Spiritual Disciplines: Habits That Make a Difference
Successful people do DAILY what Unsuccessful people Do Occasionally.
The Secret of our Future is Hidden in our Daily Routine….
When our Hearts decide the Destination we Desire, our Minds will Design the Map to reach it. The proof of Genuine Desire is Always Pursuit.
We will Never Leave Where and Who we are until we Decide Where and Who we would rather be.
Prayer: The Habit of Connection… Daniel 6:10
Bible Engagement: The Habit of Growth…. 2 Timothy 2:14-18
Worship: The Habit of Perspective…. John 4:23-24
Gratitude: The Habit of Thankfulness… Psalm 100:3-5
Confession: The Habit of Humility…… Proverbs 28:13-14
Fasting: The Habit of Breakthrough…… Matthew 6:18-19
Community: The Habit of Relationship….. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Stewardship: The Habit of Faithfulness

Just as each one of you has received a special gift [a spiritual talent, an ability graciously given by God], employ it in serving one another as [is appropriate for] good stewards of God’s multi-faceted grace [faithfully using the diverse, varied gifts and abilities granted to Christians by God’s unmerited favor]. 1 Peter 4:10
We are called to be stewards of all God entrusts to us. Whether money, time, talent, energy, health or influence, we should manage our resources with the interests of our Master — Jesus — in mind.
The office, duties, and obligations of a steward; the conducting, supervising, or managing of something especially: the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care; a person who acts as the surrogate of another or others, especially by managing property, financial affairs, an estate, etc. the responsible overseeing and protection of something considered worth caring for and preserving.
A biblical world view of stewardship can be consciously defined as: “Utilizing and managing all resources God provides for the glory of God and the betterment of His creation.” The central essence of biblical world view stewardship is managing everything God brings into the believer’s life in a manner that honors God …
More than 2000 Bible verses deal with money. From being generous and sharing our resources to tithing and our treatment of the poor, God has a lot to say about how we are to use money. We must see God as the provider and source of all our resources, and we must use money and possessions to further his Kingdom, not our own. When we realize we are managers of these resources and not their owners, it will change how we use them.
Fundamentally, stewardship is about exercising our God-given dominion over His Creation. Through our stewardship, we reflect God’s image and care toward all of Creation and fulfill our roles as caretakers and stewards.
Being a good steward starts with recognizing that you already are one.
29 “For to everyone who has [and values his blessings and gifts from God, and has used them wisely], more will be given, and [he will be richly supplied so that] he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have [because he has ignored or disregarded his blessings and gifts from God], even what he does have will be taken away. 30 And throw out the worthless servant into the outer darkness; in that place [of grief and torment] there will be weeping [over sorrow and pain] and grinding of teeth [over distress and anger]. Matthew 25:29-30
1. Stewardship Is A Trust, Not A Possession.
A trust is anything God has placed under your care. A possession, on the other hand, is something that belongs to you. Nothing we have as leaders belongs to us; it is simply entrusted to our care. We don’t own it. Instead, we’re called to steward it wisely.
2. Stewardship Is Management, Not Ownership.
In the parable, the master was the owner, and the servants were the stewards. And what do stewards do? Stewards manage the resources of their owner, with the owner’s best interests in mind. Similarly, God entrusts us with resources, not to own for our pleasure, but to manage for His purposes.
3. Stewardship Is Faithfulness, Not Recklessness.
In God’s economy, the way you receive more of anything — money, opportunity, open doors — is to faithfully steward what He has already entrusted to you. If God can’t trust you to steward $50,000 with His interests in mind, what makes you think He would trust you with more?
Each principle shows us how to practice the spiritual discipline of stewardship. When we manage resources wisely, we are exercising the habit of faithfulness.
Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings [you have withheld]. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, this whole nation! Bring all the tithes (the tenth) into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you [so great] a blessing until there is no more room to receive it. Malachi 3: 8- 10
The Principle of Ownership…. 
Read: Psalm 24:1 1 Chronicles 29:11-12
Simply put, it is not your stuff! Our world is consumed with the idea of ownership, possession and having a little bit more. Perhaps Paul said it best, “What do you have that you did not receive?” 1 Corinthians 4:7. Oh, you worked for it? Well, who made it possible for you to breathe, much less work? Who gave you the talents and abilities that allowed you to get the job? In all honesty, who got you the job?
