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There were two men shipwrecked on an island. The minute they got onto the island, one of them started screaming and yelling, “We’re going to die! We’re going to die! There’s no food! No water! We’re going to die!” The second man was propped up against a palm tree and acting so calmly it drove the first man crazy. “Don’t you understand?! We’re going to die!” The second man replied, “You don’t understand. I make 100,000 dollars a week.” The first man looked at him quite dumbfounded and asked, “What difference does that make?! We’re on an island with no food and no water! We’re going to DIE!” The second man answered, “You just don’t get it. I make 100,000 dollars a week and I tithe 10 percent on that 100,000 dollars a week. My pastor will find me!”
I think testimonies about tithing are very encouraging to all of us. I love them. Here’s another one.
Testimony:
I first heard about tithing in July 1987. At the time I was living on welfare for health reasons and receiving $350 a month. It was a stretch, believe me, to tithe 10% of that. My monthly tithe was a paltry $35. Yet the story about tithing rang true for me. I wanted to do it right away, and I was very excited to get started. At first I had my challenges, but increasingly I received money, gifts, and so many opportunities came my way. Life opened up for me. One year after tithing, my lifelong dream came true and I met my future husband. Many miracles have happened since then. Money and opportunities come our way all the time. I’ve also learned how to manage my money a lot better since I started tithing. My spiritual life is very rich. In the 20 years since I’ve been tithing, I’ve learned that I never have to be overly concerned about money. I know I will always be taken care of by the Lord. I heartily believe that tithing works and encourage anyone to throw away your doubts and do as God said and give it a try! You will be so delighted at the results.
What does God’s Word say about tithing – Malachi 3:10.
This morning we’re going to focus on the word ‘storehouse.’
This issue of where to plant our tithe is something a lot of people struggle with.
Americans are the most generous givers in the entire world. There are 1.1 million non-profit organizations from churches, colleges, hospitals, Red Cross, United Way, Salvation Army, and thousands of other Christian groups that are humanitarian in focus and mission.
- Every year Americans give $125 billion {7% GNP} to NPO’s.
- 1-17 workers in American work for a NPO.
- $60 billion of the $125 billion goes directly to 380,000+ churches in USA.
Some Christians look at their 10% tithing as they would an investment for retirement. They think, I’d better not put all my eggs in one basket, so I’ll spread it around so it does more good.
- I’ll give some of it to my kids; they always need my help.
- I’ll give some of it to the Boys Scouts, and some to the United Way.
- I’ll give some of it to my church.
I understand the heart and reasoning behind it, but does that concept stand up to the biblical pattern? In the final analysis, that’s all that really matters.
1. The Storehouse Is The Place Where You Get Fed
Can you imagine going to a nice restaurant, and after you’ve eaten a great meal you just walk out without paying the bill. The waiter runs after you and says, “hey, you didn’t pay for your food.” You say, “oh, I know. There’s a little restaurant down the street. They’re not as popular as you are. You have plenty of customers. Besides that, I feel kind of sorry for them, so I’m going to go down there to pay my bill.”
God’s Word is very precisely ordered and written – Malachi 3:10a.
The ‘storehouse’ scripture refers to was literally a barn, and the barn belonged to God. In God’s storehouse they’d put the grain offerings. There were stalls there for all the animal sacrifices that were soon to be offered up to God.
God’s agreement was simple. If you take care of my barn, I’ll take care of yours!
Who do you thinks going to benefit the most from this relationship? Us or God? Without a doubt = US!
Proverbs 3:9-10 reads, “Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the first-fruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.”
God clearly wants to bless us. But if His storehouse is empty and we are asking Him to fill ours, there’s a disconnect somewhere in that process.
The Children of Israel went through some very wonderful high times, and they also went through some very horrible low times. They had been taken captive by the Babylonian Empire and carried away from their homeland and the city of Jerusalem was basically destroyed. After many years Nehemiah came back with a remnant to rebuild the walls of the city. One of the first things they did to restore the blessing and favor of God was to restore the worship through their offerings.
Nehemiah 10:32-33 – This 1/3 shekel was a special offering, it was not tithe. Notice how specific the language is in #33: it was for “all the work of the house of our God.”
Maybe you’ve never thought about what the tithes are used for. I’d like to walk us through the distribution of some of the tithe offerings that we give to God on behalf of the ministries of Lakeview Church.
Our tithes pay the monthly mortgage payment = $76,000
Our tithes pay the monthly electric bill = $12,500
Our tithes pay the salaries of 11 pastors, 2 executive managers, 8 housekeeping team members, 12 administrative staff members. That’s a total of 44 staff members. Our tithes pay for the curriculum and all materials for children & youth.
The Israelites under Nehemiah’s leadership even cast lots to see whose turn it would be to bring the firewood for the sacrifices – Nehemiah 10:34.
Then they felt compelled to restore tithing – Nehemiah 10:35-39.
I have to ask you today. Are you neglecting the needs of the house of God?
Does God really expect me to bring an offering? Is that His heart for me? David said yes in Psalms 96:7-8,“Give to the LORD, O families of the peoples, Give to the LORD glory and strength. Give to the LORD the glory due His name; Bring an offering , and come into His courts.”
2. God Wants Me To Bring ALL The Tithe Into His Storehouse
God doesn’t want us to parcel it out, but He wants to take it out of our house and bring all of it into His house so that He can bless our house.
Deuteronomy 26:12-15 reads, “When you have finished laying aside all the tithe of your increase…then you shall say before the LORD your God: ‘I have removed the holy tithe from my house, I have not eaten any of it…nor have I removed any of it for an unclean use. I have obeyed the voice of the LORD my God, and have done according to all that You have commanded me. Look down from Your holy habitation, from heaven, and bless Your people Israel and the land which You have given us, just as You swore to our fathers,” a land flowing with milk and honey.”
Malachi 3:10-12.
Testimony:
About a year and a half ago I decided that I needed to make a firm commitment to tithe a full 10%. I had been a Christian for quite a while, but there was only one time that I had experimented with a committed tithe. I had occasionally given some money to the church, but never a consistent full tithe. So I decided I needed to make a firm commitment to tithe 10% of my gross income. The first interesting thing that happened was that I immediately received a gift for the exact same amount from a loved one. As I continued to tithe, I saw blessings come in the form of a used fax machine, a discovery of an inexpensive apartment, and a couple of extra duty assignments at work. In addition to that I just received a gift trip to Hawaii. Those are some of the more tangible ways God has honored my tithing. I still wrestle with it, because it’s not an easy thing per se, to just pull out your checkbook and give 10% away. And yes, it has produced some anger in me about “having” to do this, but I know it is a step of obedience. I also know that Christianity should not trumpet a “Prosperity Doctrine,” but I think we should let God speak for Himself in Malachi 3:10. God said it, I didn’t. It seems to promise good things to those who tithe. It doesn’t say the blessings will necessarily be material things, but I suppose we should let God bless us in any way He chooses….and if that’s with material blessings, then so be it!”
Closing Prayer: Deut 26:15 “Lord look down from Your holy habitation from heaven, and bless Your people Israel and the land which You have given us, just as You swore to our fathers, a land flowing with milk and honey.”
