Q: Do you follow God when He directs you not to give money, or to give something.. or money at church.. or even to receive?
Q: Ever noticed swindlers out on the take, out on the street corners? Some of them are and they love to drink, to shoot or smoke drugs, to gamble in LA or in OK casinos. There’s been some investigative reporting on this.
There are some so called pastors with so called churches out there on the take as well. Some don’t even verbally adhere to the Essentials of our historic Christian faith. Some I’ve seen pull in a quarter of a million each Sunday morning but have no accountability according to their Executive Pastors.
Sometimes there are some dear relatives of ours who might just need to hear a “No, not now. I love you and want you living free and mature.”
Obedient Giving under the Lordship of Christ today is as important today as it ever has been.. Yes, as the Spirit and Word of God agree and lead you, believer. This is what I strongly encourage because it’s biblical.
With your family and all what do you properly manage to the glory of God? Do you pray first (Some things we don’t need to pray about because they are already clear in the Bible as to what we are to regularly do).
What do you say no to and yes to? Proper stewardship encompasses far more than merely giving money. God wants you first. He wants all of you, and to lead you for your own benefit and for the benefit of those around you. He wants you more really than your money. You know God doesn’t have a need. But He does want to see sinners saved, secure and serving Him here and it does cost to start up a heater or light in a church. It costs to send out a missionary too. We each have a part to play with the Great Commandment and His Great Commission.
So what does biblical tithing to address church needs look like in the New Testament? Glad you asked.
See 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. 42 And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. 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. 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.”
See Acts 2:44–45 - 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.
See what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9:14 - In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.
See 1 Corinthians 16:2 - 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.
See 2 Corinthians 9:7 - Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
What did tithing in the Old Testament look like? I’m glad you asked.
Tithing in the back in the day was important too. See Malachi 3:8 - Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions.
There were three different tithes that were command in the Old Testament.
(1.) One tenth of the Jew's income went to support the Priests and the Levites. (Basically their Government was funded off this collection). See Num. 18:21, 24
(2.) Another tenth went to support their sacred festivals. See Deut. 12:17-18; 14:23
(3.) Then every three years another tenth was collected from the Jews to support the widows, the orphans and the poor. It was a benevolence tithe. See Deut. 14:28-29; 26:12-13So are you saying that I need to have three tithes, Kurt? Nope, you follow Jesus and remember that their government and Israeli system of faith were one regarding this type of thing. If you and I as Christian believers were to tithe properly and then give of our taxes (as is legal) to our flawed government today, then it might probably come out close to the same percentage as they gave.
Here are Five Principles for Personal Giving Today:
The apostle Paul was not afraid to talk about the giving or not giving of money. Although he never over-emphasized it (like we see in many chs & min), he never neglected its importance.
In 1 Corinthians 16:1–3, Paul details important principles regarding this subject.
1.) Giving is to be a universal practice.
“Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches in Galatia, so you must do also” (1 Corinthians 16:1).
This was not just something that the Corinthians had to do. Everywhere Paul went, wherever he founded a local church, he taught them to obediently give as God directed each person, because giving is an essential part of the Christian life. We need to freely give as we have freely received because the Great Commission needs to be fulfilled. After all, God has freely given us His unconditional pardon (forgiveness minus un buying any indulgence etc.) and the transformation of our lives and families—things we would never have been able to pay for with any amount of money.
2.) Giving should be done regularly by a plan rather than merely by emotions.
“On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside . . .” (1 Corinthians 16:2). This is one of the first indications we have in the epistles that the Christians had begun to gather regularly to worship, to pray, and to give on the first day of the week, Sunday. We see that this was done on a consistent basis.
3.) Giving is a personal act to obey and glorify the Lord.
“Let each one of you lay something aside” (1 Corinthians 16:2). He does not leave anyone out. Even children should be taught to give. It may be only a few pennies, a nickel, or a dime, but they should be taught the importance of giving at an early age.
4.) We should be prepared to give.
“Lay something aside and store it up” (1 Corinthians 16:2). We should set aside money for the work of the kingdom out of every paycheck. Some may say, “But that is legalism!” Is it legalistic to say a prayer of thanks over a meal? Is it legalistic to set Sunday apart as the Lord’s Day, in which you will go with your family to church? Is it legalistic to discipline yourself to read your Bible on a regular basis? That’s not legalism. That’s good planning, obedience, and wise stewardship. It represents a life that has been dedicated to God.
5.) God will meet your all needs and prosper you according to His great wisdom (with precise timing) ..as you obey Him even in giving.
Turn, trust, believe and give yourself to God -- to Christ first. All of you. He will forgive you and guide you.
“God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8). God will give you more seed to plant and will make it grow so that you give away more and more fruit from your harvest. (2 Corinthians 9:10).
“If you therefore have not been faithful in the use of worldly wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you?” Luke 16:11
On stewardship please review what the Apostle Paul said in Philippians 4:10–20 and see the context too.
The Christian and Money - interesting topic.
Sounds religious. What was or is a heave offering?
What is the difference between tithes and offerings?
What should be done if a husband and wife disagree on tithing.. on how much to give?
What is a church supposed to do with the offerings it receives?
Does our tithe all need to go to our church or can part of it go to a Christian ministry? We tithe at our Bible teaching church.
What does it mean to rob God (Malachi 3:8)?
What does the Bible say about Christian tithing? Should a Christian tithe?
The Bible says in Philippians 4:10 nkjv] "But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity.
[11] Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:
[12] I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
[13] I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
[14] Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress.
[15] Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only.
[16] For even in Thessalonica you sent [aid] once and again for my necessities.
[17] Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.
[18] Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things [sent] from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.
[19] And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
[20] Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen."* The message of our ministry is the gospel of Christ (Philippians chap. 1).
