TITHING
1-INTRODUCTION
It seems so few people these days give tithes, offerings, and alms, yet they profess to be walking with God. This applies to people all over the world. By their actions, they deny Him.
Every person is to give 10% of their total income to God. This is called a tithe. Tithing is a command from God. In addition, as the Lord provides, a person should give extra (an offering) and also should give to the poor (alms). Giving an excuse, such as, "I don’t have enough," is not acceptable to God. Obey the Gospel. Even a person in prison receiving an income or other items is to tithe on them.
Preachers and ministries are also to tithe. Tithing is for everyone including missionaries. Can you receive the love of the truth? Every pastor and every ministry ought to tithe. Ministries should consider tithing to other ministries as God directs.
Would it cause offense to suggest that you give an offering, when asking a ministry for a cassette or book? Those that can ought not only to give an offering but give generously.
Do you want the truth, or do you wish to continue living in deceit? God forbid, all too often, those that profess Christ are yielding to the lusts of the flesh, covetousness, and evil desires. It is written, IF ANY MAN HAVE EARS TO HEAR, LET HIM HEAR-Mk 7:16.
Housewives, are you tithing also?
The subject of giving tithes and offerings is covered in Mal 3:8,9-WILL A MAN ROB GOD? YET YE HAVE ROBBED ME. BUT YE SAY, WHEREIN HAVE WE ROBBED THEE? His answer is: IN TITHES AND OFFERINGS. YE ARE CURSED WITH A CURSE: FOR YE HAVE ROBBED ME. There is a lot of misleading preaching on prosperity in the church today. Some may say, "Just send me $100.00, and a financial blessing will be poured out on you."
Note, Malachi said, YE ARE CURSED WITH A CURSE, if you are not giving tithes and offerings. So we are to give tithes and offerings. Why? because we are commanded to. We are also to give alms. Many are sick, hurting financially, or have multitudes of problems. One area to examine is whether or not you are obeying God in the area of tithes and offerings.
2-WHAT IS A TITHE?
Now what do we mean by a tithe? A tithe is ten percent of everything. For instance, do you have a fruit tree? tithe ten percent of your fruit tree. Do you have a garden? tithe ten percent of the increase of your garden. Do you rent houses to others? tithe ten percent of your profit.
Perhaps, you own an apartment and rent it out. This does not mean you begin spending lots of money to fix it up, saying, "I’ll give what is leftover to the Lord." Perhaps, you try to justify spending large amounts of money on your taxes—as tax write-offs. You are not to do that with God. You are not to play games with God. Ten percent of your total income, before taxes, before bills, before food, belongs to God. Ten percent of your gross income, right off the top: before electric bills, before water bills, is God’s. If you rob God, you can expect to have a curse on you.
The tithe is the first ten percent. If you receive something, you tithe or give the best. You do not give the worst to God, but the best. For instance, if you catch ten fish, you tithe one of those fish. You do not tithe the worst one, you tithe the best one.
3-WHAT IS AN OFFERING AND ALMS?
So will a man rob God? Wherein? in tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse. We are to give ten percent and that goes to the church you attend. You ought to always give a little more, because the Bible also says offerings. Let’s explain in more detail what is meant, and then cover the Scriptures. You have offerings (which are over your ten percent). Your offering can go to your church, or to any born-again ministry that God would direct you. However, the Lord does not lead you contrary to Scripture. Your tithe goes to the storehouse where you are attending. Offerings may go to other born-again ministries. Alms are giving to the poor, but try to give to the brethren. First, look to the needs of the brothers in Jesus; they are often poor, but rich in faith!
