The Treasure Principle
Where Do I Start?
3/5/06 AM ~ Pastor Brad Dyrness
Sparks Nazarene Church

If there is joy in giving,

if it belongs to God,

and if I am a steward…

“What does God call me to do with His treasures                                         so that I may have joy?”

Where do I start?

1.  The Bible calls us to start with an offering called a tithe.

Leviticus 27:30 ~ Numbers 18:25-26 ~ 2 Chronicles 31:5 ~               Malachi 3:10 

Tithe - the definition is 10% ~ gross/net isn’t the issue!!!

What then is the issue?  The heart!!!

Some say, “Let’s take this gradually, starting out with 5%.”  The point is not to rob God less – it’s to not rob Him at all!

All that tithing stuff is Old Testament! ~ Matthew 23:23 

We must know this:  EVERY New Testament example of giving goes far beyond the tithe!  NONE fall short of the tithe!

Jesus raised the bar; He never lowered it! 

Matthew 5:27-28, 1 Corinthians 16:1-2

Giving is not to be out of a list of rules, but out of obedience and overflowing grace!  --2 Corinthians 9:12-15

Then it’s not about “can’t”; it’s about “want-to”!  --Philippians 2:13

It’s not easy to tithe, but it’s easier than living on 100% outside the will of God!

2.  The Bible also calls us to give beyond the tithe!

2 Corinthians 8:7 - … see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

In the Old Testament there was a:

First fruits offering (tithe) - Malachi 3:10

Free-will offering - Exodus 25:2 

Building offering - Exodus 35:5

Along with…

In the New Testament, there is the offering for the poor, the offering to help others tell people who have not heard, the offerings that started the church in the Book of Acts…and the list goes on!

Paul calls us to …excel in this grace of giving!

3.  Remember the promise! 

Heavenly investments bring JOY!  AND… Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.  You will be made rich in every way… --2 Corinthians 9:10-11a

 ndard of giving!

I am called to give, so I will get… so I can give again!