Tithing

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.