MARRIAGE WITHOUT REGRETS: LESSON THIRTEEN. Tithing

Transcription

1 MARRIAGE WITHOUT REGRETS: LESSON THIRTEEN Tithing

2 INTRODUCTION Why do relationships that begin with so much hope go wrong? In over 70% of failed marriages, the primary a symptom is finances Why do most marriages today end in separation or divorce? In over 70% of failed marriages, the primary source of conflict was money

3 We are the products of our earliest training. Mom is the basic teacher in the home. Children follow her leading to a great degree, especially during the first 12 years of their lives. What are the basic spending patterns in your home? (Psalm 37:21; Proverbs 22:7)

4 HOW TO AVOID UNNECESSARY BORROWING: 1.Be aware of advertising gimmicks and tricks a. Would you deprive your family? b. Sex appeal c. Super Sale -- prices rolled back d. Strategic layout 2.Over commitment to work 3.Treating the symptoms instead of the problems a. Avoiding Reality b. Little White Lies c. Get Away from it all d. Bill consolation loan e. We don=t make enough money

5 HOW TO AVOID UNNECESSARY BORROWING: 4.Finding freedom a. Greed = always wanting more / the best (Eccl. 2:10 cf Luke 12:15) b. Covetousness = an attitude of desiring what others have (Psalm 73:3) c. Ignorance = unknowledgeable (Proverbs 14:15) d. Indulgence = Aa thing that has little or no utility@ (Proverbs 21:17) e. Get rich quick = making lots of money with little effort (Prov 28:22) The only way to avoid these traps is: 1. Never risk money you cannot afford to lose. 2. Never get involved with things you don=t understand. 3. Demand sufficient information to evaluate thoroughly the business. 4. Seek good, non-involved Christian counsel. 5. Set a minimum time to pray and seek God=s direction. 5.Establishing plans major principle: God=s part first (Proverbs 3:9-10; 11:24) The foundation for any family financial plan must be built upon God's Word.

6 WHAT THEN IS GOD'S PORTION? OLD TESTAMENT TITHING 4643 rfe[]m; ma`aser {mah-as-ayr'} or rf;[]m; ma`asar {mah-as-ar'} and (in pl.) fem. ma`asrah {mah-as-raw'} 9 n m 9 AV - tithe 27, tenth part 2, tenth 2, tithing 1; ) tithe, tenth part 1a) tenth part 1b) tithe, payment of a tenth part 586 avpodekato,w apodekatoo 9 from 575 and 1183;; v 9 AV - pay tithe 1, tithe 1, give tithe 1, take tithe 1; 4 9 1) to give, pay a tithe of anything 2) to exact receive a tenth from anyone; (1) pay tithes, give one tenth or one part out of every ten of something (MT 23.23); (2) collect a tithe from someone (HE 7.5). Tithe = OT ma'asrah; NT apodekatoç = a tenth, especially a tithe; to take, pay, give or collect the tenth part of anything

7 WHAT THEN IS GOD'S PORTION? BASIC ARGUMENT FOR TITHING IN OUR DAYS Abraham and Jacob, before the Law, gave a tenth. Thus tithing transcends the Mosaic Law and is the universal standard of giving that God demands. Answer: not all things done before the Mosaic Law are kept in the New Testament -- eg: the sacrificial system

8 FACT: TITHING BEFORE THE MOSAIC LAW AND TITHING DURING AND AFTER THE MOSAIC LAW IS DIFFERENT There are two kinds of giving in God's Word: VOLUNTARY GIVING = generous, whenever, whatever, proportionate, sacrificial, voluntary REQUIRED GIVING = mandatory, no choice, amount stated, time stated

9 A. VOLUNTARY GIVING BEFORE THE MOSAIC LAW 1.Cain and Abel -- Genesis 4:3-5 (offerings on altar) 2.Noah -- Genesis 8:20 (burnt offerings on altar) 3.Abraham -- Genesis 12:7, 8; 13:18 (built 3 altars) 4.First mention of tithe in the Old Testament: Genesis 14:18-20; Hebrews 7:4 Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth of the choicest spoils (Heb 7:4) avkroqi,nion akrothinion 9 AV - spoils 1; 1 9 1) top of the heap, the first fruits 1a) best of the spoils or crops 2) the Greeks customarily selected from the topmost part of the heaps and offered this to the gods; (1) oft. pl. as the best of produce, at the top of the pile firstfruits; (2) as the best part of goods captured in battle most valuable plunder, booty, spoils (HE 7.4). 5.Second mention of tithe in the Old Testament: Genesis 28: Jacob

