A Giving Plan That Works Malachi 3:6-12

6“For I am the LORD, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob. 7Yet from the days of your fathers you have gone away from My ordinances and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD of hosts. “But you said, ‘In what way shall we return?’

8“Will a man rob God. Yet you have robbed Me 8“Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. 9 You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation. 10Bring 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. 11”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,” says the

LORD of hosts; 12”And all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land,” says the LORD of hosts.

Are We Above Average???

TWO QUESTIONS How much should I give? How do I determine that?

TITHES and OFFERINGS

(1) Levitical Tithe = 10% (2) Festival Tithe = 10% (Lev. 27:30-33 & Num. 18:21-24) (2) Festival Tithe = 10% (Deut. 12:6-7 & 14:22-27) (3) Welfare Tithe = 3.33% (Deut. 14:28-29)

A Good Principle: We can do more with 90%, 80%, or 70% with God, being obedient to Him & trusting Him, than we could ever do with 100% without Him!

New Testament = Grace Giving

Abraham’s & Jacob’s tithes were a voluntary expression of worship & thanksgiving to God.

(2) Later on, God put tithing into the Law as a discipline for God’s people that also had very practical purposes.

(3) In the New Testament, Jesus commended those who gave the tithe.

(4) The early church was instructed to give in a systematic & consistent manner with a generous and willing heart.

PRINCIPLES TO APPLY:

PRINCIPLES TO APPLY: We must accept our responsibility to give as an expression of worship and thanksgiving to God on a consistent basis. 1 Cor. 16:2

PRINCIPLES TO APPLY: (2) We must give in proportion to our prosperity. 1 Cor. 16:2

PRINCIPLES TO APPLY: (3) We must be sensitive to the leadership of the Holy Spirit in giving as opportunities arise. 2 Cor. 8:7

PRINCIPLES TO APPLY: (4) We must give willingly and with a cheerful heart. 2 Cor. 9:5 & 7

PRINCIPLES TO APPLY: (5) We must trust God to supply our needs as we give. Matt. 6:33 & Phil. 4:19

A GIVING PLAN THAT WORKS IS A COMBINATION PLAN!

Give: SYSTEMATICALLY SPONTANEOUSLY SACRIFICALLY

Are we giving to God first? Our best? Or the core?