Just when I think I have learned all there is to learn concerning money, about giving tithes and offerings- bam, I discover volumes of Scriptures about money I never knew before. It’s amazing how controlling “money” is in the lives of so many. I put in words of a poem:
“Dug from the mountainside, washed from the glen. Servant am I or master of men.
Steal me I curse you, earn me I bless you. Grasp me or hoard me, Others shall possess you.
Live for me, die for me. Covet me, take me. Angel or Devil I am what you make me.”
Someone wrote: “Money will buy: A bed but not sleep. Books but not brains. Food but not appetite. Finery but not beauty. A house but not a home, Luxuries but not culture. Medicine but not health. Amusements but not happiness. A crucifix but not a Savior. A church but not a heaven.”
It was Jesus who sat over on the side and observed how people gave in the offering. While he was doing so, he called the attention of his disciples to watch and learn as well (Mark 12:41-33). It was the widow’s mite, the smallest coin, compared to the rich man’s bag of gold that Jesus used to teach his disciples a lesson. The amount that people gave wasn’t what captured my attention. It was that Jesus sat over in the corner and observed what people gave. And what is more unique was that Jesus took time to teach his disciples about the giving process. It mattered so much to Jesus of how and what proportion did people give that he sat aside and observed.
A person has departed from God if they are not giving tithes and offerings (Mal. 3:7). God revealed how one is robbing God if he fails to pay his tithes & offerings. Think of this. What should it matter, you might ask? According to Lev 1:4, God told Moses to tell the people that when they gave of their offerings, God would account their giving as of giving of themselves. Meaning, that when we give our tithes or an offering, God records it as if we gave our very person. Why is that? Because God knew that we exchange our time, talent and life’s blood to work in exchange for money. Therefore, when we give our money, we in essence are giving our very life. No wonder Jesus watched people give.
Tithes and offering giving is an institution God created. All that have is a gift from God and belongs to God in the first place. God said, “Return to me and I will return to you. We asked, how shall we return to you? And God said, you shall return to me in your giving of your tithes and offerings” (Mal 3:7). Wow, giving was the act of our spiritual reconnection to God. Tithing is an act of love and thanksgiving for material things received from God's Creation. Tithing is an act of confession of obligations to God who has been your helper in time of need.
Tithing is the key to divine blessings. Jacob left Canaan empty and returned with much cattle and many servants after he started tithing. If God gets His part, He said he would bless the rest. Truth is, when we give the tithe, the remaining 90% will go further under the blessing of God, than 100% being cursed (Mal. 3:10, Lu. 6:38, 2 Cor. 9:6). When people follow God’s method of tithes and offerings, church ministries are freed to fulfill their purpose. When tithes and offerings are practiced, it is a blessing to the church and unchurched alike.
One who does not tithe does not consider any of the above things mentioned, they are not grateful, don't feel obligated to God, cares nothing for His cause, recognizes no higher authority than himself, doesn’t count God's blessing significant. Those who fail to tithe not only robs God but hinders the spread of the gospel. God's work requires money, tithes and offerings are God's way of financing the gospel. How much money would a public school system receive if it depended on the passing of a hat at a local PTA meeting to pay the bills? How would our county government make out if it depended on our taking up a collection at Memorial and Independence Day parades?
C.S. Lewis said of the early church, "I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more that we can spare, if our expenditure on comforts, luxuries, amusements, etc, is up to the standard common among those with the same income as our own, we are probably giving too little. If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small."
A certain family had gone to church and on the way home the father criticized the sermon, the mother found fault with the organist, and the eldest daughter talked about the singing. But the subject was suddenly dropped when the small boy of the family said, "Daddy, I think it was mighty good program for a nickel."
“God, break to the needy sweet charity's bread, for giving is living, the angel said.
And must I be giving again and again? My peevish and pitiless answer ran.
oh, no said the angel, piercing me through, Just give till the Lord stops giving to you.”
