Gtcotr/ws081413
Key Scripture: Psalms 24:1 The earth is
the LORD’S, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein.
Throughout
history, in the United States and in country after country in virtually every
culture for generations past all the way back to Adam and Eve, there has been a
system I know as “Share Cropping.” You may know
it by some other name in your country but the concept is the same.
An
owner provides the land, the seeds, and the fertilizer and makes water
available while the worker provides the labor to plant, cultivate and make a
crop. When harvest time comes the worker reaps the harvest for the land owner
and receives his fair share of the increase as agreed. In this system both the
owner and the worker are partners and both benefit from a job well done. The
greater the harvest the greater the blessing for them both.
Variations
of this system have been in place since the world began. I can remember my
mother shelling peas, canning vegetables and making jellies and preserves “on halves.” Up until the last few years Brenda and I
owned a federal wheat farm. Since wheat in the US was in abundance we petitioned
the government to allow us to grow hay for a production crop. Each year when it
came time to harvest our crop we partnered with people who baled the hay for a percentage share of the harvest.
What
I’ve called “share cropping” or “working of halves,” the Bible teaches as “Stewardship.” We see this principle in the very first
pages of the Bible.
The LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the
man whom He had formed … the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of
Eden to tend and keep it. (Genesis 2:8&15)
Matthew,
Mark, and Luke all record Jesus teaching this truth in a parable about a land
owner who planted a vineyard, put a hedge of protection around it, provided the
tools and leased it out to share croppers and went into another country. When
it came the time for the landowner to receive his portion of the fruits of the
harvest, the share croppers imagined they owed him nothing. Jesus spoke of the
greed and ungodliness of such an attitude. He didn’t have very good things to
say about these men.
Attitude
is everything! The first time we see God unhappy with something, after the sin
of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, it was about Cain’s attitude in giving
back to God a portion of what he had worked for.
Adam
and Eve must have lived a life of bringing their first fruits offerings to the
Lord because we find their two sons following that same example.
Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the
fruit of the ground to the LORD. Abel also brought of the firstborn of his
flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering, but He
did not respect Cain and his offering. (Genesis 4:2-5)
Notice
while Cain brought an offering of the fruit he produced, Abel brought the
firstborn of his flock. The reason why the LORD did not respect Cain and his
offering was because Cain did not respect it. Cain’s attitude reveals neither a
man who is giving his first nor his best and Cain is certainly not happy about having
to give anything. Perhaps he imagines it to be a waste of time and fruit. Abel
on the other hand brings his firstfruits with a willing and an obedient heart.
God loves a cheerful giver! (2 Cor 9:7)
Many
Christians wrongly imagine that Tithes and Offerings began as a part of the Law
of Moses and are therefore no longer valid New Testament practices. Nothing
could be farther from the truth and the desire of God.
·
Cain
and Abel brought tithes and offerings to the LORD.
·
Abraham
gave his tithes to the Priest Melchizedek (Genesis 14)
·
Jacob
entered into a covenant of tithing on all of his future increase to the LORD at
Bethel, the House of God. (Genesis 28:22)
The
Old Testament’s historical record of mankind contains the Law of Moses.
However, the Old Testament is so much bigger and more encompassing than just
the Law. Jacob, for example, lived and died more than 400 years before the Law
was written. Jacob’s covenant commitment to be a tither was so strong that it endured
and guaranteed the grace of God on his descendants even during the period of
the Law. And, lest we imagine the New Testament to be shy about the subject of
giving, note that Jesus said more about money than He did about heaven and hell
combined. Even Jesus paid His taxes and gave His offerings. He knew firsthand
what the Psalmist David and the Prophet Malachi said was true:
Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of
all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will
overflow with new wine. (Proverbs 3:9&10)
Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in
My house, And try 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 such blessing That there
will not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the
devourer for your sakes so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground,
nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field. (Malachi 3:10&11)
The
word “Tithe” means “One Tenth.” God has
established this as His Share. The Believer is admonished from both the Old
Testament and the New Testament, under the Abrahamic Covenant, the Mosaic Law
and the Grace of Christ, to bring the first tenth of all of our increase to the
Lord, for it is His holy share. Then we are also encouraged to give offerings
above and beyond our tithes so that together they can provide ministry and meet
needs through the Church of the Living God. Our examples were those first
century Christians who were fully engaged in these matters.
Important Points:
1.
Tithing is a responsibility while Offerings are an opportunity.
2.
We tithe because we are share croppers and the first tenth of the
increase belongs to God.
3.
We give offerings to:
a.
Sow a seed (Proverbs 11:25; Luke 6:38; 2 Corinthians 9:6)
b.
Meet a need (1 John 3:17; 1 Corinthians 16:1)
c.
Follow the lead (Matthew 19:21; 2
Corinthians 9:8 good works)
4.
2 Corinthians 8:7 Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith,
your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us—I
want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving.
