You Reap What You Sow

SEEDTIME & HARVEST - YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW

Last week my brother Pastor Eben spoke on the first belonging to God and tithe and offering. Today, I want to connect all the dots you may have.

• God will never force you give

• Old Testament mandated tithe

• New Testament, Jesus said you ought to

• We cannot out give God

Tithing Statistics:

2022 study by Barna Group found that only 5% of U.S. adults tithe.

Research from Nonprofit Source indicates that only 10–25% of church members give regularly at any level.

The National Christian Foundation has reported that 77% of tithers give more than 10%, while many others give less or not at all.

Tithing Statistics:

• 5% of churchgoers tithe (Church Development).

• Out of the 247 million U.S. citizens identifying as Christians, 1.5 million people tithe (Sharefaith).

• 77% of tithers give more than 10 percent (Health Research Funding).

Average Giving Per Person in Church

• The average amount of giving per churchgoer is $17 per week (Health Research Funding).

• That's $73.67 a month per giver.

• That's $884 a year per giver.

Common Questions:

1. Tithing is not a heaven or hell issue
2. Tithing is optional, meaning we have free will
3. Tithing off of gross versus net
4. Do I have to give, if I have no income

LL Cool J – Video on giving https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1EANmPyPJs/

Review

Genesis 4:1-7 (AMP) 1 Now the man Adam knew Eve as his wife, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain, and she said, "I have obtained a man (baby boy, son) with the help of the Lord." 2 And [later] she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel kept the flocks [of sheep and goats], but Cain cultivated the ground. 3 And in the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground. 4 But Abel brought [an offering of] the [finest] firstborn of his flock and the fat portions. And the Lord had respect (regard) for Abel and for his offering;

A. We have to assume God told them to do this because there can be not expectation without first instruction

B. We see an immediate difference in their giving

C. One gave what he wanted and the other gave what God asked

5 but for Cain and his offering He had no respect. So Cain became extremely angry (indignant), and [c]he looked annoyed and hostile. 6 And the Lord said to Cain, "Why are you so angry? And why do you look annoyed? 7 If you do well [believing Me and doing what is acceptable and pleasing to Me], will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well [but ignore My instruction], sin crouches at your door; its desire is for you [to overpower you], but you must master it."

A. Key point, God can give instruction but we are not obligated to obey them

B. God has given each man free will

C. In Genesis 3 God told them not to touch the tree; all the other trees were there for them to touch, even the tree of life

Key Point of today's message as I work to connect the dots for you through the Bible:

The first mention of tithing

Genesis 14:17-24 (NLT) Melchizedek Blesses Abram 17 After Abram returned from his victory over Kedorlaomer and all his allies, the king of Sodom went out to meet him in the valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley). 18 And Melchizedek, the king of Salem and a priest of God Most High, brought Abram some bread and wine.

A. The first and last priesthood in the Bible

19 Melchizedek blessed Abram with this blessing: "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. 20 And blessed be God Most High, who has defeated your enemies for you." Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of all the goods he had recovered.

A. He was blessed to be a blessing

B. Notice gave bread and wine before anything was giving

C. Notice he blessed Abraham without anything giving

D. Abraham response to the blessing with him giving

E. So, a tenth giving to the priesthood of Melchizedek

Question, what biblical character is a priest and a king?

3 things he did

1. Bread and wine. Question? Who brought bread and wine?
2. He blessed him? Question? Who could bless the father of faith? Who could bless a friend of God?

Romans 4:16-17 (AMP) 16 Therefore, [inheriting] the promise depends entirely on faith [that is, confident trust in the unseen God], in order that it may be given as an act of grace [His unmerited favor and mercy], so that the promise will be [legally] guaranteed to all the descendants [of Abraham]—not only for those [Jewish believers] who keep the Law, but also for those [Gentile believers] who share the faith of Abraham, who is the [spiritual] father of us all— 17 (as it is written [in Scripture], "I have made you a father of many nations") in the sight of Him in whom he believed, that is, God who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.