By Dr. Tim McClure
Boy writes letter to God for $100
A little boy wanted $100.00 very badly and prayed for weeks, but nothing happened. Then he decided to write God a letter requesting the $100.00. When the postal authorities received the letter to God , they decided to send it to the President. The president was so amused that he instructed his secretary to send the little boy a $5.00 bill. The letter went out with the $5 from the White House letterhead. The little boy was delighted with the $5.00 bill and sat down to write a thank-you note to God, which read: Dear God: Thank you very much for sending the money. However, the next time, do not use or send it through Government, those crooks deducted $95.00 in taxes.
You know you’re a Mother when: Happy Mother’s Day
You automatically tie everything in a double-knot.
You actually start to like the smell of strained carrots mixed with applesauce.
You weep through the scene in Dumbo when his mom is taken away.
You spend a half hour searching for your sunglasses that are on your head.
You find yourself humming the Barney song as you do the dishes.
You are out for a nice romantic meal with your husband, enjoying some real adult conversation, when suddenly you realize that you've reached over and started to cut up his steak!
COMING EVENTS
May 2010 – Financial Breakthrough – Theme for May, 10:30 AM Sunday’s
May 5, 12, 19, 26 – APEX classes for all leaders & ministry involved @ 7 PM
May 2, 9, 16, 23 – Antshillvania Children’s Musical practice every Sun. mornings
May 9 – Mother’s Tribute – Women’s Sunday @ Promiseland 10:30 AM
May 14, 16, 30 – Fusion groups – @ a place near you – call 321-216-8030
June 4 – Couple’s Social – Mark Gungor @ Promiseland Café – 6 PM
Promiseland Church
1855 Lansing St. Melbourne, FL 32935
www.promiseland.org
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True biblical HOLY tithes were always only food from inside God’s HOLY land of Israel which God had miraculously increased. Tithes could not come from money, from craftsmen or from outside Israel. Not even Jesus qualified as a tithe payer.
ReplyDeleteAnd Levitical tithe recipients could not own property. None of the tithing statute of Numbers 18 is obeyed by any church today.
NT giving is primarily sacrificial. For many that mean more than ten per cent. Others are giving sacrificially even though less. 2 Cor 8:1-15; 1 Tim 5:8.
Here is how the definition of the word tithe has changed over the years.
ReplyDeleteDEFINITION OF THE WORD TITHE – from Strongs Hebrew Dictionary
A tenth, tenth part
That’s it. The word tithe is a mathematical term and nothing else. The word has nothing to do with God, giving to God, paying to God. Therefore, when reading Genesis regarding Abraham and Jacob, the word tithe is a mathematical term only.
DEFINITION OF THE LORD’S TITHE – Leviticus 27:30-33
God, Himself, defined His tithe. This is the ONLY tithe that God claimed “is the Lord’s.”
30And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD’S: it is holy unto the LORD.
32And 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.
In other words, God defined His tithe as coming from ONLY crops and animals.
DEFINITION OF THE FESTIVAL TITHE – Deuteronomy 14:22-27
22Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.
In verse 23 The Word adds, “the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks,” but notice, NOT a tenth of thy herds and flocks.
DEFINITION OF THE THREE-YEAR TITHE aka THE POOR TITHE – Deuteronomy 14:28-29
28At 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
MAN’S DEFINITION OF THE TITHE – from made-made dictionaries
MacMillan's Modern Dictionary - 1938 edition: Tithe - tenth part, or any small part, of produce, profits, or the like paid as a tax or as a voluntary contribution, esp. for religion or charitable use.
The American Heritage Dictionary, Third Edition - 1994: Tithe - A tenth part of one's annual income contributed voluntarily or due as a tax, especially for the support of the clergy or church.
Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary - latest edition: Tithe - a tenth part of something paid as a voluntary contribution or as a tax especially for the support of a religious establishment.
As you can see, just since 1938 the definition has changed from a tenth part of produce or profits, to a tenth part of one's annual income, to a tenth part of something and all three definitions include something to do with the support of the church or a religious establishment.
Looks like church leaders are using man's definition for the tithe, not God's definition.