Beyond Blessed: It’s Life, Not Law

Main Text: Malachi 3:6-12, 2 Chronicles 31:4–10

6 “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. 7 From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’ 8 Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. 9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. 10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. 11 I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts. 12 Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts. 

(Mal 3:6–12)

What we do with our money is the most tangible and measurable indicator of where we place our faith and fear.

THREE ASPECTS OF TITHING

1) TITHING IS A TWO-WAY TEST

“Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test,” – Malachi 3:10

God has entrusted His treasure to us and reserved the first 10% for Himself. He asks us to return 10% to Him before we touch the 90%.

The word “tithe” means a “tenth part.” 

Ten is a number associated with testing.

Every time I’m paid, I am tested with who I honor first, and every time I tithe, I am putting God and His word to the test.

Promises When We Tithe:

  – The windows of heaven open.

  – God’s blessing is poured out.

  – There is no lack.

  – God rebukes the devourer.

  – I reap abundance from what I sow.

  – The vine brings life.

  – I’m called blessed by others.

  – Non-believers see you as a blessing.

“What if we returned and honored God? What realm of blessing would open?”

2) TITHING IS A TIMELESS TRUTH

Tithing predates the Law.

Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of God Most High, blessed Abram, who then gave him a tenth of everything.

Gen 14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) 19 And he blessed him and said, 

“Blessed be Abram by God Most High, 

Possessor of heaven and earth; 

20  and blessed be God Most High, 

who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” 

And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

Jacob vowed to give a tenth to God if He would be with him, provide for him, and ensure his return home in peace.

(Ge 28:20–22) Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, 21 so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God, 22 and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God’s house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.” 

Jacob vowed it, Moses enshrined it, God accepted it

 Leviticus 27:30: “Every tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is the Lord’s; it is holy to the Lord.”

Jesus affirmed the practice of tithing

(Mt 23:23) “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.

3) TITHING IS TOTAL TRUST

Trust in God: By tithing, we demonstrate trust in God’s provision, believing that we can better steward the 90% with His blessing than keeping 100% for ourselves.

Trust by God: When we tithe, God trusts us to care for His house. The believer’s tithe supports the work of the church.

Considering the church is called “the bride of Christ” and that He gave His life for His bride.  Could it be that tithing is more personal to Jesus than you and I realize?

Reflection: 

Holy Spirit, What Are You Saying to Me?

“How are you doing concerning God’s tithe?