Are you tempted to tithe?
Malachi 3:8-12
Because of
1. Riches vs10
Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure,
pressed down, and shaken together, and running over,
shall men give into your bosom. For with the same
measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to
you again.
2 Cor 9:6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also
sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also
bountifully. 7 Every man according as he purposeth in his
heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for
God loveth a cheerful giver.
Someone has said “It is not what you’d do with a million, if riches
should e’er be your lot, but what are you doing at present,
with the dollar and a quarter you’ve got.”
Mat 6:21 For where your treasure is, there heart be also.
James 5:1 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries
that shall come upon you. 2 Your riches are corrupted, and
your garments are motheaten.
2. Rewards vs 11 &12
Prov 3:9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the
firstfruits of all thine increase: 10 So shall thy barns be filled
with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
Ps 49:6 They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the
multitude of their riches; 7 None of them can by any means
redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: 8
(For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth
for ever:)
Luke 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of
covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance
of the things which he possesseth.
3. Recognition
Matt 6:1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of
them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in
heaven. 2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound
a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues
and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say
unto you, They have their reward. 3 But when thou doest alms,
let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: 4 That
thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in
secret himself shall reward thee openly.
Luke 18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God,
I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners,
unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I fast twice
in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13 And the
publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his
eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be
merciful to me a sinner. 14 I tell you, this man went down to
his house justified rather than the other: for every one that
exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth
himself shall be exalted.
4. Reassurance
Mt. 23: 23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye
pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have
omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment,
mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not
to leave the other undone.
Jesus said, you were right to have tithed, but you also should have
done these other things…tithing is a basic foundation, but
there’s much more to add to that…and tithing is not an excuse
for unholy living. You can’t buy God off…but notice, He does
commend them for being obedient in the tithe. [also, tithing is
not “serving God” in total…a good start, but not enough!]
Adrian Rogers: “a faith that hasn’t reached your wallet, probably
hasn’t reached your heart.”
John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Mark 10:29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you,
There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or
father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake,
and the gospel's, 30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now
in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers,
and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to
come eternal life.
