Learning to Trust God’s Ways In Giving

Message Summary:

[Philippians 4:17-20 NKJV] 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. 18 Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things [sent] from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. 19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 20 Now to our God and Father [be] glory forever and ever. Amen.

In today’s message, Pastor John continued to teach us about the Laws of Giving and Receiving. Paul here is reminding us that there is a balance and a fruit of partaking in both the act of giving and receiving. The New Testament teaching on teaching, on the Christian method of stewardship, is all rooted in the principles of the Old Testament commands of giving. There are three primary kinds of giving commanded:

1. Tithes – giving the first fruits or the tenth that is set aside for the Lord

2. Offering – giving toward special projects as led by the Lord

3. Alms – giving to the poor to care for their needs and comfort

If you want God to be involved in the financial cycles of your day-to-day life, you need to understand God’s principles concerning giving, and the first method of giving is the tithe or the first fruits. The first fruit is the first of all of your increase or any wealth that comes into your life. And what he asks for is the first tenth of your wealth. Your material things, your stuff on Earth, can be used to honor God. God has said that because he owns everything, when we are in covenant with him and in acknowledgment of his ownership, we must prioritize giving the first fruits of all of our increase and giving it back to the Lord. You offering it to the Lord as an offering or an act of worship. And when you give God with your tithes or first fruits, when you honor God with your wealth, God will bless you in return. And the primary way that he manifests this promise of blessing is through our work.

But there is something very important you need to understand first. God loves you, and while he wants to bless you through your giving, it is not a requirement of salvation. Jesus was the price that was paid for our salvation, and we are the harvest of his sacrifice. Jesus was the tithe that God paid to save us. However, there is a promise of blessing attached to our obedience to give tithes and offerings. Our giving aligns us with his abundance. The principle of the tithe is the priority to bring God the first of all we earn, the best off the top. What is demonstrated in this type of giving is that God is first in our lives and worthy of our best. The fruit of this type of giving is the fruit of our obedience and our faith to put God first in our lives.

Scriptures:

• [Proverbs 3:9-10 NKJV] Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the first fruits of all your increase; 10 So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.

•  [Genesis 14:18-20 NKJV] 18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he [was] the priest of God Most High. 19 And he blessed him and said: "Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; 20 And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand." And he gave him a tithe of all. 

Discussion Questions:

1. Why is ensuring that God is the Lord of your finances important?

2. What is the tithe, and how is it different from an offering?

3. Why does the tenth matter? Where did that number even come from?

4. Why is it important to remember that everything belongs to the Lord anyways?

5. Can you think of a moment in your life where you know you experienced the blessing of the tithe?

Life Application:

Over the next week, as you study the key scriptures, ask yourself: Are you a faithful tither? Do you faithfully give God your tenth, the first fruits of all you earn? Do you believe that if you are obedient to give, you are releasing blessings in your life? When we give God the first fruits, we are not only putting God first, we are being obedient to God’s command to give. And when we do, we align ourselves with God’s promise of abundance. God wants to release a greater dimension of blessing into your life, a promise of blessing that is given only to those who faithfully tithe as commanded. This week, ask God to show you how you are called to give, and what he wants from the first fruits of all your increase. And watch what God does in your life as you put in first in your financial life.