It’s been a while since I posted - life gets in the way at times, doesn’t it? So in thinking about what to post, I thought the best thing would be a message on the true nature of giving that I will be presenting on a trip to Ethiopia later this month - I work with Global Training Network based in Peoria, AZ, a group mostly comprised of retired pastors that train and equip 3rd world pastors and church leaders how to mature and multiply the Church. So, here goes … and comments are welcome:
The true nature of Giving
Here’s an issue that often bothers me every week – especially on Sundays. Not sure (yet) how we are going to do it here but in America, it usually comes at the end of the message – passing the plate or receiving the offering. Yes, I know it is a vital part of helping the Church function but I just can never seem to feel comfortable with how much I am giving – any of you ever felt that way too? Come on – be honest! Is $1, $5, $10, $20, $50 or even $100 enough? Or without counting, how about if I just really go by faith and put everything I have in my wallet or purse into the plate (or bag or whatever), and then wonder how I’m going to pay for lunch … or rent … or whatever??? And then I wonder, well, doesn’t it say somewhere that “give … and you will receive??? Wouldn’t it be nice for all of us to be able to walk out of here KNOWING how much to give and feeling good about how much we did give – maybe even wondering … HOPING we might receive something in return???
God must have sensed how difficult this issue would be for us because His Book – THIS book - provides us with a ton of guidance – more than on any other topic in His Word. What makes it admittedly a bit difficult to discern, however, is that the message is completely different in the two testaments, the Old and the New, and many followers of Jesus get a bit – maybe even a lot – confused, not knowing how to interpret those two messages. And, sadly, the Church is often responsible for the confusion, often not understanding the two messages either. So let’s look briefly at both, starting with the message, the guidance, in the Old Testament.
Anybody know what that guidance was – how much they were to give??? (Likely response: the tithe or 10%) OK, let’s accept that for now. Now, I don’t expect you to remember a lot of the details – just the big picture here. If you want to really get into it, I suggest that you write down the Scripture references.
First, anyone know when the tithe started? Yes, with the patriarch Abraham back in Genesis 14 – and that was even before the OT law was given. However, no evidence he ever did it again in spite of becoming VERY wealthy (Gen 24).
Second, tithing was imposed under Mosaic Law in Lev 27:30-33. However, if you read it very carefully, it actually didn’t apply to everyone … and it wasn’t always actually 10%. If, let’s take a brief look at verses 30-32 – and remember that this is God Himself speaking directly to Moses:
A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord. 31 Whoever would redeem any of their tithe must add a fifth of the value to it. 32 Every tithe of the herd and flock—every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd’s rod—will be holy to the Lord.
Seems pretty obvious, doesn’t it??? But note that only addresses landowners in verse 30 and livestock owners in verse 32 that only applied to landowners and owners of livestock. What about all the others, like crafts people, workers who tended the land or livestock, small business owners, accountants … and on and on??? Remember that this is the Law, so there is no adding to or subtracting from it. HMMM
And what about those livestock owners – remembering again that this is the LAW? Verse 32 say what???
Every tithe of the herd and flock—every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd’s rod—will be holy to the Lord.
So … what if a livestock owner had only 9 animals??? Or 19??? HMMM. Plus there is the whole concept of “redeeming” mentioned that I just don’t have time to go into.
So … the main point here from His Word? This tithe didn’t apply to everyone and it wasn’t always 10%. Think you can remember that???
And by the way: therehere were two other required tithes (Deut 14) as well as a host of other required offerings that brought the annual total of required giving to somewhere between 35-45%/year! But most Jewish scholars regarded all of that as TAXATION since it was required. But … on top of that were the voluntary – FREEWILL – offerings.
But know this: Even in spite of the tithes being required, TREMENDOUS blessings were promised by God for adherence (Mal 3) … yet the Israelites failed miserably. BUT the concept of BLESSINGS flows forward into NT times, as we’ll see. So … let’s go forward in time to the NT.
Remember our main point asked in the beginning: HOW MUCH to GIVE – does the amount even matter??? There are only 3 mentions of the tithe in the NT – one is a recollection of the giving Abraham did, one deals with the Pharisee – whom Jesus Himself said were condemned to Hell! – and the last one a parable dealing with a Pharisee and a person most hated by the Jews – a tax gatherer: a Jew himself who lived off the extra he could collect over and above the required amount è this is the passage we want to focus on this morning, as I am pretty sure that its message will amaze you: Luke 18:9-14. Let’s go through it verse-by-verse:
Verse 9: To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable – hopefully that doesn’t include anyone here!
Verse 10 – here’s the two individuals mentioned in the parable: Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
Now, you know who the Pharisees were, don’t you? They were part of the religious leadership of Israel, extremely well-versed in the Law. And in an age where most were not able to read, challenging a Pharisee was a sure way to find yourself in big trouble. They knew the way to God and it was by following every little part of the Law – all 613 commandments. Tax collectors – again, Jews appointed by Rome to collect taxes from their fellow Jews – were most despised because, 1) they worked for the despised Romans and 2) there was no nice and easily accessible tax code – and even if there was, few would have been able to read and understand it. So … the tax collectors collected what they could – pay up or go to jail (Do you have the series “The Chosen” here? Great presentation of Matthew).
