River of Life Blog
  • Pastor Todd Weston's Blog

RLA Pastor's blog

The Giving Challenge

9/12/2016

 
Picture
​If you have attended church for very long you are probably familiar with the phrase tithes and offerings.  The two words appear often in the Bible, but are linked together only once in Malachi 3:8.  It’s a sobering passage.  God levels the charge against the people of Israel that they were guilty of robbing Him.  Imagine robbing God!  “In what way have we robbed You?” they asked in disbelief.  God answered, “In tithes and offerings.”  Stunned silence.

Most Christians understand that failing to tithe is robbing God, for the Bible specifically states that the tithe belongs to the Lord (Lev. 27:30).  When we fail to tithe we are keeping for ourselves what rightfully belongs to God.  It’s that simple.  Consequently, our finances are cursed with a curse.  We end up cheating ourselves (Mal. 3:9).

I believe most Christians get that.  Whether they tithe or not, they know in their heart of hearts that failing to tithe is wrong.  It’s the other part of the verse many believers miss.  The Bible says that the withholding of our offerings is also an act of robbery.

It might help at this point to distinguish between tithes and offerings.  The Lord’s tithe is the 10% of our income that we return to God.  Of course, 100% of our income belongs to Him.  The paying of tithes (the word means 10%) acknowledges the ownership of God over everything.

Some argue that tithing is part of the Old Testament Law and therefore no long applicable to New Testament believers.  I have a few things to say about that.  Those who dismiss Malachi 3:8-10 as no longer applicable forget what comes just before it in 3:6, “I am the LORD, I do not change.”  God’s principle of tithing has not changed because it was given by the Lord who was very careful to remind us He does not change.  What part of “do not change” do we fail to understand?

Second, tithing predates the Old Testament Law by several hundred years (Genesis 14:20; 28:22). Third, Jesus approved of the practice of tithing in the New Testament (Matthew 23:23).  And fourth, we who are under grace should not do less than those who were under the law.  If anything, we who have been saved by the atoning blood of Jesus Christ should do more.

Unlike the tithe which is a set percentage given to support the local church (the storehouse Mal. 3:10), offerings can be any amount and are free to be designated by the giver as directed by the Lord (2 Cor. 9:7).  For that reason, the Bible calls them freewill offerings.  Note:  it’s the LORD’s TITHE and MY OFFERINGS.  The one is God’s and I return it.  The other is mine and I give it.

I have been captivated for the last few weeks by this verse, “And none shall appear before Me empty-handed” (Exodus 34:20).  The challenge for me is to always come to church prepared to give in the offering.  That doesn’t mean I spread out the tithe and give a little at a time.  No, the tithe is given first and in full.  The challenge is that every time the offering is received I will worship the Lord by giving.  I will not appear before God empty-handed.  
I’m not asking you take the “ice-bucket challenge,” or to accept some other crazy dare.  I am asking you to take the giving challenge.  Actually, I am just passing along the challenge given by God Himself in Malachi 3:10, “‘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 there will not be room enough to store it.’”

Do you believe God meant what He said?  Then join me in accepting the giving challenge.

Pastor Todd Weston

Comments are closed.

    Pastor Todd

    Lead Pastor
    River of Life
    Assembly of God

    Archives

    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011

    Categories

    All
    1 Timothy 4:12
    9/11
    Accountability
    Bible
    Bitterness
    Blessing
    Blessings
    Cheerful Heart
    Choices
    Christmas
    Church
    Church Ministry Center
    Comfort
    Commitment
    Compromise
    Confidence
    Connection
    Courage
    Courageous
    Creativity
    Criticism
    Daniel
    David
    Deceitfulness
    Direction
    Discernment
    Drifting
    Economy
    Elections
    Endurance
    Esther
    Faith
    Father
    Fear
    Fellowship
    Finances
    Forgiveness
    Generosity
    Gifts
    Gospel
    Grace
    Great Commission
    Greatness
    Haiti
    Heaven
    Hebrews 12:14
    Heroes
    Holiness
    Home
    Hope
    Israel
    Joseph
    Light
    Mary
    Media
    Mercy
    Miracles
    Missions
    Moms
    Mothers Day
    Motivation
    Natural Gifts
    New Year
    Obstacles
    Options
    Outreach
    Overcome
    Peace
    Perspective
    Planning
    Power
    Priorities
    Race
    Rapture
    Read
    Renew
    Rla Connect
    Running
    Servant
    Sin
    Sing
    Spiritual Gifts
    Success
    Time
    Tithe
    Trials
    Truth
    Unity
    Variety
    Vision
    Voting
    Wedding
    Willing Heart
    Word
    Youth

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.