The Bible teaches stewardship
The first lesson God taught man was his place as a steward (Genesis 2:16-17). The Psalmist emphatically declares,
“The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof; the world and they that dwell therein” (Psalms 21:1).
A steward is a keeper. He is not an owner but only a possessor. Everything belongs to God including ourselves (I Corinthians 6:19-20). If everything belongs to God, then our money also belongs to Him.
There was not much money in circulation in the early years of biblical history, but men gave of their substance (Genesis
14:19-20, Leviticus 23:9-10, Proverbs 3:9).
But as the monetary economy increased, money was substituted in place of grain, cattle, fruit, etc. (Mark 12:41, Acts 4:36-37).
THE TITHE (1/10)
As stewards we are to return one-tenth of our income to the Lord (Malachi 3:10). Though tithing was included in the Law, it was practiced by Abraham years before the
giving of the Law (Genesis 19:18-20). Abraham arrived at God’s
standard of giving by faith.
Again, prior to the law, Jacob vowed to pay his tithe (Genesis 28:20). However, we should not give with the attitude of Jacob gave to receive a blessing. Abraham gave because he recognized he had already been blessed.
THE PURPOSE OF THE TITHE
GOD’S PLAN OF CHURCH FINANCE
God works by plans. He has a plan for everything. He has a plan when he made the universe. He had a plan when
he created man, and he had a plan for the human family on the earth.
He had a plan of salvation and a plan for the work of the church. He had
a plan also for the financing of the great program that he gave his church to do.
God did not plan for his people to use worldly schemes to raise money for the spread of the message. God nowhere says that his churches are to have sales, raffles, or bazaars to raise money for their work.
He did not intend for them to become beggars, going out into the world asking
for means to carry on. Such schemes and plans are a shame and disgrace to the
church and certainly can never be pleasing to the Lord.
God gives only one plan of church finance in the Bible, and that is tithes and offerings from his people. The tithe is the tenth, meaning that God’s people are to bring a tenth of their incomes to the Lord
and his work. Offerings are the amounts given above the tenth.
This is the plan that God teaches all through his word, and it is the one scriptural
plan of the church finance.
The key verse of the New Testament church finance is found in:
1st Corinthians 9 13Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of
the temple? They which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? 14Even so hath the Lord ordained that they
which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
Verse 13 refers to Numbers 18:22-28, which tells how the Temple worship and the priests
and Levites were supported by the tithes and offerings of the people. All of
the people were commanded to bring their tithes and offerings, which were used to support the Lord’s work.
Paul’s next words are, “even so.” These have the meaning, “In the same way. Paul was saying
that church work is to be supported in the way the Temple worship was supported,
that is by the tithes and offering of the people. Even as all the people in that
day were to bring their tithes and offerings unto the Lord, so are we to do today.
1. Tithing before the Law of Moses
“And he gave him tithes of all” (Genesis 14:20). In this passage we have the record of Abraham paying a tithing was merely a park of the Mosaic Law. Here we see tilting being practiced four hundred years before the law. Where did Abraham lean to tithe? God taught him: Either the
Lord taught him directly or taught some of those; who lived before him.
2. Tithing under the Law
A. Tithing was incorporated into the law.
The tithe is the Lord’s: It is holy unto the Lord” (Lev. 27:30). If the tithe belonged to God, then, it belongs into him now. If it was holy to him
then, it is holy to him now. Numbers 18:24, 26, 28 teaches that the tithe was the means of supporting the priests and the worship. The priests were also required to tithe.
B. Tithing was practiced under the law (2 Chronicles 31:5,
6, 12: Nehemiah 10: 37-38
C. Those who failed to tithe were condemned by the Lord as being guilty
of sin. Those who did not tithe were called God-robbers (Mal 3 8-9). Malachi challenged the people of Israel to try tithing
and see the Lord’s blessings for it.
1. Tithing in the New Testament
1. Christ taught tithing. In Malachi 3: 1-4 we have a prophecy that the Lord
will come and teach people how to live righteously and acceptably. There follows
the charge that Israel has robbed God in failing to give the tithe. In Jesus Christ Malachi’s prophecy so fulfilled.
Jesus taught in Matthew 23:23 that
acceptable living includes the tithe and also the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith. In other words, the tithe alone is not enough. We must live
right, too. Yet the Lord said that we ought to tithe. Who are we to say that we should not?
2. Other New Testament passages teach tithing.
The Relation of I Corinthians 9: 13-14 to Numbers 18:24 have already been set out.
First |Corinthians 16:2 clearly teaches proportionate giving, “as God has prospered.” The only proportion
taught in the Bible is the tithe.
3. Hebrew 7:8 “and here men that die receive tithes,; but there he receiveth them of whom is witnessed that he liveth.” Men that die refer to the Levitical
priests, so now they pay tithes to Christ as the greater priest. Tithes and offerings
are paid to him through his church.
These passages show plainly that God’s plan of church finance is for his people to bring his tithes to his house
for this work. Everyone has an income is expected to tithe. “Upon the first day of the week let everyone lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him”
(I Corinthians. 16-2). God teaches that everyone is to support his work.
Summary
Here then is God’s plan for financing Baptist churches. We are not
interested in man made plans. We believe in God’s plan in everything, and
we believe that every member of a Baptist church should tithe, bring to the Lord a tenth of his income. If we love him, we will keep his commandments.
The plan of finance would meet all of the financial needs of the churches. If
every Baptist were to tithe, our income would total billions of dollars a year.
That would make possible great advance in church building, in new churches,
in missions, in Christian education, and in every area of our work. The personal
blessings to the members for their faithfulness as stewards of the Lord would be immeasurable.
