The Purpose of Tithes & Offerings
Malachi 3:8-12, Matthew 23:23
1. READ THE INTRODUCTION
Unfortunately the words money and church usually never pair well when used in the same sentence. And even worse, there are churches and church leaders that have created this stigma. Most
of us have seen the late night prosperity preacher, asking people to send money, and in return, expect a massive monetary blessing from God. Churches large and small have made headlines where money was mishandled or used inappropriately. These things give the church a black eye. Money can make people do crazy things. I have seen people make change in the offering plate; I know of churches where people were caught taking money out of the plate instead of putting in; and I have seen pastors pass the plate an extra time or two because he wasn’t satisfied with the offering amount. None of these things please God and are certainly not even close to what God intended tithes and offerings to look like.
Tithing wasn’t created solely for the New Testament church (as we’ll see in our story). Actually, tithing goes all the way back the Old Testament (Genesis 14:18-20, Leviticus 27:30–34), as well as the New Testament. Tithing was never man’s idea; it is God’s idea. Tithes and offerings are God’s financial plan to fund the work of the mission of the gospel. Therefore tithing is worship.
Tithing also forces us to check our hearts. In Matthew 6:24, Jesus talks about the power of money and says this, ‘“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.’ Money is power and has the ability to control and gratify. And anything that has those abilities can get in the way of our relationship with God.
If you struggle with generosity, don’t get nervous. Your small group probably isn’t going to take up an offering at the end of gathering. In our story, we will learn that being generous will bring fulfillment to your life and the people around you.
2. TELL STORY IN YOUR OWN WORDS
3. READ THE STORY
“’“Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me! “But you ask, ‘What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?’ “You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me. You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me.
Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test! Your crops will be abundant, for I will guard them from insects and disease. Your grapes will not fall from the vine before they are ripe,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “Then all nations will call you blessed, for your land will be such a delight,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.’ Malachi 3:8-12
‘“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things. ‘ Matthew 23:23
4. LIFE QUESTIONS
A. How was your childhood in terms of money? Did you grow up poor, middle class or wealthy? How did your upbringing influence your generosity?
B. Read Matthew 6:21. What did Jesus mean by this statement? How would you explain it?
C. What is the difference in a tithe and an offering? How is giving a form of worship to God?
D. In our story, Malachi talks about the “storehouse.” In our context, how would your church serve as your storehouse?
E. The scripture talks about the windows of heaven (plural), meaning there are many ways God blesses us other than wealth. What windows of blessing has God opened in your life?
F. Read Proverbs 3:9-10. How does that passage correlate with Malachi’s passage?
G. Read 2 Corinthians 9:6-8. What life experience can you share that validates this passage?
H. In Matthew 23:23, the religious teachers are confronted by Jesus. They do tithe, but lack in other areas. What areas are you lacking in?
source