Isaiah 41:8 (NLT) "But as for you, Israel my servant, Jacob my chosen one, descended from Abraham my friend,

A. Eternal priesthood predates Levitical priesthood

B. No genealogy, who in the Bible has didn't have 2 earthly parents

Key Distinctions:

• The First and All

• Tenth was a choice

• Tithe was a law

• Tenth was inspired, Tithe was required

Psalm 110:1-4 (AMP) The Lord Gives Dominion to the King A Psalm of David. 1 The Lord (Father) says to my Lord (the Messiah, His Son), "Sit at My right hand Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet [subjugating them into complete submission]." 2 The Lord will send the scepter of Your strength from Zion, saying, "Rule in the midst of Your enemies." 3 Your people will offer themselves willingly [to participate in Your battle] in the day of Your power; In the splendor of holiness, from the womb of the dawn, Your young men are to You as the dew. 4 The Lord has sworn [an oath] and will not change His mind: "You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek."

• Question? How many priest were in the order of Melchizedek

Jacob's Dream and Vow

Genesis 28:10-22 (AMP) Jacob's Dream 10 Now Jacob left Beersheba [never to see his mother again] and traveled toward Haran. 11 And he came to a certain place and stayed overnight there because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down there [to sleep]. 12 He dreamed that there was a ladder (stairway) placed on the earth, and the top of it reached [out of sight] toward heaven; and [he saw] the angels of God ascending and descending on it [going to and from heaven]. 13 And behold, the Lord stood above and around him and said, "I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your [father's] father and the God of Isaac; I will give to you and to your descendants the land [of promise] on which you are lying. 14 Your descendants shall be as [countless as] the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and the east and the north and the south; and all the families (nations) of the earth shall be blessed through you and your descendants. 15 Behold, I am with you and will keep [careful watch over you and guard] you wherever you may go, and I will bring you back to this [promised] land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you." 16 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and he said, "Without any doubt the Lord is in this place, and I did not realize it." 17 So he was afraid and said, "How fearful and awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gateway to heaven."

18 So Jacob got up early in the morning, and took the stone he had put under his head and he set it up as a pillar [that is, a monument to the vision in his dream], and he poured [olive] oil on the top of it [to consecrate it]. 19 He named that place Bethel (the house of God); the previous name of that city was Luz (Almond Tree). 20 Then Jacob made a vow (promise), saying, "If God will be with me and will keep me on this journey that I take, and will give me food to eat and clothing to wear, 21 and if [He grants that] I return to my father's house in safety, then the Lord will be my God. 22 This stone which I have set up as a pillar (monument, memorial) will be God's house [a sacred place to me], and of everything that You give me I will give the tenth to You [as an offering to signify my gratitude and dependence on You]."

Jesus on Tithing

Matthew 23:23 (NLT) 23 "What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.

Hebrews 7:1-28 (AMP) - Melchizedek's Priesthood Like Christ's

1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham as he returned from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 and Abraham gave him a tenth of all [the spoil]. He is, first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, which means king of peace. 3 Without [any record of] father or mother, nor ancestral line, without [any record of] beginning of days (birth) nor ending of life (death), but having been made like the Son of God, he remains a priest without interruption and without successor.

4 Now pause and consider how great this man was to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the spoils. 5 It is true that those descendants of Levi who are charged with the priestly office are commanded in the Law to collect tithes from the people—which means, from their kinsmen—though these have descended from Abraham. 6 But this person [Melchizedek] who is not from their Levitical ancestry received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who possessed the promises [of God]. 7 Yet it is beyond all dispute that the lesser person is always blessed by the greater one. 8 Furthermore, here [in the Levitical priesthood] tithes are received by men who are subject to death; but in that case [concerning Melchizedek], they are received by one of whom it is testified that he [b]lives on [perpetually]. 9 A person might even say that Levi [the father of the priestly tribe] himself, who received tithes, paid tithes through Abraham [the father of all Israel and of all who believe], 10 for Levi was still in the loins (unborn) of his forefather [Abraham] when Melchizedek met him (Abraham).

