“And brought in the offerings and the tithes and the dedicated [things] faithfully: over which Cononiah the Levite [was] ruler, and Shimei his brother [was] the next.” (2Ch 31:12 KJV)

Earlier this week as I considered the message for this Morning, Faith Promise Commitment Sunday and subject occurred to me as we were praying, “Missions and Money”  We have considered the Mandate for Mission, Prayer and the Harvest, and “The Authority of the Word of God and Missions” Now comes the practical and beneficial aspect of missions. Most of us are never going to go overseas, most of us are never going to go on deputation, most of us are never going to preach in a foreign land or for that matter in our homeland, but we can all be involved in Missions.

But to better understand what missions giving is all about I believe it will be necessary to consider “giving” in general and what is God’s plan to sustain His work.

I want to remind you that for a pastor there are several problems with preaching on money. 1) Some will say all he is after is our money and will be offended 2) Some will say he is meddling in our affairs. 3) This is not popular at any time of the year especially at Christmas Time when we are trying to stretch our budgets to buy things for loved ones. To those who God has given a special gift of giving it is an encouragement because they desire others to get involved in the blessings of Giving.

I want you to know that as I preach on giving this morning, It has always been my desire to be an example to the believer in this area especially. We “could” have more money for us if we gave less to the “Church” some may say. But I have found over the year just the opposite to be true. God has said, “give and it will given unto you. 

When we begin looking at the Subject of Giving we find that it is a large topic maybe larger than one or two messages. We read scripture and find it through out the Word. But I want to focus on Four thoughts this morning.

1) The Tithe

2) The Offering

3) The Dedicated Thing

4) The First Requirement to Right Giving.

I. The Tithe.

A. The Arguments against

1. Are from the heart of those who have no desire to obey God’s word.

2. They are often times from those who rebel against giving

3. They are often times from those who have not a heart for the souls of men.

B. The Arguments for from the Word of God.

1. The Tithe was before the Law—At least as old as Abraham

“And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.” (Ge 14:20 KJV)

“But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.” (Heb 7:6 KJV)

2. The Tithe is the Lord’s

“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 unto the LORD.” (Le 27:30 KJV)

 “Thus speak unto the Levites, and say unto them, When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave offering of it for the LORD, [even] a tenth [part] of the tithe.” (Nu 18:26 KJV)

3. The Tithe is of the increase

“Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.” (De 14:22 KJV)

“At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay [it] up within thy gates:” (De 14:28 KJV)

“And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all [things] brought they in abundantly.” (2Ch 31:5 KJV)

a) It occurred to me one day as I was reading one of these passages, God does not ask me to tithe that which is in my pocket, but that which he will put in my pocket.

b) He is responsible to give the increase, He only ask that you be honest and acknowledge where your increase came from. It is the Lord.

4. The tithe a tenth part is our way of acknowledge the source of our blessing.

“And this stone, which I have set [for] a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.” (Ge 28:22 KJV)

5. Consisted Of A Tenth

a) Of all the produce of the land

“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 unto the LORD.” (Le 27:30 KJV)

b) Of all cattle

 “And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, [even] of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD.” (Le 27:32 KJV)

c) Of holy things dedicated

“And [concerning] the children of Israel and Judah, that dwelt in the cities of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of holy things which were consecrated unto the LORD their God, and laid [them] by heaps.” (2Ch 31:6 KJV)

6. The word for tithe is translated as

a) tithe 27,

b) tenth part 2,

c) tenth 2,

d) tithing 1

e) The Good Old KJV even give us the definition the Tithe is the tenth part. (Note tithe and tenth are two different words.

“And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, [even] of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD.” (Le 27:32 KJV)

C. The Tithe in the New Testament

1. Jesus pronounced a woe on the scribes and Pharisees not for tithing, but for that being the end of their compassion.

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier [matters] of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.” (Mt 23:23 KJV)

“But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.” (Lu 11:42 KJV)

2. He Says they should tithe, but they should also do more.

D. Where does the Tithe belong.

1. First we have the Old Testament for our example.

“Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.” (1Co 10:6 KJV)

“Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” (1Co 10:11 KJV)

2. There have been great men of God who have taught that the Local Church is not the Storehouse because we have no temple or house of God today. But then those same men in preach will declare that we should all come to the House of God for prayer, preaching and fellowship. In the case of Dr. J.R. Rice there are some who claim he preach thus because the Sword of the Lord need your tithe.