So … Jesus picks two wildly different individuals for His illustration – one who surely was living the “right way” and one who was not. In fact, the Pharisee even provides us the evidence in verses 11 and 12:
11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
What do you make of that??? Tell me about this Pharisee ………………
So … both what he is NOT and what he IS/DOES. And there’s that word “tenth.” So … if the parable stopped there, what would you conclude, especially about the tenth/tithe???
Ah … but the parable doesn’t stop there. Here’s what it says in verse 13:
“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
So … tell me about this tax collector ……………………
And if the parable stopped at this point??? Still seems to favor the Pharisee, don’t you think? So … what the heck Jesus trying to illustrate here??? Nothing seemingly wrong with the Pharisee – essentially “lived a good life” like many today profess that “they are living a good life” and surely God will accept that as being sufficient. And the tax collector??? Finally realizing the error of his ways and hoping beyond hope that maybe, just maybe, God might somehow forgive him.
The next verse is one of the most important in understanding what true Christianity, what being a Jesus follower – is really all about. Understand and internalize this concept into your life and you will not only never doubt your salvation again, you will be motivated to serve Him with all that you have. Verse 14:
“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Anyone want to step out in faith, take a risk and tell us what this means???
To fully understand what Jesus is saying … and teaching us today … we need to understand the word that in English is translated “justified” – what is the word used in your language???
Justified --- or in noun form “justification” – is one of the most fundament concepts of the Christian faith … and one that is easily misunderstood. It literally means to be “viewed as righteous as God is righteous.” Did you follow that? To be viewed as righteous as God is righteous is to be viewed as if you had never sinned! How much better can it get??? You are viewed just like Jesus – sinless before God the Father. How is that possible??? Well, that was the whole purpose of Christ dying on the Cross – He paid for all sin – past, present AND future – for all time at one time. The only question that God asks a non-believer – and maybe some are here this morning - to answer is this:
Will you accept my one-time, all-encompassing provision and payment for your sins? It is that simple.
Now, back to the parable. How was the Pharisee trying to come to God???
And the tax gatherer???
And which one does Jesus say went home viewed as righteous as God is righteous???
All great stuff, don’t you think? But let me ask you one more question? It’s part of the underlying message of the parable. Are you ready???
You now know that the sinful, hated, reviled tax gatherer went home being viewed as righteous as God is righteous – and you can’t get any better than that. So … to get to that point:
How much did the tax gatherer tithe (or give to God)???
Just think about that a bit. The Pharisee, who among other things was “religious” in his giving, went home UNjustified … in his case, what he “did” had no effect on his standing before God. Yet the tax gatherer threw himself on God’s mercy, asking Him to do everything.
So … I started this morning by asking the question, Wouldn’t it be nice for all of us to be able to walk out of here KNOWING how much to give and feeling good about how much we did give???
So … what’s the answer??? Well, what’s the lesson from the parable??? We can be as “righteous as God is righteous” by simply humbling ourselves before Him. Said another way:
God doesn’t really want your money …
(It’s all His anyway)
What He really wants YOU … all of you.
But here’s the amazing thing when you love, serve and honor Him as He desires. Who remembers the first time they fell in love??? You couldn’t wait to give to your special person, whether it was gifts, time, prayers, thoughts, prayers … not “giving to get” but simply giving … out of LOVE. So … when you realize how much He loves you … how much He has done for YOU, serving Him and giving to Him will just come naturally, whether it be time, talents or money. Can you imagine how blessed the Church would be if all believers gave of themselves this way? No pressure, just serving and giving because of how much He loves us.
Let’s finish up with the simple reading of a couple of passages in 2 Corinthians, the most concentrated discussion of giving in the entire Bible, that will highlight how God feels about this whole area of giving – HOW to give, the BLESSING for giving, and finally, the AMOUNT we should give - and I encourage you to write down these references.
HOW are we to give?
2 Cor 8:1-5 challenges us with the historical record of the Macedonians – and listen carefully to this:
And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. 5 And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.
So how??? Overflowing joy … rich generosity … as much as they were able AND even beyond … urgently pleading for the privilege to be able to give … giving themselves first to the Lord … AND all of this in the midst of a very severe trial. What a model for us to follow! Pleading to give even in the midst of a severe trial.
And a little bit more on the HOW – 2 Cor 9:7:
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
So … what you have decided in your heart to give … not reluctantly … not under compulsion … but cheerfully.
The BLESSING for giving??? 2 Cor 9:8:
And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
Abundantly … in all things at all times having all that you need … abound in every good work …helping to build His church. Will it be financial? Is that what it says??? Well … maybe. It does indicate that you will have all you NEED. But it also says that in all things at all times … you will abound in every good work. So those blessings are much more than just money.
(If time: even OT talks about blessings, even for following the Law. God even tells the Israelites to TEST Him in this promise! Mal 3:10b-11:
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. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty.)
And finally, the AMOUNT: 2 Cor 8:12:
For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.
The gift – YOUR gift – is acceptable according to WHAT YOU HAVE, NOT ACCORDING TO WHAT YOU DON’T HAVE. Can you imagine the blessing to the church if we all gave this way???
So … remember:
God doesn’t really want your money …
(It’s all His anyway)
What He really wants YOU … all of you.
So … this morning and every time you give … give … because you WANT to give. Give as your heart leads you, not under pressure, but cheerfully … willingly … out of what you have. And watch how He will bless you and His church.