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The Financial Foundation of Tithing
- David Brown
- Oct 11, 2009
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The foundation is vitally important in the construction of any building.
The foundation is important in the building of any marriage.
The foundation is important in the launching of any great enterprise. Foundations are important.
Psalm 104:5 KJV
(God) laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.
Luke 6:49 KJV
…he that hears, and does not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.
Psalm 11:3 NET
When the foundations are destroyed, what can the godly accomplish?
God is restoring his spiritual foundations in our day!
The foundations of faith, hope, love, purpose, vision, mission, serving, leading, witnessing, ministering…
God wants to restore a sure and certain foundation in our finances as well…for our sake and for the sake of his Kingdom! Let’s talk about…
The Financial Foundation of Tithing
Leviticus 27:30
(The Biblical practice of bringing 1/10 of our increase to God…the very first thing we should do for our finances!)
Let’s go back to the beginning…
In the beginning, God made Adam and Eve, blessed them with the good life (Children of God whom He had provided with blessing, peace, safety, relationship, health, abundance)
Genesis 2:15-17
Genesis 3:1-7
Here are some foundational principles.
God has richly provided us all things to enjoy.(1Tim)
God has reserved some things for himself.
God desires to be honored and obeyed. (even with physical things)
We honor God by not consuming what is His.
The forbidden tree was not provided to Adam and Eve.
It was God’s tree, God’s portion. Holy or separated from man.
It was right there, within their reach, available, reachable, take-able, consumable…but it was God’s and forbidden to them.
What they did with that tree revealed their heart toward God.
What we do with God’s tithe reveals our heart.
Eve was tempted to consume the fruit of God’s tree when the enemy focused her on it’s seeming benefits.
It was good for food. (consumption, groceries, hair products, necessities)
It was pleasant to the eyes. (beauty, nice things, luxuries)
It was desired to make one wise. (How foolish to not utilize such an available resource)
When Adam and Eve consumed from the forbidden tree…they discovered that they were naked, without, unprotected, impoverished.
Hard times, hard labor, hardship ensued.
They were driven from the abundant garden paradise and forced to scratch out a meager existence battling thorns and thistles, harsh weather and the forces of a cursed nature.
Adam and Eve destroyed their financial foundation!
Let’s restore ours!
Let’s give God honor, recognition, His portion, His tenth!
Restore the Financial Foundation of Tithing!
1 Timothy 6:17-19 God’s Word Translation
Tell those who have the riches of this world not to be arrogant and not to place their confidence in anything as uncertain as riches. Instead, they should place their confidence in God who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. (KJV all things to enjoy)
Tell them to do good, to do a lot of good things, to be generous, and to share. By doing this they store up a treasure for themselves which is a good foundation for the future. In this way they take hold of what life really is.
Being generous and sharing includes your tithing to God!
Abraham tithed and was financially blessed
Jacob tithed and was financially blessed.
The Israelites tithed when they came into the Promised Land and were financially blessed.
In Malachi, the Jews had stopped tithing and had broken their financial foundation and were cursed.
Malachi 3:8-12 KJV
God promised to bless them if they would restore their financial foundation of honoring God with their tithes!
Tithing attracts the blessing!
Consuming God’s tithe attracts the curse!
Tithing is a New Testament Financial Foundation that will bless your financial future!
In Matthew 23:23 Jesus said we ought to tithe!
In Hebrews 7:8 the Bible says that Jesus receives our tithes in heaven!
The Financial Foundation of Tithing has built many great churches and blessed many great entrepreneurs!
J.C. Penney was a tither.
J.L. Kraft of Kraft Cheese was a tither.
(gave 25% of his income to God)
A.A. Hyde of Mentholatum was a tither.
(Gave millions to the YMCA and millions more to missions)
H.J. Heinz of Heinz Ketchup was a tither.
William Proctor of Proctor & Gamble was a tither.
M.S. Hershey of Hershey’s chocolate was a tither.
F.W. Woolworth of Woolworth’s five and dime…
William Wrigley of Wrigley’s gum…
R.G. LeTourneau, the Earth Moving Equipment manufactuer…( failed in business until he became a tither. Then succeeded and gave millions to God)
Henry Crowell of Quaker Oats…
(began giving 10% to God graduating up to 60 and 70% which he did for over 40 years)
William Colgate of Colgate Co….
(began giving 10%, graduating up to 20, 30, 40, 50 and finally 100% to God. He gave millions to the Lord)
John D Rockefeller of Standard Oil…
(“I wouldn’t have been able to tithe the first million dollars I ever made if I had not tithed my first salary which was $1.50 a week.”)
Who wants to restore the Financial Foundation of the Tithe in your life?
In Malachi, God’s challenges you to put him to the test!