Matthew 6:19-21 “19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Here lies a kingdom principle that must become a reality for us today if we are to press on toward the goal of being followers of Jesus Christ. From His teaching, we know there are only two places in which we can lay up our treasures. Here or in Heaven.
Laying up our treasure HERE is investing in the temporary and saving it for the things we desire. What can we expect with this treasure? Jesus said it will go away or it will be stolen. He said your heart will long to remain here where your treasure has been stored becoming distracted from what God desires.
What does it mean to lay up treasures in Heaven? This is not a theoretical statement. Take everything – 24 hours every day, all your wealth and the abilities you possess – and commit them to His work in this world for His glory. Treasures that are laid up in Heaven can only result from our obedience to His Word.
To BE the church by giving, we must hear God’s perspective on the question - Why should we give?
1. We Give because it is Right
If I asked you to list everything you own right now, how long would it take? Would you miss anything?
Let’s read a verse and then try it again...
Psalm 24:1 says, “The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein,”
Now how long would it take? Our first step to being the church by giving is understanding that God owns it ALL already. We own nothing, but are simply managers of what God has allowed us to have. Therefore, when God says to bring your Offering to His church, He is not asking you to loan Him some money to accomplish His ministry and mission. He is asking you to acknowledge Him as Lord of all and return 10% of His resources back to Him.
When we choose to keep His resources for ourselves, our needs, our desires and our debts – listen to what God says:
Malachi 3:8 “Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions.”
Simply put, bringing back to God what He tells us to bring back is the right thing to do – because it is His.
2. We Give because it is Smart
Can you outsmart God? Do you have greater wisdom than God in any area?
When we place our faith in the Lord for eternal salvation, we also place our faith in His word for present instruction. So, when He teaches financial principles, we can trust that God knows our situation, our emergencies, our debt, our future and our economy.
Where do we begin?
Malachi 3:10 “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.”
The word tithe refers to the FIRST ten percent of all income in a household. According to Scripture, a tithe is not conditional. We do not bring the full tithe only when it is convenient, or when there is a tenth left over, or when we get out of debt, or when we amass more wealth.
Many will take what comes in, pay expenses, take care of needs and if there is any left – they might consider giving some back to God. Dave Ramsey calls that an upside down budget! To give with a heart toward heaven, we take what comes in, bring God at least the first 10% and use the rest in His wisdom to take care of our needs and accomplish His mission.
We know it is the right thing to do because it is all His, but why is it the smart thing to do?
Listen closely again to Malachi 3:10 “And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.”
God knew we would struggle with this aspect of our faith! This is not a get rich quick scheme, it is simply the reality of who God is! If we will genuinely acknowledge Him as Lord over all things and follow Him in obedience to His word...
HE promises we will experience His blessing in a way that cannot be experienced in any other way.
Giving is right and it is smart.
3. We also Give because it is Beneficial
Once we acknowledge God as the owner of all He has allowed us to have, and we obey His teaching concerning all He has allowed us to have…
Malachi 3:11-12 “I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts. 12 Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.”
God said your efforts will not return void. He will ensure your soil and your vines bear fruit. You see, our tendency is to cling to that which is uncertain; however, when the provision is assured, we are free to turn our hearts to the Provider.
Have you experienced the faithfulness of God as your provider? I am not talking about the provider when you are in trouble, but your provider when you faithfully bring the first 10% of your income by faith and trust in His promise of provision.
When you experience the Lord in this way regularly, you will not only grow in your faith, but you will find it easier to place your faith in Him and His instruction in other areas of your life.
God said to test Him in this! He wants you and me to experience Him as our provider and Lord over all. Did God place a limit on His generosity when He sent His Son to the cross to die for you? NO! God gave sacrificially and generously.
Following God’s pattern is beneficial because we reflect the generosity of the God we serve and experience Him as our Provider.
Be advised, You can live generously and faithfully give to the church – yet not know Him as your Savior. We cannot buy our way into heaven nor do we have to pay to keep our place.
We answer the invitation of Jesus by recognizing our need for a Savior, turning from our ways and committing ourselves to His.
Once you have begun that relationship, you can experience the promises of God in your life as you faithfully obey His teaching. The tithe is not the end of our giving, but the beginning of a godly perspective and attitude of stewardship that reflects God’s character of a sacrificial and generous life.
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