To Listen to the sermon, click here
Once a year I think it is wise to speak on what the Bible has to say concerning your responsibility as a believer to support VBC financially. To speak more than once a year on this subject could easily fall into the category of putting an undue emphasis on money. To speak less than once a year on this subject could easily fall into the category of failing to put you into remembrance of your responsibility before God.
In spite of what many people think, money is not the root of all evil. Christ never said money or material things were sinful. He said the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Money simply exposes the real problem… the human heart. Jesus constantly warned us to guard our hearts against greed, covetousness, selfishness, and pride, because this is where we are so very vulnerable. Christ warned us a great deal more about materialism than He did any other sin.
As we saw last week, the greatest goal we can have in life is to glorify God. If our day-to-day lives don’t reflect that we are living for God instead of living for self, then we need to question our salvation. So today I want to focus on the subject of finances… how can we please God when it comes to our money, and in particular, what does the Bible have to say about tithing?
There are many ideas floating around today concerning the Tithe, with the most popular being this: since we are not under the Law, tithing is not for us today. I believe that makes about as much sense as saying: since we are not under the Law:
Thou shall not commit murder is not for us today.
Thou shall not commit adultery is not for us today.
Thou shall not steal is not for us today.
Thou shall have no other gods before Me is not for today.
There are a lot of people today who think that because we are in the dispensation of grace that the Law has been abolished and serves no purpose whatsoever. Listen to the following letter that Elyse Fitzpatrick wrote… she nails it:
Dear Mr. Antinomian, (antinomianism is a heretical version of Christianity that believes there is no place for God’s law in the life of a Christian)
Forgive me for writing to you in such an open forum but I’ve been trying to meet you for years and we just never seem to connect. While it’s true that I live in a little corner of the States and while it’s true that I am, well, a woman, I did assume that I would meet you at some point in my decades old counseling practice. But alas, neither you nor any of your (must be) thousands of brothers and sisters have ever shown up for my help…So again, please do pardon my writing in such a public manner but, you see, I’ve got a few things to say to you and I think it’s time I got them off my chest.
I wonder if you know how hard you’re making it for those of us who love to brag about the gospel. You say that you love the gospel and grace too, but I wonder how that can be possible since it’s been continuously reported to me that you live like such a slug. I’ve even heard that you are lazy and don’t work at obeying God at all…Rather you sit around munching on cigars and Twinkies, brewing beer and watching porn on your computer. Mr. A, really! Can this be true?
So many of my friends and acquaintances are simply up in arms about the way you act and they tell me it’s because you talk too much about grace. They suggest (and I’m almost tempted to agree) that what you need is more and more rules to live by. In fact, I’m very tempted to tell you that you need to get up off your lazy chair, pour your beer down the drain, turn off your computer and get about the business of the Kingdom.
I admit that I’m absolutely flummoxed, though, which is why I’m writing as I am. You puzzle me. How can you think about all that Christ has done for you, about your Father’s steadfast, immeasurable, extravagantly generous love and still live the way you do? Have you never considered the incarnation, about the Son leaving ineffable light to be consigned first to the darkness of Mary’s womb and then the darkness of this world? Have you never considered how He labored day-after-day in His home, obeying His parents, loving His brothers and sisters so that you could be counted righteous in the sight of His Father? Have you forgotten the bloody disgrace of the cross you deserve? Don’t you know that in the resurrection He demolished sin’s power over you? Aren’t you moved to loving action knowing that He’s now your ascended Lord Who prays for you and daily bears you on His heart? Has your heart of stone never been warmed and transformed by the Spirit? Does this grace really not impel zealous obedience? Hello… Are you there?
Honestly, even though my friends talk about you as though you were just everywhere in every church, always talking about justification but living like the devil, frankly I wonder if you even exist. I suppose you must because everyone is so afraid that talking about grace will produce more of you. So that’s why I’m writing: Will you please come forward? Will you please stand up in front of all of us and tell us that your heart has been captivated so deeply by grace that it makes you want to watch the Playboy channel?
Again, please do forgive me for calling you out like this. I really would like to meet you. I am,
Trusting in Grace Alone,
Elyse
I think it is important to remember what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount:
Matthew 5:17 – Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.
Do you know where the first mention of the Tithe is located in the Bible? Genesis 14. Here Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek. This is very important… in fact, it is crucial. When did Abraham live? 2000 BC. When did God give the Law to Moses? 1500 BC. That means the principle of tithing was established 500 years before the Law was even given. Therefore the argument that says, “Since we are no longer under the Law, the Tithe is not for us today” will not hold water.
