Giving Unto The LORD
Introduction:
Tithing is a subject in which many people have different opinions. There are those that say that we are not required to give tithes because it isn’t a requirement in the New Testament. We as born again believers don’t HAVE to do anything. However, if we have a heart that is fully in surrender to the LORD, we will want to do the things pleasing to him and we will desire to put Him first in our lives and help others.
Handout: Giving Unto The LORD
Proverbs 3:9 “Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:”
Proverbs 3:10 “So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.”
Solomon, the wisest man in all the world writes these words in Proverbs. It is honoring the Lord to put him first and to give back the first fruits of our increase. God does not need your money, it already belongs to him, but tithing teaches us to put God first and to trust Him. It also goes for good, to help those in need. If one will pray for wisdom from God, the Holy Spirit will direct the believer in how much to give and where to give it.
In the old testament, back when history records a time before Christ came and died thus putting humankind in the day of grace, they were then under the law. It was a requirement for the people to pay tithes or give a tenth of their profits as an offering to the LORD. The word tithe means payment of a tenth part, or tenth part. This tenth part God gave to the descendants of Levi which were priests that God appointed.
Numbers 18:21 “And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.”
Hebrews 7:5 “And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:”
People can argue that it isn’t “required” for us to give tithes back to God now that we are not under the law, however, Abraham, who lived before the law was given, gave a tenth of his spoils from battle to honor God.
Hebrews 7: 1. For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
2. To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
3. Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
4. Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.
5. And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:
6.But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.
7. And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.
8. And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.
9. And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.”
It is wise to be thankful for all that we have. All that we have, are blessings from God. He gave us all the blessings in our lives. Without him we would have nothing. How foolish it is to not honor him and give back in order to help others. Just think if every believer gave just one tenth of what they have, I do believe it would end a lot of poverty in the world that we see today. If only every believer would follow and do as the Holy Spirit directs. When we disobey God, when we do not honor him, we miss out, and others do as well.
As stated before, tithing teaches us to put God first. It teaches us to trust God. I understand the fear that satan puts in ones mind about giving. When you don’t have a lot of income coming in and you have bills that need to be paid. Satan puts in the mind that if some of that is given away, then there won’t be enough. God’s word says in,
Philippians 4:19 “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
When one makes a commitment to give as the Lord directs, with right heart in order to honor God, the benefits thereof are much more than what has been given. Honor God first always and He will honor you.
Remember in 1 Kings chapter 17 how the widow woman took all that she had and was obedient to God and how she was blessed.
1 Kings 17
1. And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.
2. And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, 3. Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. 4. And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there. 5. So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. 6. And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook. 7. And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land. 8. And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, 9. Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee. 10. So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.
11. And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand. 12. And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die. 13. And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son. 14. For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth. 15. And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days. 16. And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah.
By her obedience, and honor to God and his prophet, the widow woman was in turn blessed and honored by God. Had she refused, she and her son would have eaten their last and would have died. In the rest of the chapter we see where he son became sick and died, and Elijah prayed over him and God restored the son’s life back to him.
God did not have to send Elijah to this widow’s house. He was sending the ravens to Elijah with meat and bread and he could have provided water some other way. However, God uses people to help one another. In this God is honored and both are blessed.
Give as the Lord bids you to give and you can trust Him to take care of you. You may not have great riches, but if you will give as the Lord directs you to give, it is much in his sight.
Mark 12:41-44 “And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. 42. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. 43. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: 44. For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.”
(This account is also told in the gospel of Luke, chapter 21. This was an important lesson for everyone and for us today.)
What she gave was equal to about 3/8 of a cent. Yet she honored the Lord with all she had. She understood that all she had was from the LORD and she gave with love and right attitude. Will God always lead you to give a tenth? God directs all those that seek him and desiring to follow his direction. So whatever he bids, that is what you should give be it a tenth or more, with understanding that it all belongs to him anyway.
2 Corinthians 9:7 “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”
Does that mean you must go and give everything you have? What it means is for each believer to seek the Lord on this issue and to obey what he tells you to do. If you are earnestly and honestly seeking the Lord, he will lead you.
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: 9. (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. 10. Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) 11. Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. 12. For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; 13. Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men; 14. And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you. 15. Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.”
God gave all that he has to us. The ultimate gift which is Jesus and the gift of salvation. He gives us all of himself and holds nothing back. We should be willing to honor him with all that we have and to obey what he tells us to give to others. We should do this with joy and thankfulness that we are able to give. God has blessed you, be a blessing to others as he would have you.
In the words of Pastor Charles Stanley, Obey the Lord and leave the rest to Him. God bless you all.
Reminder: Remember to love and serve others this week in the attitude of Christ.
Prayer:
Dear Holy Righteous Heavenly Father,
We come to you today in the name of your Son Jesus. Thank you for all the blessings you have given to us. Thank you for always being a provider of your children. Thank you for your love, your mercy, and your grace. You are worthy O God to be praised. Father, we come today with open hearts to you. We want to honor you with the blessings that you have given. We want to be a blessing to others as you have blessed us. Father we ask for you help us to give as you would have us to. Help us to honor you with the first of all our increase and to understand that it all comes from you. Help us to have a heart that will always do as you would lead. Father we ask that you remind us what you gave for us and to help us have a tender heart for those that are in need. Thank you Father, that we can always trust you to take care of us. Help us to always be obedient to your voice and to your word. We humbly ask for wisdom and understanding of you and your will for each of our lives. We ask that you continue to bless us so that we may bless others and to help us give with joy and to honor you. Please watch over us and those that we love. In the beautiful name of Jesus we ask and pray, AMEN.
~*Cindygirl*~
12/18/22