Philippians 4:17-19 (NKJV) Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
God has designed two ways for individual believers and churches to be well-provided for: tithing and freewill offerings. God has promised that He would supply all our needs according to the glory of Christ Jesus. Therefore, we need to apply this biblical financial principle and trust that when we give in these two ways, God will provide for us because it is written in the Word. When we know the Word and anchor our faith in it, it allows us to respond in obedience.
Malachi 3:8 (NKJV) “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say,
‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings.
God rebuked the people in the book of Malachi for robbing Him because they weren’t paying their tithes and offerings to Him. In fact, the priests were corrupt and offered a blemished lamb even though God had specifically instructed them to offer an unblemished lamb. Likewise, we need to check our hearts to see whether we are robbing God by withholding our tithes. It is important to tithe correctly so that the tithe fulfils God’s intent.
Tithe literally means one-tenth of a payment. It represents 10% of a person’s income. In the books of Hebrews and Genesis, it is recorded that Abraham gave a tenth of the spoil to Melchizedek, who is a type of Christ. This incident occurred during the time of the Patriarch, about 400 years before the Mosaic Covenant. However, tithing as a practice of worship, specifically commanded by God in Scripture, did not come into its own until the law of Moses was given. Therefore, tithing is a financial principle established way before the law was given.
God is concerned about our tithe because it serves two purposes. First, tithing was legally instituted to provide food for the Levites and servants of God in the temple and the church. The tribe of Levi was not given land like the other tribes, so they lived on the tithe. Second, it served more than just their needs but offered the people an opportunity to express their worship and dependence on God. Thus, tithing had a dual purpose: practical and spiritual. The same is true today. God is concerned for His servants, the full-time workers in the temple and the church, because He wants them to be adequately provided for, but tithing is also an act of worship to God, who has called us and blessed us.
Sermon Series: Christian Generosity
十一奉献是一种敬拜方式
腓立比书4:17-19 我并不求什么馈送，所求的就是你们的果子渐渐增多，归在你们的账上。但我样样都有，并且有余。我已经充足，因我从以巴弗提受了你们的馈送，当做极美的香气，为神所收纳所喜悦的祭物。我的神必照他荣耀的丰富，在基督耶稣里使你们一切所需用的都充足。
神为信徒个人和教会设立了两种方式，使我们在供应上不至缺乏：什一奉献和甘心乐意的奉献。神应许要照着基督耶稣荣耀的丰富来供应我们一切所需。因此，我们应当践行这一圣经中的财务原则，并相信当我们以这两种方式奉献时，神必照他的话语供应我们。当我们明白圣经真理并以信心扎根其中，就能以顺服的心回应神。
玛拉基书3:8 “人岂可夺取神之物呢？你们竟夺取我的供物。你们却说：‘我们在何事上夺取你的供物呢？’就是你们在当纳的十分之一和当献的供物上。
在玛拉基书中，神责备百姓夺取他的供物，因为他们没有缴纳十一奉献和供物。当时的祭司甚至腐败到将残疾的羔羊献为祭物，违背了神要求献上无瑕疵祭物的明确吩咐。同样，我们当省察自己的心，看看是否因扣留十一奉献而夺取了神的物？正确地履行十一奉献至关重要，这些奉献被用于完成祂的旨意。
“十一奉献”字面意思是收入的十分之一。在希伯来书和创世记中记载，亚伯拉罕将战利品的十分之一献给麦基洗德——这位祭司预表了基督。这事发生在先祖时代，比摩西之约早了约400年。但十一奉献作为神在圣经中明确规定的敬拜实践，直到摩西律法颁布后才成为完整制度。由此可见，十一奉献是早在律法颁布前就已确立的财务原则。
神看重我们的十一奉献，因其具有双重目的。首先，十一奉献在律法中被正式设立，是为保障圣殿和教会中利未人与神仆人的需用。利未支派不像其它支派那样分得土地，他们依靠百姓的十一奉献维生。其次，十一奉献不仅满足了人们的需要，更是让百姓表达对神的敬拜与信靠。因此，它既有实际的用途，也有属灵的意义。今天也是如此。神顾念祂在圣殿和教会中全职服事的人，因为祂希望他们能被妥善供养。但十一奉献也是向神献上的敬拜，因为祂呼召我们，并赐福给我们。
讲章系列：基督徒的慷慨与奉献
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