The more we take credit for what we have, the more we deny God’s part in our lives.
The Principle of Responsibility….
This goes far beyond your finances because it is a whole-life responsibility, although stewardship certainly does include your handling of money. In the area of your time, stewardship means scheduling time to meet with God in the Bible and to pray – as an individual and as a family. It is so easy to get busy. Stewardship includes giving time to the family God has given to you. It means being faithful and a servant to your spouse. Ephesians 5. Stewardship also means making certain that the spiritual gifts God gave to you are used to serve God faithfully. It means giving God from the first fruits of your earnings His part – and all you are able to give. It means working at your job and at all that you do as “working to the Lord.” Colossians 3:23-24. And it means treating others as your neighbors because you are a steward over the relationships and people God has given you. Luke 15:11-32. Stewardship as a whole-life responsibility means being the “salt” of the earth and the “light” of the world Matthew 5:13-16. And that only scratches the surface of a very deep topic.
The Principle of Accountability….
This principle takes us back to the Parable of the Talents. The steward who failed in his responsibility over what God entrusted to him was stripped of the talent he had been given. Similarly, we will be called upon to give an account of how we have served as stewards of the many areas of our stewardship; our time, money, abilities, skills, talents, knowledge, information, wisdom, relationships, family, work and even our opportunities. We will all have to give an account to the rightful owner, God, as to how well we served as stewards. Our lives and our actions are being measured.
The Principle of Reward….
We obtain rewards for doing good works (Ephesians 6:8, Romans 2:6, 10), persevering under persecution (Luke 6:22-23), caring for the needy (Matthew 25:20-21), and treating our enemies kindly (Luke 6:35). God also graciously gives us eternal rewards for generous giving: “Go, sell your possessions, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven” (Matthew 19:21).
And that is only a very small fraction of the many times we are told of the rewards awaiting us. In the Parable of the Talents at Matthew 25:21 the master said: “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!”
However, it isn’t just about seeking rewards. Serving and giving and all of the aspects of being a good steward are the product of a changed life. 2 Corinthians 5:17. This is who and what you have become as a product of your new birth. Ephesians 2:10.
God rewards the Faithful who, in spite of their circumstances continued to believe in His wisdom, mercy and power instead of questioning His reasons. 
The Law of Cause & Effect will always bring balance over time.
Our reaction to someone in need, in trouble determines God’s reaction to us the next time we get in trouble. What we strive to make happen for others, God will make happen for us. How are you stewarding your gifts of time, talent, treasure?
Reflect and Discuss
1. What resources has God entrusted to you?
2. Which of the three stewardship principles above most challenge you?
3. If God graded your faithfulness as a steward with each resource, He’s entrusted to you, in what areas do you think you would score the highest and lowest?
Consider all the resources God has entrusted to you. Put together a management plan to handle each resource with the interests of your Heavenly Father in mind. Then begin making adjustments to become the steward God has called you to be.

What Is Stewardship?
Stewardship is our heritage as sons of God. It reaches into every phase of our Christian life, We are God’s stewards over all things that He entrusts into our care such as time, talent, faith and service.
Ministers of the gospel many times are prone to neglect the financial phase of the church, but this is not possible nor advisable, because God’s blessing is only promised to the church that is obedient to His will. It is not enough to simply get enough money to operate the church, but it is more important for people to realize that it plays a very necessary part in their worship.
The first thing we must understand is that a Christian is a steward and not an owner. This is the hardest part to make clear as many professing Christians claim ownership over all that they have and even speak of “giving” their tithe - whereas the Bible calls it “paying” God’s tithes. (Matthew 23:23)
There are others that are very careful to pay their tithe but after that, they feel whatever is left is theirs to use in any way they choose. But if Christians today would study God’s word, they would become convinced that all they have belongs to God, that they have no claim except as a steward to hold and dispose of it as it would be pleasing to God.
When a faithful steward realizes that the method of tithing is literally that of taking one-tenth of his income and depositing it in the Lord’s treasury, he will be glad to do it, instead of feeling that whoever appeals to him for the work of God is trying to get his money away from him. Rather, he will feel that everyone who presents to him the interests of God’s kingdom is helping him to find a way to discharge his obligation to God.
