God's Plan for Giving, Part 1 B

Beloved tithing was taxation for the theocracy will live in a theocracy, but government is still ordained of God is not that is giving or get stuck at the tent.

Don't limit yourself to legalistic giving you free in the spirit of God, to give super abundantly and so you may want practiced by Christians every week for centuries. I'm talking about tithing giving 10% of what you earn to the Lord now while tithing is a well-known part of church worship, is it something the New Testament calls believers to do what was the standard of giving in the Old Testament, and is it the same standard as the New Testament. Bottom line, what principles should guide your giving to your church. Find out today as John continues a series God's plan for giving and now here's John now.

Genesis 1420 is the first mention of the time in a course you know the story of Abraham Abram at this time had just returned from fighting of these kings slaughter of cheddar lumber and the kings in verse 17 in the Valley of Shada and he had been victorious. Sandy had taken a tremendous amount of spoil treasure from these kings that he had conquered on his way back, he runs into the king of Salem, Salem is the ancient name of the a rose Salem Jerusalem, the king of Salem was a man a Melchizedek, who was not only a king but according to the book of Hebrews was also a priest and it says as well. In verse 18 that he was a king and a priest of the most high God. So when Abram sees this man, who represents God.

He wants to express thanks to God for the victory. So what is he do verse 20 the end of the verse.

He gave him 1/10 of all. Now it doesn't say God told him to do this again. It is not commanded that he give a 10 and I think it most interesting to note that it doesn't necessarily mean that he gave 1/10 of everything that he owned. He gave 1/10 of something that he took in this battle. Another thought. Abraham lived 160 years. At no time in Scripture is ever recorded before or after this incident that he ever gave a 10 this is the only time that he ever gave a 10 that we know of in the record of his hundred and 60 years on that indicates something to us and it was in the 10th of his income, and it wasn't annual tent, it was simply that he chose to do it now. Another thought in Hebrews 72 it says he gave him 1/10 of the spoils. It's translated but the Greek word is outgrowth inion the word Akron is in there, which means the pinnacle of the top top outgrowth inion means the top of the heap. It says he gave him a tithe of the top of the heap. It could mean that he gave him 1/10 of the top of the heap. So it wasn't 1/10 of the total piles attend to the top of the pile. There were to try to say and try to say that maybe only gave them was 1/10 of the best that he had not 1/10 of everything. If he took spoils of all five kings and their kingdoms, 1/10 of all that would've been an awful lot for one priest to handle maybe only gave attend the top of the heap. But the point is, it was a one time thing. There is no record that he ever did it this way again right free voluntary motivated only by gratitude in his heart not require the Genesis 28. Let's find the other use of the word tied in the book of Genesis, and that has to do with Jacob.

22 verse 22 of chapter 28, and Jacob, just as at the end of verse 22. I will surely give the tent under the at this point Jacob is making eval verse 20 about a valve God will be with me and keep me in this way that I go and give me bread to eat Ramen to put on so that I come again to my father's house in peace then shall the Lord be my godmother was God.

If you do this I will you know bow down to you that's really bad.

Don't take this as a normal spirituality. This guy gave attempt he was fronted by God, there's no commanded to give. It was completely arbitrary, completely voluntary, with no obligation at all the time.

