Abraham's School of Finance: Tithing

Part 3 of church preaching series at VCF entitled Abraham's School of Finance.  I wasn't able to post this sooner because I misplaced my notebook.  Needless to say, I found it yesterday!  The complete series list is:

Week 1: Covenant
Week 2: Stewardship
Week 3: Tithing
Week 4: Generosity

The verse for this lesson is Genesis 14.

Abram heard that his nephew Lot and has been taken captive by invading kings.  He pursued the captors, routed them and recovered all the people and goods.  He was met by the king of Sodom who offered him all the goods (but wanted all the people back).  Abram declined to take anything from the king of Sodom.  Melchizedek king of Salem also met him, with bread and wine.  Melchizedek blessed Abram and God for the victory.  Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything...  This was the first mention of tithing in the Bible.

Spirit
The spirit of the tithe is: I am blessed by God.  I will bless God.  I will be a blessing to others.
The reason why people may find it hard to give back to God 10% is unbelief that God is the source of everything they have...

Principle
Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. (Proverbs 3:9-10)
Firstfruits mean first and best.

..the Israelites generously gave the firstfruits of their grain, new wine, oil and honey and all that the fields produced. They brought a great amount, a tithe of everything. (2 Chronicles 31:5)
Whole, tithe of everything.

A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD. (Leviticus 27:30)
Separate, a cut above, highest standard

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. (Malachi 3:10)
A test.

Attitude
To whom are we giving the tithe?  It may be through a church but it is ultimately to God.  As long as we understand and fully embrace the spirit of the tithe, the rest will be easy.

Message by Pastor Joey Bonifacio
VCF Fort
November 20, 2011

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