https://youtu.be/-N9773cT154

You Mite Not Give Enough Mark 12:41-44

Giving to the church matters

41 Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasuryThis is at the temple. In the temple there were 13 different giving locations where people could give. There were required temple taxes and money that was to be giving for sin offerings and money that was going to as free will offeringsThe money was used by the temple to pay for the Levites and the upkeep of the templeTithes weren’t an option, they were a requirement- it kept the wheels turningNumbers 18:21 “Behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work which they perform, the work of the tabernacle of meeting.Some would argue that the modern day pastors are not levites and this isn’t a tabernacleBut its curious that the Synagogue isn’t mentioned in the OT, yet Jesus taught there, went there, and ministered there. As did the Apostle PaulTithing was biblical before it was in the Mosaic law- Abraham tithed to Mechilzedek

The biblical idea of established public meeting places has been around for thousands of years and the support of them was through the tithes and offerings of the peopleSee- the people of Israel had a collective idea of being a called out group of people, never as individuals, hence why Jesus said “our father” it wasn’t “my father” we are a collective congregation- and a meeting place was an extension of that- a gathering place to worshipEphesians 2:20-22 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.The church is a holy institution that was established and designed by him and giving money supports it- that’s why this widow was in the temple giving her money and Jesus was watching Because its important.For thousands of years- there have been public meeting places of God’s holy people, supported by the people, with professional clergy who led the people.I’m always curious what Jesus doesn’t say- here’s an opportunity for him to destroy temple worship and tithes and offerings, yet he lets it happen in front of him and teaches from itIts new Testament as well-1 Timothy 5:17 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”V 41 and saw how the people put money into the treasury.Why would Jesus be at the treasury watching how people put money into the box if it weren’t important? The money that goes towards God is a big deal- it provides a spiritual connection for the giver and a tangible means by which the church can do her work.

What does it mean to you?Do you take the giving to the church seriously or have you become complacent in it?2 cor 9:6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.Its always interesting to me when you must convince Christian people to be generous with their money towards God and the church. The only people uncomfortable in this room is non-giversMatthew 23:23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done,