It's Just Money
The following E-sermon was taken from the message entitled, "It's Just Money" presented on Sunday, February 4, 2007 by Pastor Bryan Pugner.
Spiritual Principles of Giving and Tithing
Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.
When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.
All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner.'" But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount."
Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."
We see a correlation between a change in Zachcaheus' heart and his wallet. He had received grace and now had a desire for reconciliation! This was not just about money but rather a heart issue! However, the fact that he allowed this change to effect his pocketbook adds validity to his sincerity! Why? Because often times we find that our wallet is truly our last spiritual hurdle.
21 Common Questions Concerning Giving
- What is tithing?
- Can a person tithe more or less than 10%?
- Why is church/religion and money so closely associated or controversial?
- Why is God so pressed about my money?
- Is there ever a reason why a person should not tithe?
- Those that have not been given a clear or accurate biblical teaching.
- Those who know better but choose to disobey.
- What if I don't want to tithe?
- What should I tithe on?
- Do I tithe on my gross or on my net?
- So do we "give" just to "get"?
- What if I can't afford it?
- Is it ok to claim my giving on my tax return?
- Does the Bible really teach about tithing?
- Do I have to tithe money?
- Can I skip a week?
- Is there is Spiritual punishment for not tithing?
- Can I tithe any where I want?
- What if I don't trust my church leadership with being good stewards of my money?
- Can I try tithing for a little while if I am unsure?
- What if it doesn't work?
- Does the New Testament say anything about tithing?
- Does the tithing principle still work today?
A God-ordered financial and spiritual discipline with wonderful promises attached and underwritten with a covenant of promise by God Himself. A tithe means a tenth or 10% as modeled by Abraham.
No. A person can give less than 10% but it is not biblical tithing -- anything over 10% falls into the category of offerings. A tithe means a tenth or 10%.
Unfortunately, greedy men of the past have abused the principle of stewardship. Second, people are often times overly sensitive because of their close connection with their cash!
He's not -- God owns everything! God does not need nor does He want our money – He wants our hearts
The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;
Every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.
'The silver is mine and the gold is mine,' declares the LORD Almighty.
If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
God owns everything and we are merely stewards over His possessions. It is not all about money! It's about the proper stewardship of God's gift. This equally applies to the other 90%; it is still about proper stewardship.
Often times there are many difficult and different situations that hinder someone from being able to give. However, there are often only two categories for Christians who do not tithe:
Don't! Tithing is an issue of the heart not a money issue!
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 (this is not
a loophole to the 10% tithe, nor does it give us permission to make up our
own rules, rather it enforces the idea that giving should never be
pressured – again, it is an issue of the heart).
Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not
reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
We trust God with our lives and with our eternity – what is money then?
Anything that comes from God's hand. If you have been blessed – be a blessing!
Depends on what you want to be blessed on, your net or your gross!
We should not have this attitude and anyone who teaches you if give $100 then God will give you $1000 is wrong! Giving must come from a heart of gratitude and generosity. It is not just physical, but spiritual.
Tithing is like waiting to have enough money before you decide to have children. The truth is you will never have enough! You must start somewhere!
Tithing = trusting! When we trust God with our tithing, we are really stating that God can do more with your 90% than you can do with the entire 100% on our own!
Some people think that this is giving to get. I think it is another example of God's blessing into my life!
YES!
I am surprised by the tons of websites I looked at this week that state that tithing is the greatest heresy in the modern church. A greater heresy is a doctrine of prosperity were the richest countries in the world get richer as nations around us die in poverty!
America's financial answers will not be solved with more money, but rather with better stewardship, budgeting, heart of thanksgiving and appreciation, along with the ability to be content! We are so blessed and still want more! God wants us to come to a place that we trust Him – not our own resources.
A tithe in today's culture usually speaks of money. There is a trend in the American culture that moves towards "social tithing". This includes giving of your time, giving acknowledgement or encouraging others, community service projects etc. Each of these activities is important and should be the outflow of a believer's life. However, none of these events equals biblical tithing.
Sure -- however, most people who tithe try to base their giving according to their pay schedule rather than their church attendance. If they skip a week, they make it up the following week. These individuals refer to the practice as "back tithe".
When we choose not to tithe, we deprive God of the opportunity to bless His people. God will not work contrary to His own nature or principles.
"Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings. You are under a curseÑthe whole nation of youÑbecause you are robbing me.
Understand, God does not feel "stolen from" in economic terms but rather as being deprived of the opportunity to bless His people.
No.
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.
You can give to any ministry, charity, or television preacher you like as an offering but your tithe should go to your church! The place where you are spiritually feed and encouraged!
If you are unable to trust your church or leaders with your money, how can you trust them with more important issues like your spiritual well being/training? It would be better for you to find a congregation where you would feel comfortable in biblical stewardship!
Yes.
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. I will prevent pests from blessing that you will not have room enough for it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the LORD Almighty. "Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land," says the LORD Almighty.
God invites us to test Him in tithing! Try it consistently for six months to a year and see!
You can't outgive God!
Yes.
Tithing began in the OT but its spiritual truth/principle continues into today
Then the Lord said to him, "Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? But give what is inside the dish to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.
"Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.
Again, Jesus emphases the heart first and then our wallets next!
Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and brag about your relationship to God; if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truthÑ you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself?
You who preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who brag about the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? As it is written: "God's name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you."
Yes! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever!
Closing Thought
Imagine you are at a local ball game or sports arena with your family and your son or daughter asks for $10 to go to the concession stand for a snack.
So you hand off a bill from your wallet and off they go. A few minutes later he returns with a soda, a pretzel, and a bag of Skittles. The two of you sit back and watch the game as your child chomps away.
A couple of minutes later, you lean over, put out your hand, and ask for a few Skittles. Your child, whom you have made, looks up with those puppy dog eyes and says "no". You joke back, "Come on, and let me have a couple of Skittles". Again, he states "no", but this time a little more seriously.
You don't ask again. -- You just sit back, but you are no longer watching the game like before. All the while, new thoughts are going through your head.
Here are some thoughts that you might be thinking:
- I'm the one who gave you what you needed (the resources) to buy those skittles. It came from me! And without me you would have never had any Skittles in the first place.
- I have enough plastic in my wallet to buy every bag of Skittles in this arena. I don't need your Skittles. I can buy enough Skittles to drown you in Skittles.
- I am big enough and have the parental authority to simply take those Skittles away from you.
Yet a larger issue remains:
- What is it about my child's life or character that has kept them from being generous with me - who has given everything to them?
- What can I do to encourage them to learn concerning a heart of generosity? What can I do to help them appreciate this life lesson?
Tithing is an issue of the heart, not money! Each of us has been given a bag of Skittles from our Dad – What will you do with it?