We'll tune in next time for another installment of The Frugal Family.
May I ask you to open your Bibles with me please to Acts Chapter 2, as we continue looking at the heart of the new community of God.
The student of the Bible must be cautious about making any event or experience in the book of Acts the norm or the model for this age.
Some events are totally unique and cannot be repeated.
In Chapter 1 of Acts it refers to the suffering of Christ, to His resurrection from the dead.
Those are unique, they can never be repeated.
It speaks about the wait for 40 days until the power from on high would come.
That cannot be repeated, it need not be repeated.
In Chapter 2 we have the coming of the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost.
Once again, that is a unique experience and it's not a model for the whole age.
It impacted the whole age in the one occurrence in which it took place.
The book of Acts is a book of transition and it is not intended as a treating on doctrine.
So any teaching or any action or any event that is observed in the book of Acts should be authenticated
or restated as a doctrine in the epistles if it's to be considered a norm.
Here in Acts Chapter 2, verses 44 and 45, we have a particular response of the church to the needs that arose at that time.
Apparently the needs of pilgrims who stayed in Jerusalem due to the events surrounding Pentecost.
Potentially this may have been tens of thousands of people who stayed longer than they had intended to in Jerusalem.
And so how the church responded to that particular need did not establish a norm for the whole age,
but it does give us an insight into the heart of the church.
It says, And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common,
and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all as anyone might have need.
Let me say again, this does not tell us that communal living is the norm for this age.
That is not what it's saying, but what it is saying is that the new community has such a heart of generosity and giving
that in this instance, this is how they responded.
So in looking at the heart of the new community, I'm not so interested in the mechanism itself that was established as I am the attitude that was manifested.
How would you describe the attitude here?
Generous? Unselfish? Liberal?
You see, what comes through clearly to us is that the new community had a heart that pulsated with unselfishness and with extravagant response to need.
This was a giving community.
And my prayer is that you will leave here today more committed than you've ever been before in your life to reflecting this kind of a heart that we see in God's new community.
Digging deeper into this event, there are a couple of thoughts that come to my mind.
First of all, having been members of the old community of Israel, these people were already giving according to the Jewish law.
Now remember, everything they know is still Jewish.
They are still focused on the Temple, on the city of Jerusalem, etc., etc.
As members of that old community, they are in transition, but they don't know to what yet.
The new norms have not been established. The new pattern is not there. The revelation has not been given.
And so they are members still of the old community of Israel who've been born into God's new community.
You must see that the old community still had a tremendous impact upon their lives.
What did the law require of faithful Jews in their giving?
Well, the answer is that the law codified the tithe as a required response for the Jews.
The tithe, of course, is 10% of a person's increase. And the law codified that for Israel.
In fact, as you read through the books of the Pentateuch, allegiance Jews, it seems, were required not only to give one tithe, but perhaps multiple tithes.
Some read it to say that they gave two tithes, and others read it to say they also gave a third tithe every three years, making the average giving 23%, not 10%.
Now, however you may choose to read that, the point is this, that the tithing was expected and commanded and required of the Jews as part of their law.
The tithes were for the support of the priesthood and the ceremonies of the national worship at the temple, as well as for funds assisting the poor of Israel.
Now, where did this concept of tithing come from?
Well, the answer is that the principle of tithing existed in God's economy hundreds of years before the law was established.
Tithing as a principle was around long before Moses was ever born, let alone went to Mount Sinai to receive the commandments.
For example, we see it in Genesis chapter 14, when Abraham gave tithe to the king of Salem, whose name was Melchizedek, who worshiped the Most High God.
We see it in Jacob in offering tithes to the Lord in Genesis chapter 28.
The principle, the idea of giving 10% to the Lord existed long before the law was present, and when it was practiced, tithing brought blessings.
