How much do you trust God to provide for you? When people cling onto money, they are trusting in the money to provide for them instead of the living God. We must let go of our grip on the money so we can hold onto God? While I feel like most of the time, I am trusting in God more than money, I have in the past gotten caught up in the worries of this life. One day I was upset about my Mom's financial issues. She was willing to let thousands of dollars go to help someone out that was not responsible with money. This person was probably just going to spend it shopping frivolously. I was so upset because she needed the money. I found myself deep in thoughts, such as how is she going to afford to take care of herself after she retires. She needs that money. In the midst of these thoughts, the Lord spoke to me loud and clear. He said, "What! You don't think I will take care of her!” I was blown away and immediately said, “No! That's not what I was saying.” Total denial! I then replayed the thoughts in my mind. I realized all the thoughts were me trusting in that money instead of the Lord. He has always provided for my Mom and us no matter how bad things got and looked. When I was younger, she was a single Mom working two jobs to pay the bills and then got very sick. She did not work for a whole year, and during that time we were completely taken care of. Even in the worst of circumstances God was there and provided for us the whole year with no income. Even though I felt bad for the rebuke because I knew I hurt God's heart by not trusting in him, it gave me a sense of peace to know that he cared enough to stop me from those bad thoughts. It gave me more confidence in his desire to provide for his children. We serve a loving God who cares about our every need and our every thought. This does not mean you should not be financially responsible.
The Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 3:10, For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
In Matthew 25:14, the parable of the good stewards also says to be wise financially.
Proverbs 22:7, The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
An important factor and something I want to focus on, is trusting God enough to step out in faith. A big issue for Christians is tithing. Tithing is honoring God for all he has provided for us, and it is also stepping out in faith that he will continue to do so. It keeps us from the love of money and places our trust in the Lord. Tithing was a command in the Old Testament.
The original Hebrew word is ma‛ăśêr It’s definition is a tenth; especially a tithe: - tenth (part), tithe (-ing).
Tithing started at the very beginning. We read about it for the first time in the book of Genesis with Cain and Able. The Old Testament required tithing by law and our patriarchs followed the law.
Abraham gave 10% of everything. Genesis 14:20
Jacob gave God 10%. Genesis 28:22
Jesus paid money to the Temple in Matthew 17:24-25.
Moses tithed. Leviticus 27
Leviticus 27:30, “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. These are the commandments that the Lord commanded Moses for the people of Israel on Mount Sinai.
Hebrews 7:5, Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people that is, from their fellow Israelites--even though they also are descended from Abraham.
Nehemiah 12:44 On that day men were appointed over the storerooms, the contributions, the firstfruits, and the tithes, to gather into them the portions required by the Law for the priests and for the Levites according to the fields of the towns.
Tithing was not just animal sacrifices but involved money
2 Chronicles 31:5-12, And they brought in abundantly the tithe of everything.
Leviticus 27:30, “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.
If it is too far to bring your animals or food offerings to the place you send the tithes you can exchange it for money and send money as your offering. Deuteronomy 14:22-26
Tithes Belong to God
We are to be good stewards of what he gives us because we will reap what we sow. We are not to lavishly spend, but we are let go what belongs to God.
Malachi 3:8-10, Will 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.
Haggai 2:8, The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the Lord of hosts.
Deuteronomy 8:17-18, Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’ You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day.
Proverbs 11:24, One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.
2 Corinthians 9:6-7, The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
God Rewards Tithing
Malachi 3:10, 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.
Luke 6:38, 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.”
Proverbs 3:9-10, Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.
2 Corinthians 8:1-9:15, We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. ...
Trusting God
We should never put our trust in money but in God for he loves us. If we have trouble letting go of 10% then our trust is more in the money than in God. In Mark 12:44 there is a story of a widow her gave her last two pennies. Jesus knew her faith was in the Lord and not in that money. He did not say to keep that because God will not provide and you need to do it all on your own. No, he praised her.
Psalm 4:5, Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the Lord.
Philippians 4:19, And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Matthew 6:33, But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you
Heart issue
Luke 11:42, “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.
Luke 18:11-14, The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Matthew 6:21, For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
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.
The Pharisees were making their salvation based on their goodness for keeping the law. If they are working for their salvation, they will reap based on their works and all our works are like dirty rags. Jesus basically said you ought to tithe but what good is it if you have no love. Yes, we are no longer under the law. Jesus did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it. We will not go to hell for not tithing, but it comes from the renewed heart of the born again believer that we follow the law out of our love for him.
Offerings
Leviticus 23:38, Beside the sabbaths of the LORD, and beside your gifts, and beside all your vows, and beside all your freewill offerings, which ye give unto the LORD.
The Law required tithing but offerings are above and beyond 10%. It is of your free will that you give more to the Lord. I could probably delve into offerings more, but this is already long enough. I have read that the Israelites actually gave about 23% when you add in money for the poor and festivals etc.
Matthew 5:23, “Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.
God is more concerned about our hearts being right first and foremost. He wants us to trust him. Once our hearts are right with the Lord, we can thank him with our Tithes and Offerings to support the church and ministries that spread the Gospel to the unsaved world. If our hearts are inline with him, we will have a desire to help save those he loves and this is just one way of doing that.
Helping the Needy
Psalm 41:1-2, Blessed is the one who considers the poor! In the day of trouble the Lord delivers him; the Lord protects him and keeps him alive; he is called blessed in the land; you do not give him up to the will of his enemies.
Giving to the poor is not tithing but offers many blessings.
Here is a 4 minute long video from Bill Wiese. He is giving his testimony about how God has come through for him in miraculous ways when he needed financial help, because he was faithful to tithe. Tithing Testimony from Bill Wiese
