Tithes & Offerings ~ Part 2 ~~ First Things First!

Tithes & Offerings ~ Part 2
First Things First!

By Pastor Gary Wayne

As I have been studying this topic in scripture, this week I felt God remind me to look at this topic, and communicate from the “Tree of Life,” not the tree of “Good & Evil.”
Down through the years, I have listened to sermons and teaching focused on the requirements of God’s giving principals.
But I feel strongly I need to focus this series looking at my heart in pursuit of Father’s heart and the role that finances can play in that pursuit.

Last week we looked at how Tithes & Offerings are a heart thing.
Who is first in my life? Nothing speaks louder than money as to the answer to this question. "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Mt 6:21

Text: Proverbs 3:5-10, 1 Kings 17:8-16
There is much about his story that causes me to shake my head.
Often the things of God don’t make sense to me. There is a conflict with my understanding!
v.9 “I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.” Why a widow? Why not someone who could afford to support him?
The principal in this story illustrates God’s principle of Tithes & Offerings.”
When I do things God’s way, miracles happen.

If I am pursuing God’s heart, when He askes me to do something that seems to go against my understanding, I have an opportunity to see if I actually want His heart or it’s just religious words.

Pro. 3:5-10
Ex 23:19 “The first of the firstfruits of your land you shall bring into the house of the Lord your God…”
Lev 27:30 “And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord's. It is holy to the Lord.”
Mal 3:10-11 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this," Says the LORD of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it. "And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field," Says the LORD of hosts…”

Firstfruits = the first of any increase, the first of the crops, of the animals, of the income - God says it belongs to Him.
Firstfruits in Hebrew literally means “promise to come.”
Tithe in the Hebrew simply means “a tenth” – I bring 10% of my firstfruits to God.

This principal is all the way through Scripture. If I had a new sheep that gave birth to a lamb, the first lamb born to that ewe is the Lords.
I don’t wait until that ewe gives birth to more lambs, then bring a tithe, but I bring the first.
I don’t wait to see if I have enough to pay my bills then give Him what is left over.
This obedience in giving Him the first, is active faith in God saying I understand He is my source.

There is not much trust or gratitude involved in giving God my leftovers.

If God doesn’t bless what I have, I am counting on luck or my energy to have increase.
But without the miracle of increase, I wouldn’t have an increase.
When I plant a kernel of grain, I don’t reap a kernel, but BUNCH of kernels for the one seed kernel I plant. That is a miracle from God. INCREASE!
By bringing the first of my increase, I am acknowledging that it is God that blessed me, and not my hard work.

When I bring to God what is actually His, I acknowledge that without His blessing I wouldn’t have anything to give in the first place.
I CAN’T MAKE IT WITHOUT HIS BLESSING.

I believe the reason some struggle with being obedient to God in finances, is because this giving plan makes NO SENCE. How can I get ahead financially by giving away 10%?
I would rather have 90% blessed by God than 100% not available to His blessing.

Re-Read Prov.3:5
Re-Read Mal 3:10-11 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this," Says the LORD of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it. "And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field," Says the LORD of hosts…”

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart…”
"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Mt 6:21
Keep the first things first!