Where does the money come from that you have in your pocket? Did it just happen to be there?
Maybe you earned it, maybe you withdrew it from your account or got it out of the hole in the wall, maybe it's part of your inheritance from your Granny or just your monthly allowance from your parents. Or it could be benefit money from the government if you're lucky enough to live some place where they hand out money. Or maybe all of those things are the same. The cash you have in your pocket is either money you have earned or money you were given. Hopefully it's not money you stole.......
Let's take a step back. All the money we have is what we have been given. Even if we received it as salary for a job well done, it's still been given to us. Sometimes we deserve every penny we earn, other times we don't even deserve half.
So who gives us this money? Our families? Our employers? Our friends? The government?
Yes, this is of course correct but the bible teaches us that all material wealth comes from God. So when we give away our supposed wealth, we are in fact giving away what God has given us. Therefore when we give to God, through charitable donations, tithing and other financial aid we are in actuality giving back to God what is already rightfully His.
1 Chronicles 29:10-16 says:
“But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. We are aliens and strangers in your sight, as were all our forefathers. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. O LORD our God, as for all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name, it comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you.”
So to question whether we should give to God through tithing seems somewhat absurd in the light of this.
When I first found my faith in our eternal Saviour Jesus Christ, I did not want to give away any of my money. Some might say that I lacked faith in this case. It wasn't so much of a lack of faith, but a lack of knowledge, wisdom and understanding.
It was very shortly after I received the Holy Spirit that God convicted me about tithing. It kind of leapt up on me during one Friday morning service, so in my rash haste to atone for my lifelong lack of giving I put in all my rent money into the collection bags. I can imagine some of my family and friends exclaiming in horror at my utter stupidity as they read this.
It probably wasn't wise to throw in all that money in one go but I remembered in a flash how I'd been guilty my whole life of begrudging even a few pennies or fils when it came to collection time in any church situation.
So, in it went. And then, things started to happen. I felt that it was now acceptable to start praying about my finances which needed a bit of help to say the least, and lo and behold God blessed me. I asked God for wisdom in how to pray about such things, because to me, it just seemed wrong to ask God to give me money. Then it came to me to ask God to provide me with new avenues to increase my income.
After only a few days I got a phone call asking me to run a corporate team building workshop in African Drumming for a big company in Bahrain. More such opportunities followed suit, plus opportunities for performing as a singer/pianist at weddings and events. Within a few hours I had earned more than enough money to cover my rent for the month. This was more than a coincidence, it was a miracle, a blessing from God.
After discussing tithing with other Christians, and through prayer and studying the word I continued to give regularly the 10% which is the amount often mentioned throughout scripture.
Not being particularly knowledgeable in regards to God's Word I used the internet to research into giving and tithing and to find particular references in scripture. It seemed to me that tithing was a very controversial matter with much disagreement, disharmony and disunity in the wider church.
There are two times in the old testament that tithing is mentioned before the law of Moses was given. These are in Genesis 14:17-20
"Then after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley). And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said, 'Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.' And he gave him a tenth of all."
and in Genesis 28:20-22
"Then Jacob made a vow, saying, 'If God will be with me and will keep me on this journey that I take, and will give me food to eat and garments to wear, and I return to my father's house in safety, then the Lord will be my God. And this stone, which I have set up as a pillar, will be God's house; and of all that Thou dost give me I will surely give a tenth to Thee.'"
The fact that these offerings were made before the law means that they were voluntary just as our offerings are today.
We are not under the law, we are under God's Grace. Grace that was purchased through the blood of Jesus. And therefore we do not give our tithe to the church because we are commanded to, but because we want to honour God.
When I think about how God has changed my life I cannot believe that I'm only giving 10%. God has changed my life by 100%, and yet I give only 10%? Surely this is not right. If I consider what God has done for me combined with the fact that all that I have, already belongs to God and cannot be taken with us into the eternal Kingdom, then I should be giving God more than half!!
God more than deserves this. When we are a bit lazy in our work and check out our Facebook or call a friend on work time we still receive the same salary, even if we don't deserve it. God is with me in everything, he never clocks off early or forgets about my needs and yet for most of my life I gave back nothing.
So when I read how some Christians write about tithing being wrong and that if we take into consideration the tithing that went on pre-Moses then we should also be offering animal sacrifices as well, I am, quite frankly, horrified by their lack of wisdom, lack of understanding and lack of grace.
