Malachi 3:8-12 “Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me." But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’ “In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse‚ the whole nation of you‚ because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit,” says the LORD Almighty. “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the LORD Almighty.
Tithing can prove to be a very touchy subject. Let’s turn the spotlight of God’s Word directly on your money and the way you handle it. This is an issue about which many are sensitive and close mouthed. However, it is an issue about which the Bible has much to say. And, it is an issue that affects each and every person. First, let’s take a moment to consider several statements, which are important in discussing this matter.
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Money Is Essential – We depend upon money to provide homes, food, clothing, cars and other things we say are the necessities of life. If you do not have money in this society, then you are in serious trouble. Therefore, money is very important.
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Money Is Over Rated – This world is all about telling us how we can go about getting more of the stuff called money. However, too often we get caught up in trying to get more of the stuff and we end up hurting ourselves because we get to the place where we stop depending on the Lord. Our provision is His business.
Matthew 6:25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?” (See also Matthew 6:26-33)
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Money Can Be Used For Great Good – It has built hospitals, fed the hungry, clothed the naked, provided for the needs of the Kingdom of God and helped countless millions.
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Money Can Be Used For Great Evil – Money has financed the drug culture, pornography, prostitution, wars and every other vile practice known to man. It is the grease that lubricates the axles of sin.
1 Timothy 6:10 “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
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Money Must Be Used Properly – Every Christian has the responsibility to use the resources which have been given to him by God to further God’s kingdom upon the earth. When we invest our money in the kingdom of God, we also place our heart there. When we place our finances in the hands of the world, then we likewise tie our affections to things below and not things above. Matthew 6:19-21 & 24
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Money Can Lead to Terrible Bondage. When we allow ourselves to fall into the slavery of debt, we are hindering our ability to follow the Lord properly. Often, our indebtedness prevents us from serving the Lord as He would have us to.
Proverbs 22:7 “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.”
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Money Must Be Used To Bring Glory To God. When money is properly used to glorify the Lord, then the Lord is given the wonderful opportunity of proving His power to provide for His people.
1 Corinthians 10:31 “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”