3. But I notice in my study that in Bethel a pillar or stone was set up and Jacob called it the house of God.

“And this stone, which I have set [for] a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.” (Ge 28:22 KJV)

a) If Jacob could set a stone up and call it the house of God.

b) Can we not justly call the place we worship the house of God.

c) The early first century Church had no buildings, should we abandon our buildings.

II. The Offering

A. The meaning of the first use of the word

1. offering 164,

2. present 28,

3. gift 7,

4. oblation 6, --Webster’s An offering of sacrifice or thanksgiving.

5. sacrifice 5,

6. meat 1

B. 35 times the offering is referred to as a gift or present. How can the tithe which is the Lord’s be a gift to him.

1. If your boss puts a pretty bow and your car and say here is your Christmas gift, you would think him a fool.

2. If your wife wraps up your best tie and suit and puts it under the tree, will your not laugh as you open your Christmas “gift”

C. And yet we claim to have given God an offering when we have not yet given him our tithe.

1. We think thus because we donot consider the tithe as belong to him.

2. We think thus because we have never really come to the place where we are grateful for his benefits to us.

3. We thing thus because we in our pride believe are little will be of great importance to Him.

4. (to the preacher it may be, but to God who needs nothing our little favor to him would be like giving a piece of chocolate “Wille Wonka, the candy man” )

D. What is the offering.

1. Burnt – Consecration

a) This is called an offering- a sweet savor to the Lord.

b) It is voluntary.

c) It is because he recognized a need for atonement.

 “If his offering [be] a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD. And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him. And he shall kill the bullock before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall bring the blood, and sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar that [is by] the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And he shall flay the burnt offering, and cut it into his pieces. And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire upon the altar, and lay the wood in order upon the fire: And the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall lay the parts, the head, and the fat, in order upon the wood that [is] on the fire which [is] upon the altar: But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all on the altar, [to be] a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD. And if his offering [be] of the flocks, [namely], of the sheep, or of the goats, for a burnt sacrifice; he shall bring it a male without blemish. And he shall kill it on the side of the altar northward before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall sprinkle his blood round about upon the altar. And he shall cut it into his pieces, with his head and his fat: and the priest shall lay them in order on the wood that [is] on the fire which [is] upon the altar: But he shall wash the inwards and the legs with water: and the priest shall bring [it] all, and burn [it] upon the altar: it [is] a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD. And if the burnt sacrifice for his offering to the LORD [be] of fowls, then he shall bring his offering of turtledoves, or of young pigeons. And the priest shall bring it unto the altar, and wring off his head, and burn [it] on the altar; and the blood thereof shall be wrung out at the side of the altar: And he shall pluck away his crop with his feathers, and cast it beside the altar on the east part, by the place of the ashes: And he shall cleave it with the wings thereof, [but] shall not divide [it] asunder: and the priest shall burn it upon the altar, upon the wood that [is] upon the fire: it [is] a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.” (Le 1:3-17 KJV)

“I will offer unto thee burnt sacrifices of fatlings, with the incense of rams; I will offer bullocks with goats. Selah.” (Ps 66:15 KJV)

2. Sin – Salvation

a) This is for knowing sinner

b) This is a non sweet savor—How could that which picture the death of Christ on the Cross be a sweet savor to God. 

