What's at STAKE? The Promise of Tithing!

In Revelation 3:8, Jesus had John write to the church in Philadelphia (in ancient Asia), "I have opened a door for you that no one can close ..."

I believe God is doing the same for us at our ministry at New Life Church in Kokomo!  I believe God is opening a door for us to the most amazing and far-reaching ministry we have yet seen - and no one will be able to shut the door!

We are not the kind of family that will fail the people who will be looking to us for help, hope and healing!  But, in order to walk through the door, we've got to take the steps.  We've begun, but we have to keep moving.

Our Small Groups are fantastic and full of life.  The CHAMPs ministry is training children to do ministry in several ways in several places.  Our StormFront Youth Ministry is growing with 15 new guests in the last 2 weeks.  The Upward ministry is already connecting new families to the church this year, and our new Alpha Course is off to a great start with new converts and seekers studying more about Jesus!

We are starting the Extreme Makeover: Worship Center Edition Project this week!  Much needed and long-delayed structural issues will be addressed, as well as making the atmosphere welcoming to even more generations.

What's at STAKE?  In our last blog, we addressed the Principle of Sacrifice.  But there is also a promise from God that is at STAKE - it is The Promise of Tithing.

Malachi 3:10 - "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple.  If you do," says the LORD of Heaven's Armies, "I will open the windows of heaven for you.  I will pour out a blessing so great you won't have enough room to take it in!  Try it!  Put me to the test!"

Wow!  What a promise!  Did you read that carefully?  God has promised to open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing so great we won't have enough room to take it in!  He challenges us to test Him in this promise!

What is a tithe?  It is a Hebrew word (the language of the Old Testament) that describes the first tenth of one's income as property rightfully claimed by God.  Originally it was the first bushel out of every ten bushels of grain, the first lamb out of the ten lambs born, etc.

"Should I tithe before or after taxes? Do I tithe on the net or on the gross?"  How much did you earn?  You're taxed on what you earn - so you should tithe on what you earn - unless the government deserves better than God!

"Should I give the whole tithe to the church where I attend?"  Yes.  Local churches are the hub of ministry. Other great ministries are the spokes.  What ministry would exist without the local church?

In Malachi 3:8 the Lord talked about "tithes AND offerings".  They are two separate things.  If the tithe is the first 10%, then an offering is not make until we get to 11%!  And God promises to bless when we are faithful with tithes and offerings!

Someone says, "I agree that tithing is the right thing to do, but I have already committed my income (other debts) and there just isn't money left over - what do I do?"  Good question - don't let past mistakes dictate your present and future decisions!  If you have not been tithing, do not continue to make the same mistake!  Release yourself, if necessary, from some of the commitments.  Do not continue to penalize God's work for past errors.  Refinance, reschedule or rearrange your commitments.  Begin to tithe anyway and expect God to meet every need!  He will!

Someone else may ask, "I have been in real desperate financial straits.  I may even have to go into bankruptcy.  Can you honestly and sincerely ask me to tithe?"  Yes!  You need a miracle.  The curse is already there.  God's doesn't curse us for not tithing.  He tells us how to get out from under the curse by tithing!  God is the best financial consultant in the universe!  He promises to give you wisdom - and 10% is a small fee.

What if you are in bankruptcy now?  Make sure that God gets what is owed Him along with the other creditors.  How much do we owe Him?  How much would our tithe have amounted to since we started earning an income and how much have we given?  Isn't that what happens with others we owe?  Put God on your team permanently!  We need His skill, His wisdom, His inspiration and His blessings!

A number of years ago the news media reported about a family in bankruptcy that wanted to tithe and the bankruptcy court told them not to - they couldn't afford it.  They did it anyway and all their needs were met!

What if you would like to tithe but are unsure of your income?  Maybe you farm, or run a business and you're really not sure what your income is going to be.  Tithe on what you expect you will receive or would like to receive.  I've known people who tithed on what they wanted to receive as a raise, and they got the raise!

Someone asks, "What if I tithe and I feel I have made a mistake!"  Don't worry - that never happens!

What if you don't agree with the way all the money is spent?  On that basis we would give to nothing.  The question to ask is, "Is there something happening here that I think is wonderful?"  If so, then your tithe is going to that ministry!

"Are there people who give more than 10%?"  Absolutely!  All the time!  The fact is, 100% of everything we have belongs to God.  It's not how much of ours we give - it's how much of His we keep.

"What about the fact that Jesus never praised anyone for tithing?"  It was simply what they were supposed to do.  Jesus only praised one person for their giving and that was the poor widow with two coins who gave them both - everything she had!

"My spouse does not agree with me on tithing - what do I do?"  If you have a private allowance or a personal income - give the tithe from that!  God will bless you!  Many give 20% of their separate household income when their spouse doesn't tithe and the spouse always had a hard time picking up on why things are going so well!

"I lack the faith.  I wish I had it.  How do I get it?"  Romans 10:17 - Faith comes from hearing the Word of God.  Then when we obey God's word, when we try something that seems impossible, and it works - not only are we sure of our faith, our faith becomes unshakable!

I have a couple of stories I would like to share - but this is already a lot to digest.  I may add those stories tomorrow or later this week.

Go for the promised blessing!