Baby Steps 5: Tithes and Offerings

Tithes and offerings is the place where a lot of people want to throw out Christianity all together.  They feel like the Church is only in it for the money.  Let's start out this study with a statement that you should keep in mind throughout, God doesn't need your money, or mine, or anyone else's.  Giving is a matter of obedience and is a reflection of where your heart is.

People mistakenly think the Bible says, "Money is the root of all evil."  What the Bible actually says is, 

"The love of money is the root of all evil," 1 Timothy 6:10. 

Where is your heart?  Do you have a heart that would see the establishment of God's kingdom?  Do you want to see the hungry fed and the naked clothed, the work of God continued?  Do you have a heart for abused children?

Let's bring it local.  Do you go to church? Side note, if you don't go to church and are able to, you should.  But, that's a study we will save for another day.  Back to our point.  If you go to church and enjoy the service, have friends there, are being fed the word, then you should be contributing to that.

Does the Bible support that?  It absolutely does.  Let's take a look at some of what the Bible says about giving.

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7

In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He Himself said, "It is more blessed to give that to receive."  Acts 20:35

Give,  and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you. Luke 6:38

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.  
2 Corinthians 9:6

These are just a few of the verses in the Bible on giving.

Is it a sin to be rich?  No it isn't.  But, if you are rich, the Bible gives instructions:

    As for the rich in the present age, charge them not to be haughty,         nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God,         who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.  They are to do         good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,     thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for         the future,so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.  
     1 Timothy 6:17-19

Now, let's get specific.  What is the tithe and is giving it a commandment?  Tithe literally means 'tenth', and yes it is commanded directly and by example.  Let's look at the commandments first:

"Will a 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."  
Malachi 3:8-10

Every tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the  fruit of the trees, is the Lord's; it is holy to the Lord.  
Leviticus 27:30

You shall tithe all the yield of your seed that comes from the field year by year.  Deuteronomy 14:22

Then to the place that the Lord your God will choose, to make His name dwell there, there you shall bring all that I command you: your burnt offerings and your sacrifices, your tithes and the contribution that you present, and all your finest vow offerings that you vow to the Lord.  Deuteronomy 12:11

Some of you Bible scholars out there may be thinking, "All those scriptures are from the Old Testament and are under the Law.  Jesus fulfilled the Law so we don't have to tithe anymore; and, that would be fine and well if Abraham hadn't tithed well before the Law was established (Genesis 14:20).  Jacob tithed, too, for that matter (Genesis 28:22).  Tithing was a way to show appreciation, respect and love for God long before Moses got the Law on Mount Sinai. 

You may also be thinking, "What if the church steals my money? People can't be trusted!"  Let me say to you, God will hold you accountable for not giving, as well as for what the person or ministry to which you give does with the money.  God honors your heart.  If you give to a ministry, with a cheerful heart, for the love of God, and that ministry mishandles your money, God will deal with them.  Your offering actually makes them more accountable to God.  

I'm not telling you to be mindless.  You have every right to know where your money is going.  Don't throw your money away.  But, giving to a good, sound church or ministry isn't throwing your money away, it is laying up treasure in Heaven, Matthew 6:20.

Pastors, preachers, evangelists, teachers, etc., deserve to be paid for their service to the Kingdom. 

"For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain," and "The laborer deserves his wages," 
1 Timothy 5:18. 

That is how God set it up.  If you look at the verse above from Malachi, God actually tells us to challenge Him.  Here is my paraphrase of that verse.  "Test Me. Bring your tithes and offerings to the storehouse, (church) and see if I don't pour out a blessing upon you that you can't contain."

Remember, "God loves a cheerful giver."  I am a tither, and I try not to go to the house of God without an offering above and beyond the tithe, even if it's only a dollar.  God has been so good to me, how could I not?  He has met every need.  I want for nothing.  You may think it's funny that I say that when I don't even have a car, but it's true.  I have food, shelter,  a loving family, a great church, I could go on.  What would it say about my heart if I didn't want to give back to God?  I think it would show a lack of appreciation and even unbelief.

If you aren't giving, examine your heart, examine the scriptures, and open your wallet.

A final note; at the time of this writing,  I receive no money from this blog.  I'm not writing for my benefit, but for yours.