I notice I followed from Cain and Abel right through to the gift of Jacob, and in all cases, they were free voluntary gift that I did that. It was 1/10 was arbitrary out of all of the offerings throughout the book of Genesis twice. It happened to be that they gave the 10th, which, in their eyes and in the eyes of ancient people simply represented the total in the sense that it was a symbol of getting all nothing more. I know you take a step further. What about required giving you said that before the Mosaic law that was required. Giving your right. There was, and I did say that and I want to show you where the required giving came and if you turn to Genesis 41 a show to you. Remember that Joseph was sold into slavery in Egypt by his brothers he got there and he was in jail because of what he been accused of in Potiphar's house, and when the Pharaoh had a dream that he couldn't handle he got a hold of Joseph and he came and told the dreamer member and he said there'd be seven years of fruitful crops and seven years of what a family. So Joseph said you better get ready for the famine I here's how Joseph suggested they get ready and this was God's plan. Verse 34 let Pharaoh do this and let him appoint officers over the land and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years for seven years tax the people at what rate what's 1/5 20%. Here's the introduction of taxation in the economy of Egypt. This is introduced by God is the first time you find the taxation of a national entity's expressed this way and you'll notice that we haven't progressed much farther from that the norm that they asked for that is still the basic normal taxation in America, 20%, except for some of you unfortunates who may be another brackets but basically the 20% taxation was the basic taxation rate in Egypt. This was God's plan as it was expressed through Joseph, and when they collected the 20% through the fat years that would supply them the needed foods for lean years so taxation was instituted at that point in 20% was the figure in Genesis 47. Let me show you something else. Verse 24, it shall come to pass in the harvest, you shall give the fifth part to Pharaoh for part shall be your own for seed for the field for your food for them of your households and for food for your little ones now will leave you four-part some to sell back in the field some to eat some to take care your household needs and some for your kids. The fifth part goes back to the government folks required giving in the Old Testament was 20% was instituted in Egypt and it was the funding of the national government.

Now notice free will giving is directed toward the Lord personally in a response of love and sacrifice required giving is given to the national entity for the supply the needs of the people I know that's what you find from the time of creation to the time of giving the law. Now let's look at the time from the law to Jesus .2 from Moses to Jesus. What do we find sheer during this time the tithe obviously becomes a familiar term and those who teach tithing is God's universal principle lean heavily on this.

For their definition. Obviously, let's look first of all required giving required giving from Moses on this is very very interesting and generally I was taught I supposed by many people that tithing was giving a tent and this is what Israel gave let me show you something. Turn to Leviticus 27 Leviticus 27 is just the very end right before Leviticus runs out. Verse 30. Here was the tithe called the Lord's side of the Levites time and the reason was called the Levites ties is very simple. It tells us in Numbers 18 that this tide was collected to be given to the Levites who were the Levites, they were the priests, the entire tribe of the Levites, the taxation of all the rest of the tribes went to supply the needs of the Levites were one of the 12 tribes. The priestly front, so this is the Levites time. Verse 30 all the ties of the land, whether of the seed of the land or the fruit of the tree is the Lords it is holy under the Lord, and even your 10% of all of your land and seeds, and fruit is the Lord's now maybe you want to keep your fruit. All right, verse 31 if a man will at all redeem any of his ties he shall add thereto to the fifth part thereof are if you want to keep your fruit you can pay and just add 20% and you give money instead of concerning the tithe of the herd of the flock. This meant attentive every calf and attempt of every lamb whatsoever passes under the rod, the 10th shall be holy under the Lord.

He shall not search whether it be good or bad, neither shall he change it other words, you could give money in exchange for the land and the seed in the fruit but you could not redeem the animals. Those you had to give the universe. 33.

It shall not be redeem. These are the commandments, which the Lord commanded Moses for the children of Israel about Sania all right.

The Levites ties with 10% of everything that they had in terms of produce from the land and animals of the emphasis here is on quantity how this teaches that this belongs to God. This is not a free will offering to God. Is it this is his already you are robbing him. If you don't give it is now Malachi said you are robbing me in the ties. It is mine sold the 10% of the animals given to the tribe of the Levites to support them because you see they were the priests and they did earn a living other than just carrying on priestly functions and so the things that were given went to support them, and frankly they ran the government they ran the nation. I let me take you to some of this, it will. There is there is a 10% are and I'm sure you go to Deuteronomy 12 and Deuteronomy 12 you find there was a second ties and from verses 6 to 17 we find again, but what it requires is another try another 10% in this 10% was to be taken to Jerusalem and it was to be eaten.

It was eaten by the family, the friends, the servants, and the priest in the sanctuary and it was very purposeful. Incidentally, the idea of it was to stimulate devotion to the Lord.

