I wanted to expand a little further on what I spoke about last Sunday. Why? Because it is imperative that we get this right before the last great move of the Holy Spirit! There is a portion of Scripture in the Book of Genesis that is fascinating read. It is the first “special forces” rescue and recovery in the Bible. Apparently, sometime after Lot had moved to Sodom and Gomorrah, the cities were taken captive during a war with the neighboring Kingdoms of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim. They made war with Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) because Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah decided to rebel against Chedorlaomer king of Elam. They were defeated and fled into the hills while some fell into the tar-pits the Valley of Siddim. Lot was also captured and taken away. One of those who fled came and told Abram. Let’s pick it up in Genesis 14:14-16 (ESV)
“When Abram heard that his kinsman had been taken captive, he led forth his trained men, born in his house, 318 of them, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. 15 And he divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and defeated them and pursued them to Hobah, north of Damascus. 16 Then he brought back all the possessions, and also brought back his kinsman Lot with his possessions, and the women and the people.17 After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley). 18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) 19 And he blessed him and said,
“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Possessor of heaven and earth;
20 and blessed be God Most High,
who has delivered your enemies into your hand!”And Abram gave him a tenth of everything. 21 And the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, but take the goods for yourself.” 22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have lifted my hand to the Lord, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth, 23 that I would not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’
This is actually the first time that “tithing” is mentioned in the scriptures. Notice that tithing has nothing to do with the Levitical system of laws that were established hundreds of years later with Moses. It is established by Abram, the father of us all. This principle of tithing is reiterated by the writer of the book of Hebrews in chapter 7:1-3 (ESV)
“For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. 3 He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.”
This portion gives us a little more understanding of who Melchizedek is. There is enough here to believe that he was the “Son of God”. He is eternal in nature and his roll is that of an eternal priest. He offers Abram bread and wine which are both New Testament sacraments. I believe that this establishes tithing as a scriptural principle that transcends all time.
Abram might have had is flaws but one thing is absolute. Abram recognized that God was his source, and he lived an unselfish life. If you remember, his nephew lot had chosen the best land when given the choice and eventually ended up living in Sodom. Abram could have said, “oh well, Lot got what he deserved, serves him right. Why should I risk my men and wealth to rescue him?” His selfless act of rescuing his nephew led to an encounter with the most-high God. He recognized him and gave Him a 10th of all his possessions. The bottom line in tithing is recognizing that without the Lord, I am nothing and have nothing. Tithing than becomes an incredible act of worship. Abram recognized the Lord as the source of wealth. When the King of Sodom offered Abram a reward for returning his possessions, he offers Abram a reward. This was Abram’s response as recorded in Genesis 14:22-23 (ESV)
“But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have lifted my hand to the Lord, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth, 23 that I would not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’”
Tithing is recognizing then that God is my ultimate source. It is a discipline that shows honor and worship to God. When I don’t tithe, it shows that I really don’t believe that God is my source of wealth and I try to keep my favor with God by throwing Him a tip. That attitude is nothing but a show of religious arrogance and according to the Book Of Malachi does not impress God.
Malachi 3:6-12
“For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. 7 From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’ 8 Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. 9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. 10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. 11 I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts. 12 Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.
So the Lord is saying, “if you really love and trust Me, put your money where your mouth is, oh and besides, 10% of what I give you with actually belongs to Me!” According to Malachi 3:2-4 (ESV). The coming glory of revival is connected to bringing your gifts to the Lord.
“But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord. 4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.”
Perhaps that is why it’s been prophesied many times that the coming season will be as serious as it was during the days of Ananias and Saphira (Acts 5:1-11)
So, the question is, If God’s word is absolute and we use it as a guide to my life, is the American Church “robbing” God? Here are some statistics regarding the Church in America.
US Tithing Statistics
• 5% of churchgoers tithe (Church Development).
• 1.5 million people tithe out of the 247 million U.S. citizens identifying as Christians (Sharefaith).
• 77% of tithers give more than 10% (Health Research Funding).
• If every Christian tithed 10%, faith organizations would have an extra $139 billion each year (Health Research Funding).
• The giving preferences of those who tithe are almost evenly split between eGiving (27%) and traditional giving (28%) (Vanco Churchgoer Giving Study).
Average Giving Per Person
• The average weekly giving amount per churchgoer is $17 per week (Health Research Funding).
• That’s $73.67 a month per giver.
• That’s $884 a year per giver.
• U.S. Christians collectively make $5.2 trillion annually—nearly half the world’s total Christian income (Health Research Funding).
Sounds like the US Church needs to do alot of repenting and asking for forgiveness before the outpouring of the Spirit can come. God is so serious about this that He challenges His followers to “test” Him in this in Malachi 3:10 (ESV)
“Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.