Sowing Obedience and Sacrifice: TithingSowing Obedience and Sacrifice: Tithing

• The hardest thing for man to admit is that all The hardest thing for man to admit is that all that we are, all that we have, belong to God that we are, all that we have, belong to God and we are but His stewards.and we are but His stewards.

• Deut. 8:17-18 (MsgB) If you start thinking to Deut. 8:17-18 (MsgB) If you start thinking to yourselves, "I did all this. And all by myself. yourselves, "I did all this. And all by myself. I'm rich. It's all mine!"— [18] well, think again. I'm rich. It's all mine!"— [18] well, think again. Remember that God, your God, gave you the Remember that God, your God, gave you the strength to produce all this wealth so as to strength to produce all this wealth so as to confirm the covenant that he promised to your confirm the covenant that he promised to your ancestors—as it is today. ancestors—as it is today.

• 1 Chronicles 29:12 (NKJV) Both 1 Chronicles 29:12 (NKJV) Both riches and riches and honorhonor come from come from YouYou, And , And You reign over allYou reign over all. . In Your hand In Your hand is is power and mightpower and might; ; In Your hand In Your hand it is to make it is to make greatgreat And to give And to give strengthstrength to all. to all.

• 1 Chronicles 29:14 (NIV) "But who am I, and 1 Chronicles 29:14 (NIV) "But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to who are my people, that we should be able to givegive as generously as this? as generously as this? EverythingEverything comes comes from from youyou, and , and we have given you we have given you only what only what comes from your handcomes from your hand. .

• 1 Chronicles 29:17-18 (NIV) I know, my God, that 1 Chronicles 29:17-18 (NIV) I know, my God, that you you test the heart and are pleased with integritytest the heart and are pleased with integrity. . All these things have I All these things have I givengiven willingly and with willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to willingly your people who are here have given to you. 18 O Lord, God of our fathers Abraham, you. 18 O Lord, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel, keep this desire in the hearts of Isaac and Israel, keep this desire in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to loyal to youyou. .

• Psalms 24:1 (NKJV) The Psalms 24:1 (NKJV) The earthearth is is the Lord'sthe Lord's, and , and all its fullnessall its fullness, The , The worldworld and and those who dwell those who dwell thereintherein. .

• It started in the Garden, when God appointed Adam It started in the Garden, when God appointed Adam to be the steward to manage the garden.to be the steward to manage the garden.

• Genesis 2:15 (NIV) The Lord God took the man and Genesis 2:15 (NIV) The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take to work it and take care of itcare of it. .

• God then immediately put his stewardship to the test:God then immediately put his stewardship to the test:• 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, "You are 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, "You are

free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."

• 1 Chronicles 29:17-18 (NIV) I know, 1 Chronicles 29:17-18 (NIV) I know, my Godmy God, that , that youyou test test the heart the heart and are and are pleased with integritypleased with integrity. All these things . All these things have I have I givengiven willingly and with honest intent. And now I willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how have seen with joy how willinglywillingly your people who are here your people who are here have have givengiven to you. 18 O Lord, God of our fathers to you. 18 O Lord, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel, keep this desire in the hearts Abraham, Isaac and Israel, keep this desire in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to youloyal to you. .

• Why is the test of loyalty always has to do with money?Why is the test of loyalty always has to do with money?• Matthew 6:24 (NIV) "No one can serve two masters. Matthew 6:24 (NIV) "No one can serve two masters.

Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot You cannot serve both God and Money. serve both God and Money.

• If we are managers of God’s wealth, we need to If we are managers of God’s wealth, we need to receive instructions from Him on how He wants us to receive instructions from Him on how He wants us to conduct ourselves pertaining to His property.conduct ourselves pertaining to His property.

• First; our lives belong to God!First; our lives belong to God!• 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NKJV) Or do you not know that 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NKJV) Or do you not know that

your body your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have whom you have from Godfrom God, and , and you are not your ownyou are not your own? ? 20 For 20 For you were you were bought at a pricebought at a price; therefore ; therefore glorify glorify God in your body God in your body and in your spirit, and in your spirit, which are God'swhich are God's. .

• The Lord has the right and does give instructions on how The Lord has the right and does give instructions on how we ought to live!we ought to live!

• A Content Lifestyle:A Content Lifestyle:• 1 Timothy 6:8-9 (NKJV) And having 1 Timothy 6:8-9 (NKJV) And having foodfood and and clothingclothing, , with with

these these we shall be we shall be contentcontent. 9 But those who . 9 But those who desire to be rich desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.

• (TLB) So we should be well satisfied without money if we (TLB) So we should be well satisfied without money if we have enough food and clothing. 9 But people who have enough food and clothing. 9 But people who longlong to be to be richrich soon begin to do all kinds of wrong things to get money, soon begin to do all kinds of wrong things to get money, things that hurt them and make them evil-minded and things that hurt them and make them evil-minded and finally finally send them to hell itselfsend them to hell itself. .

