WHY TITHE? (RESPONSE TO A LETTER)

Memory verse: 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. Malachi 3:10

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Jeremiah 19-21

Sometimes back, a brother wrote to me asking for my views on tithes and offerings. I have no personal views on tithes and offerings. My view on tithes and offerings is the biblical view on tithes and offerings. There are one or two things; we need to know about tithing . Firstly, tithing honours the Old Testament principle of how God provided for the ministers He called and the expenses of their ministry. Out of the twelve tribes of Israel, God called the Levites out into temple and tabernacle ministry. You will recall that when the land was shared between the eleven tribes of Israel, the Levites were not given a portion of land. Instead of giving them a portion of land, the Lord said that these vocational ministers of the tabernacle should live off the tithes of the other eleven tribes (Numbers 18:20-21). When you and I tithe, we honour this principle found here. Some of God’s people are called not to do moneymaking business in the ordinary ways i.e. called to full time ministry. The rest of God’s people are to be gainfully employed and support the “vocational ministers” i.e. full time ministers – and the cost of that ministry. Many people ask about tithing in the New Testament. Jesus endorsed tithing as we see in Mathew 23:23 so do not neglect it. Although He said, it is not as essential as justice, love, and mercy; but it is to be done. Apostle Paul also echoed the same thing in 1 Corinthians 9:13-14 when he said even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. The church of God needs my tithes and your tithes to pay full time ministers and run the ministry,pay rents, bills, etc.

Secondly, when we release a tenth of our income and give it over to the ministry and mission of Christ in the world, we honour the Creator rights of God who owns everything, including all our income. We all know that the world belongs to God (Psalms 24:1); by tithing, we are proving it. Take for instance, a wife accuses her husband for not giving her any time. The man may argue that he gives all his time to her and the kids, he spends all his time at work trying to earn a living for her and the children. That may be correct to an extent , but to proof that he gives time for her; he needs to spend evenings with her and from time to time, take her on a date. Giving God a tenth of our income does not deny that all our money is God’s, it proves that we believe it. Lastly, our giving (tithes and offerings) prove and strengthen our faith in God’s promises. There is an absolute correlation between faith in the promises of God and peace of mind in giving to God. Tithing is a faith issue. If you and i really have faith in the promises of God, that He will supply all our needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus ( Philippians 4:19), we will not have problems giving a tenth of our earnings and much more to God.

NOTE: A fellow who truly has faith in the promises of God, the least he will give will be a tenth of his earnings.

Bro Samuel – Reaching the world for Jesus.

WONDERS OF OBEDIENCE

MEMORY VERSE: if ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the Land, Isaiah 1:19

BIBLE VERSE: Josh 18-19, Ps 149-150, Jer 89, Matt 23

BIBLE STUDIES: Luke 5:1-7.

A wonder is anything that makes you wonder. I believe the Lord wants to make someone a wonder, that’s why He has permitted these series. One of the quickest ways of becoming a wonder is by obeying God. In Luke 5:1-7 Peter obeyed a simple instruction, he let down his net and caught so much that two boats began to sink. The question is where did all the fish suddenly come from? This is really a wonder. Do you want to become a wonder? Simply obey God. When you begin to obey God, every little effort you make will yield a mighty result, not only that the Lord will begin to do wondrous things in your life.

The key to becoming a wonder is total obedience to the word of God. Malachi 3:10 says bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house. The question is this, are you bringing all? What you bring to the house of God, is a tithe of your gross (total amount before any deductions such as tax) or net pay (total amount when all deductions are made)? Can you tell God you have brought all when you tithe on your net pay not gross? Your tithe is ten percent of your gross pay not your net pay. During a meeting a brother challenged the whole congregation that he would give an equivalent of what everyone gave as offering. When the brother heard the total amount collected that day, he announced that they should take the offering again because the first one was too small for Jesus. After everyone gave, he wrote a cheque equivalent to the total amount collected. Later some brothers met him and asked what the secret of his success was? He told them he decided that it was an insult to give God ten percent and keep ninety so he decided to give God ninety percent and keep only ten.

Proverbs 3:9 says honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase. When you get an increase in salary, the difference between the old and new salary is an example of your first fruit of increase. First fruit is the first agricultural produce of the harvest. In modern day, the entire January salary will be your first fruits. The difference between the first fruit of increase and the first fruit sacrifice is in divine response. In the first fruit of increase, God promised that your barn will burst while in the first fruit sacrifice, you blessing will become global, they will be irreversible and they will extend to your generations to come, Genesis 22:15-18. By the grace of God I can tell you that first fruit sacrifice does not kill. It only forces doors open. James 1:19 says if you are willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the Land.

PRAYER POINT: Father , make your blessing in my life trans-generational