God's Command To Give

We saw last week that our giving should be a joyful and generous reflection of where we are, and we saw the week before that that Jesus is our ultimate model of giving. He gave himself on the cross to die in our place so we could be made spiritually rich by coming into a right relationship with him.

At different points, I have said in passing that all of these motives for giving are in addition to the fact that God commands us to give, but so far, I haven’t backed up that statement.

We are going to do that today. Turn with me to the last book in the Old Testament, the book of Malachi.

This prophecy was spoken by a prophet named Malachi, and it was confronting the way the Israelites had corrupted the way the temple was supposed to work.

Central to that was the fact that God’s people had stopped giving the way they should have.

Although we are going to draw out three points from the sections we will look at, the main thing I want you to remember is that we give our first and best.

From the beginning, let me establish this: I recognize that some people don’t think some of the commands we will talk about today apply to us.

Since we are a part of the New Covenant and not a part of the nation of Israel, some think that means the last section doesn’t apply to us.

I am going to argue that it does, however, and we are going to use Jesus’ words to establish that.

The main focus, however, is that God calls us to give our first and our best.

Let’s dive into 2 to see that this morning...

1) Give your first & best.

· This is what God is addressing here in verses 6-12.

This is what God is addressing here in verses 6-12.

· God commanded His people in the Old Testament to offer various sacrifices at various times.

God commanded His people in the Old Testament to offer various sacrifices at various times.

· By the time God is speaking through Malachi, the people had lost sight of what they were supposed to be doing, so they brought the bare minimum they could offer.

By the time God is speaking through Malachi, the people had lost sight of what they were supposed to be doing, so they brought the bare minimum they could offer.

· God says that the priests have disrespected all that God has done for them, because they are offering animals that are deformed and sickly instead of bringing their best.

God says that the priests have disrespected all that God has done for them, because they are offering animals that are deformed and sickly instead of bringing their best.

· Read verses 8-9 again.

Read verses 8-9 again.

· The Israelites were bringing the worst of what they had, pretending to offer it to God, and then upset that He didn’t bless them in return.

The Israelites were bringing the worst of what they had, pretending to offer it to God, and then upset that He didn’t bless them in return.

· That is like swinging by the dumpster at Kroger on the way home today to dig out some flowers for your wife. Give those to her and tell me how she responds.

That is like swinging by the dumpster at Kroger on the way home today to dig out some flowers for your wife. Give those to her and tell me how she responds.

· Listen to God’s reaction again in verse 10….

Listen to God’s reaction again in verse 10….

· Think about it: when you think about coming to church, giving to others, or serving God with your day, what portion are you consciously giving to God?

Think about it: when you think about coming to church, giving to others, or serving God with your day, what portion are you consciously giving to God?

· Are you giving God the scraps of what’s left at the end of your paycheck, or are you specifically setting aside the money He calls you to give?

Are you giving God the scraps of what’s left at the end of your paycheck, or are you specifically setting aside the money He calls you to give?

· Are you planning on spending time with Him, or are you going to just hope you get time?

Are you planning on spending time with Him, or are you going to just hope you get time?

· Are you actively involved in serving Him, or are you going to once you get time for it?

Are you actively involved in serving Him, or are you going to once you get time for it?

· The God of the universe who found you in your sin and rescued you by sending His own Son to die in your place deserves to be more than an afterthought.

Let’s flip it around.

Who have we said is the model for our giving?

Remember ?

2 Corinthians 8:9 CSB

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: Though he was rich, for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.

What did God do for you?

1 Peter 1:18–19 CSB

For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from your fathers, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb.

1 Peter 1:

He paid the ultimate price by dying in your place and raising from the dead.

He gave his first and his best for you, so why would we think it is okay to do less?

The God of the universe who found you in your sin and rescued you by sending His own Son to die in your place deserves to be more than an afterthought.

· Why do you throw a little something in the plate when it goes by? Do you think God needs it?

