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Give and it will be given; Good measure, pressed down shaken together and running over will be put into your bosom, for with the same measure that you it will be given back to you
(Luke 6:38)
(Luke 6:38)
[ Yo WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT TITHES & OFFERINGS?
Whether you have become a Christian only recently, or have been a Christian for years, you will have no doubt heard people talk about "tithes and offering". This may be something completely new to you, or you may have disregarded it as an Old Testament principle. It may be that you have been in a church that has not talked about tithes and offerings, and therefore have never given in this way, or maybe you disagreed with the church's use of money, so you decided to stop giving.
We make many decisions based on our past experiences or upbringing. The real issue and basis for our decisions should be what God says about tithes and offerings.
WHAT ARE TITHES & OFFERINGS?
Malachi 3:8-9
"Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed me! But you say, in what way have we robbed you? In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse for you have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house"
A tithe is 10% of a person's wages that is given to God as an act of sacrifice and worship and to further His kingdom. According to scripture, this is not an optional gift, but a commanded sacrifice that all His people should obey.
When we refuse to give our tithes and offerings, the Bible says we are robbing God. This is a serious crime and therefore needs to be put right.
When we bring our tithes to God, we should bring them into the storehouse. This is fine if you know where the storehouse is - after all, I haven't seen many places with neon signposts stating "Storehouse of God". The storehouse is the local church, the place where you receive food, care and support on a regular basis.
Many people today tithe into "Parachurch" organizations. These are Christian organizations that are doing good works but which are run outside or parallel to the local church. As they are not local churches, they are therefore not what God considers to be storehouses. However, they are places to which we can give free will offerings after we have honored the Lord in the local church. You will notice that this scripture says that we should bring the tithe into the storehouse but it doesn't specify where our offerings should go.
Not only does God command us to give a tithe, but also an offering. The offering is a free will gift that is over and above our tithe. The blessing of God doesn't come from giving a tithe alone, but through both a tithe and an offering.
Proverbs 3:9
"Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the firstfruit of all your increase."
Not only should we honor the Lord with our tithes but with the "firstfruits of our increase". One of the reasons that many do not give to the Lord in tithes and offerings, is because it is not a priority. It is the last thing they think about and as a result they find other things to spend their money on.
I have found that when I give the firstfruits of my increase, thereby putting God first in my finances, that God always meets my need. Many are slow to give to God but quick to moan when they are in need!
Some may think that it is harsh of God to command such an amount, but we must realize that all we have has been given to us by God in the first place, and all he requires is that we recognize this by giving back 10%. God then gives us the choice of how we use the other 90%
1 Chronicles 29:12 & 14
"Both riches and honor comes from you and you reign over all."
"But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly as this. For all things come from you, and of your own we have given you."
IS THIS AN OLD OR NEW TESTAMENT PRINCIPLE?
This is probably the biggest question that people ask about tithes and offerings. We believe that the Bible describes it as both an Old and a New Testament principle.
q The tithe was established before the Law was written and therefore its stands outside of the Law
Abel was the first man to bring an offering to the Lord when he brought the firstlings of His flock as a sacrifice before God. (Gen 4:4 & Heb 11:4)
Abraham, who is regarded as the Father of Faith, brought a tithe of all he had to Melchizedek King of Salem (or the king of peace). He was also known as the priest of the Most High. Abraham did this before the law was written. (Gen 14;18-24)
According to your interpretation of the book of Hebrews, Melchizedek was either a type of the Lord Jesus or he was the Lord Jesus Himself. Malchizidek had neither Mother or Father, beginning or end, and he is known as the king of righteousness, the priest of the Most High.
If Abraham brought a tithe to Melchizedek before the law, how much more should we bring our tithe to the Lord Jesus, who has no beginning, or end, who is the King of righteousness and the one who intercedes on our behalf before the Father as our Royal High Priest. (Heb 7:1-3)
q The tithe was included in the law.