By the way, in Genesis 28 we have the account of Jacob’s dream… the one we sing about, “We are climbing Jacob’s ladder.” Do you know how this story ends? Jacob makes a vow, and he vows that he will practice tithing (roughly 250 years before the Law was given).
Hebrews 7 teaches us tithing was not just something for Old Testament saints… the early church was tithing:
Hebrews 7:4-10: 4See how great this man [Melchizedek] was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! 5And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though these also are descended from Abraham. 6But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. 8In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives. 9One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, 10for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.
Notice verse 8…the text doesn’t say, “In the one case tithes were received by mortal men.” The present tense of the verb is teaching us that tithing is something the early church was practicing.
The argument of the book of Hebrews is this: Christ is better. He is better than the prophets, the angels, Moses, Aaron, and He is better than Melchizedek.
Who is Melchizedek? If you go back to Genesis 14you will see
Melchizedek is a type of Christ… He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace.
Who is THE King of Righteousness? And who is THE King of Peace? It is Jesus Christ, so when we see these titles applied to Melchizedek, we can safely say he is a type of Christ.
Melchizedek received tithes from Abraham and in a very real sense from the entire Levitical priesthood. Christ, however, is better than Melchizedek. Now the argument is really quite simple… if it was right for men to pay tithes to Melchizedek, and Christ is better than Melchizedek, what should we be doing today… what is our responsibility?
There is also a great deal of confusion about whether the Tithe is on the gross or the net. Who owns your money? Do you own it, or does God own it? God does! You are simply the steward. What is a steward? A steward is someone who has control… he is the one responsible for the allocation of the monies. The gross amount of your paycheck is not something over which you have complete control. You have to pay federal and state taxes. Therefore, since you have control only over the net amount of your paycheck, I believe you tithe on that amount… the net.
Two comments on this matter:
- If you have been taught to tithe on the gross and believe that is what you should do, then do it.
2.The net is the amount of your check after federal and state taxes. Do not think hospitalization, retirement plan contributions, stock options, child care, etc. also fall in this category… these are items over which you do have control.
It is also very important to understand that the Tithe was not the sole financial responsibility that God placed upon His people… it was the cornerstone of God’s teaching on finances, but the Tithe was not their sole responsibility, and neither is it ours.
Deuteronomy 12:1-6: These are the statutes and judgments which you shall be careful to observe in the land which the Lord God of your fathers is giving you to possess, all the days that you live on the earth. 2You shall utterly destroy all the places where the nations which you shall dispossess served their gods, on the high mountains and on the hills and under every green tree. 3And you shall destroy their altars, break their sacred pillars, and burn their wooden images with fire; you shall cut down the carved images of their gods and destroy their names from that place. 4You shall not worship the Lord your God with such things. 5But you shall seek the place where the Lord your God chooses, out of all your tribes, to put His name for His dwelling place; and there you shall go. 6There you shall take your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes[plural], the heave offerings of your hand, your vowed offerings, your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks.
Verse 6 teaches us that one Tithe was not the sole responsibility that God placed on His children… in addition to the Tithe, the children of Israel were to give burnt offerings, special offerings (also called heave offerings or fellowship offerings), freewill offerings, and the firstborn of their herds and flocks.
Also every third year there was a second tithe that was collected to help the Levites, the widows, the orphans, and the stranger.
Deuteronomy 14:28-29: At the end of every third year you shall bring out the tithe of your produce of that year and store it up within your gates. 29And the Levite, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you, and the stranger and the fatherless and the widow who are within your gates, may come and eat and be satisfied, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.
You might recall several years ago we had Dr. Charles Petitt and Dr. Clay Nuttall come teach us why local churches should support Bible Colleges and Mission Boards. I believe Bible colleges and mission boards are worthy of our support… they exist to serve the local church. If we fund these much needed arms and legs of the church through the channel of grace giving (a suggestion of 2% of your net income), then these ministries will be able to function and function well.
I do believe we can learn important principles from the way God instructed the nation of Israel to handle their finances. First I want to point out the distinction (the clear distinction) between the Tithe and free-will offerings.
