Concerning the Collection, Part 2 B

God does not want you to give grudgingly or what necessity there is not a prescription beloved. He just want you to give whatever you want to give whatever you're willing to give.

But he says remember what you give. I will multiply what you see anymore ends meet. Or you may make a comfortable wage wherever you fall in the spectrum, the way you deal with money is important, it's a barometer of your spiritual condition and of course figuring prominently in how you handle your money is the issue of how much you should give to the Lord.

So when it comes to your finances. What does the Lord expect from you. Does he want a certain percentage of your income and how often should you give today on grace to you. John MacArthur gets into the biblical specifics of those issues in a message he's titled concerning the collection that's part of our continuing study God's plan for giving and out with the lesson.

Here's John. First Corinthians chapter 16 were looking at the first four verses in discussing the subject concerning the collection of a little phrase now concerning the collection reminds us of the phrase earlier now concerning spiritual gifts, and it introduces to us. Another one of the areas of discussion that the Corinthians were having.

This is another thing they wanted information about so that's why he writes about it now concerning the collection. I have a few principles I want to give you, and these are for you today to folks just like they were for them concerning giving or concerning the collection and the church. Principle number one is the purpose of giving and we thought and we in verse one that giving is for the saints, that we as believers have a primary responsibility to give to the needs of other believers, whether they are spiritual or physical. We are to invest so that the believers may have their needs met where to give to each other. We are to have all things in common like the early church where to share everything freely that we possess. We really don't know anything.

We just hold in trust, and if somebody else needs it more than we do, then it's there. Whatever it is, so we are to share.

That's basic. The purpose of giving that is to direct itself at the saints. Secondly, we saw the. Of giving not only the purpose but the. There did we verse two on the first day the week was the.

Forgiving we are to deal with stewardship weekly. We are to face the reality of giving weekly God doesn't want us to store up until some forgotten tomorrow. God wants us to be giving on a constant systematic week by week basis so that we are always facing the reality of stewardship third point and I call this the place of giving the place of giving. I believe this to be the church. From the earliest years of the church.

It was the pattern of giving that the saints would take their monies and they would give them to the church leaders and the church leaders would distribute them so that giving in a sense, was indirect to the need. The church leaders would determine the needs the church leaders would distribute to meet the needs rather than every individual simply giving money to whatever and whenever, wherever he wanted. And that's why beloved you want godly people and responsibility in the church. So we see the purpose of giving to meet the needs of the saints. The period of giving the first day of the week in the place of giving the church. Fourthly, fourthly, the participants in giving the participants in giving this and I'm just gonna stay very simply because it's not hard verse two again on the first day of the week let every one of you nobody's examine some you want to. Well I can't give money so I'll give my talent, none on everybody say will I give my money to this thing in that organization. I keep mine of every one of you is to take this systematically, week in and week out, and to place it in the treasury of the church for distribution to the needs of the St. it's a matter of stewardship.

Fifth seen the purpose forgiving the. Forgiving the place for giving the participants in giving and for the proportions of giving. Now what is to be the proportion how much are we to give. How are we to get well. The common answer is you gotta give 10%. I read a book this week on why you should give 10% whole book on they they are advocating that the 10% is what we are to get that runs over to get well. Let's find out by looking at some biblical thoughts about this. Let's trace just very quickly and will just run this by Soros Holland. We look back at the time before Moses. That's a block of time from Adam to Moses, then from Moses to Christ and from Christ now and those are the three great periods of history will examine our thinking fire those as well as the giving pattern well something to say. Well they gave 1/10. Abram give a tent to Melchizedek. Jacob gave 1/10 of the Lord in Genesis and their right so they say. You see, the 10th was before the Mosaic law. So, it must supersede the Mosaic law and still be invoked so the 10th is the better. What's interesting about that is to go back into study. In fact, the time before Moses know what you find out that it's right Abram gave 1/10 and Jacob gave a tent but you know what's interesting about that Abram give a tent one time in his whole life he lived over hundred and 60 years and never do we have record that he ever gave that much of that amount again. Jacob did it once and beyond that. Those are the only two ever did it and you have myriads and myriads and myriads of offerings given in that time from Cain and Abel's first offering all the way through all of the offerings ever given you only have two times when they were a tent, and in neither case was the 10th commanded in neither case was the 10th binding, and in neither case did the tent maintain itself as a standard of giving beyond the point at which it was given at that time and you might be interested to know that giving a tent was a common practice among the pagans because basic counting is done in increments of 10 because of our fingers and our toes have always counted that way. Intent is been always the symbol of fullness. So when a pagan would want to offer something to a God, he would give 1/10 of it because that symbolize the total that symbolize the totality and Abram on his own volition simply chose to do that. In fact it says in Hebrews that he gave 1/10 of the top of the heap, so it may not of been 1/10 of the whole of the spoils again but just 1/10 of the top of the heap the best of the spoils. You remember he want to battle against five kings and he wanted to thank God somehow for the victory and then he met this man a Melchizedek was a priest of God, a priest long before the Levitical priesthood just a priest unique godly man and to show his love for God and his things. He made an offering to this priests, which was fine. The 10th was simply arbitrary in his heart.