Promised by Jacob (Gen 28:22)
Belonged to the Lord (Lev 27:30-33)
Given to Levites and the priests (Lev 18:21-28)
Taken to the Temple (Deut 12:5-19)
q Applying the Old Testament today
Many think that because most of what is written about tithes and offerings is in the Old Testament, it has been superseded by the New Covenant. If this is true then nothing in the Old Testament is relevant today and has no power. In fact, all scripture is given by the inspiration of God and is still all profitable. (2 Tim 3:16)
The Old Testament is still powerful and relevant today. Most of our examples of worship, praise, prayer and faith are taken from the Old Testament, so if we do away with the parts we don't like we have to do away with most of our examples of how to live. The only things that have changed are the areas which Christ personally addressed and everything regarding animal sacrifices, as our access to God is now through a better and new covenant - the blood of Christ.
q I still don't like this!
If you really don't want to apply the principles of the Old Testament, then look at the actions of the New Testament believers when they sold all that they had and brought the proceeds to the feet of the apostles. (Acts 2:45, Act 4:34-37)
THE HEART OF THE GIVER
2 Corinthians 9:7
"So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or out of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver".
Many people in both the church and the world do things because they have to, and therefore do them with a bad attitude or an unwilling heart. This is not good enough for the church! God does not want us to just give our tithes and offerings; instead He wants us to give with a joyful heart.
I know that when we learn to give joyfully and understand the dynamic impact we have through our giving, we will see the reward of our joy - a God that gives back with all sufficiency and abundance for every good work. (2 Cor 9:8)
THE PROMISE OF BLESSING TO THOSE WHO BRING THEIR TITHES AND OFFERINGS.
Malachi 3:10-11a
"Prove me now says the Lord" Bring all the tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house, And prove Me now n this says the Lord of Hosts, If I will not open for you the windows of Heaven, And pour out for you such a blessing, That there will not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground
God calls us to bring the tithe into the storehouse so that there will be a resource of food in the local church. It is with this that we are able to meet the needs of the church and reach out to the poor in the world.
When we bring our tithe, God challenges us to prove Him. This is the only place in scripture that we are called to prove God, for the promises are assured to those that are faithful in their giving. God will open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing in abundance that we will not be able to contain, in order that we give it away. Freely we receive, so freely we must give. (Matt 10:8)
Not only will God pour out a blessing but He will also rebuke the devourer, the devil who loves to steal from the church. (John 10:10)
When we don't tithe we give the devil the right to control our finances. When we tithe, God is in control and the thief is left wanting rather than controlling!
Proverbs 3:9-10
Get ready for the overflow
Honor the Lord with your possessions, and the first fruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
This portion of scripture was written to Israelites whose main area of work was farming. The promise of God is that when we honor Him in our giving, he will give us favor in all that we do. We will be blessed going out and coming in.
Genesis 26: 12-13
sowing in times of famine
Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; And the Lord blessed him. The man began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very prosperous.
"I can't give my tithes and offerings because I don't have enough". This is the excuse that a lot of people give when they are asked about tithing. In Genesis 26 we see that Isaac found himself in a land of famine, yet against all the odds he still sowed. God moved supernaturally so he received not thirtyfold or sixtyfold but a one hundredfold harvest. That means that, miraculously, everything he sowed produced a harvest.
You will read in this chapter that the enemy, the Philistines, tried to stop him but they could not overcome, for God rebuked the devourer. If you don't receive your harvest the first week that you give, it is not because God is unfaithful, but because everything works in times and seasons. There is a time to sow and a time to receive. You will receive if you take time to sow!
Luke 6:38
The law of sowing and reaping
Give and it will be given; Good measure, pressed down shaken together and running over will be put into your bosom, for with the same measure that you it will be given back to you.
The scripture talks of the law of sowing and reaping. When we give in faith, it is given back to us. We do not give to the Lord to receive back; we give because He has moved in our hearts and so out of our desire for Him we make our sacrifices. However, in our selfless giving, God, in His grace, gives back to us.
We see this principle working in the feeding of the five thousand. How was Jesus to feed all these people with no local supermarket to buy from, where he could have negotiated a bulk discount, and declared the favor of God! Jesus chose to receive a gift from a boy who had five loaves and two small insignificant fish. From this small "insignificant" offering, which the boy sowed, there was a harvest great enough to feed the five thousand.
2 Corinthians 9:6-10,
Paul says that God will multiply the seed that we have sown; not only will He multiply, He will give us the seed to sow in the first place. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows he shall reap. (Gal 6:7)
Deuteronomy 18:8
Power to get wealth
And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which he swore to your fathers as it is this day.