2 Chronicles 31:4-14: Moreover he commanded the people who dwelt in Jerusalem to contribute support for the priests and the Levites, that they might devote themselves to the Law of the Lord. 5As soon as the commandment was circulated, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of grain and wine, oil and honey, and of all the produce of the field; and they brought in abundantly the tithe of everything. 6And the children of Israel and Judah, who dwelt in the cities of Judah, brought the tithe of oxen and sheep; also the tithe of holy things which were consecrated to the Lord their God they laid in heaps. 7In the third month they began laying them in heaps, and they finished in the seventh month. 8And when Hezekiah and the leaders came and saw the heaps, they blessed the Lord and His people Israel. 9Then Hezekiah questioned the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps. 10And Azariah the chief priest, from the house of Zadok, answered him and said, “Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the Lord, we have had enough to eat and have plenty left, for the Lord has blessed His people; and what is left is this great abundance.” 11Now Hezekiah commanded them to prepare rooms in the house of the Lord, and they prepared them. 12Then they faithfully brought in the offerings, the tithes, and the dedicated things; Cononiah the Levite had charge of them, and Shimei his brother was the next. 13Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, Mahath, and Benaiah were overseers under the hand of Cononiah and Shimei his brother, at the commandment of Hezekiah the king and Azariah the ruler of the house of God. 14Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the keeper of the East Gate, was over the freewill offerings to God, to distribute the offerings of the Lord and the most holy things.
The distinction between Cononiah and Kore is very important because the monies these two men controlled were used for very different purposes. The Tithe went to the Levites, full time workers for the Lord. The free-will offerings were used to build and maintain the house of the Lord.
Numbers 18:6,20,21: Behold, I Myself have taken your brethren the Levites from among the children of Israel; they are a gift to you, given by the Lord, to do the work of the tabernacle of meeting… 20Then the Lord said to Aaron: “You shall have no inheritance in their land, nor shall you have any portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance among the children of Israel. 21“Behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work which they perform, the work of the tabernacle of meeting.
The Tithe had one purpose and one purpose only… to support the full time workers of the ministry. Nowhere in the Bible will you find the Tithe used to build or maintain facilities… do you think that fact ought to have any influence on us today, or should we just ignore it?
Where, then, did the money come from that was necessary to build and maintain the Tabernacle and the Temple?
Exodus 35:4-9, 20-22, 29: And Moses spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, “This is the thing which the Lord commanded, saying: 5‘Take from among you an offering to the Lord. Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as an offering to the Lord: gold, silver, and bronze; 6blue, purple, and scarlet thread, fine linen, and goats’ hair; 7ram skins dyed red, badger skins, and acacia wood; 8oil for the light, and spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense; 9onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod and in the breastplate…
20And all the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses. 21Then everyone came whose heart was stirred, and everyone whose spirit was willing, and they brought the Lord’s offering for the work of the tabernacle of meeting, for all its service, and for the holy garments. 22They came, both men and women, as many as had a willing heart, and brought earrings and nose rings, rings and necklaces, all jewelry of gold, that is, every man who made an offering of gold to the Lord…
29The children of Israel brought a freewill offering to the Lord, all the men and women whose hearts were willing to bring material for all kinds of work which the Lord, by the hand of Moses, had commanded to be done…
36:4-7:Then all the craftsmen who were doing all the work of the sanctuary came, each from the work he was doing, 5and they spoke to Moses, saying, “The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work which the Lord commanded us to do.” 6So Moses gave a commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, “Let neither man nor woman do any more work for the offering of the sanctuary.” And the people were restrained from bringing, 7for the material they had was sufficient for all the work to be done—indeed too much.
Freewill offerings (not Tithes) were used to build and maintain the house of the Lord.
2 Kings 12:4,5,16: And Jehoash said to the priests, “All the money of the dedicated gifts that are brought into the house of the Lord—each man’s census money, each man’s assessment money—and all the money that a man purposes in his heart to bring into the house of the Lord, 5let the priests take it themselves, each from his constituency; and let them repair the damages of the temple, wherever any dilapidation is found.” 16The money from the trespass offerings and the money from the sin offerings was not brought into the house of the Lord. It belonged to the priests.
Churches for the most part have lost sight of the fact that the Tithe was set apart for those in full-time service for the Lord. Suppose… just suppose… that every church across the world today would set aside all the tithes that they receive and use it exclusively for those in full time Christian service… what would be the result? Let me name just a few:
1. Missionaries wouldn’t be spending several years raising their support… they would be well funded, and thus, could arrive on their fields much sooner.