Turn with me to the book of Hebrews and the seventh chapter, please, where we find the writer of Hebrews going back to that mysterious person, Melchizedek,
to show that Jesus in his high priesthood is after the order of that one, Melchizedek, and not in the lineage and the order of the sons of Levi and of Aaron.
Hebrews chapter 7, this point here overall is that Jesus Christ is superior in his priesthood because he belongs to an undying, unending order of priests,
Melchizedek being the type, Jesus Christ being the fulfillment of it.
It says now we observe in verse 4 how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the choices spoils.
And those indeed of the sons of Levi who received the priest office have commandment in the law to receive or collect a tenth from the people,
that is from their brethren, although these are descended from Abraham.
But the one whose genealogy is not traced from them, that's Melchizedek again, collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises.
And without any dispute, the lesser, Abraham, is blessed by the greater.
And so we have an example here of Abraham offering tithes of the spoils to Melchizedek and in return for that this man who was the priest of the most high God blessed Abraham.
My point is this, that tithing as a principle was established by God long before there was the law.
And when someone followed that principle there was blessing from God in that person's life.
Now the reason that God wanted tithing in the law was because he wanted to do two things at least.
First of all, by requiring the tithe of the Israelites, he wanted to remind them that they were dependent upon him.
He wanted them to be reminded constantly every time they gave a ten percent offering to the Lord that all that they had belonged to him and they were returning ten percent in obedience to the Lord.
He wanted them to know that they were dependent upon him.
So we sang the chorus from Isn't He Good, all that we have, all that we are, comes from above.
And that's the reason that God wanted it in the law so the Israelites would not forget that.
Charles Steinberg, a theologian, said that the aim of all tithing was to acknowledge that all man had belonged to God.
That's the reason Abraham gave it.
That's the reason Jacob gave it.
And God wrote it in the law so they would be reminded of that truth.
But there's a second reason.
The second reason that God wanted tithing written into the law of Israel was because he yearned to bless them as they would obey that principle.
God wanted to do them good so much that he wrote the principle of tithing into the law so that he could use that principle as a way of blessing them.
Do you understand what I'm saying?
This relates to the goodness of God.
God does not require anything of you or of me that is not in the end returned to us for our own good.
And when God restricts us, it is never because he wants to be mean.
It is only because he is good, because those very restrictions work to our advantage.
In Proverbs 3 verses 9 and 10 it says, Honor the Lord from your wealth and from the first of all your produce.
So your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will overflow with new wine, says God.
God wanted to bless them and so he wrote the tithe into the law.
So that then as they obeyed the law and the law of the tithe, he would bless them beyond their wildest imagination.
I think it is reasonable to assume that these people we read about in Acts chapter 2,
these members of the new community of God already practiced tithing as part of their religious practice.
The new dispensation in which they were entering terminated the tithe as a requirement of the law.
But it did not, thank God, end tithing as a universal principle of giving.
And I say thank God it didn't end it because that is one of the means by which God blesses us.
And so my first thought this morning that arises out of the text is that having been members of the old community already,
these new believers, these Jewish believers were already giving according to the Jewish law.
And now my second point is this, that being members of the new community,
it says here in Acts chapter 2 they also gave generously above the tithe according to Christ's grace.
What he had done for them became the measure of their giving.
I believe that the principle of giving a tithe is still in effect.
I believe it's a universal principle that God is pleased to bless.
And I believe that it's also reasonable to propose this notion that the new community,
the church, is something equivalent in God's plan to the Old Testament temple.
And just as the Old Testament temple became the storehouse for the normal tithing of God's people,
so that is the principle that God intends for this age of the church.
I don't see a change in the New Testament.
So what then is given above the tithe to the storehouse of God is the true evidence of God's grace.
When we talk about grace giving, it is all a response of grace.
That is, when we get above the tithe, that we really enter into the joy of grace giving.
Generous giving above the tithe is a mark of God's grace in a person's life.
Let me repeat that. Generous giving above 10% is the mark of God's grace in a person's life.