Jesus called his ministers to be stewards of truth and one phrase of that stewardship is in relation to money. Just as one must preach repentance with much emphasis and repetition, he also must preach on the money question frequently.
God Cares How You Use What He Gives You
When something doesn’t belong to you, that should lead you to use it more carefully. But stewardship goes beyond simply “borrowing” things from God. He’s not just loaning us money and other resources. He’s entrusting them to us.
While they’re in our possession, we have the choice to use God’s resources however we want. We can invest them all in ourselves and use them on things that only matter to us. But God is trusting us to do much more than that. As stewards, our challenge is to use God’s resources in ways that advance his interests. We need to invest them in kingdom causes and use them to provide for the needs of others.
The Bible is full of passages instructing us to use our resources to care for the poor and those who are in need (1 John 3:17–18, Proverbs 28:27, 1 Timothy 5:8).
Stewardship isn’t about “giving back” to God. It’s about using what he’s given us to accomplish something that matters.
The Parable Of The Talents (Matthew 25:14–30)
When it comes to stewardship in the Bible, the clearest picture of our relationship to God’s resources and his expectations for how we use them comes from Jesus.
In the Parable of the Talents, Jesus tells a story about a man who entrusts three servants with bags of gold (or talents) and then goes on a trip. When he returns, two of those servants have doubled the money their master gave them, and he rewards them handsomely. But the third servant hid his gold, so the amount neither increased nor decreased.
Even though none of the gold was spent and it was all returned to him, the master is far from pleased: “You wicked, lazy servant! […] You should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.” —Matthew 25:26–27
Jesus tells this parable in the context of preparing for his return. It’s clear that Jesus is the master, and we are the servants who have been put in charge of his resources while he is gone. It’s not good enough to simply not waste what God gives us. We need to ensure that God gets a good return on his investment.
“For Where Your Treasure Is, There Your Heart Will Be Also”
In Matthew 6, Jesus tells us that when we give to the needy and practice righteousness, we can either receive our reward from people or from God (Matthew 6:2–4). But we can’t have it both ways (Matthew 6:1). Later on, he says:
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” —Matthew 6:19–21
We can choose to accumulate wealth and glory for ourselves here on earth, where it will not last, or we can use what God gives us to store up treasure in heaven, where it will last forever. Which type of treasure we pursue and invest in will reveal where our hearts are. Are we prioritizing our lives and our resources around the investments God cares about, or are we reaping our rewards now, on earth?
Biblical stewardship encourages us to store up treasure in heaven.
You will reap more than you sow; God will return to you in multiplied form.
1. What Is The Office Of A Steward?
Literally, a steward is the guardian of the interests of another. The steward owns nothing, but is careful to guard, protect, and increase the property of the one whom he serves. It is true that we are stewards of our time, talent, strength, and ability as well as our money. But our faithfulness in tithing is in reality the greatest test of our stewardship because the fleshly nature desires money more than anything else so that it might be exalted.
2. How Long Has The Plan Of Tithing Been In Existence?
The principle of tithing began in the garden when God made Adam and Eve stewards over it. He gave them access to the entire garden, but He reserved one tree for Himself. We must realize that even though Adam and Eve had dominion over it, they could not partake of it, for it was God’s. When they disobeyed Him and partook of that which He had reserved for Himself, He drove them out of His garden. God has never relinquished His claim, for He declared, Psalms 24:1 “The earth is the Lord’s.” God took one day out of seven and set it aside for His church, and one-tenth of the money of His people for the furtherance of His kingdom. And whenever you find people keeping God’s system and giving one-seventh of their time, and one-tenth of their income, you will see churches filled with people, the treasury filled with money, and God’s blessing resting upon that church, because this is pleasing unto the Lord. By keeping one day in seven holy, you will find you are guided by the Lord the other six; because when we sanctify one day, the other six are blessed by the Lord. Likewise, when we are faithful to bring in our tithes and offerings, He will guide us in what to do with the rest.
3. Wasn’t Tithing Given Under The Mosaic Law?
No, Abraham “gave Him a tithe of all” (Genesis 14:20) 500 years before the Mosaic Law was given. Two hundred years later and three hundred years before Moses, we hear Jacob making a covenant with God “And of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to you” (Genesis 28:22). Abraham, long before the law was given to Moses on Sinai, realized he was only a steward over all he possessed. He tithed unto Melchizedek as priest of the Most High God. “To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all,” Hebrews 7:19 also Hebrews 7:1-9.