The idea that also was to promote unity in the family and the servants and they would all go to Jerusalem and they would consume this particular time it was, like national pot luck it made everybody share and so this was a purposeful ties recorded. There are 12 Romantic time to read it all because her time is going. Maybe 1/3 thing is I think is very interesting. So already were up to close to 20% you got 10% of the first the first amount and you got 10 more percent of the remaining 90% that she had gifted to the governments or to supply for the food of others, but Deuteronomy 14 just a little ways further, we find 1/3 one, verse 28.

At the end of three years you shall bring forth all the ties of their increase, the same year and laid up within the gates and this was for the sojourner, the fatherless and the widow now this is what was called the poor time. The first was called the Levites, Ty the second was called the festival tithe and it was at the festival in the central sanctuary.

Jerusalem was consumed with third was called the Porta to get 10%, 10% 3 1/3% every year. If you got 10% every 30 or catch you up to 23% right now. That was Old Testament time.

So when somebody comes along this is that you gave 10%. That is true that you gave 23%. To begin with. Coincidentally, this was the welfare program with third for the poor people the widows and the people to know anything to eat. This was welfare so you can see what they were doing. They were funding the people ran the government. The Levites they were supplying for national feasts and so forth and so on. In the festival time and the third one was the welfare program in the Porta. This is all folks funding for the national entity. All three of those are taxation not free will giving to God tithing was always taxation so that the programs of the government could run the priestly program. The national religious program and the welfare program. I'll add to that. If you are a Jew, you still were done yet. Leviticus 19 this is interesting is the profit sharing plan.

Israel, when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field, neither shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest.

Leave the corners along the don't pick up what you drop, why leave it for the poor, and he says I am the Lord your God, which is like saying I'm not kidding. There was privateering you can pick up what you dropped and you just left the corners of the field unharvested so that the poor people could share in that. So, boy, now you're moving up further. They had 1/3 Shekel temple tax, they had to pay to buy shewbread and greatest sacrifices for the temple and if you want more.

In Exodus 23 they had to have Sabbath rest for the land every seven years, which meant they forfeited an entire year's earnings off the land. Let the land rest and another thing on the same Sabbath year they had a set ASIDE, did they not listen folks, 10% is a long way from what it cost them to exist within the theocracy of Israel, they were easily well over 25% of their income given to the funding of that government and the caring of the lands. This was required giving notice. In addition to that there is free will give now watch this. This includes first fruit giving and free will offerings of the emphasis here is not on the quantity or the percentage but it's on the attitude of the giver and the quality of his gift firstfruits. First of all we talked about this recently how that they would plant and they would go out of they would take the first part that came in the best part numbers 1812 it says all the best of the oil and the wine and the wheat. These have I given the as firstfruits, he would collect off the top. The very best that was in the field and go and give it at the temple. Give it to God and the beauty of this thing was he had your harvest of the crops. We didn't really know how much was there so he was believing God and God was saying if you will give me the firstfruits right off the top before you even know how much you're going to have.

If you'll give me the firstfruits right off the top and trust me, I'll bring in your full harvest sets can have a nice promise, yet it's right there in Proverbs maturity. Proverbs 39 was honor the Lord with your substance that's a great principal. As with all that you've got honor God with every penny you have. I watch and with the firstfruits of all your increase in the firstfruits watch, so shall your barns be filled with plenty, and your presses will burst out with new wine Tuesday. You honor God with every penny that you have number two you give them right off the top sacrificially the firstfruits and believe me you will fill your barns and your presses will burst out with new wine. That's God's promise to Israel right so here was the plan for free will giving firstfruits, whatever you got give the best member. The difference in Malachi, God's design not happy with you I'm going to destroy you. I want to judge you because you brought to me, the blind and the lame member the worst animals you got your keeping the best for yourself and forfeiting my blessing free will giving was independent of taxation, always always always giving to the Lord giving to the Lord, was a matter of freely giving them the best and that's what God's after the choicest thing you know isn't what you spend all your money on yourself and you suck all your money away in some kind great fun to take care you to get sick a little bit to God as the firstfruits is when you get in the cream of what you have and keep a little bit for yourself that you will fill your barns spiritually as well as you meet your needs. Visit get the perspective free will offerings firstfruits principle is in Proverbs 1124 and 25 there is that scattering and yet increases in other words there. The guy who gives liberally any increases, and there is that withholding is more than is fitting and it tends to poverty. You keep it back and you go to be poor liberal soul will be made rich, and he that water shall be watered also himself.

