Financial Responsibility
Rudelle Thomas
A study of our financial responsibility as Christians.
Giving – To offer as appropriate or due especially to somethinghigher or more worthy.
Offering – Something offered especially a sacrifice ceremonially offered as a part of worship. A contribution to the support of a church.
Tithe – A 10th part of something paid as a voluntary contribution especially for the support of a religious establishment.
Curse – A prayer or invocation for harm or injury to come upon one. Evil or misfortune that comes as if in response to imprecation or as retribution. Cursed - Being under or deserving a curse.
Devourer – To use up or destroy.
Rebuke – To turn back or keep down.
The problem:
Malachi 3
5 And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.
8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
Amplified:
Malachi 3
5 And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.
8 Will a man rob or defraud God? Yet you rob and defraud Me. But you say, In what way do we rob or defraud You? [You have withheld your] tithes and offerings.
A. It is our responsibility to financially take care of our Shepherd.
1 Corinthians 9
13 Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? 14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
1 Timothy 5
17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. 18 For the scripture saith, thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.
Amplified:
1 Corinthians 9
13Do you not know that those men who are employed in the services of the temple get their food from the temple? And that those who tend the altar share with the altar [in the offerings brought]? 14[On the same principle] the Lord directed that those who publish the good news (the Gospel) should live (get their maintenance) by the Gospel.
1 Timothy 5
17Let the elders who perform the duties of their office well be considered doubly worthy of honor [and of adequate [1] financial support], eespecially those who labor faithfully in preaching and teaching.
18For the Scripture says, You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain, and again, The laborer is worthy of his hire.
B. It is our responsibility to financially Support the work of the ministry.
Ezra 2
69 They gave after their ability unto the treasure of the work threescore and one thousand drams of gold, and five thousand pound of silver, and one hundred priests' garments.
Amplified
Ezra 2
69They gave as they were able to the treasury for the work 61,000 darics of gold, 5,000 minas of silver, and 100 priests' garments.
C. How much should we give?
Deuteronomy 16:17
17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee.
Luke 6 38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. (How blessed do you want to be?)
Amplified
Luke 6
38Give, and [gifts] will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will they pour [1] into [the pouch formed by] the bosom [of your robe and used as a bag]. For with the measure you deal out [with the measure you use when you confer benefits on others], it will be measured back to you.
NI
Deuteronomy 16:17
Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the Lord your God has blessed you.
D. Reasons to give/Results of giving
Malachi 3:10-12
10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house (God’s command), 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.(The blessing)
11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. (Divine protection)
12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land,(the blessing) saith the LORD of hosts.
Philippians 4 (The blessing and the acceptable sacrifice)
15 Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. 16 For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. 17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. 18 But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God.
E. Results of not giving
Malachi 3
9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. 11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. (Lose your Divine Protection)
Amplified
Philippians 4 (The blessing and the acceptable sacrifice)
15And you Philippians yourselves well know that in the early days of the Gospel ministry, when I left Macedonia, no church (assembly) entered into partnership with me and opened up [a debit and credit] account in giving and receiving except you only.
16For even in Thessalonica you sent [me contributions] for my needs, not only once but a second time. 17Not that I seek or am eager for [your] gift, but I do seek and am eager for the fruit which increases to your credit [the harvest of blessing that is accumulating to your account]. 18But I have [your full payment] and more; I have everything I need and am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent me. [They are the] fragrant odor of an offering and sacrifice which God welcomes and in which He delights.
**The principle (Giving=Receiving, The more you give=The more you receive)
Proverbs 11
24 There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. 25 The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself. 26 He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.
Luke 6
38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
Amplified
Proverbs 11
24There are those who [generously] scatter abroad, and yet increase more; there are those who withhold more than is fitting or what is justly due, but it results only in want. 25The liberal person shall be enriched, and he who waters shall himself be watered. 26The people curse him who holds back grain [when the public needs it], but a blessing [from God and man] is upon the head of him who sells it.
1 Timothy 18 For the scripture saith, thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.
We do what we have to in our personal lives, take out loans, pawn, borrow but when it comes to God and the man of God we say we just don’t have it. Since it is God who supplies all our needs why do we put more effort into taking care of ourselves than we do Him and the Shepherd he put over us? It doesn’t make sense. We do know the principle because when we get into trouble then we try to give our way out.
Because we don’t give like we're supposed to, God is not obligated to rebuke the devourer, so we don’t have His protection and the devil is destroying our fruit. When God asks for an offering it has to be without blemish, perfect in every way. They couldn’t cut a lamb in have and give half for offering and half for tithes because then it wouldn’t be acceptable so why do we think when we do that with our Tithes and Offering that God is accepting it? He’s not. So we are giving in vain.
Salvation is free, not the cost of running a ministry. He clearly let the people know that ministry costs money. They sold their possessions and brought the money to the Priests to support the work. God is not asking us to do that. He’s not even asking for much and we don’t even give the 10%. We pay for shelter, food and clothing but we’re not willing to pay for our joy, and peace, and spiritual food. That doesn’t make sense. This is our responsibility not a choice!
1 Corinthians 9
13Do you not know that those men who are employed in the services of the temple get their food from the temple? And that those who tend the altar share with the altar [in the offerings brought]? 14[On the same principle] the Lord directed that those who publish the good news (the Gospel) should live (get their maintenance) by the Gospel.
I don’t know why we think that it is ok with God when we don't pay our tithes and give our offerings. We think he’ll understand because He’s God and he knows what we have and don’t have. First of all he will not ask you to do something you can’t do. If you have any income at all, then you have a responsibility to give "according to what has been given you." If you give cheerfully, He will hold up his end of the bargain. Give him FIRST and let him work the rest. We work the rest first and give him what’s left. That’s the problem. Give him FIRST! That’s why so many of us are cursed. Because we don't give like God instructs us to. The devourer is getting our things and God told us that’s what would happen if we rob him so we shouldn’t be surprised. He said he would be swift to judge in Malachi 3:5 for not giving the hireling his wages. We can stop the curse and be blessed by just doing what God said concerning our finances. It is a requirement and responsibility not a choice!
Be Blessed!
About the Author
My name is Rudelle Thomas and I currently reside in the Metro Atlanta area. I write Inspirational non-fiction, fiction, poetry and devotionals. Some of my devotionals are featured on shelovesgod.com, ideamarketers.com, and sermoncentral.com. I have poetry published with the International Library of Poetry and am in the process of writing two books, one fiction and one non-fiction. "In The Midst Of It All" is the story of one woman's journey through life's struggles, and how her faith in God gave her the strength to keep fighting. "Able To Stand!" is a book that teaches us that the only way we can "withstand in this evil day" is to equip ourselves with the armor of God. It also teaches what the armor of God is, why we need it, and how to put it on.
My greatest achievement is my online magazine. I am the Editor and Publisher of an online magazine titled, "Divine Eloquence Ezine". Divine Eloquence is devoted to not only spreading the Gospel, but also to promoting your writing and published works. We have recently been presented with a number of Web Excellence awards. I am also the CEO of my own Desktop Publishing company, "Divine Designs 777, Inc. We specialize in Administrative needs, Webdesign, Logo design, Business cards, etc.
It is my desire use the gifts and talents that God has blessed me with to be a blessing to others!
Be Blessed!
