us to help you establish or re-establish a habit of giving back to God what belongs to Him.  

   I want to clarify that statement:  only 3 - 7 %  of church members tithe.  So, if you have 100 families on your church roles as members, you can expect no more than 7 families to tithe (to pay the bills for the church)!  Now, not all members attend church, so this is a generous estimate!  

   I have one more thing to say about tithing/offerings/sacrifice.  Not all tithes and offerings are acceptable to God.  It is found in Matthew 5:  23) "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar (tithing/giving an offering) and there remember (in the act) that your brother or sister has something AGAINST YOU, 24) leave your gift there in front of the altar.  First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.  (NIV)

   You have to have a pure heart when working in God's kingdom.  If someone perceives you have done them wrong, be reconciled with them.  Make it right with them BEFORE you tithe.  God wants you to be obedient even more than sacrificing.  God is love.  How can you reflect His love if someone has something against you?