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Windows of Heaven
Jacob
had never felt so destitute and
alone--and it was all because he had been devious and greedy. First
Jacob had bribed Esau, his elder twin, into selling his birthright.
Then, with his mother's help, he tricked his blind father, Isaac, into
giving him the paternal blessing that rightfully belonged to Esau.
Now Jacob was fleeing from home, partly to escape the murderous threats
of his offended brother. He bowed his head and cried when he thought of
how all his grasping plans had backfired. Alone in the wilderness, with
only a stone for a pillow and a stick for protection, Jacob tried to
rest. He wondered if he would ever see his parents again--and if God
would forgive him. Exhausted, Jacob drifted off to sleep. Soon he found
himself bathed in the brilliant glow of a vivid dream. He saw a blazing
light streaming from the open heavens, with a beautiful stairway
spanning from the glory above to the earth below. There were countless
shimmering angels traveling up and down this ladder.
Then Jacob heard the Lord speak from heaven and promise to bless him in
his journey. The Lord also confirmed with Jacob the same covenant He had
made with Abraham and Isaac. When he awoke, Jacob fell on his knees and
made a vow to abandon his greedy ways. He promised, "Of all that thou
shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee." Genesis 28:22.
God accepted this vow and opened the windows of heaven so that when
Jacob returned home 20 years later, he had become a very prosperous and
generous man. |
 1. Where
did Jacob learn the concept of returning a tenth to God?
Genesis
14:18, 20 . And Melchizedek ... was the priest of the most high God.
... And he [Abraham] gave him ______ of all.
Answer:
___________________________
Note: Tithe
is one-tenth of a person's income. In fact, the word "tithe" simply
means "a tenth." Jacob's grandfather, Abraham, set an example many
years earlier by giving a tithe to God's priest, Melchizedek.
 2. What
portion of our income belongs to God?
Leviticus
27:30 . All the ______ ... is the Lord's: it is holy unto the
Lord.
Answer:
___________________________
Note: Technically,
100 percent of all we have belongs to God.
Psalms 24:1 The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness
thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
But God asks us to acknowledge that we believe it all belongs to Him
by returning a tithe, or 10 percent of our increase.
 3. What
does God do with our tithe?
Numbers
18:21, 24 . I have given the children of ____ all the tenth
in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve. ...
The tithes of the children of Israel, ... I have given to the
Levites to inherit.
1 Corinthians 9:13, 14 Do ye not know that they which
minister about holy things live of the things of the
temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?
Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the
gospel should live of the gospel.
Answer:
___________________________
Note: In
the Old Testament, God directed that the tithe be used to support the
Levites, who were His ministers. In 1 Corinthians 9:13, God says that
just as the priests of old were paid from the tithe of the temple, so
gospel ministers today should be paid from tithe given through the
church.
 4. Is
the tithing system part of Moses' old law, which ended at the cross?
Genesis
28:20, 22 . And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, ... of all that thou
shalt give me I will surely ____ the tenth unto thee.
Answer:
___________________________
Note: No!
Both Abraham and Jacob gave a tenth of their income to God long before
Moses' law was given. Because it pre-dated Sinai, we know that it was
not part of the ceremonial law that ended at the cross. The law of
tithing is God's plan for support of the ministry, and it remains in
effect today.
 5. But
didn't Jesus condemn the tithing plan?
Matthew
23:23 . Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay
tithes of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the
weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ____
ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Answer:
___________________________
Note: No.
Jesus saw that the miserly Pharisees were counting out individual
leaves and tiny seeds for tithe instead of taking it to the temple by
the bushel. Therefore He rebuked them for being so exact in tithe
while failing in judgment, mercy, and faith. He did not condemn them
for tithing, but for ignoring the other great principles of
Christianity. That is why Jesus said, "These ought ye to have done
[speaking of tithing], and not to leave the other undone."
 6. What
amazing promise does God make about tithing?
Malachi
3:10 . Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, ... and _____ me
now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you
the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there
shall not be room enough to receive it.
Answer:
___________________________
Note: God
is saying: "If you are doubtful, try tithing as an experiment. Test
Me, and see if I won't return to you a blessing too vast for you to
receive." Hundreds of thousands of tithepayers will tell you that it
is true. You cannot outgive God!
 7. God
tells His people to bring all of the tithe into the storehouse. What
does that mean?
Nehemiah
13:12 . Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new
wine and the oil unto the ___________.
Answer:
___________________________
Note: The
storehouse is the treasury of God's church. (The Bible margin equates
"treasuries" with "storehouses".) In Malachi 3:10, God refers to the
storehouse as "mine house," which means His church, or temple. Other
texts that refer to the storehouse as the temple, or temple treasury,
are 1 Chronicles 9:26 (see margin); 2 Chronicles 31:11, 12 (see
margin); and Nehemiah 10:37, 38. So it is obvious that the storehouse
is God's church treasury.
 8. When
we tithe, who really receives our money?
Colossians
3:23 . And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the ______, and
not unto men.
Hebrews 7:8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there
he [Jesus] receiveth them.
Answer:
___________________________
Note: We
need to always remember that we are not returning our tithe to people,
but to God. It belongs to Him. We need not worry about how the tithe
is used if we give it to God. He is big enough to take care of His own
money and to properly handle anyone who may be irresponsible in
managing His funds.
 9. In
addition to my tithe, which belongs to God, what else does He ask of
His people?
Psalms 96:8
. Bring an ________, and come into his courts.