It is important to remember that God gives us the power and the supernatural ability to get wealth, but not so that we will self indulge. The wealth that He gives is for the purpose of establishing His covenant and His kingdom. We are not to lay up treasures on earth but treasures in heaven, which have an eternal value, reward and fruit. (Matt 6:19-21)
REASONS WHY WE ARE NOT BLESSED!
q We have the wrong focus
This is seen in the Book of Haggai, where the people were more concerned about their own lives than the temple and the kingdom. As a result, God opposed Israel and stopped the blessing. God is more concerned with the condition of our hearts than treating us like spoiled brats!
Some of the effects of having the wrong focus are as follows:
We have a love of money, and are unable to serve two masters. Money in itself is not evil, but our heart can be corrupted when money becomes our priority. (Matt 6:24)
We start stealing from God in tithes and offering. (Mal 3:8-9)
We become unfaithful with the gifts that God gives us, and are in danger of losing even what we have. (Lk 19)
q The devil is devouring
We know the devil is a thief and will try to steal the blessing of God from believers through deception. He will tell you that sowing and reaping doesn't work, or that it is for everyone else apart from you. The truth that we know sets us free, and it is with that truth around our waists, as a shield on our arms and as the sword of faith carried in our hands that we are able to take back all that the enemy has stolen. (Eph 6:10-18, 1 Sam 30)
WHERE DOES MY GIVING GO?
q Towards the proclamation of the Gospel and the establishing of the Kingdom of God (Deut 18:8)
q In meeting the needs of widows, orphans and reaching out to the poor. This is a ministry both to those in the church and to the non-believer. (Lk 12:3, Acts 4:34-37,Acts 6:1, 1 Tim 5:3, 1 Tim 5:16, James 1:27)
q To the upkeep of the building as a place of excellence which we can use as a tool to meet with God as a church, and to reach out through special events to the world. It is also a resource that we can offer to other churches and the local community. (Num18:21-32)
q It provides a wage for the ministers and those that God has called into full-time service. We believe the laborer is worthy of his wages (Num 10:36-39, Luke 10:7)
The finances go to the whole work of fulfilling the vision that God has given us as a church. ur Text Here ]
Whether you have become a Christian only recently, or have been a Christian for years, you will have no doubt heard people talk about "tithes and offering". This may be something completely new to you, or you may have disregarded it as an Old Testament principle. It may be that you have been in a church that has not talked about tithes and offerings, and therefore have never given in this way, or maybe you disagreed with the church's use of money, so you decided to stop giving.
We make many decisions based on our past experiences or upbringing. The real issue and basis for our decisions should be what God says about tithes and offerings.
WHAT ARE TITHES & OFFERINGS?
Malachi 3:8-9
"Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed me! But you say, in what way have we robbed you? In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse for you have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house"
A tithe is 10% of a person's wages that is given to God as an act of sacrifice and worship and to further His kingdom. According to scripture, this is not an optional gift, but a commanded sacrifice that all His people should obey.
When we refuse to give our tithes and offerings, the Bible says we are robbing God. This is a serious crime and therefore needs to be put right.
When we bring our tithes to God, we should bring them into the storehouse. This is fine if you know where the storehouse is - after all, I haven't seen many places with neon signposts stating "Storehouse of God". The storehouse is the local church, the place where you receive food, care and support on a regular basis.
Many people today tithe into "Parachurch" organizations. These are Christian organizations that are doing good works but which are run outside or parallel to the local church. As they are not local churches, they are therefore not what God considers to be storehouses. However, they are places to which we can give free will offerings after we have honored the Lord in the local church. You will notice that this scripture says that we should bring the tithe into the storehouse but it doesn't specify where our offerings should go.
Not only does God command us to give a tithe, but also an offering. The offering is a free will gift that is over and above our tithe. The blessing of God doesn't come from giving a tithe alone, but through both a tithe and an offering.
Proverbs 3:9
"Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the firstfruit of all your increase."
Not only should we honor the Lord with our tithes but with the "firstfruits of our increase". One of the reasons that many do not give to the Lord in tithes and offerings, is because it is not a priority. It is the last thing they think about and as a result they find other things to spend their money on.
