Living Under an Open Heaven

Living Under an Open Heaven Blessings of Tithing and Giving Part I

Tithing Developed as a Principle of Devotion. • Given to a man of faith—God’s friend, Abraham—NOT a man of the law • Tithing preceded the law by 430 years. • The law didn’t bring tithing in, and the law didn’t take it out.

Tithing Developed as a Principle of Devotion. And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all. Genesis 14:18-20

And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself. And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the Lord, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich: Genesis 14:21-23

We Tithe to Jesus. And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. Hebrews 7:8 • We pay tithes to Jesus in worship, NOT to our pastor out of fear.

Levites received right to tithes due to a legal enactment • Melchizedek (Jesus) received tithes solely for the sake of who he was/is personally. • Such personal greatness needed no legal enactment to entitle him to tithes.

Theme of book of Hebrews is: New Covenant Is Superior • If 10% was the standard embraced by the law, why would grace do less? • Grace enlarges. • Paul considered 10% an insufficient standard. He taught 100% grace giving. • Can’t reach 100% without passing 10%

Wealth that may have been in Abraham’s possession only a few hours was tithed by Abraham. • Abraham was not looking for ways to tithe less. • Abraham did not give an estimate. All you need to figure the tithe is to be able to count to ten. • Abraham did not tithe for a promise of more—he was already very rich.

Tithing Helps Settle Ownership Question “The EARTH is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” Psalms 24:1

God’s Ownership “The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts.” Haggai 2:8

Tithing Settles the Ownership Question. It is not just returning a tenth back to God, but it is the acknowledgement that God owns everything.

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Matthew 6:21

Scriptural Pattern for the Tithe Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. Proverbs 3:9,10 • First, means first. • Look for reasons to tithe instead of reasons not to tithe.

Some Increases Are Not Income. • Housing, utilities • Health insurance • Scholarships • Retirement • Gifts • Car • Inheritance

The tithe is 10% of our increase FIRST. • Only question: What is the increase? • Because the tax is based on income, is the increase after the tax? • Because the tax purchases quality of life, is the tax part of normal living expenses? • Merely because our government has legislated itself into firstplace, is not a legitimate reason to place God second.

Is Tax a Penalty on Increase, or Does it Buy Quality of Life? • FDA—Safe medicine and drugs • WS—Weather Service • FAA—Safe air travel • FTD—Drug enforcement • EPA—Safe drinking water • Interstate highways • National Defense • Emergency—911

Is Social Security Tax an Expense or an Increase? • Employee pays 7.65%. • Employer pays 7.65%. • Tithing on the gross does not tithe the 7.65% that the employer pays for you. • Average person gets back all they’ve paid into Social Security in 3 ½ years

Jan Couch P.O. Box 2910Cleveland, TN 37320-2910 423.559.5222FAX 423.472.5037 KJCOUCH@aol.com jan@cogop.org

Living Under an Open Heaven