We have said over and over again that God isn’t saying this because he is hungry or needs your money.

“I shall take no young bull out of your house nor male goats out of your folds. For every beast of the forest is Mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird of the mountains, and everything that moves in the field is Mine. If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is Mine, and all it contains. (Psalm 50:9–12, NASB95)

· It isn’t like God is going to go hungry if you don’t at least give Him some scraps.

It isn’t like God is going to go hungry if you don’t at least give Him some scraps.

· No, God commands you to give because He is calling you to honor Him first and foremost with everything you are and everything He gives you.

No, God commands you to give because He is calling you to honor Him first and foremost with everything you are and everything He gives you.

Isn’t that what he starts with in verse 6? Sons should honor their parents, and servants honor their masters, so why do we dishonor God by thinking he would be okay with scraps?

· That’s what He points out in verse 11. God deserves to be exalted in every place in every way, so we need to give our first and best to Him!

He points it out again in verse 11. God deserves to be exalted in every place in every way, so we need to give our first and best to Him!

· You have the privilege of honoring God by giving to Him! He has given you His own Son; doesn’t that fill your heart with gratitude?

You have the privilege of honoring God by giving to Him! He has given you His own Son; doesn’t that fill your heart with gratitude?

· God calls us to bring our first and best to Him, and He deserves that!

God calls us to bring our first and best to Him, and He deserves that!

· Are you bringing your first and best, or are you tossing Him the scraps?

Are you bringing your first and best, or are you tossing Him the scraps?

· There’s more God commands us about giving. The second part of His command is to:

There’s more God commands us about giving. The second part of His command is to:

2) Give willingly.

· Look with me in verse 13-14…

Look with me in verse 13-14…

· Do you see the attitude the people had?

Do you see the attitude the people had?

· “Man, I am so tired of having to do this whole sacrifice thing.”

“Man, I am so tired of having to do this whole sacrifice thing.”

· They were just going through the motions; they weren’t honoring God with their gifts.

They were just going through the motions; they weren’t honoring God with their gifts.

· Hopefully, our series up to this point has helped you recapture the “why” behind your giving. I hope it has helped you to be a little more joyful when you put that offering in the plate as it goes by or be a little more excited while you fill the shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child.

Hopefully, our series up to this point has helped you recapture the “why” behind your giving. I hope it has helped you to be a little more joyful when you put that offering in the plate as it goes by or be a little more excited while you fill the shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child.

· Don’t let giving just become a habit; make a conscious choice to joyfully give to the God who deserves everything we give.

Don’t let giving just become a habit; make a conscious choice to joyfully give to the God who deserves everything we give.

Isn’t that what we saw last week in 2 Corinthians?

· Paul echoes that statement in 2 Corinthians:

They cheerfully gave more than they could have been expected to ask.

In fact, in summarizing the way he was calling the Corinthians to give, Paul said this in the chapter after the one we looked at last week:

Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7, NASB95)

Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (, NASB95)

2 Corinthians 9:7 CSB

Each person should do as he has decided in his heart—not reluctantly or out of compulsion, since God loves a cheerful giver.

· This doesn’t mean that God doesn’t love you if you don’t give cheerfully; however, it does mean that your gift should be a willing and joyful overflow out of your heart, not a weary duty like it was in Malachi’s day.

This doesn’t mean that God doesn’t love you if you don’t give cheerfully; however, it does mean that your gift should be a willing and joyful overflow out of your heart, not a weary duty like it was in Malachi’s day.

· Some may think the next point contradicts this, but we will see that the two fit together nicely as we examine the third part of God’s command to give:

Some may think the next point contradicts this, but we will see that the two fit together nicely as we examine the third part of God’s command to give:

3) Give at least your first 10%.

· For this, we need to flip the page over to Malachi 3:8-10.

For this, we need to flip the page over to .

· This is where the rubber meets the road.