You are definitely going to be tempted of the devil. This will help you
to become a mature Christian if you learn to deal with it in God’s way. Temptation
is the initial urging a person feels to commit sin. In itself, temptation is
not a sin. However, if not dealt with correctly and immediately it can become
sin rapidly.
Sources of Temptation:
The Bible teaches us that temptation to sin comes from three sources:
1. Satan (the devil) Genesis 3:15 –
1 Peter 5:8 - Revelation 20:1
2. The Flesh (Rom 8:5-13, Gal 5:12-26)
3. The World (John 16:33, -Romans
12:2 – 1 Tim 6:10; 1 John 2)
How can you escape the sin of temptation?
1. Be alert. Be on guard against
the tempter (Satan) 1st Corinthians 16:13 – 1 Peter 5:8
2. Be filled. You we never successfully defeat temptation in our own strength. It is only through the power of the Holy Sprit that victory becomes possible. Acts 1:8, Eph. 5:18, Phil 4:13.
3. Be quick. Temptation must be
dealt with when it arises. Do not put it off.
Scripture shows definite progress of events leading from temptation to sin in James 1:15
4. Know Biblical escapes. First
Corinthians 10:13 states with every temptation, god promises a means of escape. Study god’s word and rely on it to help you find a way out.
Psalm 119:11; 2, Timothy 2:22, Matthew 4:1-11
5. The tithe should be paid so that the purpose of God may be maintained in
the earth, as stated in Malachi 3:10, “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 hoses, 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].”
6.
We have the obligation as stewards to give for the support of the ministry and the spread of the gospel. Many churches suffer desperately due to lack of financing by under compensating those in their employ and
will not staff the ministry to carry out the work of the Lord.
GIVING IS A WORSHIP TO THE LORD
In many worship services the offering is not given the sacred significance it deserves.
Giving is worship (Matthew 2:1-2, Psalms 96:7-8). We can give without
worshipping, but we cannot worship without giving.
This topic can perhaps be best summarized in the Apostle Paul, “Moreover, it is required in stewards that a man
be found faithful” (I Corinthians 4:2).
Humor: BE A FAT CHRISTIAN
F - Faithful
A - Available
T - Teachable
The church member has sacred responsibilities. He/she has become a member
of God’s family, it is his /her privilege, and duty to play his/her part in forwarding and helping the cause of Jesus
Christ.
God has a plan for the world, and the church member, as a Christian, should
fit into the plan. Here are some of the responsibilities:
1. Serving. The Pastor cannot do the work of the church alone; he needs others to help him. There are many ways of helping, such as ushering, singing, visiting the sick and shut
out, teaching Church School, or holding one of
the many offices in the church. Remember you are serving Christ and not the Pastor. God gives rewards for your work, not your idleness.
2. Learning. You should come to know your Bible well. You
should learn how to serve; you should know your church, and its practices. There
are many opportunities of this through the total church program.
3. Witnessing. A Christian is always desirous that others would come to know Jesus Christ. We are God’s ambassadors; therefore, our lives should always represent him. The church offers opportunities for witnessing through various calling programs and gives training to this
area. God says, “we are his witnesses.” Christ made known to others, by sharing Christ; we become a soul-winner!
4. Prayer. Prayer is a vital part of Christian living.
All Christians should learn how to pray in order that their lives may experience great benefits and blessings. Joining with others in prayer affords a great spiritual stimulus.
5. Worshipping. Worship keeps the soul of your church alive.
It consists of regularly attending Sunday Worship service and to be faithful.
You should be reverent at all times in Church. Remember, you are worshipping
God.
6. Giving. What each member gives is between himself/herself and God. The Church advocates TITHING.
This means giving one-tenth of all the money one earns to Christ and his church.
We should give cheerfully because God has given us everything in the first place.
You are urged to give regularly every Sunday. The Church has many expenses
and it supports the missionary program. Envelopes will be provided for your use,
which helps you to be diligent and gives you an official record for Income Tax deductions per the Financial Secretary of the
Church. Remember, tithing is a starting
point for Christian giving.
YOUR RESPONSIBLITIES TO YOUR PASTOR
GOOD FELLOWSHIP
Your Pastor is the under-shepherd of the Church. He is neither divine
nor infallible. Since he is your Pastor, you should learn to follow and respect
him as God’s earthly leader of for the church. He should at all times be
referred to as Pastor.
A good member will not talk about their Pastor, but will make an appointment with him to discuss whatever matter he/she
finds necessary.
Constructive criticism will build a strong individual relationship. No member should allow another member or non-member to talk about the Pastor in a derogatory way. Talk to your Pastor, he is always willing to listen.
PRAYER SUPPORT
Not only do you need prayer, so does your Pastor. Make him a part of your
petition to God daily, even if he is wrong, or if you dislike him; pray for him. God
says, “My grace is sufficient.” Lift your Pastor up in prayer. Pray for his family. Remember he has
the same needs as you and I; your prayers can help him stay strong in the Lord.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Your Pastor is a professional and his responsibility is the Church. He
has material needs and obligations like other people do, just like you. In the
Bible, no one else was taken care of but the preacher. God rewards a people who
support their Pastor (Timothy 5:18). He serves as a professional
in many capacities:
i.
Spiritual Advisor
ii.
Legal Counselor
iii.
Referral Agent
iv.
Marriage and Divorce Counselor
v.
Teacher
vi.
City and State Representative
vii. Other duties in the church
Your Pastor will always need your financial support and an organization such as the Pastor’s Appropriation or
love offerings will assist in his financial growth.
