How do I honour the Lord with my substance?

1. Offerings:


2Corinthians 8:5,12 You need to give yourself first to the Lord and then you will be able to give freely to the Lord. You should first have a willing mind.

2Corinthians 9:7 Give as you have purposed in your heart. Do not give grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. ***We also want our children to do things for us without grumbling.


2Corinthians 9:6,10 Sow generously and you will reap generously.


2Corinthians 9:8,11 God makes all grace come to us in abundance, so that we may always under all circumstances and whatever the need be self sufficient. We are enriched in every way so that we can be generous on every occasion.

NIV "God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all you need, you will abound in every good work." "You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion…"


2. Tithe

Genesis 3:9-13 When God asks the question he already has the answer. But he asks it to help us to search ourselves. When God said, "Adam where are you?" he wanted Adam to search himself.


Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from? What is this you have done?


Malachi 3:8 God again asks a question that we need to think about. "Will a man rob God?"


What is a tithe?

Leviticus 27:30-32 Ten percent of your income is the Lord's. (one out of every ten). Tithe is the Lord's. It is holy unto the Lord.


Malachi 3:8-12 Tithing is a way of involving God in our finances.

We cannot afford to rob God because that brings a curse. We want God to open windows of heaven and pour us out a blessing that we shall not have room enough to receive it. God also will rebuke the devourer for our sake. People will call us blessed when they see that we have a delightsome land.


The government takes its tax from you but God encourages you to voluntarily give him his tithe. God gives us an opportunity to be faithful. He does not force us to give him his tithe.

Matthew 22:15-21 Render to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what is His.


Hebrews 7:4-10 The Levites received tithes, but Levi also paid the tithes when he was in the loins of Abraham. Note that this verse does not say Levi offered, but paid. It is because the tithe is not ours.

Malachi 3:10 "Bring all the tithes..." Again, this verse does not say offer the tithe but 'bring'.


WHERE SHOULD I BRING MY TITHE TO?

To my local church

Jesus is our high priest who receives our tithe

Deuteronomy 26:2,3,12-16 Hebrews 7:4-10


3. Giving to the needy

Acts 10:1-4 Cornelius gave regularly to the needy


Let's learn from how the Israelites did it

Deuteronomy 26:1-19