I BELIEVE THAT WE ALL AGREE THAT GIVING IS A PART OF OUR
CHRISTIAN LIFE. THE LOVE AND CARING GOD PUTS WITHIN US FROM JUST
BEING HUMAN SHOWS US THAT. BUT WHEN WE FEEL HIS OVERWHELMING LOVE
WITHIN US, SHARING AS WELL AS ALL THE BEAUTIFUL THINGS GOD BUILT
WITHIN OUR BEINGS TAKES ON WHOLE NEW MEANINGS.
TO WANT TO POUR OUT YOUR HEART IN EVERY WAY UNTO GOD IS NORMAL.
THE GREATER A PERSON FELT THE DISTANCE WAS BETWEEN THEM AND GOD,
THE MORE THAT FEELING IS MAGNIFIED. LIKE THE PARABLE OF THE TWO
DEBTORS:
LUKE 7:40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat
to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.
LUKE 7:41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the
one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.
LUKE 7:42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them
both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?
LUKE 7:43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he
forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.
LUKE 7:44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest
thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no
water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and
wiped them with the hairs of her head.
LUKE 7:45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I
came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.
LUKE 7:46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman
hath anointed my feet with ointment.
LUKE 7:47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are
forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the
same loveth little.
THE PAYMENT HAS ALREADY BEEN WORKED OUT BY GOD. FORGIVENESS
WORKETH LOVE IN THE FORGIVEN. NOW THAT PERSON THAT SEES THE LOVE
AND FORGIVENESS OF GOD, BRINGS THAT LOVE WITH THEM INTO THE BODY OF
CHRIST. ACTUALY THAT IS A LITTLE BACKWARDS. THRU THE LOVE OF THE
PERSON A DOORWAY IS OPENED WHICH IS ACCEPTABLE ENOUGHT FOR GOD TO
ENTER INTO A PERSON AND DWELL WITHIN THEM.
WE GIVE OURSELVES, WE GIVE RELATIONSHIPS THAT WE HAVE WITH
OTHERS, MAINLY WITH HAVING LESS TIME FOR THOSE CLOSE TO US AS THE
LORD EXPANDS OUR WORLD. REACHING OUT TO THOSE WHOSE NEEDS ARE
GREATER.
GOD WANTED US. IN THE GREATEST LOVE THAT COULD BE GENERATED.
THAT IS WHY HE LETS US GO AS FAR AWAY FROM HIM AS WE WANT. OF
COURSE I THINK WHEN WE REACH THAT POINT, HE PUSHES US EVEN FARTHER
AWAY THEN WE WANT. LEAVING US THERE UNTIL AN ACHE FOR GOD BUILDS SO
GREAT WITHIN OUR HEARTS THAT IT HAS THE CAPABILITY TO BREAK DOWN OR
LEAP ANY BARRIERS THAT EXIST BETWEEN US.
ALTHOUGH THIS DOESN'T SOUND MUCH LIKE AN ARTICLE ON TITHES AND
OFFERINGS I BELIEVE THOSE THINGS NEEDED TO BE SAID.
TITHES WAS OLD TESTAMENT.
FIRST ABRAHAM GAVE TITHES TO MELCHIZEDEK WHEN HE RETURNED FROM
A BATTLE, WHICH HE HAD WON. THIS ONE TIME IN ABRAHAM'S LIFE IS ALL
THAT I FIND RECORDED FOR HIM CONCERNING TITHES.
GENESIS 14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and
wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
GENESIS 14:19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the
most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
GENESIS 14:20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath
delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of
all.
JACOB VOWED TO GOD THAT HE WOULD GIVE A TENTH OF ALL THAT GOD
GAVE HIM IF GOD DID CERTAIN THINGS. I SEE NO REFERENCE AS FAR AS
HOW THAT WAS GIVEN. IN EITHER BURNT OFFERINGS OR TO THE POOR I
ASSUME. AT THIS TIME THERE SEEMS TO BE NO FORM OF PRIESTHOOD TO GOD
AS WAS MELCHIZEDEK AT THE TIME OF ABRAHAM.
GENESIS 28:20 And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with
me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread
to eat, and raiment to put on,
GENESIS 28:21 So that I come again to my father's house in peace;
then shall the Lord be my God:
GENESIS 28:22 And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall
be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely
give the tenth unto thee.
