Financial principle #3: Tithe
I. The BIBLICAL
history of tithing.
A. Abraham [Genesis 14:17 – 20]
1. After victory, Abraham is met by
Melchizedek (king of Salem/High Priest).
2. Melchizedek greets him with bread and
wine (v 18)
3. Melchizedek then blesses Abraham in the
name of “God Most High” (vv 19b, 20a)
4. Abraham responds by giving a tenth
(tithe) of EVERYTHING.
B. Malachi 3:6 – 11 (tithes and offerings)
1. Context: A rejected priesthood and
religious system (1:10)
2. Context: (v 6) “For I the Lord do not
change.”
3. Context: (v 10) The ONLY place in the
Bible where God says “put me to the test.”
4. Context: (v 11) God promises to hold
off “the devourer.”
C. Jesus (Matthew 23:23)
"Woe to you,
teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your
spices--mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important
matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced
the latter, without neglecting the former.”
1. Context: list of “woes” that Jesus
leveled at the Pharisees (legalism).
2. They had the letter down but missed the
meaning.
3. Jesus is up-holding the “tithe.”
II. Ideas about
tithing
A. History:
1. Origen, Jerome, and Augustine all taught
that the tithe was the minimum.
2. The tithe became a legal requirement in
some nations (Europe), making it a tax.
3. Others:
a. Barnes “practical acknowledgment of the
absolute and exclusive supremacy of God.”
b. Gill and Henry: “respect” and
“thankfulness” and “gratitude”
B. Modern:
1. Dave Ramsey
a. Tithing is for our benefit… put God
first, teach us to be unselfish.
b. “If you cannot live on 90% of your
income, then you cannot live on 100%”
c. Tithing is an act of love for God. (not church or pastor)
2. Randy Alcorn
a. “Our giving is a reflexive response to
the grace of God.”
b. “Money leads, hearts follow.”
c. Tithing is NOT legalism… “does God
expect His new covenant people to give less or
more?”
III. Tithing is
a matter of the heart!
A. 2 Corinthians 8:1 – 5
“[1] And now,
brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian
churches. [2] Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their
extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. [3] For I testify that they gave
as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their
own, [4] they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this
service to the saints. [5] And they did not do as we expected, but they gave
themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will.”
1. Notice the Macedonian church’s social
and financial situation:
a. Social: “severe trial” (persecution)
b. Financial: “extreme poverty”
2. Look what they did:
a. They “urgently pleaded” for the
“privilege” of helping others!
b. They gave “generously”… “even beyond
their ability.”
B. Reality check:
1. Barna claims on average 53% of
Christians have given NOTHING to their church in the last month.
2. PBS “Affluenza”:
a. Average American shops 6 hours a week,
plays with their children 40 minutes a week.
b. In the year before the showing, more
Americans declared bankruptcy than
graduated from college.
c. In 90% of divorce cases, money played a
prominent role.
3. An idea:
a. The SAME Greek word is translated
“grace” and “giving.”
b. Dixie Fraley “We’re most like God when
we’re giving.”