The 6g's part 5 giving (stewardship) presentation 09 21 14

GIVING

You people are robbing me, your God. And, you are, asking, “How are we robbing you?� You are robbing me of the offerings and of the tithe (the ten percent) that belongs to me.

That’s why your whole nation is under a curse. I am the LORD All-Powerful, and I challenge you to put me to the test. Bring the entire tithe, the entire ten percent into the storehouse,

so there will be food in my house. Then I will open the windows of heaven and flood you with blessing after blessing.

I will also stop locusts from destroying your crops and keeping your vineyards from producing.

Everyone of every nation will talk about how I have blessed you and about your wonderful land. I, the LORD All-Powerful, have spoken!

(Malachi 3:8-12 – Contemporary English Version)

IN THE BIBLE GIVING = TITHING SO WHAT DOES TITHING MEAN?

A tithe is one-tenth part of one's income. Tithing, or giving a tithe, goes back to ancient times, even before Moses.

In the Bible, Mosaic law required that the Israelites give one-tenth of the produce of their land and livestock, the tithe,

to support the work of the priests. (Leviticus 27:30-33).

In the same way, Christians today are to give a tithe,

or ten percent of their gross income, to support their church, it’s ministries and it’s missionary work.

IF GIVING = TITHING, THEN WHY IS TITHING SO IMPORTANT?

Tithing is the spiritual habit of giving back to God the first 10 percent of all I make.

If I make $100, I give $10 back to God;

if I make $1000, I give $100 back to God. I get to keep 90 percent, but I give 10 percent to him. Why do that?

Because God says so, and that's reason enough.

If you don't do it, you're disobeying God. But there's another reason.

Jesus says, “Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be� (Matthew 6:21)

The reason I tithe is to draw me closer to God. The Bible says wherever you put your money, that’s where your heart is.

If I put my money in a boat, that's where my affection goes. Wherever I put my money, that's what becomes important to me.

If I put God first when it comes to my money, it says, “God, you're first in my life.�

If you show me how you spend your time and how you spend your money, I'll show you what's important in your life.

Show me your schedule and your checkbook stubs and, no matter what you say is important, I'll tell you what's really important to you.

The issue here is where you place God in your list of priorities. Your finances simply reflect what those priorities are.

What do your finances reveal about the priority of God in your life?

(Rick Warren)

Tithing is a command from God

The issue is obedience

Tithing is a step of faith

The issue is dependence

Tithing is a way to honor God

The issue is worship

The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives.

(Deuteronomy 14:23 – Living Bible)

I would rather live with 90% of my income with the blessing of God on it, than live with 100% of my income without His blessings.

Every time you doubt that you can live on 90% of your income, let this glorious promise of God strengthen your faith:

“You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus.”

(Philippians 4:19 – The Message)

WE ARE NOT JUST CALLED TO GIVE, WE ARE CALLED TO BE INCREDIBLY AND INSANELY GENEROUS!

Now I want to tell you what God in His kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. Though they have been going through much trouble and hard times,

their wonderful joy and deep poverty have overflowed in rich generosity. For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will.

They begged us again and again for the gracious privilege of sharing in the gift for the Christians in Jerusalem. Best of all, they went beyond our highest hopes –

for their first action was to dedicate themselves to the Lord and to us for whatever directions God might give them . . . you excel in so many things . . .

now I want you to excel in this gracious ministry of giving . . . this one way you prove your love is real.

You know how full of love and kindness our Lord Jesus Christ was. Though He was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor – so that by His poverty,

He could make us rich . . .

You then, must each make up your own minds as to how you should give.

Never give reluctantly or under pressure, for God loves the person who gives cheerfully.

(2 Corinthians 8:1-9, 9:7 – New Living Translation)

In the midst of problems and difficulties, we can always find something to be grateful about

Generosity is never a matter of how much you have, it is always a matter of the heart!

We should always give out of celebration, not obligation!

Generosity flows from your commitment to God!

You can give without love, but you can never love without giving.

You are never more like Jesus than when you give!

Nothing will bring you more true joy in life than when you give generously to God and others!

Everyone is invited to bring offerings to the Lord . . . so the people prepared their gifts.

If their hearts were stirred and they desired to do so, they brought their offerings to the Lord . . .

everyone who wanted to help in the work, gave their offerings to the Lord . . . both men and women gave – all who’s hearts were willing brought their offerings to the Lord . . .

and additional gifts were given each morning . . . Finally, the craftsmen met with Moses and exclaimed, “We have more than enough to complete the job the Lord has given us to do�.

So Moses gave this command: “Stop giving! You have already given more than enough.�

So the people stopped bringing their offerings because their contributions were more than enough to complete the entire project.

(Exodus 35:5, 20-22, 36:4-7 – New Living Translation)

Let’s Pray