c) It is done openly before the congregation

d) The sinner identifies with the offering 

 “If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people; then let him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto the LORD for a sin offering. And he shall bring the bullock unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD; and shall lay his hand upon the bullock’s head, and kill the bullock before the LORD. And the priest that is anointed shall take of the bullock’s blood, and bring it to the tabernacle of the congregation: And the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle of the blood seven times before the LORD, before the vail of the sanctuary. And the priest shall put [some] of the blood upon the horns of the altar of sweet incense before the LORD, which [is] in the tabernacle of the congregation; and shall pour all the blood of the bullock at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which [is at] the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And he shall take off from it all the fat of the bullock for the sin offering; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that [is] upon the inwards, And the two kidneys, and the fat that [is] upon them, which [is] by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away, As it was taken off from the bullock of the sacrifice of peace offerings: and the priest shall burn them upon the altar of the burnt offering. And the skin of the bullock, and all his flesh, with his head, and with his legs, and his inwards, and his dung, Even the whole bullock shall he carry forth without the camp unto a clean place, where the ashes are poured out, and burn him on the wood with fire: where the ashes are poured out shall he be burnt. And if the whole congregation of Israel sin through ignorance, and the thing be hid from the eyes of the assembly, and they have done [somewhat against] any of the commandments of the LORD [concerning things] which should not be done, and are guilty; When the sin, which they have sinned against it, is known, then the congregation shall offer a young bullock for the sin, and bring him before the tabernacle of the congregation. And the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands upon the head of the bullock before the LORD: and the bullock shall be killed before the LORD. And the priest that is anointed shall bring of the bullock’s blood to the tabernacle of the congregation: And the priest shall dip his finger [in some] of the blood, and sprinkle [it] seven times before the LORD, [even] before the vail. And he shall put [some] of the blood upon the horns of the altar which [is] before the LORD, that [is] in the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall pour out all the blood at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which [is at] the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And he shall take all his fat from him, and burn [it] upon the altar. And he shall do with the bullock as he did with the bullock for a sin offering, so shall he do with this: and the priest shall make an atonement for them, and it shall be forgiven them. And he shall carry forth the bullock without the camp, and burn him as he burned the first bullock: it [is] a sin offering for the congregation. When a ruler hath sinned, and done [somewhat] through ignorance [against] any of the commandments of the LORD his God [concerning things] which should not be done, and is guilty; Or if his sin, wherein he hath sinned, come to his knowledge; he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a male without blemish: And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the goat, and kill it in the place where they kill the burnt offering before the LORD: it [is] a sin offering. And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put [it] upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out his blood at the bottom of the altar of burnt offering. And he shall burn all his fat upon the altar, as the fat of the sacrifice of peace offerings: and the priest shall make an atonement for him as concerning his sin, and it shall be forgiven him. And if any one of the common people sin through ignorance, while he doeth [somewhat against] any of the commandments of the LORD [concerning things] which ought not to be done, and be guilty; Or if his sin, which he hath sinned, come to his knowledge: then he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which he hath sinned. And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slay the sin offering in the place of the burnt offering. And the priest shall take of the blood thereof with his finger, and put [it] upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar. And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat is taken away from off the sacrifice of peace offerings; and the priest shall burn [it] upon the altar for a sweet savour unto the LORD; and the priest shall make an atonement for him, and it shall be forgiven him. And if he bring a lamb for a sin offering, he shall bring it a female without blemish. And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slay it for a sin offering in the place where they kill the burnt offering. And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put [it] upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar: And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat of the lamb is taken away from the sacrifice of the peace offerings; and the priest shall burn them upon the altar, according to the offerings made by fire unto the LORD: and the priest shall make an atonement for his sin that he hath committed, and it shall be forgiven him.” (Le 4:3-35 KJV)

 “Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, saying, This [is] the law of the sin offering: In the place where the burnt offering is killed shall the sin offering be killed before the LORD: it [is] most holy.” (Le 6:25 KJV)

 “Wherefore have ye not eaten the sin offering in the holy place, seeing it [is] most holy, and [God] hath given it you to bear the iniquity of the congregation, to make atonement for them before the LORD?” (Le 10:17 KJV)

