No Credit System
Borrowing the tithe can lead to financial and spiritual loss, and is a sure road to backsliding from tithing and from grace.
Arthur Vess emphasizes the danger of using the tithe for personal needs and then returning it, leading to a path of backsliding from tithing and grace. He highlights that the tithe belongs to God's storehouse, the Church, and questions whether permission was sought from God and the Church before borrowing it. Vess warns about the consequences on the church's financial obligations if everyone borrowed the tithe, citing a personal example where financial and spiritual loss ensued from this practice.
Text
5. Excuse Five: "I tithe but I borrow it for my own use and pay it back when I do not need it." This is the sure road to backsliding from tithing, and eventually, from grace. While you are using the tithe for your own interests, you and the cause suffer. The tithe belongs to God's storehouse, -- the Church. Did you get permission from God and the Church to borrow the tithe, or did you rob both? It is theirs, not yours. If all the Church borrowed the tithe, what would become of the church bills and expenses? The writer got into trouble by borrowing the tithe, and lost financially and spiritually.
Sermon Outline
- The Dangers of Borrowing the Tithe
- Using the tithe for personal gain
- The consequences of backsliding from tithing
- The importance of giving to God's storehouse
Key Quotes
“This is the sure road to backsliding from tithing, and eventually, from grace.” — Arthur Vess
Application Points
- Be mindful of how you use the tithe, and give it to God's storehouse without borrowing it for personal gain.
- Understand the importance of giving to the Church and its role in supporting the community of believers.
- Avoid the consequences of backsliding from tithing by being faithful in your giving.