I heard Sumner wimp, and some of you remember Sumner who preached here,
say years ago that if a man gives less under grace than he would have under law, he's a disgrace to grace.
And thankfully for too much of my ministry, I was reluctant to talk about financial giving.
And that is for several reasons. First of all, it appears to be self-serving.
Of course you say that because you're the preacher and you're concerned about the church.
And I was reluctant to talk about it for a second reason.
That is because of the defensiveness in the part of so many church people about money.
And the third reason I was reluctant to talk about it was because of the criticism from the world's people,
all the churches always looking for money.
But I have come 180 degrees under.
I do not feel apologetic or hesitant in the least to talk about money or to talk about giving.
And I'll tell you why.
In the first place, I'm convinced it is the single greatest theme in the Bible
to deliver God's community, your name, from the spiritual curse of materialism.
And we live in an age that is greatly cursed by it.
There is not a greater theme in all of God's words to deliver us from that curse than the theme of giving.
This kind of theme cures greediness and selfishness and it reminds us who the source is of all that we have.
To the extent that we don't like to be reminded of that, we reflect the world and not the Bible.
A second reason that I'm not apologetic in talking about giving any longer is this,
that I'm convinced it is a practice that is essential to Christian discipleship.
Living without giving is preventing maturity in Jesus Christ to too many of his people.
I agree with what John MacArthur said, giving is not God's way of raising money,
giving is God's way of raising children.
Hear that.
It is absolutely essential that your pastors talk about giving because that is a truth
and a practice that must be in your life if you're going to grow in Jesus Christ.
There's absolutely no way around it.
Until we come to the place of hearing this message and practicing it in our lives,
we will be stunted in our growth.
The greatest favor that God can do and that your pastor can do is to give this message to you the day after you get saved
so that you can learn the principles of stewardship and grow as a Christian by practicing them.
There's a third reason, which is perhaps even a greater reason for not being hesitant about talking about giving.
I'm going to ask you to turn to Philippians chapter 4.
To put it succinctly, it's this, I am convinced that this is the way that God intends to bless us.
I am convinced that God wants us to give so that he can bless us.
In Philippians chapter 4, the apostle begins to wind down and he gets really personal in this last part of chapter 4.
He says in verse 17, not that I seek the gift itself.
Paul is writing to the Philippians to thank them for their giving and to ask them again for gifts.
He says not that I seek the gift in itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account.
Look what he says. He says, I want you to give not because I need it so much as it will bring an increase to you.
God will bless you through it.
But I have received everything in full and have abundance. I am amply supplied having received from the Papadidus what you have sent.
And he calls it a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.
And he says, my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches and glory in Christ Jesus.
Look at the context of verse 19. We can claim that verse as a reality in our lives when we have learned the principle first of giving.
And when we have learned to give to God and to his work, then God is pleased to meet all of our needs according to his riches and glory by Christ Jesus.
And therefore for me to be hesitant to talk about giving is to rob you.
It is to keep you from growing in your faith in Jesus Christ.
And it is to allow you to remain perhaps a victim of the curse of materialism.
I will not do that.
The heart of this new community was the heart of giving.
This morning I am going to ask a man who has become a good friend of mine, Bud Nixon, who is a grace attender to come to the platform.
Bud owns a company here in St. Paul.
I don't think he will mind me saying this, but there is really no reason that that company should have survived a crisis or two in the last few years.
Except that shortly after he became a Christian, God began to teach Bud some bishops of stewardship.
And it was in his heart to obey, and God has allowed that company to survive and to thrive.
And I have asked Bud to share some of the thoughts with you this morning that he has graciously and generously shared with me.
Hoping that it will be for you an encouragement in your own practice of spiritual.
Bud, come on up and join me here.
Thank you, Brian.
Goodbye.
Thank you.
My story begins on July 4, 1985.
I remember it so clearly.
I was standing on my deck at my cabin in northwestern Wisconsin, enjoying one of those perfect July 4 days at the end of it.