Tithing, a biblical minimum: It will not limit our giving, but opens the door to a genuine stewardship.
In Psalms 110:4 is a prophecy concerning Christ, “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchiezedek.” The seventh chapter of Hebrews leaves no question in our minds who Melchiezedek really is because Hebrews 7:2 & 3 describe Melchiezedek as the “King of Righteousness, and then also King of Salem, meaning King of Peace.” The Scripture declares that He had no beginning, no ending, “but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.” Jesus did not do away with abrogating (or annulling) the law; instead He fulfilled it. By this, we realize that the establishing of the concept of tithing was so important to God that He established the tithing principle five hundred years before the Mosaic Law. Abraham is called the father of the faithful, being justified by faith. For this reason, the gospel begins in the faith of Abraham, who rejoiced to see the day of Christ and he saw it with gladness. We are the seed of Abraham by faith in Christ. “And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:29
If Abraham practiced tithing when he only saw Christ through faith, how can we who have enjoyed the reality of the gospel do less? “If you are the seed of Abraham, you would do the works of Abraham.” Abraham was not only a faithful tither, but he saw to it that God received his share first before any of the young men received their part. “He paid tithes of all.”
If you are tempted to feel that tithing was just an Old Testament custom and does not apply to your New Testament experience, then please note the facts: It was practiced by Abraham for over five hundred years before the law was given. Abraham was not only justified by faith, but he proved his faith by his works, and paid tithes to God’s priest. You ask, where did Abraham get the idea of tithing? Genesis 14:22, “I have lifted up my hand to the Lord, God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth.” Abraham was a true steward. He knew that God owned all things, that He possessed heaven and earth, therefore that He was justified in claiming the tithe of all. The principle of tithing was recorded in the first book of the Old Testament and then reestablished in the New Testament in the book of Hebrews, to establish that this principle of God’s Righteousness is good for all dispensations.
Tithing, a Christian witness Consistent giving before the community is one of the evidences of Faith.
The law which came five hundred years later cannot do away with the righteousness that went before. If God intended to do away with His tithing system, why did he charge His people with robbing Him of His tithe? Why would He promise to curse them if they failed when He declared, “He changes not.”
4. To Whom Does My Money Belong, God Or Me?
Not only did God own the Garden, He owns all things. He declares in Psalms 24:1 “The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, the world, and those who dwell therein.” Psalms 50:10-12 “For every beast of the forest are Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the mountains, and the wild beasts of the field are Mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you; for the world is Mine and all its fullness.” Haggai 2:8 “The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine, says the Lord of hosts.”
One of the first things we must realize is that our existence and whole economic system depends not upon industry, but upon the soil from which life comes. For if we did not have food, we could not exist no matter what else man was able to produce. In order to meet our needs, all we do is till the ground. The question we must answer is, Who gave the seed? - God. Who gave the fertile soil? - God. Who makes the sunshine? - God. Who makes the rainfall? - God. Most land owners that go into partnership demand at least one-half or one-third. But God provides all, even to giving us our health and strength. And what does man do? He plants and tills God’s soil, and all God asks in return is one-tenth. When man transgressed God’s law, he lost everything. But when Jesus redeemed him, He paid the price for us in full. “For you were bought at a price” (I Corinthians 6:19 & 20) under the gospel. We have no right to call anything our own, not even ourselves.
5. Will People In This Day Accept The Plan Of Tithing?
II Timothy 4: 3 & 4. “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.” Yet in the church we accept the blood of Christ and its power to wash away our sins, or the Holy Spirit, or Water Baptism, or any other of the commandments of God. Why then should we reject tithing when it is not our program, but God’s, and is the one thing that will bring prosperity to His children.
Tithing, an acknowledgement of ownership: That God is owner of ALL and I am only a steward or trustee over my human estate.
First, the tithe made possible the support of His ministry. Second, the tithe was His plan for giving financial security to His people. to compare the tithe to everyday life would be to compare it to an insurance policy. Failure to keep up the premium would cause the policy to lapse. Likewise our failure to pay our tithes cancels God’s obligation to provide financial security for the defaulter.
