Tithing
Actually, tithing is the thing which I have been doing faithfully. Regardless of what the situation of my life is (be it be in debts/ needed the cash) or whatever, I will pay my tithes to God FIRST!
*Exclaims someone*
WHAT?!?! We MUST tithe? I thought that we are under a New Covenant? Didn't Jesus paid it all for us? DID JESUS SAY we MUST pay our tithe to God? Atrocious! How can this be?
*Me explaining...*
Allow me go go BACK to the Old Testament...
As we all know in the Old Testament, everyone tithes to Abraham, who in turn, brought tithes to Melchizedek, Prince of Salem.
Genesis 14: 18- 20 (NKJV)
18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. 19 And he blessed him and said: "Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; 20 And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand." And he gave him a tithe of all.
Leviticus 27: 30 (New Living translation)
"A tenth of the produce of the land, whether grain or fruit, belongs to the LORD and must be set apart to him as holy.
You may say, "Hey! It's all in the Old Testament. We are now in the New Covenant. What I want to know is, did Jesus mention anything about tithing in the New Testament? Show me! I need PROOF!"
Well...Sad to disappoint you...
Let me show to you what did Jesus say regarding tithing...
In Matthew 23: 23 (New Living Translation)
"How terrible it will be for you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest part of your income, but you ignore the important things of the law – justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but you should not leave undone the more important things.
These, in red, are the VERY WORDS of Jesus.
Noticed something? Yes, the Pharisees were COMMENDED by Jesus for tithing. Are you better or worse than a Pharisee? This was the ONE & ONLY thing Jesus APPROVED of them! So, what have we concluded from start till now?
1. Tithing means a tenth OR 10% of your gross income.
So, why 10% or a tenth you may ask. Why not $1 or $50? Why must be 10%?
Simple reason being that not everyone is able to afford $50 and to millionaires, $50 is NOTHING to them at all. God is a fair God, Amen? Which is why, He instituted this 10% to whomever is a believer!
You may argue and say "but I EARNED the money with MY HARD WORK! It's just so NOT FAIR! Since when did God give me the money? In what ways have He contributed to those wages I earned?"
Actually, it's a VALID ground and a GOOD question you've brought up here.
Yes, I agree that we EARN every single cent from our hard work. However who is the One who give you these money? By your own strength, are you able to attain what you have today? Surely there is a possibility that you can but it is God who gives us the power to get wealth, Amen? Which means to say that everything that we have, it all belongs to God.
However, why must God require us to tithe?
This is because God wants us to remember that everything we have, belongs to Him. We brought nothing to earth and surely will not bring anything away from earth too.
Deuteronomy 14: 23 (English Standard Version)
And before the Lord your God, in the place that he will choose, to make his name dwell there, you shall eat the tithe of your grain, of your wine, and of your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and flock, that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always
Friends, if God does not have the FIRST PRIORITY in your finances, He is NEVER first in your life at all. The bible says that where your treasure is, there your heart is also. Therefore, where is your heart? What is inside your heart? If your heart is with the world, then it'll be with the world. However, if your heart is in the Kingdom of God, I would encourage you to tithe because God have given a great challenge and promise to everyone who tithes!
Malachi 3: 10- 12
10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this," Says the Lord of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it. 11 "And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field," Says the Lord of hosts; 12 "And all nations will call you blessed, For you will be a delightful land," Says the Lord of hosts.
See that?!?! You don't have to be a rocket scientist for me to tell you what is that challenge. Yes! God challenges each and everyone of you to tithe! I did not, He did. He said that He WILL OPEN up the windows of heaven over our lives when we tithe to Him. What did God say earlier on in the passage of Malachi 3?
Malachi 3: 8- 9
8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, 'In what way have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings. 9 You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation.
Therefore my fellow Saints in Christ Jesus,
Do not harden your heart and say that tithing is not a must. Tithing is not for now. God is not a man that He should lie. Whatever He says, will it return to Him void? If you have read the bible at least once, from cover to cover, you'll find that whatever He says, it shall certainly COME TO PASS! Do you want to rob God? Certainly not!
Therefore, what have I been saying all these while?
In conclusion, what have we learnt about tithing?:
1. Tithing means a tenth OR 10% of your gross income.
2. Tithing OPENS UP THE WINDOW OF HEAVEN over my life.
3. Tithing is for NOW!
I'm sure everyone wants to be blessed by God, amen? However, God wants to see how faithful we are. Are we bringing Him what He asked? If we are not faithful with the little things which He ask of us, how can He trust us with TRUE RICHES?
Remember what He said when He was asked about taxes? Jesus said render to Caesar what is Caesar’s and render to God what belongs to God!
Therefore, bring in your tithes and offering to God with a cheerful heart today! He loves a cheerful giver!
So, what do I do now?
a. If you're getting allowances, you should also tithe your allowance to God. If you're taking a daily allowance, make an account and be a faithful steward of God. Always put aside 10% of your allowance and pay your tithe to God at the end of the week.
b. If you're taking your allowances on a weekly basis, pay your tithes by the end of the week.
c. If you're taking monthly wages/ paid/ allowances, pay it by the beginning of the new month.
Finally, your offering and tithe are NOT the same! Offering is something FREE WILL while tithe is a MUST! It's 10% of your TOTAL gross income/ pocket money. When you begin to pay your tithes, I'm sure God is going to bless you greatly!
