Tithing/Money
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Introduction
Introduction
So starting off today with a scripture
And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’ ” And he said, “All these I have kept from my youth.” When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” But he said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” And Peter said, “See, we have left our homes and followed you.” And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.”
Money.... wealth
A lot of times, these topics make us very uncomfortable to talk about in certain contexts
I was taught from a very early age that you don’t go around talking about the money you have, but also its rude to ask anyone how much they make or how much money they have
The topic of money is one that is simultaneously widely talked about, especially on social media, yet is still taboo in certain ways
The rich young ruler told Jesus that he had kept all the commandments and followed all the rules, checked all the boxes....
And you have to imagine that in order to be described as a rich young ruler - he would have been living a certain level of lifestyle that he was accustomed to
We don’t know if he worked for that wealth or if he inherited it.... but either way, in that time, first century middle east, there was a social class system
The upper class enjoyed a much different lifestyle than the middle and lower classes
And most times the class you were in defined who you were
The upper class didn’t think of themselves as the same as the lower class
So when he comes to Jesus and says “what must I do to gain eternal life?” .... and Jesus tells him to sell everything he has and give to the poor, and to follow Him - that is not something he wants to hear
On top of giving away all the money and possessions he has, what do you think would happen to his social status if he gave away his wealth?
It would plummet - he would be “downgraded” to lower class if he gave away all his possessions
So it says he walked away sad, because that was something he didn’t expect Jesus to say
Jesus wasn’t concerned with his status, his wealth, or even his history - remember, he said he kept all the commandments
But Jesus is concerned with the heart
Where was this man’s heart? He came to Jesus he asked how to gain eternal life
Did he see eternal life and salvation as just another possession to gain?
We don’t know, but what we do know is that his possessions, status, wealth, and money held a greater place in his heart than following Jesus
It was a stronghold that he wasn’t willing to give up, even when it was to gain eternal life with God
Fast forward 2,000 years - and money, wealth is still a stronghold in most people’s lives and causes all kinds of conflicts when it arises
Especially in church..... the topic of money and tithing is one that is uncomfortable to discuss
Why does the topic of money often make us uncomfortable in church?
Some people don’t have it and feel like they’re lesser, some people have it and don’t want to give it up, some people are giving a lot but see it as a point of boastful pride.....
And on the church side, some churches are looking to get more money, some make people feel guilty if they don’t give, some churches flash the amount of money they have, and some abuse the money that is given to them
All these things make it uncomfortable to talk about money in the church
But Jesus did not shy away from this topic - He didn’t refuse to address this topic because it made people uncomfortable
Jesus clearly taught on the topic of money and wealth - but what He was after was more than just the material side of wealth
Key Idea: Our approach to money reflects our hearts and priorities
And so to start on the topic of money in the church, we need to start with exploring tithing in Scripture and its application
Biblical Foundation: Tithing in the Old Testament
Biblical Foundation: Tithing in the Old Testament
What is Tithing?
Definition: The word “tithe” means “a tenth”—giving 10% of one’s income or produce to God.
This practice underscores the belief that we give our first fruits to God
We give God our best; our first
Acknowledges God’s place in our life and demonstrates gratitude and trust
The biblical concept of tithing comes out of the Old Testament
Key Scriptures:
Leviticus 27:30
"Every tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is the Lord's; it is holy to the Lord."
Commentary:
Remember “holy” means to set apart from, to be different, to be sacred....
The tithe was considered sacred, set apart as holy for God’s purposes
This practice cultivated a mindset of reverence and dependence on God
Deuteronomy 14:22-23
"You shall tithe all the yield of your seed that comes from the field year by year...that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always."
Commentary:
Agricultural society - not really concerned with paper money
Tithing was a sign of respect and reverence - fear of the Lord
He is Judge of the world - to be on the wrong side of that judgement; nothing more you should fear
He is King and ruler
Tithing was a regular reminder of God’s provision
It helped the Israelites prioritize their relationship with God above material wealth.
Important to note that there was a whole system of tithing in ancient Jewish culture - they had things like the 1st Tithe, 2nd Tithe, and the Poor Tithe or 3rd Tithe
The whole system is in-depth and we’re not getting into the weeds on that
But the main ideas that we can glean from the concept and commands in the Old Testament of tithing are:
Acknowledging God as Provider and ruler:
By giving the first fruits, Israelites declared their dependence on God. This practice also symbolized trust in God’s continued provision.
It also was a sign of reverence and respect for God being the King
Supporting the Temple and Levites:
The tithe sustained the priesthood and ensured the temple’s operation. Numbers 18:21 explains that the Levites received the tithe as their inheritance since they had no land.
Helping the Vulnerable:
Portions were set aside for widows, orphans, and foreigners, showing God’s care for all (Deuteronomy 26:12). This principle highlights the communal aspect of tithing—caring for those in need.
New Testament Perspective on Tithing and Generosity
New Testament Perspective on Tithing and Generosity
Shift in Focus:
Jesus never commanded to tithe
The word “tithe” only shows up 4 times in the New Testament and none of which are in a command or direction to tithe
Why? Because Christ raised the bar for all things
Jesus didn’t come to abolish the Law, He came to fulfill the Law and in that showed us the heart behind God’s commands
This includes the practice of tithing
It shouldn’t be giving 10% is the end of your obligation, it should be seen as only the beginning
From legal obligation to a matter of the heart. Generosity becomes an act of joyful worship, reflecting God’s grace.