I have found that when I give the firstfruits of my increase, thereby putting God first in my finances, that God always meets my need. Many are slow to give to God but quick to moan when they are in need!
Some may think that it is harsh of God to command such an amount, but we must realize that all we have has been given to us by God in the first place, and all he requires is that we recognize this by giving back 10%. God then gives us the choice of how we use the other 90%
1 Chronicles 29:12 & 14
"Both riches and honor comes from you and you reign over all."
"But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly as this. For all things come from you, and of your own we have given you."
IS THIS AN OLD OR NEW TESTAMENT PRINCIPLE?
This is probably the biggest question that people ask about tithes and offerings. We believe that the Bible describes it as both an Old and a New Testament principle.
q The tithe was established before the Law was written and therefore its stands outside of the Law
Abel was the first man to bring an offering to the Lord when he brought the firstlings of His flock as a sacrifice before God. (Gen 4:4 & Heb 11:4)
Abraham, who is regarded as the Father of Faith, brought a tithe of all he had to Melchizedek King of Salem (or the king of peace). He was also known as the priest of the Most High. Abraham did this before the law was written. (Gen 14;18-24)
According to your interpretation of the book of Hebrews, Melchizedek was either a type of the Lord Jesus or he was the Lord Jesus Himself. Malchizidek had neither Mother or Father, beginning or end, and he is known as the king of righteousness, the priest of the Most High.
If Abraham brought a tithe to Melchizedek before the law, how much more should we bring our tithe to the Lord Jesus, who has no beginning, or end, who is the King of righteousness and the one who intercedes on our behalf before the Father as our Royal High Priest. (Heb 7:1-3)
q The tithe was included in the law.
Promised by Jacob (Gen 28:22)
Belonged to the Lord (Lev 27:30-33)
Given to Levites and the priests (Lev 18:21-28)
Taken to the Temple (Deut 12:5-19)
q Applying the Old Testament today
Many think that because most of what is written about tithes and offerings is in the Old Testament, it has been superseded by the New Covenant. If this is true then nothing in the Old Testament is relevant today and has no power. In fact, all scripture is given by the inspiration of God and is still all profitable. (2 Tim 3:16)
The Old Testament is still powerful and relevant today. Most of our examples of worship, praise, prayer and faith are taken from the Old Testament, so if we do away with the parts we don't like we have to do away with most of our examples of how to live. The only things that have changed are the areas which Christ personally addressed and everything regarding animal sacrifices, as our access to God is now through a better and new covenant - the blood of Christ.
q I still don't like this!
If you really don't want to apply the principles of the Old Testament, then look at the actions of the New Testament believers when they sold all that they had and brought the proceeds to the feet of the apostles. (Acts 2:45, Act 4:34-37)
THE HEART OF THE GIVER
2 Corinthians 9:7
"So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or out of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver".
Many people in both the church and the world do things because they have to, and therefore do them with a bad attitude or an unwilling heart. This is not good enough for the church! God does not want us to just give our tithes and offerings; instead He wants us to give with a joyful heart.
I know that when we learn to give joyfully and understand the dynamic impact we have through our giving, we will see the reward of our joy - a God that gives back with all sufficiency and abundance for every good work. (2 Cor 9:8)
THE PROMISE OF BLESSING TO THOSE WHO BRING THEIR TITHES AND OFFERINGS.
Malachi 3:10-11a
"Prove me now says the Lord" Bring all the tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house, And prove Me now n this says the Lord of Hosts, If I will not open for you the windows of Heaven, And pour out for you such a blessing, That there will not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground
God calls us to bring the tithe into the storehouse so that there will be a resource of food in the local church. It is with this that we are able to meet the needs of the church and reach out to the poor in the world.
When we bring our tithe, God challenges us to prove Him. This is the only place in scripture that we are called to prove God, for the promises are assured to those that are faithful in their giving. God will open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing in abundance that we will not be able to contain, in order that we give it away. Freely we receive, so freely we must give. (Matt 10:8)
Not only will God pour out a blessing but He will also rebuke the devourer, the devil who loves to steal from the church. (John 10:10)
When we don't tithe we give the devil the right to control our finances. When we tithe, God is in control and the thief is left wanting rather than controlling!
