Sermon - November 15, 2009

Good Tithing

 Malachi 3:10-12, I Corinthians 16:1-2, Luke 18:9-14

This morning we are celebrating the ministry of our laity and our responsibility of stewardship. The Church cannot function apart from it's members. The vitality of the true worship of the congregation reflects in the abundance of God's blessings. When our hearts earnestly turn to God instead of turn away from Him, when our arms are lifted in prayer instead of folded in resistance, when our giving is a joyous response of gratitude, instead of a begrudging attitude, indeed, we have witnessed how God throws open the floodgates of heaven and pours out so much blessing, it goes up to the roof of the sanctuary.

The Apostle Paul writes, But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. A man read this verse and was so amazed he talked to God about it. “Lord is it true that a thousand years for us is like a minute to You?” The Lord said, “Yes.” The man said, “Then a million dollars to us must be like one penny to You.” Again the Lord said, “Yes.” The man thought for a moment and then asked, “Would You give me one of those pennies?” And the Lord replied, “Yes, I will...in a minute.”

The Apostle Paul was collecting funds from all the churches he planted to help needy and starving believers in Jerusalem. What he advises the Christians in Corinth, is an excellent practice for us today. He writes, On the first day of every week each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income... Paul is talking specifically about receiving a collection for the mission in Jerusalem, giving us three stewardship principles. The first is that giving should be a regular practice – a consistent spiritual discipline. Giving is not to be reserved for occasional opportunities like special fund raisers, missions, or when we happen to feel generous.

Secondly, he tells us, each one of you should set aside a sum of money. Giving is personal. Not only do our offerings support our local congregation, but also support the local and global missions, and the ministry of Church. Our gifts are extensions of our love to go places we could never reach ourselves. Most importantly, my offering is my response of gratitude to God – it is a small portion entrusted to Him with thankfulness for all He has entrusted to me. It's personal – like a hand written thank you note to a friend who has given you a lovely gift or great kindness worth far more than the stationary it's written on. That's our offerings to God.

Thirdly Paul advises to set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income. That is proportional giving. In other words, give according to your ability.  In the Old Testament a tithe, one tenth of one's income, was the standard, but by no means the limit. In actuality, a faithful Jew who met all of the financial obligations of the Temple and his nation gave about 23 percent of his income. The New Testament gives no set standard. Ten percent is practiced by Christians today, although statistics show that most church goers give only 2 to 3 percent of their income. On the other side of the dollar, wealthy Christians often restrict themselves to just ten percent, when they are perfectly capable of giving much more.

Beloved, It's not about the money. It's about the heart. This morning we heard about the Pharisee and the tax collector The Pharisee stood up front and waved his hands in prayer, speaking loudly to God for all to hear,  God, I thank you I am not like other men – robbers, evildoers, adulterers – or even like this tax collector. Why did he think he was so different? I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get. So, he diets, and calculates his offering. He is all about the money, but God is after his heart. God cares nothing about bank accounts, but everything about your love for Him, and your love for one another. The sinner, to whom the Pharisee accuses with a pointing finger, would not even raise his eyes in prayer. Head bowed, standing at a distance, he beat his breast desperate for God's forgiveness, Have mercy on me, a sinner.

The Pharisee was seeking to justify himself. The tax collector was seeking God.

The Pharisee paraded his virtues. The Tax collector exposed his sin.

The Pharisee met his obligation from his pocket The tax collector knew he could not possibly pay the debt, He gave from his heart, and went home justified.

When we give grudgingly, of our resources, our time, our talents, we are withholding what God has given us for His purposes –  Will a man rob God, Yet you rob Me. But you will ask, How do we rob You. “In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse– because you are robbing Me.” Malachi 3: 8-9 Wow. A curse! Why would God be so emphatic about that? Does God need our money? Is God a great Scrooge in the sky?

By no means! God is jealous for our love. Giving generously out of love for our God for His work and the needs of others is a way we grow closer to Him Paul brings it home to us in terms of the harvest: Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. That is God's heartvest.

When we generously give of ourselves in whatever ways we are called to honor our God, God lavishly returns the favor blessing after blessing after blessing so that we may meet the needs of others. Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 2 Corinthians 9:10-11.  Does that mean that if I give God a minute, He will make me a millionaire? No. But it does mean that when I give in His name, according to His will, and in His love, I will have even more to give when the need arises.

When our offering comes from our heart, and not just our wallet, that is a good tithing.

When we give our time to service, prayer, Bible study, for no other reason than the joy and love of the Lord, that is good tithing. When we worship in His house, this house of prayer, with honest hearts turned to Him, that is good tithing. When we seek Him first before the day begins or consult with Him about our decisions, or close the day with our last thoughts upon His love and Presence, that is good tithing. God does not call us to a Sunday of Stewardship, but to a daily life of joyous, thankful, Good Tithing.

 

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