We have been going through the book of Ephesians on Sunday morning and for the past few weeks the Apostle Paul has been writing to the church in Ephesus telling them how to “walk” in the Christian life. That is, how do we, as Christians live; how do we talk, how do we act, how do we treat our family and our fellow believers in the faith?
But almost every person I speak to these days has one pressing question on their minds and that is the place of money in their day to day life. If we ask ourselves how we are to live the Christian life we would be wrong to skip over the place of money and possessions, because it is such a central part of our everyday lives.
The Lie About Tithing
One burning question needs to be dealt with right off the bat, because I was taught a lie and there is a chance that maybe you were taught that same lie. In the Old Testament the tithe (a giving of the first tenth of your income) is taught abundantly and in the New Testament the word tithe only appears 7 times as opposed to the 28 times in the OT.
The lie that I was taught is this; the tithe is Old Testament Law, but we live under the grace of the New Testament. And this makes no sense to me.
The Role of Keeping Sin Restrained
This is the way I see it. We know that the Law came through Moses as a temporary fix, to keep sin restrained, until the time of Christ when sin could be done away with. That is why in Matthew chapter 5 when Jesus teaches on the law he says “you have heard it was said, but I say to you.” some six times to clarify that the law has not changed, but the scribes and the Pharisees had relaxed the law to make themselves appear righteous. (5:19)
So the command to tithe was not a temporary law to pass away with the coming of grace, but was a temporary fix to keep the sin of greed, covetousness, self indulgence, and self sufficiency at bay until Christ could come and gives us hearts that would turn away from these things.
That is why the language of the New Testament speaks of possessions in this way:
· “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” (Luke 18:22)
· “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where neither moth nor rust 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)
This is the point: God wants our hearts to be wholly devoted to him and free from the love of earthly things. So in our age of grace, living under the blood of Calvary, we should not feel the restraint of a law, but the liberality to give freely and abundantly – knowing that our life here is temporary, but will be eternal in heaven.
God makes us a promise in Malachi chapter three. That if we will "put him to the test" and give the bare minimum of a tenth of our income, He will in turn open the windows of heaven to bless us and keep the devourer from us.
But almost every person I speak to these days has one pressing question on their minds and that is the place of money in their day to day life. If we ask ourselves how we are to live the Christian life we would be wrong to skip over the place of money and possessions, because it is such a central part of our everyday lives.
The Lie About Tithing
One burning question needs to be dealt with right off the bat, because I was taught a lie and there is a chance that maybe you were taught that same lie. In the Old Testament the tithe (a giving of the first tenth of your income) is taught abundantly and in the New Testament the word tithe only appears 7 times as opposed to the 28 times in the OT.
The lie that I was taught is this; the tithe is Old Testament Law, but we live under the grace of the New Testament. And this makes no sense to me.
The Role of Keeping Sin Restrained
This is the way I see it. We know that the Law came through Moses as a temporary fix, to keep sin restrained, until the time of Christ when sin could be done away with. That is why in Matthew chapter 5 when Jesus teaches on the law he says “you have heard it was said, but I say to you.” some six times to clarify that the law has not changed, but the scribes and the Pharisees had relaxed the law to make themselves appear righteous. (5:19)
So the command to tithe was not a temporary law to pass away with the coming of grace, but was a temporary fix to keep the sin of greed, covetousness, self indulgence, and self sufficiency at bay until Christ could come and gives us hearts that would turn away from these things.
That is why the language of the New Testament speaks of possessions in this way:
· “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” (Luke 18:22)
· “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where neither moth nor rust 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)
This is the point: God wants our hearts to be wholly devoted to him and free from the love of earthly things. So in our age of grace, living under the blood of Calvary, we should not feel the restraint of a law, but the liberality to give freely and abundantly – knowing that our life here is temporary, but will be eternal in heaven.
God makes us a promise in Malachi chapter three. That if we will "put him to the test" and give the bare minimum of a tenth of our income, He will in turn open the windows of heaven to bless us and keep the devourer from us.
Comments
God says to put him to the test, and in my life, he's done amazing things since I started tithing faithfully a few months ago. He pulled us out of debt, moved us from an apartment to a house, the miracles are happening daily.
A church recently started an interesting program. They partner with God and offer a 3 month money-back guarantee for first time tithers.
It's been an interesting and very successful program. It's amazing to read the stories of people who's lives (both financial and spiritual) have changed.
Thanks,
Turbo =)