That's what he chose to do and later Jacob's one-time act was even an act of sin, because he was getting a tent as a pagan would try to bribe God apart from that, you have no indication it was ever commanded ever prescribed River demand essay will then do you have any required giving and in that period of time. Yes you do. In Genesis 41 and in chapter 47 in those two chapters, which will take time to study, but in those two chapters God required giving note. He said he said to the inhabitants of Egypt he said is going to be a famine) that seven years of plenty seven years of famine. He said in order to provide for that and in order to take care of the needs of the people command every individual to give 1/5 of all that he has what percent is that 20%. So God laid out 20% as a standard of giving for one reason, taxation he was funding the government of Egypt to meet the needs of its people. That was the only indication of a prescription ever given in the pre-Mosaic time I was the only time the amount was ever prescribed. All other offerings were completely free will. Free choice, give whatever you please. The only time gotta related out was in taxation of the government on the people to provide for its needs.

Now let's move into the time of Moses you say what happened the time Moses Bayshore got there, yes.

But you know something very interesting was the in Leviticus 27 God said, here's my law you give 1/10 of everything you have and it goes to the Levites, you know, the Levites were there, the priests a lot. He said you give it to the Levites, they are the priests well Israel, if you remember, was what's called a theocracy, not a democracy but a theocracy that is God rule in God rule in Israel through leaders and the leaders were the priests. The priests were the Senators and the Congressman and the presidents and the governors and the mayors and all the other judges and everything else the priests took all those roles so they were the public servants and the 10th that was paid as the Levites tax was to pay the salaries of the public servants.

11.

It was not free will giving it was taxation. Again, you understand that it was to fund the government then in Deuteronomy chapter 12.

They are required to give another 10% every year, and this was to go for the funding of the national holidays in the national fees and so forth. In this was to take care of national unity and national religion so that you had 10% every year and another 10% every year and then in Deuteronomy 12 there was 1/3 10% that was to go to the poor and that was welfare that was required every third year. So 10%, 10%, and three in the third annual funding for the government palace. The tie is related to that, it never was related to free will giving it never was related to spontaneous giving.

It never is that that thing that comes out of the heart to the Lord.

It was required. Taxation and in Malachi 31 it says bring your ties and offerings into the storehouse, is the word for storehouse in the Hebrew, there is the temple treasury, pay your taxes. He said not notice the tie in the Old Testament was not free will giving to God out of love. It was pay your taxes, we say that during the time you are paying the funding to the national government to pay your taxes and all Israel. Did you have any liberty to give what where was the free will giving all free will giving was there tube that was over and above listen. Proverbs 39 Proverbs 39 says this here's the pattern forgiving in the Old Testament time Moses time here is honor the Lord with your substance and the firstfruits of all your increase so shall your barns be filled with plenty in your presses burst out with new wine. How much were they to get whatever you want just honor the Lord and give what you want, but remember, the more generous you are, the better the harvest and the fatter your barns unity and then over in the 11th chapter of Proverbs have another principle, forgiving.

He says this. There is he that scatters and yet increases, it withholds more than is fitting intends to poverty you want to lose your money hoarded you want to gain scattered the liberal soul shall be made fat. That was the principal. In other words God was saying this look you give whatever you want.

Give the firstfruits the best you got give out of your substance and if you hold back your trip.

You'll tend to poverty and if you scatter it put out a lot.

That'll make you rich.

That was giving no show illustration of this kind of giving book with me. I wanted to turn to these passages for just a brief moment to Exodus I want to call your attention to chapter. Well, it's like a chapter 25 in verse one, another billing the tabernacle.

The Lord spoke to Moses and said, speak to the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering of this isn't the tie is not the first 10%. The second 10% of the third 10%. This is something you whatever they want. Now notice of every man that gives it willingly with his heart. You shall take my offering. What's the standard in whatever you want whatever is in your heart. Whatever you're willing to do a beautiful spirit is always the way God was God and tell.

