This morning, my son and I went to a conference on studying the Bible—tips, tricks, and techniques to be more effective at studying God’s Word. After one of the presentations, the speaker got done a little early and solicited comments from the audience. A gentleman stood up and raised the question that went something like this:

I had in mind to go home and do a quick blog entry on this topic, but as I was preparing for tomorrow’s class, I ran across an outline I created for a lesson I taught back in 2008. I think the outline will do the trick here because I think the Scriptures really speak for themselves.

Of course, if you have any questions or comments, leave them in the Comments section, below.

I. Giving is important to God

A.  God calls not giving stealing from Him.

•    Malachi 3:8,9 - "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—the whole nation of you— because you are robbing me.

B.  The only time that God ever says to test Him is in the matter of giving:

•    Malachi 3:10 - 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.

II. Why does God want us to give?

A. Because He has given to us

•    Matthew 10:8b - Freely you have received, freely give.

B. It shows us where our hearts (priorities) are

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

C.  So that He will be praised

•    2 Corinthians 9:13 - Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.

D.  So that those who preach can do so full-time

•    1 Corinthians 9:14 - In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.

•    Luke 10:7 - Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.

E.  It’s all His anyway

•    Psalm 24:1 - The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;

III. What does God want us to give?

A.  Time

•    Matthew 6:33 - But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

•    Luke 10:38-42 - “Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." (v. 42)

B.  Talent

•    Col. 3:23 - Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.

•    2 Timothy 2:15 - Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

•    1 Corinthians 4:7 - For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

•    Matthew 25:14-30 (parable of the talents)

C.  Treasure

•    1 Corinthians 16:2 - On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.

IV. How does God wants us to give?

A.  Freely

•    Matthew 10:8b - Freely you have received, freely give.

B.  Cheerfully

•    2 Corinthians 9:7 - Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

C.  Generously

•    1 Kings 17:7-16 (the widow of Zarephath)

a)  Had nothing to give

b)  She was about to make her last meal and then die

c)  Elijah asked her to give to him first

•    Luke 6:38 - “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

D.  Honestly

•    Acts 5 (Ananias and Sapphira)

V. How much should we give?

A. Old Testament

1. The Law dictated a tithe, which is 10% of the firstfruits (gross income)

•   Leviticus 27:30 - 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.

•   Exodus 23:19a - Bring the best of the firstfruits of your soil to the house of the LORD your God.

2. There were additional, special-occasion tithes as well

B. New Testament

1. Jesus upheld the tithe and by this example we see that at the very least, we should give a tenth

•   Matthew 23:23 - "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.

2. However, more emphasis is placed not on the amount, but on the attitude!

•   2 Corinthians 9:7 - Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

VI. Who is to give?

A.  All believers. God is not impressed by the giving done by the unregenerate

•    Psalm 51:16,17 - You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

B.  Even the priests in the OT were required to tithe on that which they received from Israel’s tithe

•    Numbers 18:26 - Speak to the Levites and say to them: “When you receive from the Israelites the tithe I give you as your inheritance, you must present a tenth of that tithe as the LORD's offering.”

VII. To whom should we give?

A.  The church (local body)

•    1 Corinthians 9:14 - In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.

B.  Those in need—fulfill their needs, don’t just hand them cash

•    Matthew 25:34-40 (giving to the “least of these”)