This is where the rubber meets the road.

· If you have been around church for a while, you have heard the concept we call “tithing”.

If you have been around church for a while, you have heard the concept we call “tithing”.

· To tithe is to give the first 10% of your income, and specifically to give it to the local church.

To tithe is to give the first 10% of your income, and specifically to give it to the local church.

· God’s people in the Old Testament were clearly commanded to tithe. We find that in Deuteronomy 14:22-23 and other passages.

God’s people in the Old Testament were clearly commanded to tithe. We find that in and other passages.

· Some object, “But wait a minute. That’s in the Law of the Old Testament. We are not under law but under grace!”

Some object, “But wait a minute. That’s in the Law of the Old Testament. We are not under law but under grace!”

· First, let me remind you that those who followed God tithed before the Law was given.

First, let me remind you that those who followed God tithed before the Law was given.

· In Genesis 14:17-20, we find Abraham coming home after defeating the kings of Sodom.

In , we find Abraham coming home after defeating the kings of Sodom.

· When he encounters a priest of God, he gives him 10% of the spoil as an offering to the Lord.

When he encounters a priest of God, he gives him 10% of the spoil as an offering to the Lord.

· Not only that, but Jesus affirmed the practice of tithing:

Not only that, but Jesus affirmed the practice of tithing:

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. (Matthew 23:23, NASB95)

Matthew 23:23 CSB

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You pay a tenth of mint, dill, and cumin, and yet you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy, and faithfulness. These things should have been done without neglecting the others.

· He specifically said that they should be tithing, just not at the expense of everything else.

He specifically said that they should be tithing, just not at the expense of everything else.

· “But we’re under grace!”

“But we’re under grace!”

· Yes, absolutely! And the standard of grace is always higher than the standard of the Law.

Yes, absolutely! And the standard of grace is always higher than the standard of the Law.

· Think about all the times Jesus said, “You have heard….but I say”. He never relaxed the requirement. If anything, He raises it!

Think about all the times Jesus said, “You have heard….but I say”. He never relaxed the requirement. If anything, He raises it!

· So that’s why, for those of us who are not under Law but under grace, the tithe is just the starting point for our giving.

So that’s why, for those of us who are not under Law but under grace, the tithe is just the starting point for our giving.

· God calls us to freely give back to Him the first 10% of our income, because it is actually His anyway!

God calls us to freely give back to Him the first 10% of our income, because it is actually His anyway!

· Remember, He told His people in Malachi that they were robbing Him because they weren’t bringing the entire tithe into the storehouse.

Remember, He told His people in Malachi that they were robbing Him because they weren’t bringing the entire tithe into the storehouse.

· By the way, that phrase “into the storehouse” is what leads us to believe that God calls us to give all of that first 10% to the local church where He has placed us.

By the way, that phrase “into the storehouse” is what leads us to believe that God calls us to give all of that first 10% to the local church where He has placed us.

· In the Old Testament, the storehouse was where all the food was kept for the priests who maintained the temple.

In the Old Testament, the storehouse was where all the food was kept for the priests who maintained the temple.

· Additionally, the Israelites were called to bring a tithe every three years that would be for the Levites and the poor.

Additionally, the Israelites were called to bring a tithe every three years that would be for the Levites and the poor.

· So, essentially, the tithe was how God provided for the work of ministry through His people.

So, essentially, the tithe was how God provided for the work of ministry through His people.

· The same is true today. As you give your tithe to the church, we use that to provide for this facility to give us a base for ministry, enable me to earn a living through the Gospel so I can focus the necessary attention on preaching, praying, and leading, and as a church, minister in various ways to our families, church family, community and world.

The same is true today. As you give your tithe to the church, we use that to provide for this facility to give us a base for ministry, enable me to earn a living through the Gospel so I can focus the necessary attention on preaching, praying, and leading, and as a church, minister in various ways to our families, church family, community and world.

