Anchor Scriptures: Matthew 23:23, Isaiah 58: 1 - 14.
Scripture References: Proverbs 11: 25, 1 King 17: 8 - 24, Gen. 18: 1 - 16, Luke 6: 38, Acts 2: 40 - 47; 4: 34 - 37, Ephesians 4: 17 - 32
Introduction Towards the end of 2017, one of the major trending topics on social media was whether it is right, albeit Biblical still, for Christians to be paying tithes.
There were many arguments for and against. Many notable men of God came out to stoutly defend the old practice; supporting their positions with many Scriptures.
The long and short of all the arguments was whether tithing is the only means by which God could and would abundantly bless His people. A popular bishop even said that people's destinies are tied to whether they pay tithe or not.
Our sermon this morning will support neither of the two positions. Rather, we are trusting the Holy Spirit to once again, open our eyes to THE WEIGHTIER MATTERS which when properly done, could prompt God to turn one into, "eternal excellency, a joy of many generations" Isaiah 60: 15. We pray that as we listen and hearken, this shall be our testimonies this year in Jesus Name. Amen.
Message There is no gainsaying that one of the major reasons most of us seek God today is for material gains. The population among any given congregation thirsting after righteousness is most times, negligible.
But that has not and can not debar God from blessing us irrespective of our motives for seeking him. Even sometimes, irrespective of our dangerous sins. He has promised; He will do it because He can not be false to Himself.
However, if God is really going to bless us, there are things we need to do and be doing consistently to draw His unstoppable and mighty hand towards us.
In our anchor Scripture today, Matthew 23: 23, Jesus Christ didn't kick against tithing, but he placed a woe on those who emphasize tithing but left the other (things). Hear Him: "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone." When we look at that verse of the Bible, Jesus Christ says some things are weightier than tithe. That is, they are more important, more beneficial to and for us.
James 4:3 says: "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts." From this verse of the Bible, we see that one major reason our prayers are not answered is because we are selfish, and only think about ourselves alone, not other people. But God wants us to be like Him. He admonished in Matthew 5: 45, 48 thus: "45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." We are called to be like our Father; PERFECT!
Our second anchor Scripture, Isaiah 58: 1 - 14 enumerates those things which Jesus Christ calls the weightier matters of the law. Many of us, for example, don't know how to give to beggars, instead, we deride and despise them. If you fall into that category, listen to what God says about you in Proverbs 17:5 "Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished." Can you see that? When a beggar comes to you, but you chase them away, what you are doing is reproaching God, your Maker.
Apart from beggars, what about our 'poor' brethren in our different congregations? Many of us who are rich will rather "bless" our Pastors who are already well-to-do, for reasons best known to us, rather than give to our fellow brethren who are in dire needs. Yes, the Pastor will pray for you and you will be blessed the more; not necessarily because God was pleased with what you did for your Pastor, but because God will always honour His covenant with His servants. But the question is, have you done it for God. God warned against the tendency to fall into this error in James 2: 18 - 26 which could be summarized as "faith without work is dead."
So, what are the weightier matters? In Isaiah 58: 7, God says, "Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?" Brethren, these are what we were called us out to do. Please, don't misunderstand me, I am not saying we shouldn't give our substances to Pastors, of course, Apostle Paul so teaches in 1 Cor. 9: 14. But there's also a curse on "Shepherds of Israel . . . ; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks? Ezekiel 34:2
For our breaking forth, it is important we heed these things. Please, read Isaiah 58 all the time and do the things therein. The Scripture says: "Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy reward." Verse 8
As we conclude brethren, the onus is on us to show our love to God by showing it to the people around us. 1 John 4:20 says "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?" Can you see that? So, let's stop the hypocrisy! Let us follow after the weightier things and see if God will not rise for our sakes this year. The heart to do so, may the Lord give us today in Jesus Christ name. Amen.
Till we meet again, keep keeping on in Him!