“THERE IS MUCH CONFUSION THESE DAYS IN THE CHURCH AS TO GOD’S CALL AND COMMAND CONCERNING GIVING. I’D LIKE TO CLEAR THE AIR ON THIS ISSUE TODAY.”

 Hi, I’m Dennis Finnan, host and speaker on the World, the Word & You! Broadcast and in a moment we’ll talk about the stewardship of the believer, and what God commands of us concerning our giving to God…

…Perhaps one of the most difficult topics a preacher can ever tackle is the subject of money, especially concerning giving in the Church of Jesus Christ. In most churches this subject is almost “taboo,” and if the preacher ever gets up enough courage to talk on it, he will often be chided by his leadership or constituents, to move on to something more acceptable. However, did you know that in the New Testament, the subject most often addressed by the Lord Jesus Christ was the subject of money? Yes, the Bible shows us God’s viewpoint on the subject of money and Christian stewardship and provides adequate teaching to enable us to fully understand this calling and command for the believer in Christ. So today my friend, I want to tackle this issue of Christian giving and set the record straight as to what is truly the command for Christians to follow. First, let’s pause one more time and listen to another moment of music, after which I’ll share with you today’s message: WILL A MAN ROB GOD?

…There are many indicators in society today that monitors charity giving; particularly, Christian giving to churches and ministries. About a year ago, George Barna the pollster reported in May 2003 that,

 “Church revenues fell during the past 12 months. One reason may well be the decline in the proportion of Christians who tithe. Among the highlights of this report on tithing are: (1) The proportion of adults who tithe dropped by 62 percent in the past year. (2) Just 6 percent of born-again households tithed to their churches in 2002. (3) Tithing, when it occurs, is generally among Protestants: 5 percent of adults who attend Protestant churches tithed last year, compared to less than one-tenth of 1 percent among Catholics. (4) Among the groups most likely to tithe are people over 55, college graduates, evangelicals, Republicans, conservatives, and residents of the South—but there was no segment among which at least 10 percent tithed.”

These figures are very alarming to most churches and para-church organizations that depend upon the giving of the saints to continue their ministry and outreach for Christianity. However, all of this stems from what I think has been, very poor teaching that has come forth from the bible believing segment of Christianity, that ought to know better. So let’s look at the Bible and see what God says to those who claim the Name of Jesus Christ about their stewardship responsibilities. We begin by going to Scripture were we read Paul the Apostles words to a young minister at the Church of Ephesus named Timothy,

1 Tim 6:17-19 (NLT)  Tell those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which will soon be gone. But their trust should be in the living God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. 18 Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and should give generously to those in need, always being ready to share with others whatever God has given them. 19 By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may take hold of real life.

Te apostle Paul gives us here the true motivation and call for every Christian to be involved in generous, biblical giving to the needs of others and the work and ministry. Unfortunately, in the Church today this is sometimes thwarted by false and even disobedient ideas and actions that surround the call for giving within God’s kingdom. So, let’s first look at some hindrances to generous biblical giving…

HINDRANCES TO GENEROUS BIBLICAL GIVING

Perhaps the most troubling and problematic hindrance to generous biblical giving for the Christian today is,

1. THE QUEST TO ATTAIN THE COVETED AMERICAN LIFESTYLE – We all know what this means. Every day in the United States , through advertising, we are told to get as much as we can in life to live successfully for we only go around once. Buy the best, and get the most for all you can earn, and then discard it and get what’s new and better when it comes along. Confessedly, we all are in some ways in this royal “rat race,” of life in these United States . With technology every day increasingly making things bigger and better -- what we purchase today, within a few months is outdated, and less handy or useful that the newer item on the market. So, from houses to lake lots and cottages, to recreational vehicles, gadgetry, and fantastic dream vacations, Americans including Christians are consumed with consuming all they can get.

In the process the will of God for those who are “new creatures” in Jesus Christ, is often left in the dust. Friend, I believe the Bible teaches that those who are saved from their sins when they trust Jesus Christ alone for their salvation and eternal life, must learn to re-orient their lives and living to be dedicated in doing the will of God to advance the kingdom of God . This requires a new outlook on what we do with the money we earn and the assets we own. Now there’s a second hindrances to biblical giving and that is,

2. THE FALSE TEACHINGS CONCERNING THE TITHE – Many bible believing churches have for the last century, taught that believers must give a tenth of all their prosperity and income to the church of Jesus Christ where they worship. This is often called storehouse tithing. Fundamentalists more than any other group have been notorious in teaching this as God’s absolute command for those saved by grace. What has been preached is, if one does not give 10% of his earnings, the threats have come forth from the pulpit, that God will withhold his abundant blessings on their lives and even some have taught they will suffer His wrath in the form of illness, tragedy and poverty. This is a true statement, for I as a preacher know first hand of such teachings, being a fundamentalist myself. However, as a preacher of God’s Word, it is my duty to examine the Bible to see if what is taught by the church is accurate and faithful to the Word of God. Then it is my duty to declare that which is, and to decry that which is not.