10 B. VOLUNTARY GIVING DURING THE MOSAIC LAW 1.Wave offerings of the best of the land, the first fruits of their harvests (Num 18:11-12) Promise of God: Proverbs 3:9-10 cf. Proverbs 11:24 Their sin in Malachi 1: sick animals to the Lord! 2.Voluntary freewill giving-- Awhose heart moves him, ie, giving out of a willing heart, bring whatever is needed for the building of the tabernacle (Exodus 25:1-7) People=s Response: Exodus 35:21-22 Priests= Response: Exodus 36:5-7 3.Proportionate Giving -- according to how God has blessed you (Deut. 16:10, 17) 4.Examples of David (1 Chronicles 29:1-5) and the leaders (1 Chronicles 29:6-7) which provoked a corresponding response in the people (1 Chronicles 29:8-9) Result: in abundance and willingly to the Lord (1 Chronicles 29:16-17)

11 SUMMARY: Voluntary Giving was giving directed to the Lord. It was done personally, spontaneously, willingly, as a response of love to the Lord. There were no amounts stated, people gave whenever and whatever they had.

12 Required Giving C. REQUIRED GIVING BEFORE THE MOSAIC LAW 1. Joseph in Egypt -- 20% to Pharaoh (Genesis 41:34; 47:24) D. REQUIRED GIVING DURING THE MOSAIC LAW 1. The Lord's Tithe or the Levites' Tithe (Lev. 27:30-32; Num. 18:21, 24; Neh. 10:38) Levites were to give a tithe of their tithes to the High Priest (Numbers 18:28) The Israelites paid the tithes to the Levites (2 Chronicles 31:5-12) Why? Israel was a Theocracy, the Levites and priests were the ones who ran the nation, the sacrificial and judicial system Thus to not give the tithe is to rob God (Malachi 3:8) 2. The Festival Tithe (Deut. 12:10, 11, 17, 18; 14:22-27) brought to Jerusalem To support the religious festivals and feasts that united the nation -- for community, fellowship and national religious worship

13 Required Giving 3.The Welfare Tithe or the Poor Tithe (Deut. 14:28) -- paid every third year For the stranger, fatherless and widows 4.Other Taxes a. Profit sharing tax -- corners of harvest for poor and stranger (Lev. 19:9-10) b. Temple Service Tax -- A third of a shekel (Nehemiah 10:32-33) c. Land Rest Tax -- no planting every 7th year (Exodus 23:10-11) d. Redemption Tax -- firstborn of clean animals can't be redeemed (Num 18:17) but firstborn of man and unclean animals must be redeemed (Num 18:15-16)

14 SUMMARY: Tithing was giving to the government. It was a form of taxation to support the nation and its programs. The total given was NOT a tithe (10%) but more than 25% of their income!

15 SUMMARY OF OLD TESTAMENT GIVING: 1.Tithing is required giving in the form of a taxation to fund the national government which was a Theocracy. 2.The four tithes took care of the government salaries, the social religious life of the nation and the welfare system. 3.Tithes were not gifts to God but were gifts to support the nation. 4.When it came to giving to God, there was no amount: whatever you wanted to give, whenever you wanted to give, from the heart. 5.Freewill giving was purely voluntary and personal, motivated by thankfulness to God and love for Him.

16 SIMPLY PUT: PAY YOUR TAXES AND GIVE GOD WHATEVER YOUR HEART TELLS YOU

17 NEW TESTAMENT GIVING: 1. Tithing is not required because it is not commanded in the New Testament. 2. Tithing is not rescinded (Mt 23:23; Lk 11:42; 18:12; Heb 7:5, 6, 8-9)

18 Tithing is not negated in the New Testament * because Jesus commands us not to neglect it (Matt 23:23; Luke 11:42) * because Jesus commands to pay our taxes (tithing) -- Matt 17:24-27; 22:15-22 Note that the people were under a heavy burden of taxation in Jesus' day * Levites' Tithe, Festival Tithe, Welfare Tithe, and other taxes were being paid in Jesus' day. There were 13 trumpet shaped receptacles in the Temple into which the people dropped their taxes. * Roman taxes (exorbitant) -- Jews were conscripted to be their tax-collectors. * because tithing is required giving (mandatory) -- Romans 13:7; 1 Peter 2: fo,roj phoros 9 AV - tribute 5; 5 9 1) tribute, esp. the annual tax levied upon houses, lands, and persons; fo,roj tribute, tax; in the NT, as paid to a foreign ruler, whether levied on houses, lands, or persons (LU 20.22). Phoros is the tribute paid to a subject nation (Luke 20:22) 5056 te,loj telos 9 AV ) toll, custom (i.e. indirect tax on goods); te,loj (4) as civic payment of what is owed tribute, tax, customs (duties) (RO 13.7) Telos is tax for support of civil government (Mt 17:25)