TITHES AND OFFERINGS BECAME LAW IN ISRAEL AFTER MOSES LED THE
CHILDREN OUT OF EGYPT. IT COVERS A GREAT DEAL OF SCRIPTURE IN
LEVITICUS: CHAPTER 27 , NUMBERS: CHAPTER 18, AND DEUTERONOMY:
CHAPTER 12 BEING THE MAIN SECTIONS. BUT THROUGHOUT THE OLD
TESTAMENT THIS IS BROUGHT UP.
THE MAIN THING ABOUT THE TITHES WAS THAT ONE OF THE TWELVE
TRIBES OF ISRAEL WAS TAKEN UNTO GOD FOR SERVICE AS PRIESTS AND
WORKERS IN THAT MINISTRY. THEIR SUPPORT WAS THE TITHES AND THE
OFFERINGS. THAT TRIBE WAS THE TRIBE OF LEVI.
ARE TITHES NEW TESTAMENT ?
REGARDLESS OF THE LAW OR NOEXISTANCE OF THE LAW OF TITHES, THE
SUPPORT OF THOSE THAT HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIFE TO THE WORK OF GOD.
TRULY WITH THEIR HEARTS, AND NOT AS A MEANS TO EARN A LIVING SHOULD
BE SUPPORTED. JESUS CLEARLY SHOWS THIS.
MATTHEW 10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is
at hand.
MATTHEW 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead,
cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
MATTHEW 10:9 Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your
purses,
MATTHEW 10:10 Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats,
neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his
meat.
NOW THIS WAS TO THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL. FOR THEY WERE THE FIRST
THAT JESUS WAS SENT TO. NOW THRU THE BODY OF CHRIST THE WHOLE WORLD
IS PREACHED TO.
ALSO ONE VERY IMPORTANT POINT IN MATTHEW 10:8 "FREELY YE HAVE
RECEIVED, FREELY GIVE." THERE IS NO CHARGE FOR SERVICES IN THE BODY
OF CHRIST. JESUS PUTS NO CHARGE FOR THAT WHICH THOSE OF HIS BODY
GIVE OUT. THE MINISTERING IS TO BE FREELY GIVEN.
SO TITHING IS NOT OF THE LAW. FOR THE LAW OF JESUS CLEARLY
STATES TO THE PRIESTS AND MINISTERS THAT THEY ARE NOT TO CHARGE
ANYTHING. UNLIKE OLD TESTAMENT WHERE THE PRIESTS WERE REQUIRED TO
TAKE TITHES.
JESUS SAID THAT THEY ARE WORTHY OF THEIR MEAT. WHEN THEY
RETURNED THEY ALSO STATED THAT THEY LACKED NOTHING WHILE THEY WERE
OUT PREACHING.
NEW WORLD NEW NEEDS
TODAY'S EXPENCE OF MINISTRIES DO NOT COMPARE WITH MEETING THE
DAILY LIVING EXPENCE OF A PERSON OR TWO. A MINISTRY CAN CONSUME AS
MUCH FINANCES AS IT CAN GET. THERE ARE ALWAYS MORE NEEDS THAT CAN
BE TAKEN ON. AND EVERY PORTION OF A MINISTRY HAS ROOM TO GROW. THE
GREATER THE NEED, THE GREATER THE CONSUMPTION OF THE FINANCES.
THE SERMONS ON TITHING, GOOD STEWARDSHIP AND SACRAFICIAL GIVING
ARE EVER PRESENT. THRU CHURCHES, TELEVISION AND RADIO MINISTRIES,
MAIL MINISTRIES. NOT TO MENTION A GREAT DEAL OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT
ASK FOR YOUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT.
WHAT IS A TITHE ?
THAT WHICH WE GIVE BACK TO GOD IS ONE DEFINITION. THAT WHICH WE
GIVE, WHICH WE WOULD NOT GIVE IF WE DID NOT FEEL OUR RELATIONSHIP
TO GOD MIGHT BE BETTER. THIS IS REALY THE DIFFERENCE THAT GOD SEES.
THE DIFFERENCE THAT HIS COMING INTO YOUR LIFE MAKES IN OUR
GIVING.
GOD'S CARING ABOUT THE POOR IS THROUGHT SCRIPTURE. TWO MITES
THROWN INTO THE TREASURY WAS FOUND WORTHY OF JESUS'S PRAISE FOR A
POOR WOMAN.
