Why & Ways We Give

why we give

We can worship God with our GIVING. There are three things that we should give to God.

We should give ourselves: Paul says in Romans 12:1, we should , ". . . present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."

We give our praise and thanksgiving: Hebrews 13:15 tells us to offer to God our praise for all that He has done for us.

We give to Him by giving our money and possessions: 2 Corinthians 9:7, tells us that God loves a cheerful giver.

UNDERSTANDING THE TITHE AND OFFERING

WHAT IS A TITHE?

Malachi 3:10, “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the LORD of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.”

The tithe is 10% of our income that we give to God, which enables Him to move on our behalf in the area of blessings.

WHY DO WE NEED TO GIVE THE TITHE?

God claims the tithe is His. Leviticus 27:30, “And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord's. It is holy to the Lord.” No where in the New Testament are we told anything that changes God's instruction on tithing. Therefore the tithe is holy and still belongs to God.

Tithing is WORSHIP. Tithing is recognition and worship of the One Who created and actually owns all, (Psalm 24:1, Haggai 2:8).

Tithing causes us to be BLESSED: Malachi 3:10, “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now in this," says the Lord of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.”

Tithing is a continual reminder that God is our SOURCE. Tithing acknowledges in a tangible way that we believe God will meet all our needs.

Tithing is God's method of SUPPORTING His ministry, (Numbers 18:21, 1 Corinthians 9:13-14).

Tithing is a means by which we are able to guard ourselves of greed, (Acts 20:32).

where we give

Malachi 3:10 tells us that we are to bring our tithe into the “storehouse”. A storehouse in the Old Testament had four functions. it was used to feed:

(1) the tribe of Levi and the priests of Aaron

(2) the prophets

(3) the Hebrew widows and orphans living within the city, and

(4) the widows and orphans of the Gentiles who were living in and around the Hebrew city.

However, the equivalent of the Old Testament storehouse in the New Testament, as well as in our present day society, is the local church. God's Word tells us to bring our tithes into the storehouse, (Malachi 3:10). When we obey Him and pay our tithes to the church, God holds the leaders of the church responsible for the distribution of the tithes, (Nehemiah 12:44-45, 13:5,13).

If we associate the functions of the Old Testament storehouse with the New Testament and current local church, its fourfold function would be to provide for the needs of

(1) the pastor and staff

(2) missionaries and evangelists

(3) widows, orphans, single parents, and invalids in the local church

(4) the unsaved who surround the local church.

We therefore should give our tithes and offers to the local church that we have become a member of. However, though you may be physically giving to a local Church, remember that you are giving to God and therefore will be rewarded by Him (Genesis 28:20-22).

how we give

When speaking of giving our tithes and offerings we find that in the New Testament. the Old Testament practice of giving is elevated to a higher and more spiritual level. Rather than giving merely because we have to, the New Testament focuses on the manner in which we give. We are told that when we give our tithes and offerings we must:

Give WILLINGLY, (2 Corinthians 8:3,12).
Give GENEROUSLY, (2 Corinthians 8:2; 9:13).
Give CHEERFULLY and systematically, (2 Corinthians 9:7).
Give PROPORTIONALLY, (2 Corinthians 8:14-15;9:6).
Give REGULARLY, (1 Corinthians 16:1-2).
Give LOVINGLY, (2 Corinthians 8:24).
Give THANKFULLY, (2 Corinthians 9:11-12).

A LEGAL giver gives because he has to. A LOVING giver gives because he wants to.

benefits of giving

Malachi 3:10-11

“…And try Me now in this,” Says the LORD of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not Be room enough to receive it. “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” Says the LORD of hosts.”

Doors of opportunity: “… open the windows of heaven”. God promises that He will remember our giving and offerings and that He will grant us the desires of our heart, (Psalm 20:3-4).

BLESSINGS: “… pour out for you such a blessing”. Read Deuteronomy 28 and see the blessings that will come upon you as you walk in obedience to His commandments.

Abundant provisions: “… not be room enough to receive it”. Luke 6:38 “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

PROTECTION from devourer: “… rebuke the devourer…” Psalm 23:5 “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies…”

No LACK: “… nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit” Psalm 34:9-10 “Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.”