This is the fourth message in our sermon series "Monopoly." This popular board game can actually teach us some sound principles for handling money, principles which actually come straight from the Bible. Earlier we talked about greed and how we need to be content and generous with what we have. We talked about God's ownership and how we need to be grateful and good stewards of what God has loaned us.

Last week we talked about how people get in financial messes and end up living from "Go to Go," from paycheck to paycheck. I shared with you a simple formula to help you get on the road to financial freedom. The 10-10-80 principle. Give the first 10 percent. Save the next 10 percent. And live off the rest. I also gave you three P's for giving: priority giving, percentage giving, progressive giving.

When you don't practice priority giving (bringing God the first 10 percent of your income), you end up "poor taxing" God with the leftovers. I got this idea of "poor taxing" God from Mr. Monopoly. One of the "Chance" cards you may draw while playing the game says, "Pay poor tax of $15." Here's what the card looks like (show slide).

Unfortunately, that's a picture common to many Christians when they don't practice priority giving. They spend their money on bills and clothes and entertainment first. Then when it comes around to bringing their offering to church, their pockets are empty and they have to say, "Sorry, God, all gone." Or they may put a few bills in the plate that represents one or two percent of their income. It's like a "poor tax" that they give to God.

My prayer is that God will use this message today to help many of you see how "poor taxing" keeps you from financial freedom and robs you of countless blessings from the God in heaven who is ready to open the windows of heaven on your behalf. I hope this message today is so convicting that this will be the result. [Show boxer shorts cartoon.]

Last week I mentioned how I was taught to tithe as a child. One dollar a week allowance—so ten cents went into my offering envelope every week. The first time I remember struggling over the tithing issue was when I got my first paycheck from a part-time job and made around $50 a week. There's a big difference between 10 cents and 5 dollars. I planned to keep giving my dime. But my mom corrected me very quickly. My rationalization—the church doesn't need that much of my money. I didn't realize that I needed to bring the tithe as a way to demonstrate my trust that God would take care of all my needs.

We all could probably share our tithing stories. What about you? What is your story? Why do you bring your tithe? Why do you not bring your tithe? What you put in the offering plate—is it a true tithe or are you merely "poor taxing" God? Did your parents teach you this biblical principle?

Speaking of the Bible, exactly what does it say on this subject of tithing? Why is it such a big deal to God? Believe it or not, God's plan for financial freedom takes you on the pathway of giving. It's really quite a paradox. The way you position yourself to be on the receiving end of God's blessings is to practice priority and percentage giving. Let's look at His Word closely to see what He says. [Read text.]

In 586 B.C., the Babylonians invaded Jerusalem, completely destroyed the city, and forced the Jews to live in foreign lands. Seventy years later the Jewish exiles were permitted to return to their homeland. Over the next decades, inspired by the preaching of Haggai and Zechariah and under the able leadership of Ezra, Nehemiah and Zerubbabel, the Jews rebuilt their temple, reconstructed the walls around Jerusalem, renewed their covenant with God, and experienced a genuine spiritual revival.

Things were going so well that Nehemiah felt comfortable returning to Persia where he served as a cupbearer to the king. But while he was away, the people began to lose their spiritual fervor. In our terminology today, they backslid into their old patterns of sinful behavior. It is in this context that the prophet Malachi preaches to the people.

In our text today, verse 6, God reminds the people that He has not changed. He is upholding His end of the covenant. They, on the other hand, had changed. They had fallen away and were living in disobedience, far from God. God indicated He would begin blessing them again only if they repented. But the people were naïve; they didn't understand what God was talking about. They still went to worship. They still offered their sacrifices. But they closed their eyes to many of the other behaviors that displeased God.

One area of disobedience had to do with their tithing—bringing 10 percent of their earnings to the place of worship as an offering to God. In fact, God used some sharp language here by calling them robbers. They were robbing from God what was rightfully His. They were doing what many Christians do today. They were "poor taxing" God. As a result, they were living under a curse. God had removed His hand of blessing from them.

By the way, there is a lesson here for all of us. If you're going through difficult times, it is always wise to check in with God and ask Him, "Lord, is there anything in my life that is not pleasing to you?" Remember, God said, "I do not change." Do you not believe that the God who withdrew His blessing from His people because they stopped brining the tithe will not do the same thing to His people today? Certainly He will.

Verse 10 hits the issue head on. "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse." The storehouse represents the place of worship. He has already informed them that they are living under a curse because they haven't been bringing their tithes. So he challenges them with a test. He said, "Start bringing the tithes again and I will bring you out of the curse. In fact, I will bless you so much you won't know what to do with all the blessings. I'm waiting on your move."

