“For they were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings.” Romans 15:27
Beloved,
Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). Jesus always speaks the truth so we know that it is more blessed to give than to receive. This has been one of the founding principles of Christianity since the foundation of the church in the 1st century. Paul makes the statement that as the Gentiles have come to share in spiritual blessings, they also should serve in material blessings. As this was true then, it is also true today.
As a church we are not currently meeting our budget. There are several factors that have contributed to us not meeting out weekly budget, but I believe it is important to inform the congregation of our need. As the church continues to care for you spiritually, will you prayerfully consider increasing your weekly giving to meet our financial needs? Can I also encourage those who are not currently tithing to experience the blessing of obedient giving?
Old Testament Prophet Malachi says, “Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions…Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need (Mal 3:8,10).” The Lord will honor those who give for it is more blessed to give than to receive, but to those who do not give, they are equated with robbing God.
Although the New Testament never explicitly says that it is the Christian’s responsibility to give 10% of their income to the Lord, Jesus affirmed the importance of tithing when he said to the Pharisees in Matthew 23:23, “For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.”
As a church we are not currently meeting our budget. There are several factors that have contributed to us not meeting out weekly budget, but I believe it is important to inform the congregation of our need. As the church continues to care for you spiritually, will you prayerfully consider increasing your weekly giving to meet our financial needs? Can I also encourage those who are not currently tithing to experience the blessing of obedient giving?
Old Testament Prophet Malachi says, “Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions…Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need (Mal 3:8,10).” The Lord will honor those who give for it is more blessed to give than to receive, but to those who do not give, they are equated with robbing God.
Although the New Testament never explicitly says that it is the Christian’s responsibility to give 10% of their income to the Lord, Jesus affirmed the importance of tithing when he said to the Pharisees in Matthew 23:23, “For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.”
We should not only tithe, but also not neglect others. God wants you to give, but also cares about how and why you give. God does not want your money, but he wants your heart. And he will use your money to get to your heart. Jesus said it is more blessed to give than to receive because as we give we show that our treasure is in Him and not in our wealth.
Listen to 2 Corinthians 9:6-8, “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
Jesus always deepens the demands of the OT law. This can be seen in the Sermon on the Mount. “You have heard that it was said, you shall not murder and whoever murders is liable to judgment. But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment” (Matt 5:21-22). Jesus wants more than external obedience, he wants your heart. He wants you to cheerfully and willingly give to the Lord’s work.
Listen to 2 Corinthians 9:6-8, “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
Jesus always deepens the demands of the OT law. This can be seen in the Sermon on the Mount. “You have heard that it was said, you shall not murder and whoever murders is liable to judgment. But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment” (Matt 5:21-22). Jesus wants more than external obedience, he wants your heart. He wants you to cheerfully and willingly give to the Lord’s work.
The New Testament expects you to tithe and to tithe with a joyful heart. Tithing should not be the end goal for Christian giving, but rather tithing should be the starting point. Sometimes obedience follows emotion and sometimes emotion follows obedience. We cannot be satisfied with one or the other, God wants both. He wants our obedience and our hearts. Financial giving is one of the way we can show the Lord is our true treasure. So give and give from a cheerful heart.
In Him,
Pastor Dave
In Him,
Pastor Dave
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