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.

LAYING UP TREASURES IN HEAVEN

Memory verse: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. Matthew 6:19

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Jeremiah 13-18

BIBLE IN STUDIES: Matthew 6:19-21

A treasure is something you place great value on; it could be a painting, gold, jewelry, person (s) who you love dearly. Today, the treasure we are focusing on is wealth or riches. From our bible studies, there are only two places, one can store his or her treasures (wealth or riches) - heaven or earth. Storing one’s treasures on earth is full of disadvantages, on earth there are thieves who break in and steal, moth and rust may destroy it, kidnappers may kill one and take possession of it, etc. 

The safest place is heaven. Matthew 6:19 says ` But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. This brings us to the question, how do I store my treasures in heaven. One way to store your treasure in heaven is by giving to the poor and needy. Luke 12:33 says sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. Giving to the poor and needy is not negotiable for any heaven minded believer. Proverbs 19:17 says he that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again. When we give to the poor and needy, it should not be to show off or else we will lose the rewards (Matthew 6:1-4). Jesus even said, when you do your charitable deeds, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that the Father who sees in the secret will reward in the public. As a married couple, there should not be secrets ,this applies to your giving too. You are no longer two but one, you can discuss with your husband or wife what you are giving. 

Many after giving will tell everyone in church what they gave; oh, that shirt bro A is wearing, we bought it for him ; oh, that shoe sister B is wearing, I bought it actually; my family have been buying food stuffs for the pastor for a over year; my husband and I bought the big keyboard in the church. No one in church should know what you have given to another person. The whole church does not need to know that you are the one who bought the big keyboard. They are not the one who will reward you anyway. Some will only give when they know that they will announce the names of donors. Many give to be recognized, such will not attract any reward from heaven. Some give to make a statement; such also will not attract any reward. Many do charitable deeds so that they can have something to boast about, such too will not attract any reward. 

NOTE: Those who give to the poor are lending to the Lord.

Bro Samuel – Reaching the world for Jesus.

PROMOTION IN DISGUISE

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. James 4:10 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Jeremiah 1-3

Many a time, when God wants to promote a fellow , He starts with what looks like a demotion. The fellow will first go down before coming up. As far as God is concerned, the way up first and foremost is the way down. There are a lot of things that prevents God from carrying us, one of them is pride. Actually, pride makes us heavy in His hands. James 4:10 says Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. The moment God decides to promote a fellow, He will first take the fellow down to get rid of things like pride and other things preventing Him from carrying the fellow.

Let us look at Job, he was a very successful man. God prospered him in all He laid his hands on. Although this man was righteous , deep inside , there was element of pride in him. In Job 30, Job said he would consider it an insult to put a man’s father with his dog. Job 30:1 says but now they that are younger than I have me in derison, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock. When the Lord wanted to elevate him, He allowed the enemy to bring him right down to get rid of the pride . This man lost all he had but at the end , the Lord doubled all He had.

I remembered when I first joined my current employer, within 6 months, my managers began to consider me for a promotion. Deep within me , I thought I was special and the people i met there did not know what they were doing. When the job advert came out, I spoke to some brothers and we prayed, the Lord spoke and said, He had given me the job permanently. Mind you the job was a temporary appointment not a permanent one. Anyway I applied for the job and I was unsuccessful. Not only that, I was literally demoted. During this period , the Lord permitted somethings on my way. Some of those i trained on the job were promoted and they made life hard for me. It was then I learnt humility. After God was satisfied that I had learnt the lesson, the post came out permanently, I applied and I got it! That current embarrassing situation you find yourself could be that God is taking you down to get rid of somethings in your life before taking you very high. You maybe wondering why that ‘thing’ is happening to you, friends and people around you are insulting you with style , they know you are single yet they ask after your husband in public so that you can say I am single. If you are facing such, do not get angry and marry the next guy that comes along. Keep on praying and the Lord who has done it for others will surely do it for you.

PRAYER POINT: Father, please remember me.

Bro Samuel- Reaching the world for Jesus.

SACRIFICE WHILE AGAG IS STILL ALIVE?

Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God. 1 Samuel 15:30

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Isaiah 64 -66

Saul’s rejection story is one any reader of this devotional will be familiar with. As instructed by God, Samuel told King Saul to go and destroy the Amalekites. He said yes sir, and left with his armies. When he got to Amalek, he destroyed all the worthless things – sick goats and sheep, lame donkeys and camel, and left the good things – fat sheep and goats, well fed donkeys and horses. He destroyed everyone except King Agag. When he returned, the prophet rebuked him for his half obedience (not destroying all). Instead of Saul to repent and set things right by killing Agag and destroying all he brought back, he said it is true i have sinned against God but come with me to sacrifice to the Lord. 1 Samuel 15:30 says Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God. What is more important, sacrificing to God or obeying God? Saul wanted to disobey God and still offer sacrifice to God. Will God accept such sacrifice? He spared the fellow who the Lord asked him to kill and still had the audacity to offer God a sacrifice.

Saul was more interested in offering sacrifices than pleasing God. Thank God for Samuel, immediately after the sacrifice, he killed wicked Agag (1 Samuel 15:31-33). There are many of us like Saul today, we want to disobey God and offer Him sacrifices. We want to keep Agag alive and yet offer sacrifice to God. Many want to fornicate and still be in the choir. Many want to steal from their employers and still lead prayers in Church. Saul’s sacrifice was a wasted effort because he intentionally spared the life of wicked Agag. Are you and I like Saul in anyway? We want to secretly flout God’s commandment and yet at the same time be a worker in the house of God. Unfortunately, things do not work that way. Saul wanted to be seen offering sacrifices to God in the public and yet secretly keep Agag alive. Are you and I like Saul in this way? We want to openly mount the altar and preach powerful messages and yet in our secret closet live a life that Christ disapproves of? We want to openly play guitar in the church and secretly commit adultery with another woman. We want to publicly sing a special number to the glory of God, yet lie on our time sheets. We want to openly invite people to our church programs and yet secretly speak against the man of God. Are you and I trying to be openly loving at church and secretly wicked to our spouses? Because Saul wanted to openly sacrifice to God and yet, secretly spare wicked Agag, God distant Himself from him and publicly rejected him.

PONDER: In what ways are you secretly hiding Agag and openly sacrificing to God?

Bro Samuel – Reaching the world for Jesus.

SLOW IN TURNING

And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons. And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years. And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband. Ruth 1:3-5

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Isaiah 61-63

Ruth 1:3-5 says and Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons. And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years. And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband. Yesterday, we discussed about Elimelech’s move to Moab – a pagan nation. The move was against God’s will for his life. How can a man leave God’s care for a pagan nation and call it the will of God? Anyway, he moved his family out of God’s care and all sorts began to happen to his family. Firstly, he died. This was the perfect opportunity to set things right by relocating back to Israel. One would have thought that they will return to Israel to bury Elimelech and stay there but they did not. Instead, they buried him in Moab and married wives in the land. At times God uses painful instances to speak to us but the reason many of us cannot hear is that we are set in our hearts to do that thing.

Mahlon died in Moab, they buried him there and still stayed put in this land. Chilion also died, it was at this point, Naomi’s eye opened and she decided to return to Israel. This was all avoidable, at the time Elimelech died, they would have returned home but they did not. Naomi waited until all her sons died leaving her with two daughter in laws before going back to Israel. Each of those deaths was a strong message and signal to return to God and to the land even if it meant pain and hunger. What kept Naomi in Moab until she lost all is unknown to anyone, we may never be able to answer this question but those who are insensitive to the voice of the Spirit of God and who are unrepentant or slow in turning from a wrong thing, wrong place, wrong steps, wrong decision, etc, usually pay heavily for it.

Is God speaking to you, through your present situation and you are refusing to change? Some of the excuse people give is i have invested so much in it – relationship, investment, business, etc, and i have no other option than to remain. It does not matter how much you have spent, if God is speaking to you to change, do not be slow in turning. Have you left the assembly where God has placed you because of scarcity of husbands or some other thing? I beg you in the name of the Lord, move back.

NOTE: Please do not procrastinate any further, act fast and decisively, repent and move away from all that represent Moab and move back to the will of God for your life.

Bro Samuel - Reaching the world for Jesus.