3. Trespass – Victory over the Guilt of Sin

a) Required restitution for harm done

b) Acknowledge our sinfulness and carelessness

 “And he shall make amends for the harm that he hath done in the holy thing, and shall add the fifth part thereto, and give it unto the priest: and the priest shall make an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering, and it shall be forgiven him. And if a soul sin, and commit any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the LORD; though he wist [it] not, yet is he guilty, and shall bear his iniquity. And he shall bring a ram without blemish out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass offering, unto the priest: and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his ignorance wherein he erred and wist [it] not, and it shall be forgiven him. It [is] a trespass offering: he hath certainly trespassed against the LORD.” (Le 5:16-19 KJV)

 “And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD, a ram without blemish out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass offering, unto the priest:” (Le 6:6 KJV)

 “Likewise this [is] the law of the trespass offering: it [is] most holy.” (Le 7:1 KJV)

4. Peace –Fellowship with God

a) A sweet odor to God

b) A free will offering, because of the peace in his life.

 “And if his oblation [be] a sacrifice of peace offering, if he offer [it] of the herd; whether [it be] a male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the LORD. And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his offering, and kill it [at] the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and Aaron’s sons the priests shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar round about. And he shall offer of the sacrifice of the peace offering an offering made by fire unto the LORD; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that [is] upon the inwards, And the two kidneys, and the fat that [is] on them, which [is] by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away. And Aaron’s sons shall burn it on the altar upon the burnt sacrifice, which [is] upon the wood that [is] on the fire: [it is] an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD. And if his offering for a sacrifice of peace offering unto the LORD [be] of the flock; male or female, he shall offer it without blemish. If he offer a lamb for his offering, then shall he offer it before the LORD. And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his offering, and kill it before the tabernacle of the congregation: and Aaron’s sons shall sprinkle the blood thereof round about upon the altar. And he shall offer of the sacrifice of the peace offering an offering made by fire unto the LORD; the fat thereof, [and] the whole rump, it shall he take off hard by the backbone; and the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that [is] upon the inwards, And the two kidneys, and the fat that [is] upon them, which [is] by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away. And the priest shall burn it upon the altar: [it is] the food of the offering made by fire unto the LORD. And if his offering [be] a goat, then he shall offer it before the LORD. And he shall lay his hand upon the head of it, and kill it before the tabernacle of the congregation: and the sons of Aaron shall sprinkle the blood thereof upon the altar round about. And he shall offer thereof his offering, [even] an offering made by fire unto the LORD; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that [is] upon the inwards, And the two kidneys, and the fat that [is] upon them, which [is] by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away. And the priest shall burn them upon the altar: [it is] the food of the offering made by fire for a sweet savour: all the fat [is] the LORD’S. [It shall be] a perpetual statute for your generations throughout all your dwellings, that ye eat neither fat nor blood.” (Le 3:1-17 KJV)

 “And this [is] the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which he shall offer unto the LORD.” (Le 7:11 KJV)

5. Meat – Service

a) This offering was of the fruit of the man’s hand

b) It picture the giving of oneself to the Lord and what you have for his service.

 “And when any will offer a meat offering unto the LORD, his offering shall be [of] fine flour; and he shall pour oil upon it, and put frankincense thereon: And he shall bring it to Aaron’s sons the priests: and he shall take thereout his handful of the flour thereof, and of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof; and the priest shall burn the memorial of it upon the altar, [to be] an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD: And the remnant of the meat offering [shall be] Aaron’s and his sons’: [it is] a thing most holy of the offerings of the LORD made by fire. And if thou bring an oblation of a meat offering baken in the oven, [it shall be] unleavened cakes of fine flour mingled with oil, or unleavened wafers anointed with oil. And if thy oblation [be] a meat offering [baken] in a pan, it shall be [of] fine flour unleavened, mingled with oil. Thou shalt part it in pieces, and pour oil thereon: it [is] a meat offering. And if thy oblation [be] a meat offering [baken] in the fryingpan, it shall be made [of] fine flour with oil. And thou shalt bring the meat offering that is made of these things unto the LORD: and when it is presented unto the priest, he shall bring it unto the altar. And the priest shall take from the meat offering a memorial thereof, and shall burn [it] upon the altar: [it is] an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD. And that which is left of the meat offering [shall be] Aaron’s and his sons’: [it is] a thing most holy of the offerings of the LORD made by fire. No meat offering, which ye shall bring unto the LORD, shall be made with leaven: for ye shall burn no leaven, nor any honey, in any offering of the LORD made by fire. As for the oblation of the firstfruits, ye shall offer them unto the LORD: but they shall not be burnt on the altar for a sweet savour. And every oblation of thy meat offering shalt thou season with salt; neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy meat offering: with all thine offerings thou shalt offer salt. And if thou offer a meat offering of thy firstfruits unto the LORD, thou shalt offer for the meat offering of thy firstfruits green ears of corn dried by the fire, [even] corn beaten out of full ears. And thou shalt put oil upon it, and lay frankincense thereon: it [is] a meat offering. And the priest shall burn the memorial of it, [part] of the beaten corn thereof, and [part] of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof: [it is] an offering made by fire unto the LORD.” (Le 2:1-16 KJV)