MARK 12:43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto
them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more
in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:
MARK 12:44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of
her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
SHOULD THE POOR TITHE ? IS TEN PERCENT OF THAT WHICH IS
DESPERTLY NEEDED FOR THAT POOR PERSON TO LIVE, REQUIRED BY GOD FROM
THAT PERSON ?
SCRIPTURE DOESN'T TELL US IF SHE WAS BLESSED WITH ABUNDANCE AS
MANY MINISTERS CLAIM IS THE RESULT OF SACRAFICIAL GIVING OR IF SHE
JUST WENT HUNGRY OR STARVED TO DEATH. HUNGER AND STARVATION IS NOT
UNKNOWN TO CHRISTIANITY.
JESUS IN ONE SCRIPTURE ACTED VERY UNLIKE HIMSELF, AT LEAST TO
ME. HE CURSED A TREE. THE REASON WAS BECAUSE HE WAS HUNGRY.
MARK 11:12 And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he
was hungry:
MARK 11:13 And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came,
if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it,
he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.
WE ARE ALL PART OF ONE BODY. IF WE FEED UPON THE POOR, THE
WHOLE BODY OF CHRIST IS PUT TO SHAME. GOD SEES THE SACRAFICE OF
THE POOR AND IT GLORIFIES HIM. BUT WE SEE IT ALSO, ALONG WITH THEIR
HUNGER. ALONG WITH THEIR NEEDS.
JACOB'S VOW WAS IF GOD FED AND CLOTHED HIM, THEN, HE
WOULD GIVE A TENTH.
THE EARLY CHURCH ALSO DISTRIBUTED UNTO EVERYONE THEIR NEEDS.
THIS IS VERY LACKING TODAY. TODAY IT IS MORE, SEND ME YOUR OFFERING
AND GOD WILL GIVE YOU THE INCREASE.
GREED HAS GREATLY ENTERED INTO TITHING. 10 % OF GROSS. WHO
RECEIVES GROSS ? SEND YOUR OFFERING, EVEN IF IT MEANS TAKING MONEY
SET ASIDE FOR THE RENT, AND GOD WILL PAY BACK WITH A INCREASE.
GREED AND THE BODY OF CHRIST IS NOT COMPATABLE.
HOW A PERSON THAT CLAIMS GOD IS IN THEIR HEART CAN ASK FOR
PAYMENT IN ANY FORM, LET ALONE OVER AND ABOVE WHAT MIGHT SEEM TO BE
REQUIRED IS BEYOND MY ABILITY TO COMPREHEND. IF A PERSON CAN'T CARE
ABOUT THE PERSON THEY ARE ASKING THE MONEY FROM, HOW CAN THEY CARE
ABOUT ANYONE.
NOW A PERSON THAT DEALS WITH THE STARVATION OF THE WORLD, MIGHT
SEEM THIS WAY. FOR WE REALY CAN'T COMPRENEND THE HEARTACHE THEY GO
THRU SEEING DEATH DAILY. THEY MIGHT COME ON VERY STRONG FOR
DONATIONS.
HOWEVER THOSE THAT ASK A GREAT DEAL, WHEN THEY ARE MORE ABLE TO
MEET THAT NEED THEMSELVES. DO THEY REALY KNOW CHRIST ? IF THE NEED
IS REALY THAT IMPORTANT OR CRITICAL, WHY NOT MEET IT
THEMSELVES.
IN ONE BOOK A MAN SAID THE HOLY SPIRIT CAME TO HIM IN THE FORM
OF A MAN. TALKING WITH HIM, HE SAID, THE HOLY SPIRIT STATED THAT
WHENEVER HE PUT IT IN HIS HEART TO PRAY FOR A FINICIAL NEED TO BE
MET. HIS OWN MONEY WAS TO BE USED FIRST. THAT SOUNDS LIKE THE HOLY
SPIRIT TO ME. IF THE NEED DOESN'T MEAN ENOUGHT FOR THE PERSON
ASKING TO USE THEIR MONEY. WHY SHOULD THE NEED MEAN ANYTHING TO THE
ONE ASKED. OR AT LEAST THRU THE UNCARING PERSON. Back to Home Page
Thanks for visiting !
God Bless your search
Copy with my Blessings: If questions write:
Ken Burton, 4342 Acme Road, Ilion NY 13357 USA
These files are on a CD-rom, Free for the asking. works just like
a web page.
