On a $10 bill is the face of Alexander Hamilton. His accomplishments should make him one of the top ten national heroes. His contribution of life led to:

" Revolutionary war hero
" By age 22 Chief of Staff for George Washington
" America's first Secretary of the Treasury
" Co-Author of the Federalist Papers
" Creator of the National Coast Guard
" Designer of the nations first baking system
" Architect of the tax system bringing revenue to the US Government
" Builder of the infrastructure for industry

But despite his accomplishments that blended political, financial and legal skill with the founding fathers he does not rank in the top ten heroes or anywhere close. He had a sense of self-importance and inability to be personally challenged. He alienated friends and colleagues sabotaging a rich life. His personal pride killed him when Aaron Burr shot him dead in a dual at dawn at the age of 49. What could have been a means for personal growth ended a life.

The inability to be personally challenged is the number one personal growth stopper in America. People live vicariously through the experiences of others. This is why people, business, ministries, and marriages freeze in time. Someone is just too prideful to pay the price to go from good to great. I want to challenge you about money today. There is no other subject more challenging to believers than money. Some have been abused and burned, others are ignorant and some are tight fisted.

A guest speaker was uncomfortable in the home he was hosted in because he enjoyed a cigar. The host was uncomfortable with the guest because he enjoyed wine with dinner. Both guest and host were unhappy with the pastor because he listened to non Christian music on his ipod. The treasurer of the church refused to take the pastor, guest and host out for lunch after the service because he did not believe in spending money on a Sunday. Everyone seems to have something they are passionate against.

Abraham had just rescued his nephew Lot with 318 of his men in crossfire with enemy kings. In the process he plunders those kings. There was no tabernacle, temple or church to give into so he showed his gratitude to a priest called Mechizedeck.

(Genesis 14:18-20) "Then Melchizedeck king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was the priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, 'Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And blessed by God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.' Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything."

What prompted Abraham to give a tenth and why have so much confidence in a priest he had never met before? Mechizedeck represented all that Abraham knew of God and then some. What the priest said to Abraham echo what Christ said to his disciples.

We should not be hasty to bring quick answers especially when you are on holy ground. Any revelation comes to us on holy ground. What theology calls 'revelation' our culture calls 'epistemology' or to know exactly how we know. Revelation has never been up for grabs so the desire to know 'why' a tenth is more epistemology than it is theology. We have a problem to simply accept what the Word says as God's revelation to us. People do not ask 'why does God love us' but will ask 'why should I tithe?' Never forget that Abraham saw the gospel in advance and accepted it.

In the conscience of every man are answers that have no explanations.

We were made in the image and likeness of God.

It is the shed blood of Christ that sears our conscience to accept what the Bible says as true.

We know, without knowing why, that the tithe belongs to God. The single reason for not tithing is the stubborn heart that God accused Israel of having that the church has today.

The book of Malachi is divided into two parts. Chapter one and two speak about the dysfunctional behavior of the priests. Chapter three and four do not look back to the past or address exclusively Malachi's present generation he was doing life with but to future generations. Was Malachi a prophet? Yes, so he had something to say to future generations.

The only person to be called 'preparer of the way' or forerunner was John the Baptist.

Malachi did not know who he would be other than he would be of a future generation.

In a single verse Malachi is speaking about future generations that have over 2000 years between then. The Lord is Christ. When Christ was born as the only begotten of the Father it was far from 'suddenly' but over nine months. Even before his birth it was prophesied and announced by men and angels. So the generation Malachi is addressing is beyond the first coming of Christ in the days of John the Baptist but to a generation who will know his second coming. Christ did not come to his temple the first time because he destroyed all that the temple stood for in tearing the veil that went into the Holy of Holies where the Ark of the Covenant was. The Lord coming to his temple is coming to his people who are the temple of the Holy Spirit.

The first coming of Christ was as a Savior but the second coming will be as judge. Now we understand that what the prophet Malachi is saying has a clear context of our generation not the Old Testament law and covenant.

When did God change his mind on tithing? Christ taught on a range of subjects that were changed to the New Covenant because of grace.

Subjects like murder, adultery, divorce, swearing an oath, eye for an eye, loving enemies, prayer and fasting, worry and judging others were not made any easier. But Christ did not change anything about tithing.

We have left God on an issue that he has never changed in and the invitation is to return on that issue.

It is not just the tithe but offerings also because everything belongs to God.

We do not return with an intention or a 'sorry' but with money that belongs to God. The whole tithe does not mean several months a year but every month. The tithe means a tenth of your income. There is no tithing in kind - what do you think the rest of us do? If it's not money then it's not a tithe. Time is not a tithe because we are all full-time serving the Lord.

There is ultimately one reason for tithing - because it is Biblical. Other reasons do not carry the weight and credibility including a tax write-off. Because it is Biblical does not make it natural but requires faith and everyone is congenitally allergic to it.

Who are you today?

1. I don't tithe but this is my church
2. I don't tithe but I work hard in my church
3. I don't tithe because other financial obligations are greater than God
4. I don't tithe because I chose not to and I never will
5. I tithe into my church because it is Biblical

Why do some Christians not tithe?

1. They have not been taught properly. (Romans 10:14) "How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them." The word 'preach' is very specific and does not mean generalize, share, chat or suggest but to declare. Some things in life are not natural and need to be taught. Tithing is not natural and needs to be taught.