I like I like to show you how this work and all will never raise the budget will MacArthur you'll miss our church of the struggles that tape I've had that said to me, hope our people never hear what you say about that because it will ruin our church as a wartime. Well listen folks, this tape is is a disturbing thing than your problem is with MacArthur. Your problem is with the Scripture Exodus 25. Initially, her work so we were were results-oriented. Unfortunately we are.

Listen, this Exodus 25 on the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, speak to the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering.

Now here is God's chance.

God, all you gotta say is I demand a tent and that sealed it right the 10th becomes universal because you said it was recent. I demand an offering.

It was the of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart, much like that. Just tell them to get whatever they want. I want an offering is to get one.

Moses is there saying we're going to build the temple and God says just get whatever you want. There's no big posters. Have you given your 10th.

Nothing. There's not just doing everyone says to do all hope will never get the budget bill never happened.

Was this is really terrific.

I like yet to go all the way to Exodus 35 took that long to collect the offering. Exodus 35 verse four.

Moses spoke to the congregation of the children of Israel said this is the thing which the Lord commands. Here's what the Lord wants take from among you, and offering how much whosoever is of a willing heart spring and offering gold or silver or bronze or purple or blue or scarlet or linen or goat Sarah ram skins dyed red or badger Skinner acacia water oil for the light spices and sweet incense and onyx stones and stones for the five and the breastplate is for the priest and the everyone of you has a smart heart.

I like that wise hearted shall come in and make all of the Lord's command that would you just bring whatever is on your heart.

Whatever you got. I like that so very dangerous versa.

21 and they came. Everyone whose heart stirred him up and everyone whom his spirit made dwelling and they brought the Lord's offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation for all its services in France. Only government did you know they came in 722 and they came both men and women, as many as were willing hearted hey friends, you get the idea. What is God really after giving a willing heart is not a legal law is a willing heart. These upper not to get 36, 5 to 7 Exodus 36 five and they spoke of the Moses, saying that people bring much more than that terrific toolbox Lord and Moses gave the commandments and cause it to be proclaimed throughout the camp saying let neither man or woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people restrain from bringing I mean when is it going to happen that you arrive at church and they say listen folks, please do not give any more money for the staff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it and to that's right, in the vernacular to too much listen when people I've said this all my life. When people believe in the ministry and when they believe what you're doing, exalt God they will give too much, too much a clear illustration people that the giving that is done with true motivation goes beyond the need goes beyond the need listen.

Deuteronomy 16 says every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord which God has given him.

That's all.

It's a free now you see what I'm saying required giving was always taxation free will giving was always whatever came out of the willing heart. But I'm telling you why when people believe in what you're doing that willing heart opens up those people believe. Gotta have a tabernacle. They did they believe that it would honor. Gotta have a tabernacle so you know what they did for they poured that money out of there. They gave everything they had and they saw that completed just assuring that it was an isolated incident first Chronicles 29. David want to build a temple and I mean this document tabernacle was, crummy place at one much with some nice decoration, but it was still skins and was a tent but in Chronicles David know us.

Thing about getting everything together for the building of this glorious temple that Solomon's going to erect in verse nine, the first Chronicles 29 the people rejoiced, for they offered willingly because with perfect heart. They offered willingly to the Lord say there is is the same principle and David, the king rejoiced with great joy, a blessed the congregation in a praise session they're getting ready to collect the offering. Verse 16 says all Lord our God, all this abundance that we have prepared to build that house for thine holy name, was of thine hand, it is all the pieces. Lord we have so much all this abundance of time in the build your house, you know, can house that will absolutely unbelievable.

