Sunday's sermon went well. We discussed how tithing and fasting can be forms of worship. I don't have the time this morning to write out the whole bit, but I will share a little of the message. I also want to let you know that I am working on posting the entire sermon on this blog as a downloadable audio file. More on that later this week (maybe into next, depending on our sound guy).

Tithes and offering have always been a form of worship for God's people. Gen 14:20 is the biblical foundation for the practice. To put this in context, Abram has just rescued his nephew, Lot, from the hands of four kings who had captured him. Abram is on his way back home when he encounters a man named Melchizedek (lit. King of Righteousness) who was king of Salem (King of Peace) and priest of God Most High. Melchizedek blesses Abram and Abram responds by giving him a tenth of everything he had. This practice was carried on in Abram's family ever since.

Biblically, everything belongs to God. He gives us everything we have and He simply asks us to return 10%. Now, if we don't He will still provide for us, but if we do He pours out blessing upon us. The strongest words in Scripture about tithing are found in Malachi 3:8. "Will man rob God? Yet you rob me. Yet you ask 'How have we robbed you?' In tithes and offerings." God then goes on to say that the nation of Israel is under a curse because they are not tithing. But here is something really extraordinary.

"Bring the whole tithe into my storehouse... Test me in this," says the Lord "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."

How amazing is that? If we would simply do what God asks us, that would be enough. But here God challenges us to test Him and if we do, He will bless us beyond what we can imagine. That blows my mind.

So I encourage you to tithe. It is really for your benefit. I promise you that you will have more buying power with 90% of your wealth blessed by God than if you had kept the whole 100% to yourself. I don't know how that works, but it does. Realize, too, that this is a form of worship, this is not religious obligation. We give in response to what God has already done for us, namely, sending His son Jesus to take our place on the cross. God's extravagant love calls for equally extravagant devotion. Tithing is just the beginning.