 “Then shall he that offereth his offering unto the LORD bring a meat offering of a tenth deal of flour mingled with the fourth [part] of an hin of oil.” (Nu 15:4 KJV)

6. Thank

a) It is please to the Lord to offer thanks

b) It was flour with nothing but oil mixed in—Our life, pulse the Holy Spirit—What can happen with such a relationship

 “If he offer it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving unleavened cakes mingled with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil, and cakes mingled with oil, of fine flour, fried.” (Le 7:12 KJV)

 “And when ye will offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving unto the LORD, offer [it] at your own will.” (Le 22:29 KJV)

 “Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:” (Ps 50:14 KJV)

7. Free-will

a) If it is coerced it is not a gift

b) If it is given out of duty it is not a gift

 “Beside the sabbaths of the LORD, and beside your gifts, and beside all your vows, and beside all your freewill offerings, which ye give unto the LORD.” (Le 23:38 KJV)

 “And thou shalt keep the feast of weeks unto the LORD thy God with a tribute of a freewill offering of thine hand, which thou shalt give [unto the LORD thy God], according as the LORD thy God hath blessed thee:” (De 16:10 KJV)

 “That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform; [even] a freewill offering, according as thou hast vowed unto the LORD thy God, which thou hast promised with thy mouth.” (De 23:23 KJV)

8. First-fruits – Acknowledgement of where it all comes from. The tithe is of the first fruits, the best and the sweetest belongs to him.

 “Thou shalt not delay [to offer] the first of thy ripe fruits, and of thy liquors: the firstborn of thy sons shalt thou give unto me.” (Ex 22:29 KJV)

 “The firstfruit [also] of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the first of the fleece of thy sheep, shalt thou give him.” (De 18:4 KJV)

9. Gifts –

a) Willing heart

b) Personal possession

c) Valueable things.

 “And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing hearted, [and] brought bracelets, and earrings, and rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold: and every man that offered [offered] an offering of gold unto the LORD.” (Ex 35:22 KJV)

E. What are the Offering that you bring.

III. Dedicated things.

A. As I first saw this category I don’t believe I had seen it until this week. I believe it was what I had done with my faith promise but I had never seen it named in such a way,

B. The tithe was prescribe, the Offerings were spelled out, but the dedicated things, could be what ever my heart desire to give to the Lord.

C. In scripture they seem to be things that are place in the treasury

“And of the Levites, Ahijah [was] over the treasures of the house of God, and over the treasures of the dedicated things.” (1Ch 26:20 KJV)

 “Which Shelomith and his brethren [were] over all the treasures of the dedicated things, which David the king, and the chief fathers, the captains over thousands and hundreds, and the captains of the host, had dedicated.” (1Ch 26:26 KJV)

 “And the pattern of all that he had by the spirit, of the courts of the house of the LORD, and of all the chambers round about, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries of the dedicated things:” (1Ch 28:12 KJV)

 “For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken up the house of God; and also all the dedicated things of the house of the LORD did they bestow upon Baalim.” (2Ch 24:7 KJV)

 “And brought in the offerings and the tithes and the dedicated [things] faithfully: over which Cononiah the Levite [was] ruler, and Shimei his brother [was] the next.” (2Ch 31:12 KJV)

1. All the money that came into a man’s heart if the first use

“And Jehoash said to the priests, All the money of the dedicated things that is brought into the house of the LORD, [even] the money of every one that passeth [the account], the money that every man is set at, [and] all the money that cometh into any man’s heart to bring into the house of the LORD,” (2Ki 12:4 KJV)

D. Could we not see in this the need to dedicate some money to the Lord’s work that is over and above what the tithe and offering require.

