The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. John 10:10-11 KJV
Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove 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. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts. Malachi 3:8-12 KJV
But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; 2 Corinthians 9:6-12 KJV
Very noticeable in the Bible but often conveniently overlooked is that it speaks a lot about giving
In fact everything belongs to Him so any use on our part is because He allows it. We learn that: Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. James 1:17 KJV
Giving is a godlike trait and God expects his children to be like Him. Yet it is a very sensitive topic with a vast majority who somehow foolishly believe that what they have in their possession is theirs.
It’s very simple and obvious…God loved so He gave…therefore we also give because we love!
It's the love in the giving that makes the difference.
Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things; Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee. Deuteronomy 28:47-48 KJV
Every time the subject of the tithe is brought up people mount various hobby horses in opposition. The most popular evasion is that we are not living under Law but under Grace despite the fact that many such nay-sayers live the most disgraceful lives.
Before the law Abraham gave a voluntary tenth of the spoils of war to Melchizedek. The rest he gave to the king of Sodom, after providing for those who went with him to war. Jacob made a promise of a tithe to the LORD of all that the LORD gave to him.
It appears a though the principle of giving a tenth was known in pre law times but it was only when Israel was organized as a nation under God that the tithe became a requirement. This was mainly to ensure that the priests and Levites were provided for, since they were fully dedicated to the service of the LORD.
The tithe was to look after the ministers of God, the widows and orphans and the poor.
And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation. Numbers 18:21 KJV
At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates: And the Levite, (because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee,) and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest. Deuteronomy 14:28-29 KJV
The tithe makes giving proportional to possessions and acquisitions. The tithe was the minimum.
God did not require everyone to give the same way or the same amount but to give proportionately, bountifully and cheerfully, not grudgingly, or of necessity.
Do not let giving become a routine habit but make it an act of worship every single time.
In giving the tithe we testify that it all belongs to God and we are the stewards.
If you are running a business for someone and you are not giving a faithful and accurate account for all income and profits because you withhold for self, then you are dishonest. Plainly put, YOU ARE A THIEF!!!
When we are put in charge of God's business and we continuously appropriate His property for our own, we also are found to be thieves.
Of course God does not need the tithe for Himself! Of course God does not need the money in your possession! But God requires that giving be practiced in order to benefit those in need and those who give!
It's not material possessions that present difficulties. It's our attachment to earning and possessing them.
The Christian should ever fall into the trap of measuring success by the world's yardstick.
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21).
With loyalty divided God is no longer first in our lives since He will not share His glory with another.
Those who do not have it long for it while those who have long for more. Those who do not have it envy those who do, and those who have it despise those who do not. In thus allowing themselves to be controlled by it both those who do not have it and those who have it end up being slaves to it. I'm talking about money...slave!
We need to always remember that we are stewards not the owner! We need to manage as faithful stewards that which He has endowed us with.
We do not make up the rules as we go along nor do we decide the time or place to make a stand. This is all decided by The Lord since He is The Lord! We make up our minds whether we will follow without looking back.
The strength of our stand depends of the depth of our commitment to His teaching. The length of our stay in His service depends on our dedication to His Way!
The distractions and intensity of worries, riches, and pleasures will reach out to touch every believer. How we respond determines how we succeed?
Nehemiah tried to correct the tithe issue: And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field. Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place. Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries. And I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah: for they were counted faithful, and their office was to distribute unto their brethren. Nehemiah 13:10-13 KJV
Malachi addressed the grievous crime committed by Israel. They had been robbing God and were barefacedly asking how and where. The result was that the Levites, widows and orphans were neglected. When those who toil in the field of the LORD are neglected they are forced to find other means to support themselves and family, resulting in neglecting of the ministry.
Paul also addressed the issue of giving with the elders of the church in Acts 20 stating: I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel. Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:33-35 KJV
If receiving is such a blessing and it is more blessed to give than to receive then we are probably doing something wrong if we do not experience more blessing in giving!
In 1 Timothy he exhorts thus:
Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward. 1 Timothy 5:17-18 KJV
God wants us to give with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart…; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver!