Many people get it backwards. They reason, "God if you would just bless me, I could certainly give more." God is probably thinking, "It's not my fault you're in over your head with debt. It's not my fault you chose to spend your money on all this stuff before you honored me with the priority offering of your tithe. So He says, "No, you go first. As a test of your faith in me, you bring the tithe first. I will uphold My end of the bargain."

I preach on this text once a year, and God always teaches me fresh stuff each time I study these verses. This year it became more obvious to me the common pattern of what happens when we disobey God. Disobey, God's hand removed, repent, God's hand of blessing returns.

Also this week I've been pondering the test that God challenged us with. He puts us through many kinds of life challenges in order to test our faith. Health issues, seasons of trials, someone rear-ends you, your roof leaks, etc. It seems that most of the tests of faith we have no control over. God just allows these circumstances to happen. And hopefully, we learn from them.

But this issue of tithing is different. Let me demonstrate. Take out the monopoly money you received in your materials this morning. [Get the groups to stand--$1, $5, $10, $20, $50, $100, $500.] The varying bills reflect the fact that God has blessed different people with different amounts of money. Some have little; some have a lot; most are in-between. No matter how much you have, you still have a choice on what you're going to do with it. That's why this test is different from most of the other challenges we have no control over.

Whether you are a minimum wage earner or a multi-millionaire, the tithing test is the same for all. If you're a $5 income person, your test is to bring 50 cents. If you're a $10 income person, your test is to bring $1. If your income is $20, God expects you to bring $2. If $50, your test is to bring $5. If $100, then bring $10. And if $500, your test is to bring $50. Simple math. But it's your choice.

This cartoon demonstrates what I believe is the critical issue that most of us face when it comes to bringing the first ten percent of our income to God's house. [Show baptism slide] Our baptism represents our commitment to Jesus Christ. And if there is one area of our lives that we hold onto for ourselves, it is our money.

So how have you been doing on this test recently? Have you been bringing the tithe? Or have you been "poor taxing" God? Remember, greed is a common problem in our world today. To overcome it, you must learn to be content with what you have. And you must be generous with what you have. Remember, you own nothing. God owns everything. Therefore, you must learn to be grateful with what God has given you. And you must be a good steward of all that He has loaned to you. And to truly experience financial freedom, you need to practice the 10-10-80 principle.

So the question on the table is: Are you giving the first ten percent? If not, why not? I have a feeling almost every one of you would agree that the Bible teaches the model of giving the first ten percent. Only a few, I believe, would say, "God doesn't want me to tithe." So at some point what the Bible teaches and our level of obedience to what it teaches must collide.

I really believe the key issue is a matter of trust. You simply don't have enough faith that God will supply your needs if you choose to obey Him with the tithe. If you really believed that God would open the windows of heaven and bless you, you would make the necessary adjustments in your life to bring you into obedience to the Lord's expectation.

For argument's sake, let's say there are two categories of givers—those who "poor tax" God and those who give at least 10 percent. For the "poor taxers" I believe you are faced this morning with one of three options. First, you can choose to continue to live your life in disobedience to God because when you choose not to bring the tithe, that's what you're doing. Second, you can choose to tithe and begin to do so immediately with your next paycheck. I'm praying that many of you will do just that. Third, you can choose to tithe and develop a plan that will move you in that direction. Say—a three-year plan where you annually increase your percentage level of giving until you reach at least the tithe. Couples, I challenge you to discuss these matters with each other. Talk openly about which of the three choices you will go with. No choice at all is to choose to remain in disobedience. Work together. Pray that God will honor your efforts as you make adjustments. If you're looking to get married one day, settle this tithing issue with your partner before you say "I do." From day one bring at least a tithe to the Lord's house.

As I close I want to stress something to you that you must not miss. When God's people tithe, many new doors of ministry open for Chapin Baptist Church. We're able to win more people to Christ, establish life-changing ministries in the community and engage more people in hands-on mission endeavors. In other words, Chapin Baptist Church will be in a better position to help more people connect with God and become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.

But please understand that I plea with you in this area not primarily so that this church will have more money to invest for the kingdom. My greatest passion is to help as many people as possible reach their fullest God-given potential. And I know that until you are obedient to God in this area of your life, that potential will never be realized. I wish for you financial freedom. But I know that you aren't financially free until you're able to bring that first ten percent to God. I'm so passionate about this subject because I know that many of you are missing out on tremendous blessings from God.