| God's Condition for Financial Freedom |
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| Written by Eugene Harder |
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Tithing is an intelligent decision motivated by a grateful heart that delights in honouring a gracious God whose generosity is limitless.
When was the last time you had to bring up a controversial subject with a friend? Perhaps you waited for a long time because you didn't want to be misunderstood or criticised for what you had to say. There is a controversial subject that I must talk about. I have avoided this subject because many in the unchurched community have the perception that all the church wants is their money. Scores of people from other churches have said to me, "Eugene, the only time anyone from the church visits our home is when they need money for the budget or a new building." When New Hope began we promised not to beg for money for our own needs and we have kept that commitment. On one or two occasions during the year we unabashedly ask for money to help the poor around the world. We make appeals for disaster relief for organizations like the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), the Samaritan's Purse Christmas boxes and World Vision Foster Care program. There is one area in which I have failed the New Hope Congregation. I have not consistently taught God's first condition for Financial Freedom. Keeping that first condition will motivate God to open the windows of Heaven and pour out big time blessings on us and our families. I have hesitated teaching that condition because I didn't want people to say, "All that New Hope wants is our money." That is an irrational fear because the church gives great value for the money it collects. Lets imagine that your vacation took you through New York city. Late one night you got lost and strayed into a ghetto. Suddenly your car stopped on a dark street with steam from coming from under the hood. Nervously you got out of your car and lifted the hood. Then you heard footsteps coming down the sidewalk toward you. When they got closer, you saw six big teens all over six feet tall. All of a sudden you were filled with fear. Would it have made any difference how you felt if you knew the men were coming from a Bible study at the church around the corner? Would you have felt more secure knowing that someone was ministering God's word to those men? Would you have thanked God for the investment the people of that community made to keep those church doors open? Good Bible believing churches restrain the forces of evil in a community. Supporting the ministry of Bible believing churches is a wise investment. Whether or not you follow God's word is none of my business, that's between you and God. Its my responsibility to let you know how you can cash in on all the good things that God has written your name on. He expects me to show you how to receive His material blessings. 1. Our Creator can ask of us anything He likes. "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?" declares the LORD. "Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel." (Jeremiah 18:6 2. Great men of the past gave God His tithes and offerings. The protection God gave Abram motivated him to give God a tithe. "Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand." Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything." (Genesis 14:18-20 The presence of God in a dream motivated Jacob to make the following vow to God. "If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father's house, then the LORD will be my God and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God's house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth." (Genesis 28:20-22 Jacob kept his vow to tithe and enjoyed the fruit of financial freedom. Abram and Jacob lived long before Moses gave God's Law to tithe. How did they know to give a tenth of their income to God. Perhaps its something thats in our heart that we know is right to do. II. The Foundation for Financial Freedom Grows Out of God's Law. God told Moses to instruct the people that He owned the tithe. "A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD." (Leviticus 27:30 Notice it says that the tithe "belongs to the LORD." When I give the tithe to the Lord, I am not giving Him my money. I am returning to Him His money because He claims the tithe is His. I hold it in trust until I release it to God. If you keep something that doesn't belong to you, what is that action called? 1. Tithing is one type of offering God expects from us. 2. The Tithe was used for celebration, the support of the Levi's, help for the needy, and the temple needs. Who said that God is stuffy? It's like God was saying, "The tithe belongs to me and I'm giving you permission to use part of it for a party that celebrates my goodness. I want you to celebrate the fact that I can open the windows of heaven and pour out a great blessing upon you." God is so anxious for us to celebrate His goodness and faithfulness that He is willing to pick up the tab for the celebration. How should we apply this principle today? Our church family nights could be an expression of the above if we added the element of praise and celebration. If the majority of our congregation tithed we could have a week-end celebration at one of the church camps. You will notice that God placed a restriction on where the tithe was to be used for this celebration of His goodness. "You must not eat in your own towns the tithe of your grain and new wine and oil, or the firstborn of your herds and flocks, or whatever you have vowed to give, or your freewill offerings or special gifts. Instead, you are to eat them in the presence of the LORD your God at the place the LORD your God will choose-- you, your sons and daughters, your menservants and maidservants, and the Levites from your towns-- and you are to rejoice before the LORD your God in everything you put your hand to." (Deuteronomy 12:17-18 God knew how easily holy events can become secular events. We quickly forget why we do things and God is left out of the picture. b. Part of the tithe supported the Levites, the tribe from whom the priests were chosen. The Levites were not given an inheritance because God promised to look after them. "And do not neglect the Levites living in your towns, for they have no allotment or inheritance of their own." (Deuteronomy 14:27 c. Part of the tithe was given the aliens, the fatherless and the widows. "At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year's produce and store it in your towns, so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the aliens, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. (Deuteronomy 14:22-29 d. Part of the tithe was used for the function of the Temple. "The people of Israel, including the Levites, are to bring their contributions of grain, new wine and oil to the storerooms where the articles for the sanctuary are kept and where the ministering priests, the gatekeepers and the singers stay. "We will not neglect the house of our God." (Nehemiah 10:39 3. Giving God His tithe released His material blessing. " How and why tithing releases God's blessing I do not know. God says it does and I believe it. I have been helping people in trouble for forty years. I've discovered that people with chronic financial problems usually fail to give God His tithe. They make comments like, "When things get better, then I'll gradually begin to tithe." Guess what, things seldom get better. They are always in debt, living off their credit card if they still have one. Their existence is pay check to pay check. Just when they think they are getting ahead, something breaks down or gets lost or stolen. The pattern of their life is chronic financial pain. If only they could believe God and give Him His tithe, God says their condition would change. That's because tithing is a matter of trust, can I believe God's word? TLC Discussion Questions:
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