So, permit me to take you through the Bible on the issue of Christian “tithing” to see what God’s Word says and what God expects of all believers in the Church today. Let’s begin this with a look at TITHING in the Old Testament.

I’ve discovered that in Israel under the Law of Moses which is often referred to, to substantiate tithing today, that there were THREE COMMANDS TO TITHE for the Israelite:

I. THE LEVITICAL & KINGDOM TITHE – This was issued for every Israelites, to give 10% of his earnings to the Levites among them, who served the Lord in maintaining the kingdom of Israel . We read of this in,

Lev 27:30-33 (NIV)  “’A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD. 31 If a man redeems any of his tithe, he must add a fifth of the value to it. 32 The entire tithe of the herd and flock—every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd’s rod—will be holy to the LORD. 33 He must not pick out the good from the bad or make any substitution. If he does make a substitution, both the animal and its substitute become holy and cannot be redeemed.’”

This was REQUIRED GIVING, not a free-will giving concept at all. Essentially it was taxation for running the theocratic government of Israel . Any Jew who failed to give was held accountable. When a man refused to give the tithe of his income, God’s anger rose against him. This is the gist of the book of Malachi where the prophet chided the Israelites when they failed to maintain the required giving in Israel . We read in,

Mal 3:7-12 (NIV)  Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD Almighty. “But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’ 8 “Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’ “In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit,” says the LORD Almighty. 12 “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the LORD Almighty.

I can’t tell you how many sermons I’ve heard on this passage of scripture as it was applied by a preacher to God’s people living under grace in the New Testament times of Christianity. However, for the Israelites under the Law of Moses, failure here would directly cause God to withhold the flow of blessings on the land and crops, on the health and welfare, and even safety of the Israelites from marauding enemies. To fail to give the Levitical tithe was essentially suicide.

However, one must not stop here, as so many do, for in the Old Testament there was more than one tithe required of the Israelite. We find the second tithe required was,

2. THE ANNUAL HOLIDAY FEAST TITHE – Obviously a goodly sum of money was required to host and hold the national and annual feasts of Israel . Just as parents save up for the wedding feasts of their children, each year all the Israelites were to come to Jerusalem and celebrate the holy days of Israel . So God commanded, not suggested, the Israelites save up for this in a fund we’ll call the “holiday feast fund.” It too was REQUIRED GIVING. We read of this in,

Deu 14:22-27 (NLT)  "You must set aside a tithe of your crops--one-tenth of all the crops you harvest each year. 23 Bring this tithe to the place the LORD your God chooses for his name to be honored, and eat it there in his presence. This applies to your tithes of grain, new wine, olive oil, and the firstborn males of your flocks and herds. The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to fear the LORD your God. 24 Now the place the LORD your God chooses for his name to be honored might be a long way from your home. 25 If so, you may sell the tithe portion of your crops and herds and take the money to the place the LORD your God chooses. 26 When you arrive, use the money to buy anything you want--an ox, a sheep, some wine, or beer. Then feast there in the presence of the LORD your God and celebrate with your household. 27 And do not forget the Levites in your community, for they have no inheritance as you do.

This was the 2^nd REQUIRED GIVING tithe commanded by God. Furthermore, there was a third tithe also to be paid to God’s kingdom which we will call,

3. THE BENVOLENT GIVING TITHE – God was rightfully concerned about the poor and the needy in the land. In Israel there was no Social Security, or welfare programs, so God instituted one that was a mandatory funding by every Israelite who was blessed with income. This tithe though was only collected every third year, and set aside for the needs of strangers, fatherless and widows. We read of this in,

Deu 14:28-29 (NIV)  At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year’s produce and store it in your towns, 29 so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the aliens, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.

Now adding up these three tithes for the Old Testament believer it comes to almost 23 ½% of their entire earnings and assets. So when we speak of tithing in any context, we must use this figure of 23 ½ % not the mere 10% of one special tithe, so popularly spoken of.

Now the argument in the church today that supports tithing, some say goes back further than the Law of Moses, for even Abraham tithed. Indeed he did, he gave a tenth of the spoils of war he amassed in battle, to the Priest of Sodom. This of course, is the first mention in Scripture of giving 10 percent. However, this 10 percent offering was purely voluntary, not commanded nor REQUIRED GIVING. This tenth had nothing at all to do with the required tenths given to Israel in the Mosaic law. We also find that Jacob promised a tenth of all his possessions to God, when he met the Lord at Bethel as we read in Gen. 28:22. Again this was FREE-WILL giving and a choice he made, and had nothing to do with COMMANDED REQUIRED GIVING as the Law of Moses demanded.

Now saying all that, what then is the REQUIRED GIVING and FREE-WILL GIVING the believer in Christ in the New Testament is to follow? The answer is found in Scripture. We read in the New Testament,

2 Cor 9:7-11 (NLT)  You must each make up your own mind as to how much you should give. Don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves the person who gives cheerfully. 8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. 9 As the Scriptures say, “Godly people give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will never be forgotten.” 10 For God is the one who gives seed to the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will give you many opportunities to do good, and he will produce a great harvest of generosity in you. 11 Yes, you will be enriched so that you can give even more generously. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will break out in thanksgiving to God.