4-ANANIAS WITH SAPPHIRA
It is written, Acts 5:1-11-BUT A CERTAIN MAN NAMED ANANIAS, WITH SAPPHIRA HIS WIFE, SOLD A POSSESSION, AND KEPT BACK PART OF THE PRICE, HIS WIFE ALSO BEING PRIVY TO IT (or a party to it), AND BROUGHT A CERTAIN PART, AND LAID IT AT THE APOSTLE’S FEET. BUT PETER SAID, ANANIAS, WHY HATH SATAN FILLED THINE HEART TO LIE TO THE HOLY GHOST, AND TO KEEP BACK PART OF THE PRICE OF THE LAND? WHILES IT REMAINED, WAS IT NOT THINE OWN? AND AFTER IT WAS SOLD, WAS IT NOT IN THINE OWN POWER? WHY HAST THOU CONCEIVED THIS THING IN THINE HEART? THOU HAST NOT LIED UNTO MEN, BUT UNTO GOD. He decided to bring the price of the land and set it at the apostle’s feet. But then he lied about how much it was. He did not bring it to them, saying, "I brought part of it." He came to them saying he brought it all—but he did not. He lied and kept back part of it for himself. AND ANANIAS HEARING THESE WORDS FELL DOWN, AND GAVE UP THE GHOST: AND GREAT FEAR CAME ON ALL THEM THAT HEARD THESE THINGS. Can you imagine lying to your preacher and God strikes you dead? He called it lying to the Holy Ghost. God struck him dead, right on the spot.
AND THE YOUNG MEN AROSE, WOUND HIM UP, AND CARRIED HIM OUT, AND BURIED HIM. AND IT WAS ABOUT THE SPACE OF THREE HOURS AFTER, WHEN HIS WIFE, NOT KNOWING WHAT WAS DONE, CAME IN. AND PETER ANSWERED UNTO HER, TELL ME WHETHER YE SOLD THE LAND FOR SO MUCH? AND SHE SAID, YEA, FOR SO MUCH. THEN PETER SAID UNTO HER, HOW IS IT THAT YE HAVE AGREED TOGETHER TO TEMPT THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD? BEHOLD, THE FEET OF THEM WHICH HAVE BURIED THY HUSBAND ARE AT THE DOOR, AND SHALL CARRY THEE OUT. THEN FELL SHE DOWN STRAIGHTWAY AT HIS FEET, AND YIELDED UP THE GHOST: AND THE YOUNG MEN CAME IN, AND FOUND HER DEAD, AND CARRYING HER FORTH, BURIED HER BY HER HUSBAND. AND GREAT FEAR CAME UPON ALL THE CHURCH, AND UPON AS MANY AS HEARD THESE THINGS.
5-FREELY GIVE
Jesus tells us, Mt 10:8-FREELY YE HAVE RECEIVED, FREELY GIVE. The Lord will reward each person as they give, however, not always in the way you may expect. God will reward you in the way He wants to. Have a giving heart, and let God take care of the rest. 2 Cor 9:12 NIV-THIS SERVICE THAT YOU PERFORM IS NOT ONLY SUPPLYING THE NEEDS OF GOD’S PEOPLE BUT IS ALSO OVERFLOWING IN MANY EXPRESSIONS OF THANKS TO GOD (the results of your giving). Then he says, THANKS BE TO GOD FOR HIS INDESCRIBABLE GIFT!-2 Cor 9:15.
6-JACOB VOWED TO GIVE A TENTH
Jacob vowed a vow, saying, Gen 28:22 NIV-THIS STONE, THAT I HAVE SET UP AS A PILLAR WILL BE GOD’S HOUSE, AND OF ALL THAT YOU GIVE ME I WILL GIVE YOU A TENTH. That is the tithe, one tenth.
7-ABRAHAM GAVE A TENTH
The New Testament also tells us in Heb 7:2-TO WHOM ALSO ABRAHAM GAVE A TENTH PART (of what?) OF ALL (of everything).
In Gen 14:20, we read-AND BLESSED BE THE MOST HIGH GOD, WHICH HATH DELIVERED THINE ENEMIES INTO THINE HAND. AND HE GAVE HIM TITHES OF ALL.