III John 2. “Beloved I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” It is God’s will that all of His children prosper. But the secret is that with every promise God gives, there is a condition we have to meet. Then and only then is God obligated to fulfill His promise. You will notice we have to take the first step in faith, then God steps in and proves Himself.
6. Is Money A Curse?
No, it is a blessing if it is used for the glory of God. His word says, I Timothy 6:10 “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” When money becomes our desire and we put it ahead of doing the will of God, then it is sin. Luke 16:13 “You cannot serve God and mammon;” that is, money. Notice it is not God or mammon, but God and mammon. When we are working so many extra hours just to make money, that we don’t have time to put God’s work first in our life, money has become our god and will separate us from a life pleasing to Him. Remember He wants our time as well as our money. Jesus speaks of various grades of stewardship, the “wicked and slothful servant” or steward, and the “unfaithful steward,” and then of the “faithful,” who shall have his heavenly reward. Someone said: “He is not rich who lays up much, but he is rich who lays out much.” God’s treasury is man’s opportunity.
7. Should Believers Tithe?
1 It is God’s handed down to us in His Word.
2. It was endorsed by Jesus.
3. It is the only practical business-way for us to recognize God’s prior claim on our time, energy and ability.
4. It will enrich our lives spiritually.
5. It brings financial blessing.
Because giving is an expression of our love, love is action.
Tithing, a token of consecration; 
That we have surrendered all and made Him Lord.
It means moving out of self into the way of God. It is when we give that we find the most satisfaction in our own lives, because God created us after His own image - and God is on the giving hand. We feel most like God when we do things like God, when we give, and give.
God has not ordained us to failure. “That God who begun this good work in you” will carry it on until it is finished. He never fails and will never let us down. “Remember this: the man who plants few seeds will have a small crop; the one who plants many seeds will have a large crop. Each one should give, then, as he has decided, not with regret or out of a sense of duty, for God loves the one who gives gladly. And God is able to give you more than you need, so that you will always have all you need for yourselves and more than enough for every good cause.” II Corinthians 9:68 (Good News for Modern Man) Jesus Himself told us, “Freely you have received, freely give.” Mathew 10:8. The whole Christian principle is based on giving. God proved His love by giving His Son (John 3:16). Jesus proved His love by giving His life (John 1:12; Romans 5:8, II Corinthians 8:9). As His children we are to express our love the same way by giving. But you must remember -
Never doubt in the dark what God has shown you in the light. What is worse, a child afraid of the dark, or a man afraid of the light?
Prices keep going up. 
The rate of interest keeps rising, but God still only asks for 10%.
Malachi 3: 8- 10
 Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings [you have withheld]. 9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, this whole nation! 10 Bring all the tithes (the tenth) into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you [so great] a blessing until there is no more room to receive it.
1. Would A Man Rob God?
(Webster) Rob - “To steal; deprive of something rightfully owned.”
Yes, man is doing it continually with no fear of the wrath and judgment of God. Robbing God is a heinous crime. (Webster) “Heinous, is atrocious, or wicked in the highest degree, outrageous.” To rob God in His presence and with His knowledge is unthinkable, especially for those that claim to know and love Him. Hebrews 4:13 “But all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” You no doubt will agree that no one would be so foolish as to rob his Heavenly Father, his benefactor, or the hand that feeds him.
Rob means “to defraud.” In trying to defraud God, we only defraud ourselves. The eagle that robbed meat from the altar set fire to her own nest from the burning coal that adhered to the stolen flesh. Men who retain God’s money in their treasuries will find it a losing proposition. No man ever lost by serving God with his whole heart, or gained by serving Him with half a heart. We may compromise with our conscience for half the price, but God will not endorse it. Like Ananias and Sapphira we shall lose not only what we thought we had purchased so cheaply, but also the price we paid for it. Act 1:1-5 Thieves may sometimes elude punishment. But the question is, “Who can escape from Him whose eye never slumbers or sleeps?”
Tithing, a symbol of dedication: 
We tithe not legally but lovingly, Love always gives.
However, God is longsuffering. He receives no pleasure from human sufferings - even when a person suffers as a result of his own misdeeds. If we want God to open His treasury, we must first open ours.