11 Now if perfection [a perfect fellowship between God and the worshiper] had been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people were given the Law) what further need was there for another and different kind of priest to arise, one in the manner of Melchizedek, rather than one appointed to the order of Aaron? 12 For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is of necessity a change of the law [concerning the priesthood] as well. 13 For the One of whom these things are said belonged [not to the priestly line of Levi but] to another tribe, from which no one has officiated or served at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord descended from [the tribe of] Judah, and Moses mentioned nothing about priests in connection with that tribe. 15 And this becomes even more evident if another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, 16 who has become a priest, not on the basis of a physical and legal requirement in the Law [concerning his ancestry as a descendant of Levi], but on the basis of the power of an indestructible and endless life. 17 For it is attested [by God] of Him, "You (Christ) are a Priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek."

18 For, on the one hand, a former commandment is cancelled because of its weakness and uselessness [because of its inability to justify the sinner before God] 19 (for the Law never made anything perfect); while on the other hand a better hope is introduced through which we now continually draw near to God. 20 And indeed it was not without the taking of an oath [that Christ was made priest] 21 (for those Levites who formerly became priests [received their office] without [its being confirmed by the taking of] an oath, but this One [was designated] with an oath through the One who said to Him, "The Lord has sworn And will not change His mind or regret it, 'You(Christ) are a Priest forever'").

22 And so [because of the oath's greater strength and force] Jesus has become the certain guarantee of a better covenant [a more excellent and more advantageous agreement; one that will never be replaced or annulled]. 23 The [former successive line of] priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were each prevented by death from continuing [perpetually in office]; 24 but, on the other hand, Jesus holds His priesthood permanently and without change, because He lives on forever. 25 Therefore He is able also to save forever (completely, perfectly, for eternity) those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede and intervene on their behalf [with God].

26 It was fitting for us to have such a High Priest [perfectly adapted to our needs], holy, blameless, unstained [by sin], separated from sinners and exalted higher than the heavens; 27 who has no day by day need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices, first of all for his own [personal] sins and then for those of the people, because He [met all the requirements and] did this once for all when He offered up Himself [as a willing sacrifice]. 28 For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak [frail, sinful, dying men], but the word of the oath [of God], which came after [the institution of] the Law, permanently appoints [as priest] a Son who has been made perfect forever.

Discussion Questions

1. The statistics show only 5% of churchgoers tithe, with the average giving only $17 per week ($884/year). What do you think accounts for this massive gap between biblical teaching and actual practice?
2. The message clarifies that "tithing is not a heaven or hell issue" and "tithing is optional, meaning we have free will." If tithing is optional, why should believers still practice it?
3. Cain and Abel both brought offerings, but God respected Abel's and not Cain's. What made the difference? How does this apply to our giving today?
4. Abraham gave a tenth to Melchizedek BEFORE the Law was given to Moses. What does this teach us about tithing being more about relationship than religious obligation?
5. Melchizedek brought "bread and wine" and blessed Abraham before Abraham gave anything. How does this parallel Jesus (our eternal High Priest) blessing us first? How should this change our motivation for giving?
6. The message distinguishes between "tenth was a choice" (Abraham's voluntary giving) versus "tithe was a law" (mandatory under Moses). Under the New Covenant, which model do we follow?
7. Jacob vowed to give God a tenth "of everything that You give me" in response to God's promises. His giving was responsive, not reluctant. How can we cultivate a responsive rather than reluctant heart in giving?
8. Jesus said in Matthew 23:23, "You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things." How do we balance faithful tithing with justice, mercy, and faith? Why can't we choose one over the other?
9. Hebrews 7 reveals that Jesus is our High Priest "forever according to the order of Melchizedek." Since we now give to Jesus (our eternal High Priest) rather than a Levitical system, how does this elevate the meaning of our tithes and offerings?
10. The average person gives $884 per year. If you make $50,000/year, a tithe would be $5,000. What would have to change in your life (priorities, budget, faith) to bridge that gap?

Reflection

Challenge: This week, calculate what 10% of your income actually is. Compare it to what you currently give. Ask God to reveal any areas of fear, unbelief, or misplaced trust that may be holding you back from generous giving.

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