• A Diligent Lifestyle:A Diligent Lifestyle:• Proverbs 6:6-11 (MsgB) You lazy fool, look at an ant. Proverbs 6:6-11 (MsgB) You lazy fool, look at an ant.

Watch it closely; let it teach you a thing or two. [7] Watch it closely; let it teach you a thing or two. [7] Nobody has to tell it what to do. [8] All summer it Nobody has to tell it what to do. [8] All summer it stores up food; at harvest it stockpiles provisions. [9] stores up food; at harvest it stockpiles provisions. [9] So how long are you going to laze around doing So how long are you going to laze around doing nothing? How long before you get out of bed? [10] A nothing? How long before you get out of bed? [10] A nap here, a nap there, a day off here, a day off there, nap here, a nap there, a day off here, a day off there, sit back, take it easy—do you know what comes sit back, take it easy—do you know what comes next? [11] Just this: You can look forward to a dirt-next? [11] Just this: You can look forward to a dirt-poor life, poverty your permanent houseguest!poor life, poverty your permanent houseguest!

• A Giving LifestyleA Giving Lifestyle• Proverbs 11:24-25 (NKJV) There is one who scatters, yet Proverbs 11:24-25 (NKJV) There is one who scatters, yet

increases more; And there is one who withholds more than increases more; And there is one who withholds more than is right, But it leads to poverty. [25] The generous soul will be is right, But it leads to poverty. [25] The generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters will also be watered himself. made rich, And he who waters will also be watered himself.

• Proverbs 3:5-10 (NIV) Trust in the Lord with all your heart Proverbs 3:5-10 (NIV) Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. 7 Do acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. 8 not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. 8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. 9 bones. 9 Honor the Lord with your wealthHonor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits , with the firstfruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.

• Second, our possessions belong to God!Second, our possessions belong to God!• A Giving Lifestyle Begins With Tithing:A Giving Lifestyle Begins With Tithing:• Leviticus 27:30-33 (TLB) "A Leviticus 27:30-33 (TLB) "A tenthtenth of the of the produceproduce of the of the

land, whether grain or fruit, land, whether grain or fruit, is the Lord’sis the Lord’s, and , and is holyis holy. 31 If . 31 If anyone wants to buy back this fruit or grain, he must add a anyone wants to buy back this fruit or grain, he must add a fifth to its value. 32 And fifth to its value. 32 And the Lord owns the Lord owns everyevery tenthtenth animal animal of your herds and flocks and other domestic animals, as of your herds and flocks and other domestic animals, as they pass by for counting. 33 The they pass by for counting. 33 The tenthtenth given to the Lord given to the Lord shall not be selected on the basis of whether it is good or shall not be selected on the basis of whether it is good or bad, and there shall be no substitutions; for if there is any bad, and there shall be no substitutions; for if there is any change made, then both the original and the substitution change made, then both the original and the substitution shall belong to the Lord, and may not be bought back!" shall belong to the Lord, and may not be bought back!"

• This is a commandment, not a suggestionThis is a commandment, not a suggestion• Malachi 3:8-9 "Will a man rob God? Malachi 3:8-9 "Will a man rob God? Yet you have Yet you have

robbed Me!robbed Me! But you say, 'In what way have we robbed But you say, 'In what way have we robbed You?‘ In You?‘ In tithes and offeringstithes and offerings. [9] You are cursed with a . [9] You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation. curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation.

• Malachi 3:10-12 Malachi 3:10-12 Bring Bring allall the tithes into the the tithes into the storehousestorehouse, , That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this," Says the Lord of hosts, "If I will not open for you the this," Says the Lord of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it. That there will not be room enough to receive it.

• [11] "And I will [11] "And I will rebuke the devourer rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field," Says the Lord of vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field," Says the Lord of hosts; [12] "And all nations will call you blessed, For you hosts; [12] "And all nations will call you blessed, For you will be a delightful land," Says the Lord of hosts.will be a delightful land," Says the Lord of hosts.

• Is it in the New Testament?Is it in the New Testament?• Luke 11:42 Luke 11:42 • But woe to you Pharisees! For you But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithetithe mint and rue mint and rue

and all manner of herbs, and pass by and all manner of herbs, and pass by justicejustice and the and the lovelove of God. of God. These you ought to have doneThese you ought to have done, without leaving , without leaving the the othersothers undone. undone.

• Luke 16:10 (NIV) "Whoever can be trusted with very little Luke 16:10 (NIV) "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. with very little will also be dishonest with much.

Type of Giving Motive Tested Reward

1. Tithing Faithfulness Protection, blessings

2. Firstfruit Thankfulness Harvest Preserved

3. Alms Compassion Lends to the Lord

4. Sowing seed Faith Multiplication