Heb 7:4,5,9,10 NIV-JUST THINK HOW GREAT HE WAS: EVEN THE PATRIARCH ABRAHAM GAVE HIM A TENTH OF THE PLUNDER (in other words, a tenth of all)! NOW THE LAW REQUIRES THE DESCENDANTS OF LEVI WHO BECOME PRIESTS TO COLLECT A TENTH FROM THE PEOPLE (likewise, your preacher is to collect a tenth from the people)—THAT IS, THEIR BROTHERS—EVEN THOUGH THEIR BROTHERS ARE DESCENDED FROM ABRAHAM. ONE MIGHT EVEN SAY THAT LEVI, WHO COLLECTS THE TENTH, PAID THE TENTH THROUGH ABRAHAM, BECAUSE WHEN MELCHIZEDEK MET ABRAHAM, LEVI WAS STILL IN THE BODY OF HIS ANCESTOR. Do you understand what was just said? One might say that even Levi (the priest who collects the tenth) paid the tenth through Abraham, because when Melchizedek (Who is Jesus) met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor. You pay tithes through Abraham, because you are his offspring by the new birth.
It is written, Neh 10:38-AND THE PRIEST THE SON OF AARON SHALL BE WITH THE LEVITES, WHEN THE LEVITES TAKE TITHES (the Lord commands the Levites to take tithes from the people): AND THE LEVITES SHALL BRING UP THE TITHE OF THE TITHES UNTO THE HOUSE OF OUR GOD, TO THE CHAMBERS, INTO THE TREASURE HOUSE. Where does it go? to the treasure house of the church.
8-HONOR THE LORD WITH THE FIRSTFRUITS
We are to, Pv 3:9-HONOR THE LORD WITH THY SUBSTANCE, AND WITH THE FIRSTFRUITS OF ALL THINE INCREASE. In other words, it comes right off the top: before the government, electric bills, house payments—before anything. The firstfruits should be given before anything else. We are to prepare our tithes quickly, not slowly.
It is also wise to bear in mind that, one way or another, we can expect to pay our tithes. If we refuse, then we may end up paying it in the form of hospital bills. It is better to give the firstfruits of all thine increase to the church rather than to a repairman for your car, or a hospital, or a doctor.
9-THE TITHE, A HOLY THING
We read in Lev 27:32-AND CONCERNING THE TITHE OF THE HERD, OR OF THE FLOCK, EVEN OF WHATSOEVER PASSETH UNDER THE ROD, THE TENTH SHALL BE HOLY UNTO THE LORD. Concerning the TITHE, what tithe is being discussed? It is the tithe of the herd, the cattle, or the flock, even whatsoever (twice we read "all," now it says "whatsoever") passes under the rod, THE TENTH SHALL BE HOLY UNTO THE LORD. In other words, your tithe is a holy thing to God.
Do you think you are going to heaven, yet you do not tithe? Is a robber going to enter heaven? Unless he repents, no, he will not. Are those that rob banks going to enter heaven? No, not unless they repent. Well, which is worse? to rob a bank or to rob God? If you are not going to enter heaven robbing banks, you are not going to heaven by robbing God. A person who says, "I’ve been a Christian for 5 years," but does not tithe, can expect a surprise at the judgment, as their actions indicate they have not truly repented. They will not obey God’s Word.
10-THOU SHALT TITHE
It is written, Deut 14:22-THOU SHALT TRULY TITHE ALL THE INCREASE OF THY SEED, THAT THE FIELD BRINGETH FORTH YEAR BY YEAR (in other words, your garden). "Thou shalt" is a command. Perhaps, you are given one thousand dollars for a Christmas gift. You are to tithe on it. Maybe you are given a ten thousand dollar car. You, somehow, need to tithe on it.