Malachi 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye
say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
Answer:
___________________________
Note: The
Lord asks us to give freewill offerings as an expression of our love
for Him and our thanksgiving for His blessings.
 10. How
much should we give as offerings?
2
Corinthians 9:7 . Every man according as he purposeth in his _____,
so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a
cheerful giver.
Answer:
___________________________
Note: The
Bible does not set a specific amount. Each person decides how much to
give for freewill offerings, as God impresses.
 11. What
test did Adam and Eve fail that we must pass if we expect to inherit
God's kingdom?
Genesis 3:3
. But of the fruit of the ____ which is in the midst of the garden,
God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye
touch it, lest ye die.
Answer:
___________________________
Note: God
told Adam and Eve they could eat the fruit of all the trees of the
garden except one--the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They
were not to eat of that tree or even touch it, else they would die.
God did not put an electric fence around the tree. Rather, He kept it
where they could reach out and take the fruit. And they did, because
they did not trust God. Today, God gives us all the same test. He
says, "You can keep all the money that comes to you, except one tenth.
That money is Mine. Don't take it." However, He leaves it where we can
reach out and take it, if we so desire. But when we do, we repeat the
sin of Adam and Eve. God did not need the fruit of the special tree.
It was a test of their loyalty. Neither does He need our tithe. He
owns everything! It is a test of our love, loyalty, and trust
 12. What
commandment are we breaking when we refuse to return tithes and
offerings to God?
Exodus
20:15 . Thou shalt not _____.
Malachi 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed
me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
Answer:
___________________________
Note: God
says those who are knowingly unfaithful in tithes and offerings are
robbers. It is bad enough when men steal from one another, but it is a
terrifying thought that people would dare to steal from God! It is
also hard to believe that people would stoop so low as to steal money
that God has designated for spreading the gospel to the lost.
 13. What
does God say will happen to those who knowingly rob Him of tithe and
offerings?
Malachi 3:9
. Ye are ______ with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even
this whole nation.
1 Corinthians 6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor
drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom
of God.
Answer:
___________________________
Note: Those
who are not faithful in tithes and offerings are cursed, and unless
they change, they will be shut out of God's kingdom as thieves.
 14. Why
is covetousness so dangerous?
Luke 12:34
. For where your ________ is, there will your heart be also.
Answer:
___________________________
Note: Covetousness
is lethal because our hearts follow our investments. If my focus is on
accumulating more and more money, my heart becomes covetous, grasping,
and proud. But if my focus is on advancing God's work, my heart
becomes caring, loving, liberal, and humble. Our hearts inevitably
follow our treasure. We must never forget that it was Judas' greed and
love for money that led him to betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver
(Matthew 26:14-16).
 15. How
do you suppose Jesus feels when we rob Him of tithes and offerings?
Hebrews
3:10 . Wherefore I was _______ with that generation, and said, They
do always err in their heart.
Answer:
___________________________
Note: Jesus
probably feels much as a parent would whose child steals money from
his wallet. Losing the money is not the big thing. Rather, it is the
child's lack of integrity, love, and trust that is deeply
disappointing. Surely none of us want to grieve the heart of our
Saviour.
 16. What
other Bible principles does God share in regard to giving?
2
Corinthians 8:5 . They ... first gave their own ______ to the Lord.
Proverbs 3:9 Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the
firstfruits of all thine increase.
Proverbs 11:24, 25 There is that scattereth, and yet
increaseth; and there is that witholdeth more than is meet, but it
tendeth to poverty. The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he
that watereth shall be watered also himself.
Acts 20:35 It is more blessed to give than to
receive.
Luke 12:21 He that layeth up treasure for himself ... is
not rich toward God.
Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure,
pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men
give into your bosom.
1 Corinthians 16:2 Let every one of you lay by him in store, as
God hath prospered him.
Deuteronomy 16:17 Every man shall give as he is able,
according to the blessing of the Lord thy God which he hath
given thee.
Answer:
___________________________
Note: Nine-tenths
of my income with God's blessing will go much further than ten-tenths
without it. Incidentally, when God opens the windows of heaven, His
blessings are not always financial. They may include such things as
good health, peace of mind, answered prayers, protection, a close-knit
and loving family, physical strength, ability to make wise decisions,
a closer walk with Jesus, success in soul-winning, an old car kept
running, etc. If we truly love Jesus, giving sacrificially for His
work will never be a burden. Rather, it is a blessing--a glorious
privilege that we will perform with great joy and satisfaction.
 17. What
did the ladder that Jacob saw in his dream represent?
John 1:51
. Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God
ascending and descending upon the ____ of man.
Answer:
___________________________
Note: Jacob
saw a ladder that bridged heaven with earth, which symbolized the Son
of man. In Malachi 3:10, God says that if we bring all the tithes into
the storehouse, He will open for us the windows of heaven and pour out
a blessing we can barely receive! Jesus is that blessing.
 18. What
is the greatest gift we can give to Jesus?
Proverbs
23:26 . My son, give me thine ______, and let thine eyes
observe my ways.
Mark 7:6 This people honoureth me with their lips, but their
heart is far from me.
Answer:
___________________________
Note: When
Jesus has our hearts, He has everything else too.
 19. When
we are faithful in tithes and offerings, Jesus becomes our partner in
everything we attempt in life. Are you willing to invite Him to be
your partner by returning tithes and giving offerings?
.
Answer:
___________________________
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