Malachi 3:8-10 -Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
II Corinthians 9:6-8 – But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
A lot has been said about tithing in the church. I have good news for you. Tithing is NOT a New Testament concept. It was an Old Testament concept. The New Testament giving is totally different. Hopefully we shall both let you see the difference and hopefully you will look at giving, not as a requirement, but as a privilege.
Old Testament Giving
- A percentage was required.
- One was punished if they did not meet the standard.
- One was blessed if they met the standard.
- The Old Testament ended with God scolding the children of Israel for withholding the tithe.
- The Old Testament tithe went to the priest to care for them and the priest would care for the temple needs.
II Corinthians 9: 6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
New Testament Giving
- It is to be done as one chooses.
- It is a demonstration of one’s love for the Lord Jesus and His Church.
- It is to be a regular habit – 1 Corinthians 16:2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
- It should be:
- Done willingly.
- Cheerfully.
- Not grudgingly.
- In the New Testament you do not give to be blessed, but you give because you are blessed.
II Corinthians 8:1-5 – Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.3 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;4 Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.5 And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.
- Even those with little gave what they could and God took their gifts and greatly met the needs of spreading the good news.
- Take note of verse 2: affliction – great joy – poverty – gave liberally. Wow!!!
