Use Resources with Wisdom and Purpose
Written by Ed Allen
Saturday, 08 January 2005 19:00
"As followers of Jesus, we recognize that peace and happiness are found in God and not in material possessions. We also realize that all we have physically, spiritually and emotionally, is a gift from God. Therefore, as an act of obedience and an expression of gratitude, we want to use our finances, time and energy to honor God and serve the community." - Gateway Community Church Covenant
Deuteronomy 8:1-20; Psalm 24:1; Malachi 3:10; 1 John 2:15-17; Matthew 6:19-21, 24; 2 Corinthians 9:6-13; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 4:28; James 1:17
Sermon Notes
Malachi 3:6-12
6 "I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. 7 Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you," says the LORD Almighty. "But you ask, 'How are we to return?' 8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse-the whole nation of you-because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the LORD Almighty. 12 "Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land," says the LORD Almighty.
v.6 God is faithful. He does not change.
v.7 Based on His faithfulness, He calls the people to return to Him and tells them how to return.
vv.8-9 The people have been robbing God by withholding their tithes and offerings.
v.10a Believe God. "Test me in this..." Test me means to enter in, act on what He has said and see how He responds (He will "pour out... a blessing until it overflows.")
v.10b An amazing promise "I will open the floodgates of heaven."
The wise and purposeful use of our resources begins with giving to God.
When we become givers, we put ourselves into a position to be blessed by God.
A tithe is literally a tenth.
- In the Old Testament, it went to the priests to support the priests and the upkeep of the temple. It was also used to help the poor.
- The tithe is a good standard for us.
- Galatians 6 affirms Malachi 3. "God is not mocked. You reap what you sow."