Faithful Stewardship: Tithing and Obedience to God
Summary
### Summary
Today, we explored the profound significance of tithing and the biblical principles that underscore it. We delved into Malachi 3, where God challenges us to bring the whole tithe into the storehouse and test Him to see if He will not open the floodgates of heaven. This isn't about material blessings alone but about God using us as conduits of His blessings to others. We also had the privilege of praying for our missionaries, Jason and Katrina, asking for God's continued guidance and provision in their ministry.
We then transitioned into the second season of our series, "Binge the Bible," focusing on the books of Numbers and Deuteronomy. Numbers begins with a census of the Israelites, emphasizing the importance of recognizing God's blessings and the resources He has provided. The journey of the Israelites from Mount Sinai to the Promised Land is a testament to God's guidance, even when it involves taking the long route for our protection and growth. Despite witnessing God's miracles, the Israelites often complained and rebelled, leading to severe consequences, including a 40-year detour in the wilderness.
Deuteronomy serves as a book of remembrance, where Moses reviews the history, laws, and the importance of obedience to God. He emphasizes that living for God should manifest in our actions and decisions. The book concludes with Moses' farewell speeches, urging the Israelites to choose life and blessings through obedience. Moses installs Joshua as the new leader and views the Promised Land from Mount Nebo, a poignant reminder of the consequences of disobedience.
### Key Takeaways
1. Tithing as a Principle of Blessing: Tithing is not merely a financial transaction but a spiritual principle that invites God's blessings into our lives. When we tithe, we acknowledge God's sovereignty and trust in His provision. This act of faith opens us up to be used by God as channels of His blessings to others, fulfilling His purpose through us. [31:24]
2. Recognizing God's Provision: The census in Numbers teaches us the importance of stepping back to recognize and count God's blessings in our lives. In moments of struggle, taking stock of God's past faithfulness can renew our strength and resolve, reminding us that He is not done with us yet. [32:54]
3. The Consequences of Complaining: Complaining is counterproductive and often stems from a lack of trust in God's plan. The Israelites' complaints led to God's anger and severe consequences. This serves as a reminder that our attitude in adversity should be one of trust and gratitude, recognizing that God's ways are higher than ours. [34:22]
4. Obedience Brings Blessings: Throughout Deuteronomy, Moses emphasizes that obedience to God's commands brings blessings, while disobedience leads to curses. This principle is timeless, reminding us that our choices have spiritual and practical consequences. Living in obedience aligns us with God's will and opens the door to His blessings. [56:25]
5. Faith Requires Risk: The story of the spies in Numbers highlights that faith often involves taking risks. Trusting God means stepping out even when the path is uncertain. Caleb's courage in the face of daunting odds exemplifies the kind of faith that pleases God and leads to the fulfillment of His promises. [01:21:27]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[31:24] - The Principle of Tithing
[32:54] - God's Blessings Through Us
[34:22] - Prayer for Missionaries
[38:12] - Introduction to Binge the Bible Season 2
[49:22] - The Journey of the Israelites
[50:35] - The Importance of Obedience
[51:27] - The Census and God's Provision
[52:32] - Complaints and Consequences
[53:31] - The Long Route to the Promised Land
[54:35] - Lessons from Leviticus and Numbers
[55:29] - God's Plan for His People
[56:25] - The Role of Scripture
[57:16] - The Relevance of All Scripture
[58:18] - Introduction to Numbers and Deuteronomy
[01:00:06] - The Journey to the Promised Land
[01:01:00] - The Importance of Faith and Obedience
[01:02:21] - The Roundabout Route
[01:03:35] - Counting God's Blessings
[01:04:37] - The Vision of Isaiah
[01:06:01] - God's Victories
[01:07:21] - Moving with God
[01:08:30] - The Long Route Explained
[01:09:36] - The Roundabout Route
[01:10:08] - The Half-Grown Man
[01:11:02] - God's Protection in the Long Route
[01:12:00] - Moving with the Cloud
[01:13:10] - Complaints and Consequences
[01:14:03] - The Fire of the Lord
[01:15:14] - The Consequences of Complaining
[01:16:49] - Israel Rebels
[01:18:36] - Spying Out the Land
[01:19:46] - The Report of the Spies
[01:21:27] - Faith Requires Risk
[01:23:08] - The Uprising and Consequences
[01:25:13] - Israel is Punished
[01:26:21] - The Importance of Trust
[01:27:07] - Introduction to Deuteronomy
[01:28:23] - Learning from History
[01:28:57] - Regulations for Present Life
[01:29:23] - Living for God
[01:29:52] - Blessings and Curses
[01:30:25] - Choosing Life
[01:31:29] - Moses' Farewell
[01:32:39] - Key Takeaways
[01:35:06] - Personal Story and Consequences of Disobedience
[01:39:22] - The Importance of Obedience
[01:40:55] - Closing Prayer and Invitation for Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Malachi 3:8-10 - "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, 'How are we robbing you?' In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. 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 there will not be room enough to store it."