19 NEW TESTAMENT FREEWILL GIVING: 1. Examples of Giving a. Macedonians -- churches in Philippi, Thessalonica and Berea (2 Cor 8:1-5) Their Giving: 1) was motivated by God's grace (2 Cor 8:1) 2) transcended their difficult circumstances (2 Cor 8:2) 3) was with joy ((2 Cor 8:2) 4) was not hindered by poverty (2 Cor 8:2) 5) was liberal/generous (2 Cor 8:2) 6) was proportionate (2 Cor 8:3) -- Aaccording to their ability 7) was sacrificial (2 Cor 8:3) -- Abeyond their ability 8) was voluntary (2 Cor 8:3) -- Aof their own accord 9) was viewed as a privilege not an obligation (2 Cor 8:4) 10)was an act of worship (2 Cor 8:5) 11)was in submission to their pastor (2 Cor 8:5-6) -- Ato us 12)was in connection with other Christian virtues (2 Cor 8:7) 13)was a proof of love (2 Cor 8:8)

20 How and why are they able to give so freely: a) they understood what giving was: i. a ministry which requires God's grace (8:1) ii. a proof of the sincerity of your love (8:8) iii. a proof of your faith (9:13) iv. obedience to Christ (9:13) b). they understood what giving does/produces: i. stirs up zeal (9:2) ii. produces thanksgiving to God (9:11-12) iii. fully supplies needs of saints (9:12) iv. causes others to glorify God (9:13) v. produces love and prayer for you (9:14) vi. causes others to yearn for you (9:16) vii. causes you to be enriched in everything for all liberality (9:11)

21 b. Our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Cor 8:9) For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

22 2. Principles of Freewill Giving a. Giving was voluntary -- amount was up to you (2 Cor 8:10-11) b. Giving was according to what you have (2 Cor 8:12) c. Giving is not to afflict you, but by way of equality (2 Cor 8:13-14) d. Giving is to supply the want of others (2 Cor 8:14) 5303 u`ste,rhma husterema 9 AV 9 9 1) deficiency, that which is lacking 2) in reference to property and resources, poverty, want, destitution e. God's Eternal Principle of Returns (2 Cor 9:6-11) Sow sparingly, reap sparingly, sow bountifully, reap bountifully

23 f. Giving is to be purposeful (2 Cor 9:7) g. Giving is to be voluntary (2 Cor 9:7) not grudgingly or under compulsion. h. Giving is to be hilarious (2 Cor 9:7) 2431 I`laro,j hilaros 9 AV 1 9 1) cheerful, joyous, prompt to do anything; happy, cheerful, joyful, as a quality of genuine benevolence (2C 9.7). i. Giving is in response to God's promises (2 Cor 9:8-11) j. Giving is to glorify God (2 Cor 9:12-14) k. Giving is in response to God's love (2 Cor 9:15) l. Give to anyone without expecting anything in return (Luke 6:30-31, 34-36) God's Promise: Luke 6:38

24 SUMMARY: Required Giving (tithing and taxes) in the New Testament is the same as Required Giving (tithing and taxes) in the Old Testament. Freewill Giving in the New Testament is the same as Freewill Giving in the Old Testament The same principles apply to both the Old and New Testaments.

25 CONCLUSION Jesus Christ said more about money than about heaven and hell combined. Almost every parable was related to finances. There are four main elements: 1. Christian stewardship is total, not partial. Everything you possess comes to you from God. 2. Giving is an investment in eternity (2 Cor 9:6). Philippians teaches that money is fellowship (Phil. 1:2-5 with 4:15; 2 Cor. 8:1-5) 3. Regulate money by NT requisites (1 Cor. 16:2): On the first day of every week let each one of you put aside and save, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come. Giving is to be regular Giving is to be very personal Giving is to be systematic Giving is to be proportionate.

26 CONCLUSION 4. Attitude is far more important than amount (Mark 12:41-44) -- Giving is a spiritual barometer, a far more accurate index of your relationship to Jesus Christ! 5. Money Management -- will deal with this more next week. 6. Wives' role in helping husband in this area

27 2 Corinthians 8: Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia, 2 that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality. 3 For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability they gave of their own accord, 4 begging us with much entreaty for the favor of participation in the support of the saints, 5 and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God. 6 Consequently we urged Titus that as he had previously made a beginning, so he would also complete in you this gracious work as well. 7 But just as you abound in everything, in faith and utterance and knowledge and in all earnestness and in the love we inspired in you, see that you abound in this gracious work also. 8 I am not speaking this as a command, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity of your love also. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

28 2 Corinthians 8: And I give my opinion in this matter, for this is to your advantage, who were the first to begin a year ago not only to do this, but also to desire to do it. 11 But now finish doing it also; that just as there was the readiness to desire it, so there may be also the completion of it by your ability. 12 For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what a man has, not according to what he does not have. 13 For this is not for the ease of others and for your affliction, but by way of equality-- 14 at this present time your abundance being a supply for their want, that their abundance also may become a supply for your want, that there may be equality; 15 as it is written, "he who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little had no lack."