2. How Can A Man Rob God?
There is no mistake for God answers this question Himself. “In tithes and offerings.” Notice: It is not just tithe, but tithes and offerings. Many have been faithful in paying their tithes and feel they have paid their obligation to God, but they seem to overlook the fact that God says we have robbed Him in offerings, too. He doesn’t accuse the people of neglecting their duty. He doesn’t suggest that they have not been liberal enough. He says, “You have robbed Me! In tithes and offerings.” (Malachi 3:8)
If our Federal Government has the right to levy a tax on your incomes, surely God who gives us time, energy, and ability and provides the materials with which we earn those incomes, has a perfect right to claim a definite part of them for His work.
We may think we are gaining wealth by stealing God’s money, but God keeps books; one day He will collect and when He does it will be with compound interest!
3. How Much Of Our Tithe Do We Have To Bring?
“Bring all (the whole) tithes into the storehouse.” It doesn’t say a part, or as much as you feel led, but all. He also says it is our obligation to bring them. There are some denominations that take the tithe out of the employee’s check before the employee receives the check. That, of course, is up to them, but they are being robbed of the real blessing of making the choice of whether or not they want to be faithful unto God. It is true we pass offering plates and try to get that part of the service over with as quickly as we can because we feel today people get offended, but in reality that is why many churches are suffering financially today. They have neglected to teach their people the joy of worshipping God with money. We have failed to realize that it is as much a part of our worship as singing a hymn or the saying of a prayer. Our hearts should be rejoicing as we bring our tithes and offerings, because it gives us an opportunity to show our appreciation to Him for all of the blessings He has bestowed upon us.
Tithing, a starting point for giving It opens the door to larger giving.
4. Where Does The Tithe Belong?
“Bring all the tithes into the storehouse” (Malachi 3: ‘10) or the church that you are a member of or attend. “Storehouse” is singular, not plural “Storehouses.” The storehouse or the church is like a foundation, while television, missions, giving to the poor, are the walls, or extended hands reaching out to help minister to the world. But if you do not have a strong foundation, the walls will disintegrate because the church is the supply line. God is a God of order. He has a perfect program. He said, “Bring” not “Send.”
THE CHURCH - is to do a job that television could never do - that is to minister and meet the needs of the local church body whether in life or in death.
WHILE TELEVISION - is doing a job that the local church can never do. It is going into homes of people that would never enter a church. People are being saved that the church would never reach. Such as those in hospitals or the elderly that are unable to go to church. They are being fed, strengthened, and encouraged. God is not interested in just building the local church, but in building His kingdom and His kingdom includes reaching a lost world. When the church program includes building His kingdom, God will bless and prosper the local church.
5. Why Do We Bring Our Tithe?
“That there may be food in my house.” “Food” means spiritual food and “My House”, as stated clearly, means God’s house. If we put the spiritual body first, we can always trust God for the material needs. It simply means that we must bring His tithes and offerings to the house where we go to worship God. It doesn’t mean that I can send my tithes to some other church or minister I feel that is in need. You don’t go to one grocery store and get your groceries and then go down the street to another store that you feel needs help and pay them. Of course not. Besides that would be against the law and so it is against God’s law. It simply means you pay where you eat. If God lays a burden on your heart for someone or some place and you feel God wants you to give to them, then give them an offering above your regular tithes and offerings. God will richly reward you for it.
Tithing, an adventure in blessing, an opportunity to “Prove God.”
6. When Should We Bring Our Tithes?
I Corinthians 16:2 “On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper.” This shows us that we are to bring our tithes and offerings regularly and systematically. Also a definite proportion of our income must be taken into consideration if we are to give as God hath prospered. The Old Testament required a certain portion of their income, while the New Testament required that and much more. There are those that use “Christian liberty” as an excuse for not giving systematically. The word “tithe” (in the Old Testament or New) is not legalistic but a term with the meaning of systematic giving (II Corinthians 8:1- 9, especially Verse 8).
Our privilege is to demonstrate righteousness by our giving. It is not something we acquire or earn. But our faithful support of the tithe becomes a continuous, joyous overflowing of everything we have.
7. Does God Leave Any Question Unanswered?
No. - How much? - Bring all (our tithe).
Where? - To the storehouse.
Why? - That there might be meat in my house.
When? - On the first day of the week.
Tithing adds Love to our living, Grace to our giving, and Power to our praying.