Proverbs 3:9-10
Get ready for the overflow
Honor the Lord with your possessions, and the first fruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
This portion of scripture was written to Israelites whose main area of work was farming. The promise of God is that when we honor Him in our giving, he will give us favor in all that we do. We will be blessed going out and coming in.
Genesis 26: 12-13
sowing in times of famine
Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; And the Lord blessed him. The man began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very prosperous.
"I can't give my tithes and offerings because I don't have enough". This is the excuse that a lot of people give when they are asked about tithing. In Genesis 26 we see that Isaac found himself in a land of famine, yet against all the odds he still sowed. God moved supernaturally so he received not thirtyfold or sixtyfold but a one hundredfold harvest. That means that, miraculously, everything he sowed produced a harvest.
You will read in this chapter that the enemy, the Philistines, tried to stop him but they could not overcome, for God rebuked the devourer. If you don't receive your harvest the first week that you give, it is not because God is unfaithful, but because everything works in times and seasons. There is a time to sow and a time to receive. You will receive if you take time to sow!
Luke 6:38
The law of sowing and reaping
Give and it will be given; Good measure, pressed down shaken together and running over will be put into your bosom, for with the same measure that you it will be given back to you.
The scripture talks of the law of sowing and reaping. When we give in faith, it is given back to us. We do not give to the Lord to receive back; we give because He has moved in our hearts and so out of our desire for Him we make our sacrifices. However, in our selfless giving, God, in His grace, gives back to us.
We see this principle working in the feeding of the five thousand. How was Jesus to feed all these people with no local supermarket to buy from, where he could have negotiated a bulk discount, and declared the favor of God! Jesus chose to receive a gift from a boy who had five loaves and two small insignificant fish. From this small "insignificant" offering, which the boy sowed, there was a harvest great enough to feed the five thousand.
2 Corinthians 9:6-10,
Paul says that God will multiply the seed that we have sown; not only will He multiply, He will give us the seed to sow in the first place. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows he shall reap. (Gal 6:7)
Deuteronomy 18:8
Power to get wealth
And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which he swore to your fathers as it is this day.
It is important to remember that God gives us the power and the supernatural ability to get wealth, but not so that we will self indulge. The wealth that He gives is for the purpose of establishing His covenant and His kingdom. We are not to lay up treasures on earth but treasures in heaven, which have an eternal value, reward and fruit. (Matt 6:19-21)
REASONS WHY WE ARE NOT BLESSED!
q We have the wrong focus
This is seen in the Book of Haggai, where the people were more concerned about their own lives than the temple and the kingdom. As a result, God opposed Israel and stopped the blessing. God is more concerned with the condition of our hearts than treating us like spoiled brats!
Some of the effects of having the wrong focus are as follows:
We have a love of money, and are unable to serve two masters. Money in itself is not evil, but our heart can be corrupted when money becomes our priority. (Matt 6:24)
We start stealing from God in tithes and offering. (Mal 3:8-9)
We become unfaithful with the gifts that God gives us, and are in danger of losing even what we have. (Lk 19)
q The devil is devouring
We know the devil is a thief and will try to steal the blessing of God from believers through deception. He will tell you that sowing and reaping doesn't work, or that it is for everyone else apart from you. The truth that we know sets us free, and it is with that truth around our waists, as a shield on our arms and as the sword of faith carried in our hands that we are able to take back all that the enemy has stolen. (Eph 6:10-18, 1 Sam 30)
WHERE DOES MY GIVING GO?
q Towards the proclamation of the Gospel and the establishing of the Kingdom of God (Deut 18:8)
q In meeting the needs of widows, orphans and reaching out to the poor. This is a ministry both to those in the church and to the non-believer. (Lk 12:3, Acts 4:34-37,Acts 6:1, 1 Tim 5:3, 1 Tim 5:16, James 1:27)
q To the upkeep of the building as a place of excellence which we can use as a tool to meet with God as a church, and to reach out through special events to the world. It is also a resource that we can offer to other churches and the local community. (Num18:21-32)
q It provides a wage for the ministers and those that God has called into full-time service. We believe the laborer is worthy of his wages (Num 10:36-39, Luke 10:7)
The finances go to the whole work of fulfilling the vision that God has given us as a church. ur Text Here ]