We are to have a willing heart, as, 1 Chr 29:6,7,9-THE CHIEF OF THE FATHERS AND PRINCES OF THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL, AND THE CAPTAINS OF THOUSANDS AND OF HUNDREDS, WITH THE RULERS OF THE KING’S WORK, OFFERED WILLINGLY. This should also be your attitude: yet perhaps you say, "I don’t have enough to even live on, let alone tithe!" Then you can expect a curse, for the Bible (which is true) says it will come. AND GAVE, FOR THE SERVICE OF THE HOUSE OF GOD (you are giving for the service of the house of God)....THEN THE PEOPLE REJOICED, FOR THAT THEY OFFERED WILLINGLY. (We rejoice, because giving is close to the heart of God. He gave everything, didn’t He? Even His only begotten Son for you.) BECAUSE WITH PERFECT HEART THEY OFFERED WILLINGLY TO THE LORD. With a perfect heart they offered willingly to the Lord. Now examine yourselves: when you pay your tithes, is your heart saying inside, "I wish I’d kept back some of it"? Are you giving grudgingly? or do you have a perfect heart that wants to give, because it is holy to the Lord? Give with a right spirit, with a perfect heart, and with a willing mind.
11-CHURCH TO GIVE ALSO: ALL TO TITHE; PREACHERS MAY TAKE A SALARY
We have seen the church is also to give. The Scriptures show us that the priests tithe to the priests; it goes all the way up the line to Melchizedek. It is written, THEY WHICH PREACH THE GOSPEL SHOULD LIVE OF THE GOSPEL-1 Cor 9:14. THOU SHALT NOT MUZZLE THE MOUTH OF THE OX THAT TREADETH OUT THE CORN-1 Cor 9:9. Preachers can take a salary. As a matter of fact, the priests did; they lived of the tithes. When the tithes came in, the priests had their salary. Then they would tithe to the higher priests, and so on; it would go all the way up the line. Everybody tithes. We are all under commandment. Ministries are under commandment to tithe. If someone were to send funds to missionaries overseas, they are also to tithe, lest they come under a curse. If someone were to send a missionary $100.00, he should give a tithe of that to whoever God directs him. In other words, it is a commandment for everyone to tithe—whether ministries or pastors—we all tithe.
We are to, Neh 10:35-37-BRING THE FIRST FRUITS OF OUR GROUND, AND THE FIRST FRUITS OF ALL FRUIT OF ALL TREES (all fruit of all trees) YEAR BY YEAR, UNTO THE HOUSE OF THE LORD: ALSO THE FIRST-BORN OF OUR SONS, AND OF OUR CATTLE, AS IT IS WRITTEN IN THE LAW, AND THE FIRSTLINGS OF OUR HERDS AND OF OUR FLOCKS, TO BRING TO THE HOUSE OF OUR GOD, UNTO THE PRIESTS THAT MINISTER IN THE HOUSE OF OUR GOD: AND THAT WE SHOULD BRING THE FIRST FRUITS OF OUR DOUGH, AND OUR OFFERINGS, AND THE FRUIT OF ALL MANNER OF TREES, OF WINE AND OF OIL, UNTO THE PRIESTS, TO THE CHAMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF OUR GOD; AND THE TITHES OF OUR GROUND UNTO THE LEVITES.
We are to remember, HE WHICH SOWETH SPARINGLY SHALL REAP ALSO SPARINGLY; AND HE WHICH SOWETH BOUNTIFULLY SHALL REAP ALSO BOUNTIFULLY-2 Cor 9:6. This is a law of God. It does not mean, if you give one hundred dollars that you’re going to get back one thousand dollars. You will get back generously from the Lord, but in the way He desires to give it to you. It might be in wisdom and knowledge. 2 Cor 8:7 NIV-SEE THAT YOU ALSO EXCEL IN THIS GRACE OF GIVING. One thing that is troubling is when we see a person that does not excel in the grace of giving. Anyone that does not excel in the grace of giving, usually falls away.