NO KING IN ISRAEL

In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did that which was right in his own eyes. Judges 21:25

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Isaiah 54-60

Judges 21:25 says in those days there was no king in Israel; every man did that which was right in his own eyes.This was a time in Israel when lawlessness was at its peak. There was no king i.e. ruler, everyone did what they liked. There was nothing like parenting, pastoring, disciplining, counselling and so on. During this period, every man was his own lord ; they were responsible to no one and did what they pleased. It was at this time, Bro Elimelech took his family and relocated to Moab – a pagan and God forsaken land. Had it been, Bro Elimelech had a mentor or was under a pastor, he would not have relocated to Moab, his mentor or pastor would have counselled him against the move. But because he was not under any authority - a discipler or a pastor, he moved into a strange territory. At Moab he perished, his two sons perished also leaving Naomi (his wife) with two daughters in laws. It is this kind of independent spirit that does not recognize any authority over one’s life that has led many to take steps that they later regret and in some instances, they lost their lives.

We live at a time where people crave independence; no one wants to be under any authority; no one wants to be told how to live their life ; everyone wants to do things their way not the way of the Spirit. Our sisters do not want to be told how to dress modestly or how to conduct themselves in a relationship. Our brothers no longer want to serve. A lot of us say we want to be like Christ, to be like Christ means we must be ready to serve not to be served. Matthew 20:28 says even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. We live at a time where virtually everyone wants to be free as air, to do what they like, move at will and to where they want. Everyone wants to be independent from their pastors and parents. Some sisters get pregnant before bringing the brother to meet their parents. This spirit of independence , the spirit of it is my life and i will live it they way i want, the spirit of no one can tell me when to come to church ,etc , must be shunned. They are destructive spirits; they have destroyed the life of many, if we do not wage war against them, they will rob us of our glorious destiny.

Had it been, Bro Elimelech was under authority, he would not have moved into trouble and calamity. God has put every one of us under authority in our churches, homes, families and work places. Let us remain under that authority He has put us. If we become independent and leave, the end result may be disastrous. There is a reason why God has put that pastor or youth leader over you. Let us remain under the authority God has placed us.

PRAYER POINT: Father, every spirit that wants to take me away from where you have planted me , please deal with them.

Bro Samuel – Reaching the world for Jesus.

ENTER YE IN AT THE STRAIT GATE

Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Matthew 7:13-14

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Isaiah 47-53

Before every man and woman, boy and girl, young and old, believer and unbeliever, white and black, educated and uneducated, master and servant are two gates –the strait gate and the wide gate. Whether you and I like it or not, we must go through one of the gates, it is not negotiable. The choice of the gate to enter through is our decision.

Matthew 7:13- 14 says enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. In our memory verse, Jesus talks of two gates. Not only that, He also gave characteristics of both. Gates are used to limit access into a building. The first gate, wide gate, has a wide entrance. The wide gate leads one to a broad way. This broad way leads to destruction. The second gate, strait gate, has a strait entrance. The strait gate leads to a narrow way. This narrow way leads to life.

The wide gate leads to hell. The way to hell is very broad in other words everything goes. Because the entrance is so wide, one can come in with as much as bag and baggage as possible.One can come in with the bag of malice, bitterness, unforgiveness, hatred, pride, just name it. Because the way is very broad, walking in it very easy. On the other hand, the strait gate leads to heaven. The entrance is so small, not everyone can go through it. Hebrew 12:1 says wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. To go through the strait gate, one must first lay aside every weight and the sin that easily besets him or her. The road that leads to eternal life is so narrow; two people cannot travel on it at the same time. This is why the decision to reign with Christ in heaven is not a group decision but a personal one. Each individual must make up his mind and begin to work towards it. One of the characteristic of the narrow road is that it is a very difficult road to walk on. Jesus Christ gave a hint of how difficult walking on this path is when He said only few people find this path. It is a shame; people are now broadening the narrow way with teachings such as you do not need holiness to make heaven. Hebrews 12:14 says without holiness no man shall see God. Friend, to make it to heaven there is a price you have to pay after salvation. Jesus says in Matthew 24:13, he that shall endure to end shall be saved. 

PRAYER POINT: Father, help me to endure to the last.

Bro Samuel – Reaching the world for Jesus.