I remember us to give. When he got joyous. He just gave was on his heart. God didn't tell Abel what to get. He just gave it was in his heart God until know what to do when he made the offering to God for the floodgate was in his heart. It's the same principle here now watching Exodus 35 what happens in Exodus 35 it's time to collect the offering got all instructions on the tabernacle. It's all set to go. Moses spoke to the congregation and said this is what the Lord says Exodus 35 five take you from among you. An offering to the Lord. Whosoever is on the willing heart, but in bring it an offering of the Lord listen. God does not want you to give grudgingly or what necessity there is not any prescription beloved, he just wants you to give whatever you give whatever you're willing to give. But he says remember what you give. I will multiply what you hold you won't see any multiplication on so remember the liberal about choices.

Get them to bring gold, silver, bronze, blue, purple, scarlet anything they want whatever's in their heart.

In verse 21 Exodus 35 and they came every one whose heart sturdy lap and everyone who is spirit made willing and they brought the Lord's offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation for all the services in the holy garments.

You see, just a matter of whatever they want. Will you know how the story ended.

They Bring so much stuff that finally had to make an announcement verse six of chapter 36 and Moses gave a commandment because to be announced through the camp saying let neither man or woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people restrained from bringing for the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it and too much that right. While often thought of the day we come to church to say folks to be no more offerings.

We have too much but ought to be. So you know that not obese was then and then prescription, and they need in the mall was a heart that was willing in a spirit that was moved and they gave because they knew they were investing with a God who can't be out given Stennett that's always been God's pattern forgiving.

The only time the 10th ever came into play was in taxation, not in free will giving zero.

When you get into the present day will how do we view this. What about now will limit Israel know that we have the same two kinds giving in the New Testament tells us to do two things with our money basic to obligations one Romans 13 verse six Romans 13 verse 64 for this cause pay ye taxes right for the IRS are God's ministers is what it says hear them say IRS but it means that render therefore to all their dues paid every last dime tribute to whom tribute is due custom to whom custom fear to whom fear honor to whom honor and you see what the New Testament is saying saying the same thing you prior in the time of Egypt in the time of Egypt was a standard bear 20% taxes to Egypt and give the guy what you want and Moses time they are 23 1/3 of whatever was to Israel and give God whatever you want today.

What is it that your income taxes United States government prescribed that's required giving and give God whatever is in your heart to give is no tent. There is no percent involved in all that's up to you but do every week and everybody do it and David said I will not give the Lord that which cost me nothing. Do it sacrificially do it magnanimously and I'll tell you great truths. People when you start to give to God.

God starts to return it. You know it's like planting seed is absolutely like planting seed just to show you that. Let me draw you to a Luke 638 Luke 638 and I want you to hear the words of Jesus. He gives us a pattern here watch give you get that you say how much we figure. Lord, it's a lot easier to just know I'm spiritual want to worry about this thing. Our objective is. We can hear. Always he says give and it shall be given you watch good measure, pressed down, right, shaken together and running over, shall men give into your bosom. In other words, what you give you'll get back all you'll get back more than you gave right, running over, but what's the and with the same measure that you measure it will be measured to you again. In other words, the only thing you get a return on is what you give me, how much should I give a citizen on what you want, how much you want God to return eternal dividend.

You say you have on will happen to me. God give me all spiritual blessings. I wouldn't be bad would, but just in case you really hung up on that second Corinthians 96 says listen with this I say, he who sows sparingly shall reap sparingly, he who sows bountifully shall reap bountiful see the same principle amount you give is the amount your return on every man then according as he purposes in his heart, so let them give, not grudgingly, or of necessity for God loves a cheerful giver.

Now what, and God is able to make all grace abound toward you that you always will have all sufficiency in all things, he will just give you back the spiritual blessing you will have all sufficiency in all things and he goes on in verse 10. To say he will minister bread for your food.

He will multiply the seed you have sown, and he will increase the fruits of your righteousness so you will receive the physical bread and the spiritual fruits of righteousness by investing with him. It's the greatest dealer you can't beat it.

I'll tell you the spirit of Luke 19, Luke 19 is the spirit there was a little man who lives in a tree for the day and was vacuous.

Chief tax collector, and he was rich or was he rich and he was curious about Jesus and Jesus invited himself to dinner at his house and it was interesting what happened in verse eight, Luke 19 and Zakia stood and said to the Lord. Behold, Lord.

The half of my goods I give to the poor. I say now wait a minute, brother Zakia's. We do appreciate your generosity. However, 10% is all that's really required, not 50 E. and say that I'm against the poor and if I took anything from anybody by false accusation am I giving back 400%. And Jesus said to him, this day is salvation come to this house for he is a son of Abraham. But what is really saying their courses is a son of Abraham in the sense that he is a spiritual son. His salvation is proven.