12-GIFT ACCEPTABLE ACCORDING TO WHAT YOU HAVE
It is written, 2 Cor 8:10-12 NIV-LAST YEAR YOU WERE THE FIRST NOT ONLY TO GIVE BUT ALSO TO HAVE THE DESIRE TO DO SO (the "desire" to give). NOW FINISH THE WORK...FOR IF THE WILLINGNESS IS THERE (the "willingness" to give), THE GIFT IS ACCEPTABLE ACCORDING TO WHAT ONE HAS, NOT ACCORDING TO WHAT HE DOES NOT HAVE. Now there are ministries that try to encourage you to "make a faith promise that you are going to give five thousand or ten thousand dollars." Yet the Bible says, "according to what one has, not according to what one does not have." There are also those who ask you to send a contribution and put it on your credit card, yet you do not have the money, so you go into debt. The New Testament tells us, NOT ACCORDING TO WHAT HE DOES NOT HAVE.
Another method certain ministers use, is to have you hold up your offering or alms; they may even have you wave it before the people. Apparently, they have found that people give more this way—God forbid, the ways of the church in this last generation. The Bible tells us, FOR IF THE WILLINGNESS IS THERE, THE GIFT IS ACCEPTABLE ACCORDING TO WHAT ONE HAS, NOT ACCORDING TO WHAT HE DOES NOT HAVE-2 Cor 8:12 NIV.
Please bear in mind, this is referring to offerings, not tithes. You tithe on everything, as the Scriptures have already established. Your tithe comes off of the top. Then what is left goes for your living and so on. God is to receive His ten percent. He simply gives you an income of a certain amount—ten percent of which is His. The remaining ninety percent is yours; however, remember according to what you have always try to give at least a little extra for an offering and do not forget to give alms.
13-EXCEL IN GIVING
We are to excel in giving. As it is written, Lk 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. FOR WITH THE SAME MEASURE THAT YE METE WITHAL IT SHALL BE MEASURED TO YOU AGAIN. Phili 4:16,17-FOR EVEN IN THESSALONICA YE SENT ONCE AND AGAIN UNTO MY NECESSITY. NOT BECAUSE I DESIRE A GIFT: BUT I DESIRE FRUIT THAT MAY ABOUND TO YOUR ACCOUNT. Giving results in fruit that may abound to your account. Do you want to lay up rewards in heaven?
In Lk 8:3 NIV-we read of women that were helping meet the needs of Jesus: THESE WOMAN WERE HELPING TO SUPPORT THEM (the Lord and His disciples) OUT OF THEIR OWN MEANS.
The Bible tells us, Deut 16:17-EVERY MAN SHALL GIVE AS HE IS ABLE, ACCORDING TO THE BLESSING OF THE LORD THY GOD WHICH HE HATH GIVEN THEE. In 2 Ki 12:4, we read, AND ALL THE MONEY THAT COMETH INTO ANY MAN’S HEART TO BRING INTO THE HOUSE OF THE LORD. The Lord will lay on your heart what to give. When it comes time to give an offering (not a tithe, as tithing is a command), ask God what He wants you to give. God should put an amount into your mind. Then, all of a sudden, some other amounts may also come into your mind—lower amounts. For instance, we may be visiting a church, and the Lord might say, give one hundred dollars to this church. Then, all of a sudden, a voice says, "No! only give ten dollars; you need the other $90.00." In almost every case, the first figure—the highest one—is of the Lord. The confusion that sets in afterward, you can expect, is from the devil. So what do you do? Do you give grudgingly or cheerfully? Excel in the grace of giving!
Let’s look again at Mal 3:8-WILL A MAN ROB GOD? YET YE HAVE ROBBED ME. BUT YE SAY, WHEREIN HAVE WE ROBBED THEE? IN TITHES AND OFFERINGS. In Pv 21:26-HE COVETETH GREEDILY ALL THE DAY LONG (the opposite of giving is coveting greedily all the day long): BUT THE RIGHTEOUS GIVETH AND SPARETH NOT.
14-WHAT LACK I YET?