* The model for our ministry is the example of Christ (chap. 2).
* The motive for our ministry is the reward of Christ (chap. 3).
* The means of our ministry is the provision of Christ (chap. 4).
- God provides unity when we disagree with our fellow Christians (vv. 1–5), and peace when we are prone to worry (vv. 6–9).
If we pray as we ought to pray and think as we ought to think, the peace of God will guard us, and the God of peace will go with us.
- God provides the power we need for life and service (vv. 10–13) and the material needs we have as well (vv. 14–20).
Remember that the Apostle Paul did not have a wealthy organization giving him support, but he did have a great God who enabled generous missions minded friends to meet his needs. Paul saw their gift as a fragrant sacrifice to the Lord (v. 18), and he rejoiced in the Lord for what they did.
“Through Christ you can be what you ought to be (Phil. 4:11), do what you ought to do (v. 13), and have what you ought to have (v. 19), all to the glory of God.” ~ Charles W. Koller
“Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the first-fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.” Proverbs 3:9–10
We give from the heart ..cheerfully. It’s a choice. And God does that. He is the initiator and we are the responders.
We demonstrate commitment to godly stewardship when we trust Christ to meet all our needs and so we generously give in response to glorify Him.
Need another passage on stewardship?
[33] for the showbread, for the regular grain offering, for the regular burnt offering of the Sabbaths, the New Moons, and the set feasts; for the holy things, for the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and all the work of the house of our God.
[34] We cast lots among the priests, the Levites, and the people, for bringing the wood offering into the house of our God, according to our fathers' houses, at the appointed times year by year, to burn on the altar of the LORD our God as [it is] written in the Law.
[35] And [we made ordinances] to bring the firstfruits of our ground and the firstfruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year, to the house of the LORD;
[36] to bring the firstborn of our sons and our cattle, as it is written in the Law, and the firstborn of our herds and our flocks, to the house of our God, to the priests who minister in the house of our God;
[37] to bring the firstfruits of our dough, our offerings, the fruit from all kinds of trees, [the] new wine and oil, to the priests, to the storerooms of the house of our God; and to bring the tithes of our land to the Levites, for the Levites should receive the tithes in all our farming communities.
[38] And the priest, the descendant of Aaron, shall be with the Levites when the Levites receive tithes; and the Levites shall bring up a tenth of the tithes to the house of our God, to the rooms of the storehouse.
[39] For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering of the grain, of the new wine and the oil, to the storerooms where the articles of the sanctuary [are], [where] the priests who minister and the gatekeepers and the singers are; and we will not neglect the house of our God."
Stewardship lessons are often difficult to discuss among believers, as many people may be in financially unhealthy situations that took years to get into. Some people have deep church-hurt from being taken advantage of by a carnal or lost pastor in a church that gave an over emphasis to the people giving him money.
For those who may be struggling, our God is a God of restoration, and He can restore your financial situation. Pray and obey. The Bible is filled with story after story of how God restored His people. In addition, God took care of the biggest problem that man has (it’s called sin), so why would He not care about any financial struggle that you may be experiencing?
Jesus is still the same and can help any of us to obey the Bible. He looked at them and said, "With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God." Mark 10:27
What’s the number one mark of a false prophet or false teacher in the Bible? It’s greed. Contextually in the New Testament I call it gospel-greed.
We’ve seen it in our day this giving an overemphasis to you giving to them at church to get blessed.
Hey, we believers are not sovereign in what we get back in this life or in eternity after we obey God in giving here. Some want to name it and claim it so they can be very wealthy here. God will reward the obedient for sure.. here, there or in the air. Not sure when or where, but sometimes He does that with what money can’t buy.
In switching churches after a breach of the trust the first thing to go and the last thing to return into a new local church from the victims is normally the tithes and offerings. Sometimes it takes quite a while to regain the trust with believers in relationship to a church or para church ministry. Please know leaders, that the truth can be violated so quickly if you are not cautious.
Here in the States high profile scandals from ministries of charismania or of evangelical churches or formal parish church organizations have always resulted in loss of giving across the Nation and have slowed down the progress of fulfilling God’s Great Commission. Our own missions agency (the one Liney and I had with our church) had a quota for us to raise and reach in raising funds before we were allowed to be sent out overseas. And we were put on hold for several years and many missionaries on the field had to return having lost their support due to new distrust after a couple stateside scandals.
No one can out-give God. When God gives he does so with a smile and He is generous. Yes, He really wants you more than your money believer, but He also teaches us to gladly obey both direct and delegated authority because us winning the world to His Son is important! When God blesses his kids he has blessing others in mind as well.. even through us.
When you look at any time of historical US Revival or Great Awakening or of massive renewal.. you see commitment to repentance, to biblical stewardship, to obedience and to giving that is restored. Real spiritual renewal is always connected to the restoration of tithes and offerings with the local church restored.
Sowing at Prestonwood is smart because this is simply good soil. There’s a passion for evangelism God’s way. Go check it out closely. We’ve looked and seen first-hand a lot of real ministry going on behind the scenes ..all on the church's nickel so to speak. It’s because people obeyed and gave right with no hype or pressure on the people.
Never pressure the people, pastor, leader, anyone! Feed the flock, don't fleece the flock. They are God's, not yours. With all due respect, pastor, leader.. giving an overemphasis to tithes and offerings in a church is just wrong. It's not biblical. Teach on it from the Bible properly for sure.
Where I grew up in California it didn't happen with my Pastors Chuck Smith and Greg Laurie. The offering time in church was with one sentence spoken after the worship singing. “At this time we will now continue our worship of the Lord through the giving of tithes and offerings”... cuz think about it. That too with right motives can be pure worship as well.