Isn't it amazing that it is true that by their fruit you show up know them and is not true what John said if you see your brother has need and you shut up your mercy, how dwells the love of God in you and is not right that James says your faith minus works is dead.

You know you can tell a true believer because out of his heart comes this great magnanimity is great desire to give dear Zaki's was saved and Jesus said it was obvious by the fact that you want to give all this away as he had a giving heart worth is one thing a Christian ought to have us a giving heart is one thing.

Christian ought not to have its covetousness, so the amount what is the proportion what is policy enforcement team 16 to how much we give Paul you are to give just exactly what you and your heart determine.

So says Paul let every one of us purpose in his heart what he will give but be sure it's not grudging or of necessity, but because the Lord loves what a cheerful, I want you to give to the loan. Everyone how often you to give the Lord constantly dealing with it on a week by week basis where you to give the Lord into the church so that it can be distributed by those who have spiritual oversight for what reasons are you to give to the church that the church might support its own spiritually and physically and meet their needs and will finish the text next time let's pray this is so practical father.

This just isn't foggy theology. This is write down where the rubber meets the road where we touch life. We thank you that you've given us a clear word.

That blessing is some we have to kind of look up in the sky for and hope it will drop on us like some mysterious benefit but blessing to something as tangible as knowing that when we act in generosity and love by giving freely and abundantly in sacrificially and lovingly to your cause you return to us abundant less tedious to so bountifully we might reap out of, and father, help us to know that we just gotta get a glimpse of eternal life of heaven, so that we don't get too wrapped up in this world so that we don't waste our resources and our energies in our funds spinning our wheels in this age when an investment in eternity is really what matters. Help us to get that perspective. Father free us father from covetousness to invest with the knowing at the same time he promised to return to us more than we ever gave thank you for this time for your promises. Pricing one final look at this issue of God's plan for giving that's tomorrow. We encourage you to join John MacArthur for that here on grace to you that John is you showed us today, God expects his followers to give with a willing and joyful attitude but I think we can all admit that it's not always automatic to want to give money away the notion of having money in the bank is a sense of security that comes from having financial resources that were not saying that those things aren't important or we know the Bible is explicitly clear that we are to save money in me that's explicit in Scripture we are to save money. Jesus even talk about putting your money in a bank right specifically putting in the bank so that that is a priority. The stewardship of flocks the stewardship of resources even in the Old Testament. A wise person knows the situation easily takes account of everything he possesses and he plans carefully for the care of his family. That's that's a basic stewardship and that is very important, but that's not what we find our security ultimately and that's not what we find our peace, we find our peace in the Lord.

So I would rather have a small savings and complete trust in the Lord and know that I've been a steward of what I have, then to become completely obsessed with saving money which would demonstrate a certain distrust in the Lord. So there's a balance there. You trust the Lord, you know that he's going to care for you, but never seen the Lord's people begging bread. Scripture says my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in Christ Jesus.

So God is going to take care of us, but we also have to demonstrate wisdom in the process and we are part of that care by being wise with what we do with the resources we have. So I think it's a balance where you trust the Lord to care for you, but you don't presume on him by doing things that are foolish finding that balance is a lifelong situation and it changes through life to because there are times in your life when you have enough in times when you don't because things change so II would just encourage people is a little book that I wrote called found God's peace. All of us want that, don't we.

We want peace in the midst of every difficulty, anxiety over money or anxiety over anything else, fear the future of the unknown.

That's what this little book addresses chapters on casting your care on God, avoiding anxiety through prayer having peace in every circumstance in the selection of Psalms for the anxious. It's a wonderful little book found God's peace will send it to anyone who asks free of charge. It's our gift to you. Call, email, go to our website or write today and asked for the free book found God's peace. Yes friend, I want to make sure you caught that last part. John's booklet found God's peace is yours free. All you have to do is ask for a copy get this booklet for yourself or for someone who is struggling with anxiety when you contact us today. Call our toll-free number 855 grace or you can also take advantage of this offer. When you go to TTY.org found God's peace is an ideal resource to turn to whenever you start to worry. It's a substantial book that takes an in-depth look at some of the most powerful verses in the Bible on overcoming anxiety. It also makes a great gift for a new believer again. Will send you found God's peace for free.

Just call us at 855 or go to our website TTY.org. Also keep in mind if you miss the message in John's current study God's plan for giving you can download it for free at our website. All six messages from this series along with all of John's sermons from 52 years of his pastoral ministry are available free of charge@tty.org. That's our website one more time.

GT why.org now for John MacArthur and the entire grace to you staff on Phil Johnson.

Thanks for making grace to you part of your day and be here tomorrow when John wraps up this series God's plan for giving with another 30 minutes of unleashing God's true one verse at a time on Fridays racing