A young man asked Jesus in Mt 19:20-22-WHAT LACK I YET? JESUS SAID UNTO HIM, IF THOU WILT BE PERFECT, GO AND SELL THAT THOU HAST, AND GIVE TO THE POOR, AND THOU SHALT HAVE TREASURE IN HEAVEN: AND COME AND FOLLOW ME. BUT WHEN THE YOUNG MAN HEARD THAT SAYING, HE WENT AWAY SORROWFUL: FOR HE HAD GREAT POSSESSIONS. You see how riches can be a stumbling block? This is perhaps the one place in the Scriptures where Jesus says to do something "before" you follow Him.
In other places, Jesus emphasized: let the dead bury their dead (or you come preach the Gospel and drop everything else, now). Leave your tax money, Matthew; drop everything, right now. Leave your fish and father, Peter; leave the boats and nets, come and follow Me. That’s what the Bible says, although today, it’s not popular teaching. Many preach against these things; however, it does not change God’s Word (which will judge us).
So Jesus told the rich man to sell what he had, then follow Me. Perhaps, this was because he would be following Jesus while looking at his riches: trusting in his riches, not in God. Any obstacle that comes before Jesus, needs to be repented of. Note, this does not mean the Lord tells everyone to sell every house. That is not what has been said. Nevertheless, when the young man heard that, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
15-THE LORD WILL SUPPLY OUR NEED
The book of 1 Kings tells us, AND ELIJAH THE TISHBITE, WHO WAS OF THE INHABITANTS OF GILEAD, SAID UNTO AHAB, AS THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL LIVETH, BEFORE WHOM I STAND, THERE SHALL NOT BE DEW NOR RAIN THESE YEARS, BUT ACCORDING TO MY WORD. AND THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME UNTO HIM, SAYING, GET THEE HENCE, AND TURN THEE EASTWARD, AND HIDE THYSELF BY THE BROOK CHERITH, THAT IS BEFORE JORDAN. AND IT SHALL BE, THAT THOU SHALT DRINK OF THE BROOK; AND I HAVE COMMANDED THE RAVENS TO FEED THEE THERE. How is it that some of us have so little faith? Elijah just obeyed and trusted in the Lord. SO HE WENT AND DID ACCORDING UNTO THE WORD OF THE LORD (he did what the Lord said): FOR HE WENT AND DWELT BY THE BROOK CHERITH, THAT IS BEFORE JORDAN. AND THE RAVENS BROUGHT HIM BREAD AND FLESH IN THE MORNING, AND BREAD AND FLESH IN THE EVENING; AND HE DRANK OF THE BROOK. AND IT CAME TO PASS AFTER A WHILE, THAT THE BROOK DRIED UP (some might start complaining at this point), BECAUSE THERE HAD BEEN NO RAIN IN THE LAND. AND THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME UNTO HIM, SAYING, ARISE, GET THEE TO ZAREPHATH, WHICH BELONGETH TO ZIDON, AND DWELL THERE: BEHOLD, I HAVE COMMANDED A WIDOW WOMAN THERE TO SUSTAIN THEE. See how it is already taken care of by the Lord? Was Elijah worrying, "Oh, how am I going to make it?"
