003: Priority #1: Give

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In today’s episode, we are going to begin to lay out what we believe the Bible tells us about God’s priorities regarding our financial stewardship. We firmly believe that God has richly blessed the church with the financial resources necessary to make great progress towards fulfilling the Great Commission. Yet, many people in churches today do not understand their opportunity and responsibility in financial stewardship to unleash the power of the Gospel on the world today.

Why Do We Give?

• • Wrong Motives for Giving to God:
    • Manipulation – God is a cosmic vending machine.
    • Fear – God is a police officer in the sky.
    • Greed – The more I give, the more I get.

• • Correct Motives for Giving to God:
    • Giving is modeled after God – John 3:16 “God loved the world that He GAVE…”
    • Gratitude for all that God has done for you.
    • Giving breaks the power of money over our lives.
    • Giving is an act of obedience.
    • Giving always brings a spiritual blessing, and sometimes the blessing is material: (not name it and claim it).

Giving, sometimes referred to as tithing, is the regular financial support offered to your local church to support the ongoing work of the Gospel.

• • Giving is to your local church
  • Giving is for the general fund
  • Giving is regular

Should Christians Tithe?

1. • Tithing is an Old Testament term that refers to giving 10% of one’s increase/income. 
     • Abraham tithed plunder to Melchizedek (prefigures Jesus)
     • The law outlines 3 “tithes” or 23.33%: Temple Tithe, Festival Tithe, Charity Tithe, every 3rd year
   • In the OT, only the landowners were subject to the tithe. 
   • In the NT, there is only one reference to tithing – Jesus to the Pharisees in Matthew 23:23: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.” (ESV)
   • NT authors put before us the concept of “grace giving” where all Christians are called to give generously. We will develop this idea in future episodes. 
   • Summary: While we may not be called to a strict “tithe,” Christians should see 10% as a guide. 
     • For most, this a good place to start in their giving and grow from there. 
     • For some who are financially struggling, 10% is a great goal to reach in their giving.

Giving to the Lord is our first priority and privilege.

• • “Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your produce.” (Proverbs 3:9, ESV)
  •  “Give, and it will be given to you…” (Luke 6:38, ESV)
  • “Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me…” (Malachi 3:8–10, ESV)

Thought-Provoking Quotes (The Treasure Principle by Randy Alcorn)

• • “Tithing isn’t the ceiling of giving; it’s the floor. It’s not the finish line of giving; it’s the starting blocks.”
  • “Tithes can launch us into the mindset, skills, and habits of grace giving.”

Give with an Investment Mentality – Matt 6:20 

• • • …but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Matthew 6:20, ESV)
    • When we give to a church that has a passion for people coming to know and grow in Christ, we are “laying up treasure in heaven!”  We are making an investment that will be with us for all of eternity!  

Key Takeaway: Consider the Haggai Principle

• God enables us to do that which He calls us to do.

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