I was chatting with the wife of one of my closest friends.
Suddenly out of the blue she asked me, Bud, you think you are going to heaven?
I said yes, I think I am going to heaven.
I am a pretty good dad, I am a pretty good person, I try hard, I am pretty good at talking.
She just looked me in the eye and said, Bud, it doesn't matter how good you are, unless you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, you are not going to heaven.
I was startled and here I was, 42 years old.
I had been baptized as an infant, I had been confirmed, I had gone to church hundreds of times, and I even had three children that had been confirmed.
But I had not heard that simple message.
From 1985, from that July 4th day, 1985 to Easter Sunday in April 1987, I resisted the will of the Lord.
Thank God he didn't give up on me.
For almost two years I resisted and persisted even more.
On that April 19th, Easter Sunday, I wasn't in church, I was up at that same cabin opening it up for the year.
I finally surrendered.
The Lord at that point had given me the faith to say, Lord Jesus I need you, I can't do it anymore by myself.
He had given me the faith to say, Lord I commit to my life, my family, my business, I commit everything to you.
I didn't really know what I was saying at the time, I didn't know anything about it.
But I knew something had happened because in the next two weeks I experienced a peace that I had never experienced before.
I had a incredible peace and love in my heart and I knew something had happened.
The Lord does come into our life and begins to work on me, on me and my family and my business.
Over these last nine years, I would have to say that they have been the most exciting and the very best years of my life.
But on the other hand, I have to say they have been the toughest and the most challenging times of my life.
The Lord not only saved me at age 44, but he saved my business as well.
He's in the process of saving my family.
Early on in my Christian life, the Lord gave me the idea to use my business to finance his work.
I got very excited about that.
The idea of using my business to finance his work included the idea of tithing on my business revenue.
That really excited me, the challenge of that.
While it's not yet a reality, I know a day is coming soon when it will become a reality.
I get excited about that and I also get excited about the impact that Christian businessmen did not only personally,
but on their business revenue would have on God's work and the cause of Christ.
For example, with General Mills' tithe, there would be an extra half a billion dollars for Christian ministry.
With 3M's tithe, there would be a billion and a half dollars for Christian ministry.
What impact could we have on the cause of Christ, the businessmen, Jesus Christ?
It would be incredible. You know the world would say no, it can't be done, it won't be done, it would never happen.
We know that all things are possible.
So Galen, thanks for this chance to share my testimony of what God has done in my life.
I'd just like to pause and say that the greatest gift God could ever give me is the gift of salvation to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Having received this gift later in life, I just thank Him every day for this.
Every song earlier this morning, God is so good and I will thank Him and praise Him and love Him forever.
Thanks, Fred. What I'm trying to illustrate here, and Fred, thank you for sharing your testimony,
is that when God tells us to do something, it's always for our good.
God is good. He can't help but doing us good.
And so when we practice what God tells us to do, we end up being the beneficiaries of it.
God will be no man's debtor.
And this morning, mathematics is a very simple science. Ten percent goes into a thousand dollars, as easily as it does ten thousand dollars.
And wherever we may be in the economic sphere, we can practice what God has told us to do in the principle of tithing.
And we can give beyond that in grace giving and experience the joy and fulfillment that it brings.
And so that's why I say I hope that we can enter into the joy of this new community.
Because here were people who tithed already, at least one, maybe twice a year, at the temple.
And yet who now generously gave beyond that to meet the needs of the new community.
That's the heart of the new community and that's the heart that God loves to brand.
Let's pray.
Oh Father, I pray that this morning your goodness will melt down the defenses of our lives and cause us to respond.
And to respond as generously as you did in giving us the indescribable gift of Jesus Christ your Son.
Free us to experience all that you want to do in our lives.
Do not leave us Lord in the shackles of our own covetousness for the world's materialism.
But by your spirit work in our hearts together hearts like these people in the new community of Jerusalem.
Amen.