2. They misunderstand the place of God's law in the Bible. (Romans 6:14) "…you are not under law, but under grace." But their reluctance to tithe is rarely based in doctrine. An understanding of the Law is not only a deterrent to legalism but positively emancipates it. The word 'tithe' originated in the Old Testament but everything we do believe had its origin there. Word like faith, atonement, sin, righteousness, and redemption do not originate in the law. Just because something is in the Old Testament does not automatically make it something under the law or creation would be under the law. Hebrews chapter eleven shows that Abel, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph did what they did by faith not under the law. Moses, Joshua, Gideon, Samuel and David did what they did by faith after the law was given. Grace takes the ceiling off everything from forgiveness, love, acceptance, peace and joy. The Bible uses words like 'lavished' to show the unlimited blessing of God. Tithing has had the ceiling taken off it to be lavish in our giving. Tithing is not a place to reach but a place to start with giving. Tithing is a discipline and lavish giving is not a discipline but it needs to launch from a sure and certain platform.

3. They believe tithing is an obstacle to being led by the Spirit. (Galatians 5:18) "But if you are led by the Spirit you are not under the law." We are referred to as sheep who are often led astray. We do not feel like doing many things including family life and prayer. Left to our own devices we would not feel led to do most things that are Biblical. Some are convinced by the Bible and others do not want to be convinced choosing to be impoverished rather than enriched. Most of what they have is financed on a loan but still claim the tithe is not God's while what they drive, live in, sit on, sleep in and enjoy belongs to the bank.

What does tithing do for you?

1. It brings more revelation. (1 John 1:7) "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his son, purifies us from all sin." God throws light on your path and the way you respond to that light will determine how much more light he will throw on it. Tithing is God's way of walking in the light of obedience and faith. You will see further revelation of the Bible.

2. It brings solution. The community is unimpressed with a church that does not command respect and attention. Why should the community respect the church when the church does not respect the tithe? The fidelity and infidelity of how you handle the tithe has a great deal to do with personal growth. (Luke 16:10) "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much." You cannot bypass the least to get to the most. Your growth is arrested and stunted when holding back the tithe. It is like Balaam's donkey you cannot more forward no matter how hard you try. Obedience in one area cannot offset disobedience in another area.

Quick questions and answers

" Do we tithe gross or net? Remember that your taxes are not a gift but 'for services rendered' and you enjoy the benefits of the services provided for with your tax. Once we think 'gross' or 'net' it opens up other issues. People deduct their gas money to travel to church, deduct expenditure for the kingdom of God. It's a question of honor.

" Do we tithe if our income is so small? Big or small is not the issue but what is right. When you become enamored by your own earning capacity you render yourself useless to God.

" Is the storehouse always the church? God always has a place to bring the tithe to. Melchizedeck was the first, then the tabernacle, temple and finally church. There is no evidence that the tithe was designated in New Testament.

" Can we send the tithe to anyone that upholds the Gospel? You cannot pass by the church. It should be the fountainhead for every ministry it recognizes. Tithing to the church dignifies it.

" What if there was a big tither in the church, would that not result in the tail wagging the dog? There are some is churches whose tithe is bigger than the rest of the church together - a widows mite in reverse. The temptations for the wealthy man are vast in spreading his tithe thin without anyone knowing.

" What if you cannot afford to tithe? A woman was about to retire from her employer with no money reserve. She stated to her Pastor that she could no longer tithe. The next day her employer took the Pastor out for dinner and shared his success that the company was about to start a retirement scheme and the first to be fully paid up in advance was the woman that was about to retire.

" What if you are only one of a few that tithes? Tithing is between you and God never on corporate attitude. Try to avoid the Elijah complex of feeling you are the only one.

" Isn't tithing hard for the poor? Compared to the IRS the way of God is fair to everyone. A poor man will pay the same as a rich man for food and gas but will not pay the same in tithe. Tithing will cut across any class of society.

" Is it right to tithe if you are in debt? Most of us if not all are in some kind of debt. If the kingdom of God waited for debt free Christians it would loose its dignity and impact in the community. Most have a mortgage, car payments.

" Should you keep a personal record of the tithe? Many Christians are in bad debt because they have no accounting system that gives a green light or red light on purchasing things. At the end of the year it is important to check that the full tithe is paid.

" Should you tithe weekly or monthly? Whenever you get paid take it off the top straight away.

" Should children and teenagers tithe? Yes. The best time to learn is when you are young.

" Should a student who has a grant tithe on it? No. It is designated for tuition not for personal income. If the grant exceeds the tuition and lodging then the residue should be tithed on.

" Should you tithe on reimbursed expenses? No. This is not income but replacing what has been spent and tithed on already.

" Should you tithe on a retirement fund? Some point out that the contributions to that fund have already been tithed on from gross pay. But there is no real way of knowing exactly how much your fund will make. The government or employer may be making contributions to it that you have not tithed on.

" If you have not been tithing should you backdate it? Yes and no. Begin today. If you have a conviction like Zacchaeus then do it.



If you would like to see previous transcripts you can find them here.:

• Fellowship - Making Money Count
• Live By Choice Not By Chance
• Church Scene Investigation Series
• Lost Series
• Are You Hungry? Series
• The Lion the Witch and You! Series
• Promise Land to Promise Life Series
  
• Discovery.God Series