God will NEVER short-change you! Amen?
*Exclaims someone*
WHAT?!?! We MUST tithe? I thought that we are under a New Covenant? Didn't Jesus paid it all for us? DID JESUS SAY we MUST pay our tithe to God? Atrocious! How can this be?
*Me explaining...*
Allow me go go BACK to the Old Testament...
As we all know in the Old Testament, everyone tithes to Abraham, who in turn, brought tithes to Melchizedek, Prince of Salem.
Genesis 14: 18- 20 (NKJV)
18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. 19 And he blessed him and said: "Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; 20 And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand." And he gave him a tithe of all.
Leviticus 27: 30 (New Living translation)
"A tenth of the produce of the land, whether grain or fruit, belongs to the LORD and must be set apart to him as holy.
You may say, "Hey! It's all in the Old Testament. We are now in the New Covenant. What I want to know is, did Jesus mention anything about tithing in the New Testament? Show me! I need PROOF!"
Well...Sad to disappoint you...
Let me show to you what did Jesus say regarding tithing...
In Matthew 23: 23 (New Living Translation)
"How terrible it will be for you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest part of your income, but you ignore the important things of the law – justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but you should not leave undone the more important things.
These, in red, are the VERY WORDS of Jesus.
Noticed something? Yes, the Pharisees were COMMENDED by Jesus for tithing. Are you better or worse than a Pharisee? This was the ONE & ONLY thing Jesus APPROVED of them! So, what have we concluded from start till now?
1. Tithing means a tenth OR 10% of your gross income.
So, why 10% or a tenth you may ask. Why not $1 or $50? Why must be 10%?
Simple reason being that not everyone is able to afford $50 and to millionaires, $50 is NOTHING to them at all. God is a fair God, Amen? Which is why, He instituted this 10% to whomever is a believer!
You may argue and say "but I EARNED the money with MY HARD WORK! It's just so NOT FAIR! Since when did God give me the money? In what ways have He contributed to those wages I earned?"
Actually, it's a VALID ground and a GOOD question you've brought up here.
Yes, I agree that we EARN every single cent from our hard work. However who is the One who give you these money? By your own strength, are you able to attain what you have today? Surely there is a possibility that you can but it is God who gives us the power to get wealth, Amen? Which means to say that everything that we have, it all belongs to God.
However, why must God require us to tithe?
This is because God wants us to remember that everything we have, belongs to Him. We brought nothing to earth and surely will not bring anything away from earth too.
Deuteronomy 14: 23 (English Standard Version)
And before the Lord your God, in the place that he will choose, to make his name dwell there, you shall eat the tithe of your grain, of your wine, and of your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and flock, that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always
Friends, if God does not have the FIRST PRIORITY in your finances, He is NEVER first in your life at all. The bible says that where your treasure is, there your heart is also. Therefore, where is your heart? What is inside your heart? If your heart is with the world, then it'll be with the world. However, if your heart is in the Kingdom of God, I would encourage you to tithe because God have given a great challenge and promise to everyone who tithes!
Malachi 3: 10- 12
10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this," Says the Lord of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it. 11 "And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field," Says the Lord of hosts; 12 "And all nations will call you blessed, For you will be a delightful land," Says the Lord of hosts.
See that?!?! You don't have to be a rocket scientist for me to tell you what is that challenge. Yes! God challenges each and everyone of you to tithe! I did not, He did. He said that He WILL OPEN up the windows of heaven over our lives when we tithe to Him. What did God say earlier on in the passage of Malachi 3?
Malachi 3: 8- 9
8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, 'In what way have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings. 9 You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation.
Therefore my fellow Saints in Christ Jesus,
Do not harden your heart and say that tithing is not a must. Tithing is not for now. God is not a man that He should lie. Whatever He says, will it return to Him void? If you have read the bible at least once, from cover to cover, you'll find that whatever He says, it shall certainly COME TO PASS! Do you want to rob God? Certainly not!
Therefore, what have I been saying all these while?
In conclusion, what have we learnt about tithing?:
1. Tithing means a tenth OR 10% of your gross income.
2. Tithing OPENS UP THE WINDOW OF HEAVEN over my life.
3. Tithing is for NOW!
I'm sure everyone wants to be blessed by God, amen? However, God wants to see how faithful we are. Are we bringing Him what He asked? If we are not faithful with the little things which He ask of us, how can He trust us with TRUE RICHES?
Remember what He said when He was asked about taxes? Jesus said render to Caesar what is Caesar’s and render to God what belongs to God!
Therefore, bring in your tithes and offering to God with a cheerful heart today! He loves a cheerful giver!
So, what do I do now?
a. If you're getting allowances, you should also tithe your allowance to God. If you're taking a daily allowance, make an account and be a faithful steward of God. Always put aside 10% of your allowance and pay your tithe to God at the end of the week.
b. If you're taking your allowances on a weekly basis, pay your tithes by the end of the week.
c. If you're taking monthly wages/ paid/ allowances, pay it by the beginning of the new month.
Finally, your offering and tithe are NOT the same! Offering is something FREE WILL while tithe is a MUST! It's 10% of your TOTAL gross income/ pocket money. When you begin to pay your tithes, I'm sure God is going to bless you greatly!
God will NEVER short-change you! Amen?
posted by Calvin Chung @ 11:52 PM
Email me: calvin.othniel@gmail.com
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