"The Just shall give by faith"

2Cor 8,9

God Centered in all of life

Tithing - God centered-ness in every area of the Jew's life

• Eating

• Farming

• Days and time

• Body & Soul

• Thoughts words emotions and deeds

  The law of God is comprehensive and all comprehending. There is no area of life it leaves untouched. God is the LORD of all of our lives. He made us and He rules us.

  The Jew was reminded of God at every point in every moment of every day. God was essential and central in all his thoughts. God was left out of none of his thoughts.

What it says about God.

• God is in need of nothing and is not served by man - we cannot support God

• Give him the glory that is due i.e. recognition "AS GOD" nor were thankful

• God uses means because He knows his glory perfectly but creatures do not

and that is what we were made for

• God's abundance never dries up

What it says about you.

• You are dependent on God for everything

• You are bound to be thankful and recognize God's provision

• You are bound to use means and will give account of your stewardship

• You must be always reminded of these things (tithing should not be direct deposit)

Why give? Motivations to giving

A word about motivation

Subjective

Objective

Normative

Obligation and Freedom - Are we obligated in any sense to give?

An obligation is a requirement which a person must fulfill in order to be or remain just and righteous. It is a requirement that objectively rests upon a person whether they keep it or not, or feel like it or not.

What saith the Scriptures?

There seem to be two categories of passages in the NT about giving:

1. support of minsters

2. giving to the needy and poor

1.) the needs of the church

God uses means - not normally miracles

To neglect the normal means and presume for miracles can be testing God

Gal 6:6

1 Cor 9

1 Tim 5:17-18

2.) the needs of our neighbor

1 Tim 5:4-8 Your family must be first

Rom 15:25-28

1 Cor 16:1-4

2 Cor 8:1-9:18

1Jn 3:17 If you see your brother in need

Faith and Unbelief

Why we don't give

we don't have any money

we don't have enough money

we won't have enough money

we don't think we will have enough money to be prepared for what will come

DEBT - pay your debt first- but tithe (1 Tim 5:4)

How faith gives

Faith does not test God (2 Cor 8:12ff, Mat 15)

But it may give its last mite Mark 12:42-44

Faith must give with Love 1 Cor 13

Because faith believes the promise of God for future provision and grace, it does not need to depend on sight in order to see how its needs will be met and is freed to give.

Faith believes ALL the promises of God as they stand.