2. Numbers 1:1 - "The Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying..."
3. Deuteronomy 30:19-20 - "This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob."
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Malachi 3:8-10 say about the consequences of not tithing and the blessings of bringing the whole tithe into the storehouse? [31:24]
2. In Numbers 1:1, where does the Lord speak to Moses, and what does this signify about the relationship between God and His people? [55:29]
3. According to Deuteronomy 30:19-20, what choices are set before the Israelites, and what are the outcomes of these choices? [01:30:25]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the principle of tithing in Malachi 3:8-10 extend beyond financial blessings to being conduits of God's blessings to others? [32:54]
2. What is the significance of the census in Numbers 1:1, and how does it relate to recognizing God's provision in our lives? [01:03:35]
3. In Deuteronomy 30:19-20, why does Moses emphasize the importance of choosing life and blessings through obedience, and how does this apply to our daily decisions? [01:30:25]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own practice of tithing. How does understanding tithing as a spiritual principle rather than a financial transaction change your perspective? [31:24]
2. Think about a time when you were in the middle of a difficult situation. How did stepping back to count God's blessings help you regain strength and trust in His provision? [01:03:35]
3. Complaining often stems from a lack of trust in God's plan. How can you cultivate an attitude of trust and gratitude in your current circumstances? [01:14:45]
4. Moses emphasized that obedience brings blessings. Identify an area in your life where you struggle with obedience. What steps can you take this week to align your actions with God's commands? [01:30:25]
5. Faith often requires taking risks, as seen in the story of the spies in Numbers. What is a step of faith you feel God is calling you to take, and what fears do you need to overcome to take that step? [01:21:27]
6. Reflect on a time when you felt like you were taking the long route in life. How can you see God's protection and growth in that journey, and how does this perspective help you trust Him more? [01:11:02]
7. Moses' farewell speeches in Deuteronomy urge the Israelites to choose life and blessings. What practical steps can you take this week to choose life and blessings in your decisions and actions? [01:30:25]
Devotional
Day 1: Tithing as a Principle of Blessing
Tithing is not merely a financial transaction but a spiritual principle that invites God's blessings into our lives. When we tithe, we acknowledge God's sovereignty and trust in His provision. This act of faith opens us up to be used by God as channels of His blessings to others, fulfilling His purpose through us. Tithing is a tangible expression of our faith and trust in God's ability to provide for our needs. It is a way to honor God with our resources and recognize that everything we have comes from Him.
In Malachi 3, God challenges us to bring the whole tithe into the storehouse and test Him to see if He will not open the floodgates of heaven. This isn't about material blessings alone but about God using us as conduits of His blessings to others. When we tithe, we participate in God's work and become part of His plan to bless others. This principle of tithing is a reminder that our resources are not just for our benefit but are meant to be used for God's purposes. [31:24]
Malachi 3:10 (ESV): "Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need."
Reflection: How can you trust God more with your finances and resources today? What steps can you take to become a conduit of His blessings to others?
Day 2: Recognizing God's Provision
The census in Numbers teaches us the importance of stepping back to recognize and count God's blessings in our lives. In moments of struggle, taking stock of God's past faithfulness can renew our strength and resolve, reminding us that He is not done with us yet. Recognizing God's provision helps us to see His hand at work in our lives and builds our faith for the future.
The journey of the Israelites from Mount Sinai to the Promised Land is a testament to God's guidance, even when it involves taking the long route for our protection and growth. Despite witnessing God's miracles, the Israelites often complained and rebelled, leading to severe consequences, including a 40-year detour in the wilderness. This serves as a reminder that our attitude in adversity should be one of trust and gratitude, recognizing that God's ways are higher than ours. [32:54]
Numbers 1:2-3 (ESV): "Take a census of all the congregation of the people of Israel, by clans, by fathers' houses, according to the number of names, every male, head by head. From twenty years old and upward, all in Israel who are able to go to war, you and Aaron shall list them, company by company."
Reflection: In what ways has God provided for you in the past? How can remembering His past faithfulness help you trust Him in your current circumstances?
Day 3: The Consequences of Complaining
Complaining is counterproductive and often stems from a lack of trust in God's plan. The Israelites' complaints led to God's anger and severe consequences. This serves as a reminder that our attitude in adversity should be one of trust and gratitude, recognizing that God's ways are higher than ours. Complaining can blind us to the blessings and opportunities that God has placed before us.
The journey of the Israelites from Mount Sinai to the Promised Land is a testament to God's guidance, even when it involves taking the long route for our protection and growth. Despite witnessing God's miracles, the Israelites often complained and rebelled, leading to severe consequences, including a 40-year detour in the wilderness. This serves as a reminder that our attitude in adversity should be one of trust and gratitude, recognizing that God's ways are higher than ours. [34:22]
Numbers 11:1 (ESV): "And the people complained in the hearing of the Lord about their misfortunes, and when the Lord heard it, his anger was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burned among them and consumed some outlying parts of the camp."