“Upon the first [day] of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as [God] hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.” (1Co 16:2 KJV)

1. This was not the weekly offering it was given to Paul, not the Local Church

2. It was “as God hath prospered him,”

3. It was done in advance of a passionate plea that plays on the heart strings. It was a willful and voluntary commitment of things to the ministry.

4. The example of Scripture

“Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him.” (Ge 26:12 KJV)

 “And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine eyes, [tarry: for] I have learned by experience that the LORD hath blessed me for thy sake.” (Ge 30:27 KJV)

 “For [it was] little which thou hadst before I [came], and it is [now] increased unto a multitude; and the LORD hath blessed thee since my coming: and now when shall I provide for mine own house also?” (Ge 30:30 KJV)

 “I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands.” (Ge 32:10 KJV)

 “Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he took [it].” (Ge 33:11 KJV)

 “But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for [it is] he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as [it is] this day.” (De 8:18 KJV)

 “For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land. [And] if thy brother, an Hebrew man, or an Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee, and serve thee six years; then in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee. And when thou sendest him out free from thee, thou shalt not let him go away empty: Thou shalt furnish him liberally out of thy flock, and out of thy floor, and out of thy winepress: [of that] wherewith the LORD thy God hath blessed thee thou shalt give unto him.” (De 15:11-14 KJV)

 “And Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok answered him, and said, Since [the people] began to bring the offerings into the house of the LORD, we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty: for the LORD hath blessed his people; and that which is left [is] this great store.” (2Ch 31:10 KJV)

 “Since those [days] were, when [one] came to an heap of twenty [measures], there were [but] ten: when [one] came to the pressfat for to draw out fifty [vessels] out of the press, there were [but] twenty. I smote you with blasting and with mildew and with hail in all the labours of your hands; yet ye [turned] not to me, saith the LORD. Consider now from this day and upward, from the four and twentieth day of the ninth [month, even] from the day that the foundation of the LORD’S temple was laid, consider [it]. Is the seed yet in the barn? yea, as yet the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive tree, hath not brought forth: from this day will I bless [you].” (Hag 2:16-19 KJV)

 “Ye [are] cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, [even] this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that [there shall] not [be room] enough [to receive it].” (Mal 3:9-10 KJV)

 “And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called [unto him] his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all [they] did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, [even] all her living.” (Mr 12:41-44 KJV)

 “She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.” (Mr 14:8 KJV)

 “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.” (Lu 16:10 KJV)

IV. The First Requirement to Right Giving.

“Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. For to [their] power, I bear record, yea, and beyond [their] power [they were] willing of themselves;” (2Co 8:1-3 KJV)

A. Our ability to give lies not in our abundance or poverty

“For if there be first a willing mind, [it is] accepted according to that a man hath, [and] not according to that he hath not. For [I mean] not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: But by an equality, [that] now at this time your abundance [may be a supply] for their want, that their abundance also may be [a supply] for your want: that there may be equality: As it is written, He that [had gathered] much had nothing over; and he that [had gathered] little had no lack.” (2Co 8:12-15 KJV)

B.  They Gave first of themselvs

“And [this they did], not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.” (2Co 8:5 KJV)

C. God is more interested in you giving yourselve, than your things.

“Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, [and] bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, [or] with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn [for] my transgression, the fruit of my body [for] the sin of my soul?” (Mic 6:6-7 KJV)

D. But be careful, do not claim your have given yourself and nothing more is required. For God knows your heart

God's Simple Plan of Salvation

This Was Your Life

Rodeo Cowboy's Prayer