SO HE AROSE AND WENT TO ZAREPHATH. AND WHEN HE CAME TO THE GATE OF THE CITY, BEHOLD, THE WIDOW WOMAN WAS THERE GATHERING OF STICKS: AND HE CALLED TO HER, AND SAID, FETCH ME, I PRAY THEE, A LITTLE WATER IN A VESSEL, THAT I MAY DRINK. AND AS SHE WAS GOING TO FETCH IT, HE CALLED TO HER, AND SAID, BRING ME, I PRAY THEE, A MORSEL OF BREAD IN THINE HAND. AND SHE SAID, AS THE LORD THY GOD LIVETH, I HAVE NOT A CAKE, BUT AN HANDFUL OF MEAL IN A BARREL, AND A LITTLE OIL IN A CRUSE: AND, BEHOLD, I AM GATHERING TWO STICKS, THAT I MAY GO IN AND DRESS IT FOR ME AND MY SON, THAT WE MAY EAT IT, AND DIE. Incredible! She is about out of food. AND ELIJAH SAID UNTO HER, FEAR NOT; GO AND DO AS THOU HAST SAID: BUT MAKE ME THEREOF A LITTLE CAKE FIRST, AND BRING IT UNTO ME, AND AFTER MAKE FOR THEE AND FOR THY SON. FOR THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL, THE BARREL OF MEAL SHALL NOT WASTE, NEITHER SHALL THE CRUSE OF OIL FAIL, UNTIL THE DAY THAT THE LORD SENDETH RAIN UPON THE EARTH. She had a choice: is she going to believe what her eyes see? AND SHE WENT AND DID ACCORDING TO THE SAYING OF ELIJAH: AND SHE, AND HE, AND HER HOUSE, DID EAT MANY DAYS. AND THE BARREL OF MEAL WASTED NOT, NEITHER DID THE CRUSE OF OIL FAIL, ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF THE LORD, WHICH HE SPAKE BY ELIJAH-1 Ki 17:1-16. If you will pick up your cross and follow the Lord, He will take care of you. He really will. Will you believe it?
16-THE POOR WIDOW
The Bible tells us, Lk 21:1-3 NIV-AS HE LOOKED UP, JESUS SAW THE RICH PUTTING THEIR GIFTS INTO THE TEMPLE TREASURY. HE ALSO SAW A POOR WIDOW PUT IN TWO VERY SMALL COPPER COINS. "I TELL YOU THE TRUTH," HE SAID, "THIS POOR WIDOW HAS PUT IN MORE THAN ALL THE OTHERS. ALL THESE PEOPLE GAVE THEIR GIFTS OUT OF THEIR WEALTH; BUT SHE OUT OF HER POVERTY PUT IN ALL SHE HAD TO LIVE ON." The Lord does not tell us to give what we do not have; however, there are times when we may give everything we have. This is not a contradiction. For example, if you have ten dollars, you do not agree to give fifteen dollars and borrow five. The poor widow put in all that she had to live on. Do we have this kind of attitude?
17-THE MISLED PREACHER; JESUS DID TEACH TITHING
God wants you to give whatever He lays on your heart. If that is all that you have, so be it. God loves a cheerful giver. Mt 23:23 NIV-WOE TO YOU, TEACHERS OF THE LAW AND PHARISEES, YOU HYPOCRITES! We recall a preacher, who said, "No where in the New Testament does it say you have to tithe." Here is a Scripture in the New Testament that commands you to tithe: Mt 23:23 NIV-YOU GIVE A TENTH OF YOUR SPICES (that’s tithe)—MINT, DILL AND CUMMIN (in other words, everything). BUT YOU HAVE NEGLECTED THE MORE IMPORTANT MATTERS OF THE LAW—JUSTICE, MERCY AND FAITHFULNESS. Now, listen to the next words. YOU SHOULD HAVE PRACTICED THE LATTER, WITHOUT NEGLECTING THE FORMER. What was the former? your tithe. Without neglecting tithing. There it is. You see, the problem was they were giving the tenth, but they were not walking in faith; they were not practicing justice. Jesus tells us to do both.
18-BE RECONCILED TO YOUR BROTHER
Regarding offerings, we read, Ex 25:2-SPEAK UNTO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, THAT THEY BRING ME AN OFFERING: OF EVERY MAN THAT GIVETH IT WILLINGLY WITH HIS HEART (we are to give an offering willingly, with a willing heart). Mt 5:23,24 NIV-THEREFORE, IF YOU ARE OFFERING YOUR GIFT AT THE ALTAR AND THERE REMEMBER THAT YOUR BROTHER HAS SOMETHING AGAINST YOU, LEAVE YOUR GIFT THERE IN FRONT OF THE ALTAR. FIRST GO AND BE RECONCILED TO YOUR BROTHER; THEN COME AND OFFER YOUR GIFT. If the Lord puts into your heart to offer a gift, then do so; however, do not offer it, until you get any unsettled matters straightened out with your brother. This could be considered a condition on giving.