Everything overlaid in gold was astounding with those people provided for the billing. Beloved tithing was taxation for the theocracy will live in a theocracy, but government is still ordained of God, is it not in our taxation today isn't far from what they paid in those days they were up around 25% were somewhere from 20% up when you had all the sales taxes and all the other kind of taxes we pay were really not too far off what.originally instituted is the basics of taxation that is giving get stuck at the tent don't limit yourself to legalistic giving be free in the spirit of God, to give super abundantly and souls bountifully that you may what rebound you're listening to Grace to you with John MacArthur along with teaching on radio. John also serves as pastor of Grace Community Church and Chancellor of the Masters University and seminary today. He helped you understand God's plan for giving now as our thoughts today been turned toward the idea of sacrificial giving. There are some people who give of themselves on really a daily basis and as a result, they have a ministry in your life.

Even though you probably never met them and John has a few thoughts to pass along to those heroes. Well, I know what you're referring to fill the men and women at this radio station on which your hearing us right now they are our partners they are our friends in a very real sense, even though we are may be far away somewhere in the world that we've never even been in their people that we may never have even met.

They are our partners in ministry because they make Grace to you available to you in this community we we understand that we understand that this is a this is a synergy.

This is a real partnership. God has raised us all up together in his providence and by his power in order to spread the truth around the world, the people of this radio station, work hard, often at great sacrifice, and they do that to bring programs like Grace to you and others into your home into your car into your officer wherever you may be hearing and we still believe Christian radio is a great tool that rises above the rest of what's available on the tile obviously but you know there were people saying some years ago that radio would disappear with the the Internet that has not happened. In fact Christian radio. I would say for us is the entry point of most people that find their way into this ministry.

We are reaching people on radio who don't really ever have any connection with us and they would think that in a random way they came across this radio station and maybe this program in this message.

But really God uses it to reach out into the world and defined people and draw them toward us and once they find us on radio that begins a relationship which forces in many ways as we make more resources available. So if you reminders for that person is listening to this radio station.

Positive listener feedback is really helpful. The people who lead in this radio station. Need to hear from you. They need to know that you are grateful for the Bible teaching in the ministry. They provide, so take your time to express your appreciation to the station. They would love to hear from you. Give him a phone call or write them a letter.

Send them an email let them know that you appreciate Grace to you and the other programs that bless you mentioning Grace to you by name has a very positive impact that you might not realize so you help us as well.

When you do that. So what today would Bible teaching is becoming harder to find. It is more needed than ever let the station know that by doing it right as they are by airing Grace to you there making a huge difference in your life. Yes they are, and we are thankful for them along with you and also we'd love to hear from you as well. If John's teaching has helped you grow spiritually or serve your church better or even led to your salvation. Let us know will you when you have time. John a note and send it our way. You can email us at letters@gty.org once more that's letters@tty.org or if you prefer regular mail.

You can write to us at Grace to you.

Box 4000 panorama city, CA 91412. Also be sure to visit our website often TTY.org.

There you can listen to John's verse by verse teaching you'll find 3500 sermons available on MP3 and transcript free of charge.

You can search by topic or by book of the Bible. And if you're not sure where to start. Log on to Grace stream. It's always on its continuously airing John sermons from the New Testament in sequential biblical order. We reset it about every two months and it's ideal if you want to hear. Verse by verse teaching at your office or in your car or around the house and especially if you're not sure where to start you can jump in anytime to the grease stream and to purchase the MacArthur study Bible, or any other of John's books website is the best place for that, you can go there today TTY.org now for John MacArthur in the entire Grace to you staff, I'm Phil Johnson encouraging you to be here tomorrow when John will look at one of the most important commands Jesus gave about another half hour of unleashing God's truth one verse at a time.

Grace to you