· Look at what God promises in verse 10…

Look at what God promises in verse 10…

· This is an extraordinary promise, because God usually tells us not to test Him!

This is an extraordinary promise, because God usually tells us not to test Him!

· Here, however, He is promising that if you give at the level He calls you to give, He will supply all your needs and equip you for every good work.

Here, however, He is promising that if you give at the level He calls you to give, He will supply all your needs and equip you for every good work.

· By the grace of God, Samantha and I learned this lesson before we were married and have made it a practice to tithe.

By the grace of God, Samantha and I have sought to give a tithe of our income since we got married.

· I only say that to say that we have seen God provide time and time and time again.

I only say that to say that we have seen God provide time and time and time again.

· I know others here who faithfully tithe, and they will tell you about how God has honored His promise, meeting every need and giving them the blessing of having a part in what He is doing.

If you ask people who faithfully tithe, and they will tell you about how God has honored His promise, meeting every need and giving them the blessing of having a part in what He is doing.

· This promise is not that God will make you fabulously rich; it is a promise that He will bless you, although you don’t always get to pick what those blessings look like.

This promise is not that God will make you fabulously rich; it is a promise that He will bless you, although you don’t always get to pick what those blessings look like.

Samantha and I have seen time and time again where, when we give in response to God’s command, he allows us to see him work in incredible ways.

If you haven’t done it, let me tell you: it is actually a lot of fun to give!

When you tithe faithfully to the church as God commands, you can look at everything that is going on and know that God enabled you to have a part in that.

Some of you went above and beyond the tithe this year to give for Vacation Bible School.

Next month, we will have the privilege of baptizing one of the children who came to Christ through that.

Your giving made that possible!

What an incredible blessing to know that you had a part in that!

· I promise you, based off the teaching of the Word of God, that you will live better on the 90% than you did on the 100%.

I promise you, based off the teaching of the Word of God, that you will live better on the 90% than you did on the 100%.

· Remember too, though, that the other 90% belongs to God as well. He owns it all, but He is allowing you to manage it.

Remember too, though, that the other 90% belongs to God as well. He owns it all, but He is allowing you to manage it.

· Listen, though: tithing is just the beginning. God called His people to go above and beyond the 10%. In fact, when you add up all God’s people were called to tithe, it works out to around 23% of their produce and livestock!

Listen, though: tithing is just the beginning. God called His people to go above and beyond the 10%. In fact, when you add up all God’s people were called to tithe, it works out to around 23% of their produce and livestock!

· Think about it this way: This is what God called the people of the Old Testament to do, and they had a limited view of who God is because He hadn’t revealed Himself through Christ. They didn’t know that God Himself would die in their place. They didn’t recognize the grace and mercy of God that we see so clearly displayed on the cross. They didn’t have the promise of the continual indwelling of the Spirit of God in their lives.

Think about it this way: This is what God called the people of the Old Testament to do, and they had a limited view of who God is because He hadn’t revealed Himself through Christ. They didn’t know that God Himself would die in their place. They didn’t recognize the grace and mercy of God that we see so clearly displayed on the cross. They didn’t have the promise of the continual indwelling of the Spirit of God in their lives.

· How much more, then, should we be willing to give, since we’re on this side of the cross?

How much more, then, should we be willing to give, since we’re on this side of the cross?

· We have seen Jesus dying in our place and being raised from the dead! We have the Holy Spirit living inside us.

We have seen Jesus dying in our place and being raised from the dead! We have the Holy Spirit living inside us.

· We have the clear promise that one day He is returning again.

We have the clear promise that one day He is returning again.

· Shouldn’t that thrill our hearts to the point that we willingly, joyfully, go above and beyond the baseline of 10%, giving God our best and first in everything?

Shouldn’t that thrill our hearts to the point that we willingly, joyfully, go above and beyond the baseline of 10%, giving God our best and first in everything?