That rich young ruler we read about? He said he checked all the boxes, kept all the commandments, did all the obligations.... yet he fell short when challenged on where his heart was at - with his possessions and wealth
Because to have a heart for Christ, means to shift your priorities from serving yourself, the world, and the stuff in the world… to serving a God who is generous beyond comprehension
God is the most generous being in history - if you read the scriptures its just God giving and giving and giving....
Even the word forgiveness - you ever notice… its forGIVEness.... He GIVES this pardon and restoration purely has a gift of grace
The central belief we hold to, is that God is so generous that He forGIVES us....
And His will for us, is that we do the same
And this is evident in the Scriptures:
2 Corinthians 9:7
"Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."
Commentary: Paul emphasizes the freedom and joy in giving. True generosity stems from a heart transformed by God’s love.
Matthew 6:19-21
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth...but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven...For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Commentary: Jesus challenges us to examine our priorities. Where we invest our resources reveals what we truly value.
So we see in the book of Acts, the transformation of hearts being changed to a radical generosity toward people
Acts 4:32-35
"Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul...and it was distributed to each as any had need."
Commentary: The early church demonstrated radical generosity, meeting the needs of all members. This unity was a testimony to their faith and love for one another.
Again, Jesus wasn’t after just 10%, He wasn’t just after checking that box.... He was after much much more
He shows us that our money and wealth is tied to where our heart is at
So our giving doesn’t come from obligation and self-achievement
It comes from worship and having a heart that is dependent on God, not on wealth
So what does that look like? On a practical, real life level - what does “tithing” for lack of a better word, look like for the modern day church
It can look like many things...
Supporting Ministry:
Helps sustain church programs, missions, and facilities. Enables the church to reach out to the community and beyond.
Remember, church is not just one organization.... church is a people
So enabling the church, doesn’t necessarily mean you just giving money to Salt and Light or whatever organization you fellowship with.... it means seeing need in ministry and giving what is needed
Helping the Needy:
Reflects God’s heart for the marginalized.
Tithing funds can provide for practical needs like food, shelter, and education
Or even just fellowship
Now again, Jesus doesn’t command us to tithe, BUT that doesn’t mean He doesn’t address the issue at hand
But He was after a bigger portion than 10%.... not a bigger portion of your wallet, but He is after your whole life
Jesus’ Teaching on Money
Jesus’ Teaching on Money
One of those foundational Scriptures:
Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words. And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone’s opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away.
"Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God’s."
Commentary:
Who are we made in the image of? God
So Jesus masterfully compares what is imprinted on the coin to what is imprinted on us
Jesus isn’t concerned with a piece of metal with a face on it; He’s not concerned with a paper bill that has dead presidents on it
He’s concerned with us.... our hearts, our souls, our life - all of which have our Creator’s fingerprints imprinted on it
All of creation has God imprinted on it as our Creator
Now compare that to a few coins and dollars that we as people are so consumed with… God’s on a different level
A lot of us are here with our heads buried in parsing out our coins and the pursuit, management, spending, saving, gaining, investing, etc.... our money
Most people are serving the faces on the bills and coins, rather than the God of the universe
Now does this mean that Jesus wants all of us to be poor?
For the rich young ruler, was Jesus’ point that you have to be poor to follow Him?
No!
But what makes $100 worth more than $20 dollars?
They’re literally the same size, use the same amount of ink, printed on the same type of paper....
So what makes 100 worth more than 20?
Its the resources we can get from each
That makes it worth more
So Jesus is after how you view and use those resources.... is it to serve Him and further the salvation message? Or is it to serve yourself or the world and the kingdoms of the world?
That is an issue of the heart, not of a number in the bank
That is an issue of identity, how you choose to live your life, and what you choose to do with the resources God blesses you with
And I’ll say this - its not just people who have money that have this conflicting issue
If you don’t have money, but are fixated and think about getting it constantly - if you are consumed with not having it and wanting it..... you are serving the god of money just as much as people who have lots of it
Conclusion
Conclusion
Key Truth: Tithing doesn’t save us; faith in Jesus does.
Discuss the danger of relying on works rather than grace.
Purpose of Tithing, purpose of GIVING: An outward expression of a transformed heart that is based on faith
It’s a response to God’s grace and blessing, not a way to earn favor
The rich young ruler wanted to know how to GAIN eternal life
Jesus showed Him that the price tag is more than any money he had
The price is more than any amount of gold, dollars, or treasure on earth
It requires your faith, your life, your heart, your soul - to be transformed and completely given to God
Reflection Question: Is my giving motivated by love, gratitude, and faith in Jesus?
Or is it motivated by something else?
Storing up treasures
We’re all storing up treasures, the question is, where are we storing them?
On earth, where things wither away, are destroyed, decay.... or in heaven, where life is eternal and you are in the presence of God Himself
Choice is ours - we can’t serve two masters - its either we serve the world, or we serve Jesus
Pray