Reflection: What are some areas in your life where you find yourself complaining? How can you shift your focus to trust and gratitude instead?
Day 4: Obedience Brings Blessings
Throughout Deuteronomy, Moses emphasizes that obedience to God's commands brings blessings, while disobedience leads to curses. This principle is timeless, reminding us that our choices have spiritual and practical consequences. Living in obedience aligns us with God's will and opens the door to His blessings. Obedience is not just about following rules but about aligning our hearts and actions with God's purposes.
Deuteronomy serves as a book of remembrance, where Moses reviews the history, laws, and the importance of obedience to God. He emphasizes that living for God should manifest in our actions and decisions. The book concludes with Moses' farewell speeches, urging the Israelites to choose life and blessings through obedience. Moses installs Joshua as the new leader and views the Promised Land from Mount Nebo, a poignant reminder of the consequences of disobedience. [56:25]
Deuteronomy 28:1-2 (ESV): "And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God."
Reflection: Are there areas in your life where you are struggling to obey God's commands? What steps can you take to align your actions with His will?
Day 5: Faith Requires Risk
The story of the spies in Numbers highlights that faith often involves taking risks. Trusting God means stepping out even when the path is uncertain. Caleb's courage in the face of daunting odds exemplifies the kind of faith that pleases God and leads to the fulfillment of His promises. Faith is not the absence of fear but the willingness to move forward despite it, trusting in God's promises.
The journey of the Israelites from Mount Sinai to the Promised Land is a testament to God's guidance, even when it involves taking the long route for our protection and growth. Despite witnessing God's miracles, the Israelites often complained and rebelled, leading to severe consequences, including a 40-year detour in the wilderness. This serves as a reminder that our attitude in adversity should be one of trust and gratitude, recognizing that God's ways are higher than ours. [01:21:27]
Numbers 13:30 (ESV): "But Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, 'Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it.'"
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to take a step of faith? How can you trust God more fully in this area and move forward despite uncertainty?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "We believe that the tithe is a biblical principle that when we live by it, God has designed for our lives to be blessed. We do a thing around here that we call the 90-day tithe challenge. That means if you are not a tither, if you have not been a consistent tither, we believe so much in this principle that we ask you to join with us and take the 90-day tithe challenge." [31:24] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "I believe that as we take this journey together as tithers, I believe that God will open up your life and you'll see that he will use you to bless others in such a way that you'll look back and go man how did that happen and the only answer that you'll be able to give for that is had to be God it had to be God." [32:54] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Sometimes it is good for us just to step back and count the blessings of God in our lives, count the things in our lives that are taking place. Sometimes it's good for you to step back because when you realize all that God has done in the middle of the negative that might be going on, in the middle of the fight that you're having, when you take account of all that God has done, you will realize there's still some fight left in me." [01:04:06] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Faith means risk. If you're looking for a sure thing, you're not looking to walk the walk of faith. Because faith and I know all of my faith people go well faith you know you can bank on what God says faith means risk there are some times that you got to take a risk when God says I want you to leave land and country and go and you go where am I going he said I'll show you come on that's a risk." [01:21:27] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Complaining is always counterproductive. I think you should address issues. I didn't say don't address issues. I think we should address issues. I think issues need to be addressed. But it's in the way that we address issues. And the problem is when we don't get our way, oftentimes, when God does something different in our lives than we thought He should have done, when He takes a different route than we thought He should have taken, when it's taking longer than we thought it should have taken, we have a tendency to get in this place." [01:33:14] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Living for God looks like something. Meaning there should be some difference to your life if you are a follower of Jesus. And the issue that we see in especially American culture is that we have lots of people who are claiming the name of Christ. Their lives show absolutely no difference. And so their living for God doesn't look like living for God. And so it's causing a lot of questions." [53:31] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "We don't study the scripture so that we have more knowledge. We don't want to just know more. We study the scripture so that we know Him more. Right? We believe that this is the word of God. We believe that this is God's revelation to mankind of who He is and His plan for man." [56:25] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Fear minus faith equals failure every time. Does that seem extreme to you? Not. Then you understand that faith is dependent on trust. Either trust God, they have picked consistently that they don't trust Him. Finish numbers with watching a generation die out so that the next generation can inhabit the promise." [01:26:21] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Obedience always equals blessings. Consistently throughout Scripture, when you obey the voice of the Lord your God, there are blessings. Now, please don't misunderstand me. I'm not leaning into the health, well, if you do it this way, everything's going to turn out because, the Lord said, in this world, you will have trouble. Okay? So I'm not telling you if you obey God, everything's going to be roses and rainbows. I'm telling you that if you obey God, that there are blessings always associated with blessing God, with obeying God." [01:34:17] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "I made a vow that day that to my knowledge, I would always strive to obey God no matter what it felt like. No matter if it made me nervous. And I'm going to be honest, more times than not, does following God make you nervous? Because it's a walk of faith. And that's why it bothers me so much that we live in a generation that tries to sidestep the consequences so that they can live and do whatever they want." [01:39:22] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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