Return To Lowell F. Johnson Master Menu Return To Lowell F. Johnson Great Questions From The Bible A Question About Tithing or Is God Worth A Dime To

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1 Return To Lowell F. Johnson Master Menu Return To Lowell F. Johnson Great Questions From The Bible A Question About Tithing or Is God Worth A Dime To You? Malachi 3: 6-11 The prophet Malachi has been called the "Questioning Prophet." The nation ofisrael was sick! Sick spiritually! Malachi asked seven hard-hitting questions to God's sick people. Look at Mal. 1: 1-2a God says, "I love you." The people say, "Show us one evidence of Your love for us!" After God had chosen Israel above all nations and blessed them with His presence and provisions and demonstrated His power before them and then they say, "Prove to us You love us." Note Mal. 1:6-8 "You just give Me the leftovers... what you don't want" Notice Mal. 1: 13 "Worship is such a weariness." "We're so tired of church. Let's just go to church, do the least we can, with the least amount of energy and enthusiasm we can express and get on with the things we really want to do." Other questions are asked, but let's come to our passage for today: Read the Passage Let me ask you a personal question: Is God worth a dime... to you? Why is tithing so difficult for some people? Some will tell you, "I know the Bible talks about tithing and I know I'm supposed to tithe. I just don't do it." Have you ever asked yourself why Satan does all he can to keep you from tithing? Let me suggest a reason: Satan knows that if God's people tithe, God will bless them. God said He would bless us if we tithe and Satan believes God and he doesn't want God's people blessed, so he does all he can to keep God's people from tithing. Someone said that when E. F. Hutton talks about money "everybody listens," but when preachers mention it everybody tunes him out! One of the common complaints about preachers is that "they are always preaching about money." It is usually a telltale sign that making these statements are generally the ones who are disobedient to God' s Word regarding the tithe.

2 When Dr. R. G. Lee was asked about his church's stewardship program he said, "I tell my people there are two kinds of church members - TITHERS and THIEVES!" He went on to say there were more thieves in Baptist churches on Sunday morning than in the jails. Then he told this story: A beggar walked up to a man on the street and asked for some money. The man pulled ten ones out of his pocket, looked at them, gave the beggar nine and kept one for himself As the man walked away, the beggar looked at the nine ones and at the man's back. He sneaked up behind him, hit him over the head then stole the tenth dollar. This is what we do when we steal God's tithe. The great principle that runs throughout the Word of God is this: If you really love God, you will give to God. You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving. Could I just give a handful of verses about the tithe? Ex. 25: 1-2; 35:4-5 Deut. 16: 17 Prov.3:9 Some use the alibi: The tithe is just an O. T. law; it doesn't apply to the dispensation of grace. That is not true, but even if it were, if we don't do as much under grace as they did under law, it would be a disgrace! The truth is: The tithe existed Before the law; it existed when the law was given; it is mentioned throughout the N. T. When talking about the tithe: Abraham Commenced it Jacob Continued it Malachi Commanded it Jesus Commended it Paul Celebrated it... who am I to Cancel it? Matt. 22:21 God is different from Uncle Sam. Uncle Sam doesn't trust folks. He takes tax out of our checks before we go home with the check. God says, "I trust My children from payday until Sunday." God gives us a dollar; wants a dime; promises to bless us if we give Him what is already His! Four things I want you to see from this passage: 1. The Thief Mal. 3: 8

3 Who is the thief? It is not the ones who don't belong to God, but those who do belong to Him. And look who the non-tither robs: (1) He is our Father: It's one thing to rob a stranger, but for a son or daughter to rob their own father. How low can you get? (2) He is our Savior: How could believers - saved, forgiven, going to heaven - how could they snatch something from His nail-scarred hand? (3) He is our Provider: What if God made us pay for the breath we breathe, the sunshine that warms us, the sleep that gives us rest and all the other things He's provided for us? There is a difference in stealing something and robbing someone. When one steals something, they do it when no one is looking. Something is taken and the thief hopes no one will see him steal. Robbery is done by force. The thief hopes to catch someone off guard. We don't rob God the way we rob man. If you rob a man you might hide in the bushes, stick a gun in his face and demand what you want. We can't break into heaven. We can never catch God offguard. You can't rob God by force because God's too strong; too powerful. He can hold the waters of the Red Sea back and make the sun stand still and create mountains. Well, how do we rob God? (1) God says we rob Him instead of stealing because He's watching us... He sees. (2) We don't rob Him with a gun or knife, but by blatantly refusing to give to Him what belongs to Him. With a defiant spirit we refuse to obey His command. Why should we tithe? (1) It is a direct command from God. For those who think the tithe is only for the O. T. saints, could I remind you that N. T. saints even sold their own houses and lands to give over and above the tithe because they loved their Lord and their brothers and sisters in Christ. (2) Because the tithe is holy to the Lord - Lev. 27:30 Some are living in houses they stole from the Lord... driving cars they stole from the Lord... wearing clothes they stole from the Lord. (3) Because you are so blessed. Write down everything you have: Family, health, finances, home, food. God has blessed

4 you so much. You mean to tell me God is not worth a dime to you? (4) Because we are in debt to the Lord. I'm in debt to a lot offolks: - My Mother: She brought me into this world; fed me when I couldn't feed myself; kept me clean, safe - My Dad: Taught me to be a man; to stand on my own two feet; taught me self-respect - My Teachers: Taught me English and how to read - My Pastor: Jim won me to the Lord; gave me guidance when God called me to preach. ~ My Wife: Her love and support and friendship - My greatest debt is to Jesus, who loved me and died for me and forgave and saved me Is He worth a dime to me? Yes, and so much more! If a believer doesn't tithe, it's not a material problem; it's a faith problem. They don't trust the Lord to keep His word. e-. They charge God with not blessing them enough to give Him a dime out of the dollar He did give them. Bottom line: They don't love and trust the Lord like they should. II. The Grief 3~8 In Hebrew, the tone is one of pain of heart. "To think: My own people would take from Me!" The number one excuse folks give for not tithing is, "I can't afford to tithe." The only poverty that prevents us from tithing is the poverty of faith in God to supply our needs while we obey Him. When we don't tithe because of our lack oflove or faith in God, the one who suffers is us. Haggai 1:5-6 Mal. 3: 11 What are the "devourers." God has a way of stretching the 90% when we give to Him what belongs to Him. Our goods seem to last longer instead of going out right after the warranty goes out... the family seems to be healthier... extra opportunities to work seem to come at the right time. III. The Belief 3 : 10 Every word is inspired and every word is important. God gives: A. The Plan (Bring) Bring; not send. Tithing is an act of personal worship.

5 B. The Person (Bring~) C. The Proportion (All the Tithe) God doesn't make us guess as to the amount He requires If! give 5% instead of 10% would I be robbing God? God said 10%. D. The Place (the Storehouse) "Well, I'll give some to the church and some to other good ministries of my choosing." Why the church? If the church was important enough for Jesus to die for, He has a right to require us to bring it where He wants it. 13 E. The Purpose (That there might be meat in Mine house) To further the work of the lord through His house. F. The Proposition (Prove Me) - Put Him to the test "now" You've tried it your way; try His way. IV. The Relief 3:10-11; Luke 6:38 God wants us on His side... God wants us to go into partnership with Him. The hand that is closed in giving is also closed when it comes to receiving the bountiful blessings of God. Richard Lee: I challenge you. Go home, look at your checkbook. It will tell a lot about you. It will tell you what you think the priorities of life are. It will tell you what you think of your God. Return To Lowell F. Johnson Master Menu Return To Great Questions From The Bible