2. Pastors would receive the double-honor they are to receive according to 1 Timothy 5:17, 18.
3. Since many churches lump all their receipts into one general fund, it isn’t hard to understand that there is frequently a lot of lobbying by people of influence within each church to spend the monies received according to their own particular agendas. Making Biblical distinctions (such as the difference between the Tithe and freewill offerings) as to how the monies should be spent goes a long way in eliminating this carnal process.
4. A lot of money that is currently being spent on buildings and grounds would be re-allocated… there would be a lot less spent on fancy meeting places. The emphasis would be put back where it belongs… on the messengers, not the meeting place.
2 Corinthians 8,9 gives further instructions for giving:
2 Corinthians 8:1-15: Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: 2 that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. 3 For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, 4 imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 5 And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God. 6 So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well. 7 But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see that you abound in this grace also. 8 I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. 10 And in this I give advice: It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago; 11 but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have. 12 For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have. 13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; 14 but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality. 15 As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”
2 Corinthians 9:1-15: Now concerning the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you; 2 for I know your willingness, about which I boast of you to the Macedonians, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal has stirred up the majority. 3 Yet I have sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this respect, that, as I said, you may be ready; 4 lest if some Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we (not to mention you!) should be ashamed of this confident boasting. 5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation. 6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And 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. 9 As it is written: “He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.” 10 Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, 11 while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. 12 For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, 13 while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men, 14 and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you. 15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
Let me list 10 main principles from these two passages:
1. Outward circumstances and difficulties should not prevent us from giving and giving generously… the Macedonian churches were giving not out of their abundance, but rather out of their poverty.
2. Giving generously and an abundance of joy go hand in hand.
3. All financial giving should be preceded by self-giving… they FIRST gave themselves to the Lord. God wants you more than He wants your money.
4. Giving is a tangible way we can manifest godly character.
5. There is a direct connection between the grace of God and the grace of giving.
6. A willingness to give is more important than the amount given.
7. In the economy of God the sufficiency of some ministers to the lack of others.
8. If we give to please God (not giving to get) God will continue to supply and meet all our needs.
9. Giving will bring praise and honor and glory to God.
10. Giving should be the spiritual response to God’s indescribable gift.
Let’s look at how this works out in real numbers for us today:
Average Gross income with 2 wage earners: $54,000
Average Net income after Fed & State: $39,000
Tithe on Net $ 3,900
Freewill Offerings (2%) $ 780
Grace giving (2%) $ 780
Total $ 5,460
Tithe on Gross: $ 5,400
Freewill Offerings (2%) $ 1,080
Grace giving (2%) $ 1,080
Total $ 7,560
Let me show you how this pertains to our budget for 2012:
Our total budget for 2012 is $86,000…here are the details:
Tithe = $73,705 = $6142 per month = $1417 per week
Freewill = $12,295 = $1025 per month = $236 per week
Our missionary support in 2012 is roughly 22% of our total budget… I think our Lord is pleased with that. Let me close by reminding you of some Biblical principles on finances:
Proverbs 11:24-25: There is one who scatters, yet increases more; and there is one who withholds more than is right, but it leads to poverty. 25The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself.
Galatians 6:6-10: Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches. 7Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
Haggai 1:1-11: In the second year of King Darius, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, saying, 2“Thus speaks the Lord of hosts, saying: ‘This people says, “The time has not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built.”’” 3Then the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying, 4“Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?” 5Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways! 6“You have sown much, and bring in little; You eat, but do not have enough; You drink, but you are not filled with drink; You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and he who earns wages, earns wages to put into a bag with holes.” 7Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways! 8Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified,” says the Lord. 9“You looked for much, but indeed it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?” says the Lord of hosts. “Because of My house that is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house. 10Therefore the heavens above you withhold the dew, and the earth withholds its fruit. 11For I called for a drought on the land and the mountains, on the grain and the new wine and the oil, on whatever the ground brings forth, on men and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands.”
Malachi 3:6 -11:For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. 7From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’ 8Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. 9You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. 10Bring the full tithes 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. 11I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts.
Let me leave you with one final thought about giving. Giving is not primarily about money…..did you know that? Giving is primarily about teaching us to fear and to reverence God.
Deuteronomy 14:22-23: You shall truly tithe all the increase of your grain that the field produces year by year. 23And you shall eat before the Lord your God, in the place where He chooses to make His name abide, the tithe of your grain and your new wine and your oil, of the firstborn of your herds and your flocks, that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