So the “only” principle of giving in the New Testament is best called FREE-WILL, GRACE GIVING. This means we give back to God, by grace with thanksgiving as our hearts desire. Now many preachers fear this for fear the saints will stop giving the 10% tithe they so richly enjoy. However, I don’t fear that at all. Rather, I believe removing commanded tithing, frees the believer in Christ to enjoy giving to God as much as the Old Testament saints did and more. To think that God requires no set amount to give to His kingdom work, but promises us those who give generously and freely from the heart he will repay with His abundant blessings and reward. Now some go over board and try to teach what is called, SEED FAITH -  if you give more to God regardless of your heart’s desire – God will greatly multiply your riches. This is unbiblical and motivated by nothing less that our sinful nature. Rather, God wants us to give from the heart, as He has given us in sacrificing His Son to die for our sins. Yes, Christ went to the cross, voluntarily out of love for a lost world. He gave up His infinite life for the finite lives of all who will come to Him in thankfulness, and receive His forgiveness.  Thus, in generous biblical free-will giving we’ll discover at least five things that can be seen by it:

1. Generous free-will giving reveals the condition of our heart (Mat. 6:19 -21). If we are greedy, we will not give, or in the least give grudgingly and sporadically or at only special times. a heart sold out to God, has no problem giving abundantly to the work of the Lord. Secondly,

2. Generous free-will giving allows God to supply our needs (Phil. 4:14 -19). God has promised to supply our needs. When we give we become an instrument by which God can funnel His finances to the work of the Lord, while continuing to meet the needs of the instrument, that is the generous giver. If we allow God to manage our assents, He will do so far beyond our own ability. Third,

3. Generous free-will giving allows God’s kingdom work to prosper (Phil. 4:18 ). God’s kingdom work is designed to be funded only by the free-will gifts of God’s people. When the saints fail to provide this, God’s work suffers. Amazingly, God has no other plan for reaching the lost and maintaining His presence among the living, than the local assembly and outreach of God’s people called the church. When missions are poorly financed, churches and their ministries likewise, it's a direct reflection on God's people. Now forth,

4. Generous free-will giving ensures greater spiritual usefulness (Luke 16:11 -12). God promises us those who do not give systematically and generously will often be laid aside and not receive the fullness of God’s blessings for further service; But, those whom God can entrust with his riches, will continue to be used of the Lord. If you want to be used greatly by God, then you'll have to have a generous giving heart. Now lastly,

5. Generous free-will giving is for all believers (1 Cor. 16:2). There is no one who is exempt from God’s expectation to give back to God. As God leaves the amount to the individual, each one’s giving must be according to his means. This frees us from the burden of have-to giving to receive the joy of want-to giving. Even the widow's two mites, which were only a small portion of a penny, given to God, was noted by Christ as greater giving than that of the Pharisees (Mark 12:41-44).

Now what I’ve shared with you does not exhaust the Bible’s teachings on giving but for summary sake what have we learned?

First we have learned that, in the Old Testament, God set up “REQUIRED GIVING” that amounted to 23 ½ % of the believers' income and assets. This was taxation to run the government of Israel and the formal temple in Jerusalem . Once that was given, then God encouraged the saints to participate in what we call today, "FREE-WILL GIVING."

Like today, it was left up to the Israelite what he personally wanted to give, with the promise the more they gave willingly and joyously in thankfulness, the more God would bless them. Now in the New Testament, giving is essentially the same. There is REQUIRED GIVING, but it is not a tenth to the church, it is also taxation ( Rom. 13:6). Whatever the government requires be it, 18-25% which seems to be the average most American’s pay to run our federal, state and local government and our welfare programs, we are commanded to pay it! However, once this required giving is paid, we are now free to give to God’s works as our hearts declare.

What freedom this brings to a Christian heart to know God looks to see what we will give out of a thankful heart, not a grudging one. From Old Testament saint to the new, giving is to be a joy, to be generous, to be faithful and systematic, and to be sacrificial too. If you do this, you will surely be blessed. For it is sacrifice that is the basis of Christianity itself, whereby God set the example.

Look around and above -- isn’t it God who gives us all our food and shelter? Isn’t it God who gives us a world to freely live on, in his borrowed universe? In addition to this, God has given us the most priceless free-will offering ever. He has given us Jesus Christ as a free gift from Heaven to all lost sinners. Although this is the most costly gift God could give, He puts no price tag on it although some men do. The Bible says,

John 3:16 (NIV)  “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Yes, God offers you His GIFT, freely given, to all who will receive it. Say, have you received Jesus Christ? I’m not talking about at a communion rail, but in your heart? Have you ever taken the time to invite Christ into your life and surrender your heart to Him? If not, you have neglected the greatest gift of all earmarked for you. May today be the day of your salvation, and may it bring you to the place of being like the Lord Jesus Christ and be a giver, an abundant generous giver, by grace back to God to say “thank you” for so great salvation and love through Jesus Christ.