chpt 3 of God own$

3 The Delight of Giving
The Bible puts it this way in Matthew 6: 21, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Perhaps this is why money is the most talked about topic in the Bible. One Bible scholar estimated that there are 5,280 verses on the subject of money alone. The number of references on money far exceeds that on heaven, hell, salvation and prayer. Sixteen out of 38 parables refer to money and possessions.
This is misquoting 1 Timothy 6:10, which says, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many grief.” The root of evil is not “money” but the “love” of money.
When the Bible talks about giving in terms of money, it always speaks of tithes and offerings. The principles of giving are found in the Old Testament and then carry over into the New Testament.

Tithing
1. The Progression of Tithing
When we tithe, we are recognizing that God is the Sovereign Lord who owns everything and we are but stewards of what He has given us. Tithing is mentioned 10 times in the New Testament; each time, Jesus did not do away with tithing but took it to a new dimension under grace. He challenged believers to go beyond the legalistic righteousness of the Jews.
Under the Law, the tithe was the ceiling. However, under grace, the tithe was the floor! The tithe is the starting and not the ending point. It is the least that we can do, out of gratitude for what Jesus has done to set us free.

2. The Place of Tithing
In Malachi 3:10 says, “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse…” The storehouse originated from King Hezekiah in 2 Chronicles 31. It refers to the Temple of the Lord. In the New Testament, the storehouse would be the local church – the place where God has chosen for His Name, the place where you are spiritually fed.

3. The Purpose of Tithing
Under grace or the New Testament, we are compelled by love to give, as it is written in 1 Corinthians 13:3,”If I give all I possess to the poor ad surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.”


6 NEW testament principles of giving
1. The Principle of Proportion
1 Corinthians 16:2 says, “On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income…” The general principle is this: “To whom much is given, much will be required” and “Give as the Lord prospers you…” The most basic proportion would be the tithe or 10 per cent.
God is just God. He does not look at what we give but at what we keep. In Luke 21:1-4, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “I tell you the truth, ” he said “this widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

2. The Principle of Priority
Paul exhorted believers to set aside an amount for God first. In other words, let God have the firstfruits. If we are paid monthly, then set aside what we want to give God first before anything else. If not, we may end up giving God our leftovers.
***Malachi 3:10-12 says, “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. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit,’ says the LORD Almighty. “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the LORD Almighty.

3. The Principle of Purpose
2 Corinthians 9:7-8 tells us, “ Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” Let our giving be done purposefully. Let it be planned and predetermined. Do not tip God! Before you go to church, prayerfully decide what you want to give. Prepare the offering. Give purposefully as an act of worship.

4. The Principle of Privacy
Matthew 6:1-4 says, “Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven …… when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
Giving is so self-effacing that after you have given, forget about it! Do not keep an account of how generous you have been. Do not even brag about what you have given. Keep your giving private!

5. The Principle of Privilege
We must recognize that giving is a privilege! We give because we receive so much from the One who, for our sake, became poor, so that through His poverty, we might become rich. Giving then is no longer a sacrifice but a joy. We are no longer bound to give tithes and offerings. We are morally bound to give out of a heart of love and gratitude.

6. The Principle of Profit
Luke 6:38 tell us, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” God is no man’s debtor. We cannot outgive God.