19-HAVE FAITH AND HAVE NOT WORKS
It is written, Ja 2:14-16-WHAT DOTH IT PROFIT, MY BRETHREN, THOUGH A MAN SAY HE HATH FAITH, AND HAVE NOT WORKS? CAN FAITH SAVE HIM? IF A BROTHER OR SISTER (a saved person), BE NAKED, AND DESTITUTE OF DAILY FOOD, AND ONE OF YOU SAY UNTO THEM, DEPART IN PEACE, BE YE WARMED AND FILLED; NOTWITHSTANDING YE GIVE THEM NOT THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE NEEDFUL TO THE BODY; WHAT DOTH IT PROFIT?
1 Jn 3:17-BUT WHOSO HATH THIS WORLD’S GOOD, AND SEETH HIS BROTHER HAVE NEED, AND SHUTTETH UP HIS BOWELS OF COMPASSION FROM HIM, HOW DWELLETH THE LOVE OF GOD IN HIM?
20-NOT TO BE SEEN OF MEN
Mt 6:1-4 NIV-BE CAREFUL NOT TO DO YOUR ACTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS BEFORE MEN, TO BE SEEN BY THEM. IF YOU DO, YOU WILL HAVE NO REWARD FROM YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN. SO WHEN YOU GIVE TO THE NEEDY, DO NOT ANNOUNCE IT WITH TRUMPETS, AS THE HYPOCRITES DO IN THE SYNAGOGUES AND ON THE STREETS, TO BE HONORED BY MEN. I TELL YOU THE TRUTH, THEY HAVE RECEIVED THEIR REWARD IN FULL. BUT WHEN YOU GIVE TO THE NEEDY (alms), DO NOT LET YOUR LEFT HAND KNOW WHAT YOUR RIGHT HAND IS DOING, SO THAT YOUR GIVING MAY BE IN SECRET. THEN YOUR FATHER, WHO SEES WHAT IS DONE IN SECRET, WILL REWARD YOU. Pv 28:27 NIV-HE WHO GIVES TO THE POOR WILL LACK NOTHING. Lacking nothing means, according to what God says your needs are, not according to what you say your needs are. You may think you need a new car; however, this is referring to what the Bible says your needs are.
21-GIVE TO THE POOR
We read further on giving to the poor in Gal 2:10 NIV-ALL THEY ASKED WAS THAT WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO REMEMBER THE POOR, THE VERY THING I WAS EAGER TO DO.
Pv 19:17-HE THAT HATH PITY UPON THE POOR LENDETH UNTO THE LORD; AND THAT WHICH HE HATH GIVEN WILL HE PAY HIM AGAIN.
Lk 6:30-GIVE TO EVERY MAN THAT ASKETH OF THEE; AND OF HIM THAT TAKETH AWAY THY GOODS ASK THEM NOT AGAIN (do not ask for them again).
2 Cor 9:7-EVERY MAN ACCORDING AS HE PURPOSETH IN HIS HEART, SO LET HIM GIVE; NOT GRUDGINGLY, OR OF NECESSITY: FOR GOD LOVETH A CHEERFUL GIVER.
Phile 21 NIV-I WRITE TO YOU, KNOWING THAT YOU WILL DO EVEN MORE THAN I ASK.
22-SUMMARY
Mal 3:8,9-WILL A MAN ROB GOD? YET YE HAVE ROBBED ME. BUT YE SAY, WHEREIN HAVE WE ROBBED THEE? His answer is: IN TITHES AND OFFERINGS. YE ARE CURSED WITH A CURSE: FOR YE HAVE ROBBED ME.
All credit goes to Marantha Gospel Ministries March 28, 2003