Giving can only ever be good.
But on the other hand, giving should be exactly this; a gift. There should be no coercion or guilt over giving. As it says in 2 Corinthians 9:7
"Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver."
So let God put it into your heart. You will know what to give when you have peace in your spirit from your offerings.
I love the little story about the chicken and the pig.
One morning the two animals are strolling around the farm when they see a tramp sleeping rough in the barn. He looks so bedraggled and forlorn that the chicken says to the pig; "Let's give him breakfast. Let's make him bacon and eggs."
To which the pig replies:
"That's all very well, for you it's an offering, for me, it's a sacrifice".
An offering is giving what you can afford, a sacrifice is giving what you really can't do without.
Dear Lord,
Thank you for your Grace, Father God. Thank you that you withhold nothing from us even though we are so unworthy. Thank you that you bless us every day and that we can give back in return through our tithes and offerings. Thank you for your wisdom in these matters and I pray that you will open the eyes of those that are blinded by poverty and greed and troubles of the world.
Thank you that in a time of global recession and in times of financial struggle you are always our Provider, our Jehovah Jireh. Lord you are my strength and my shield, an ever present help in times of trouble.
Father God, you are my rock, my fortress and my deliverer and I thank you Lord that I can surrender all my worries to you, for you did not give us a spirit of fear but of love, power and of a sound mind.
In Jesus' Mighty Name,
Amen.
Maybe you earned it, maybe you withdrew it from your account or got it out of the hole in the wall, maybe it's part of your inheritance from your Granny or just your monthly allowance from your parents. Or it could be benefit money from the government if you're lucky enough to live some place where they hand out money. Or maybe all of those things are the same. The cash you have in your pocket is either money you have earned or money you were given. Hopefully it's not money you stole.......
Let's take a step back. All the money we have is what we have been given. Even if we received it as salary for a job well done, it's still been given to us. Sometimes we deserve every penny we earn, other times we don't even deserve half.
So who gives us this money? Our families? Our employers? Our friends? The government?
Yes, this is of course correct but the bible teaches us that all material wealth comes from God. So when we give away our supposed wealth, we are in fact giving away what God has given us. Therefore when we give to God, through charitable donations, tithing and other financial aid we are in actuality giving back to God what is already rightfully His.
1 Chronicles 29:10-16 says:
“But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. We are aliens and strangers in your sight, as were all our forefathers. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. O LORD our God, as for all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name, it comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you.”
So to question whether we should give to God through tithing seems somewhat absurd in the light of this.
When I first found my faith in our eternal Saviour Jesus Christ, I did not want to give away any of my money. Some might say that I lacked faith in this case. It wasn't so much of a lack of faith, but a lack of knowledge, wisdom and understanding.
It was very shortly after I received the Holy Spirit that God convicted me about tithing. It kind of leapt up on me during one Friday morning service, so in my rash haste to atone for my lifelong lack of giving I put in all my rent money into the collection bags. I can imagine some of my family and friends exclaiming in horror at my utter stupidity as they read this.
It probably wasn't wise to throw in all that money in one go but I remembered in a flash how I'd been guilty my whole life of begrudging even a few pennies or fils when it came to collection time in any church situation.
So, in it went. And then, things started to happen. I felt that it was now acceptable to start praying about my finances which needed a bit of help to say the least, and lo and behold God blessed me. I asked God for wisdom in how to pray about such things, because to me, it just seemed wrong to ask God to give me money. Then it came to me to ask God to provide me with new avenues to increase my income.
After only a few days I got a phone call asking me to run a corporate team building workshop in African Drumming for a big company in Bahrain. More such opportunities followed suit, plus opportunities for performing as a singer/pianist at weddings and events. Within a few hours I had earned more than enough money to cover my rent for the month. This was more than a coincidence, it was a miracle, a blessing from God.
After discussing tithing with other Christians, and through prayer and studying the word I continued to give regularly the 10% which is the amount often mentioned throughout scripture.
Not being particularly knowledgeable in regards to God's Word I used the internet to research into giving and tithing and to find particular references in scripture. It seemed to me that tithing was a very controversial matter with much disagreement, disharmony and disunity in the wider church.
There are two times in the old testament that tithing is mentioned before the law of Moses was given. These are in Genesis 14:17-20
"Then after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley). And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said, 'Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.' And he gave him a tenth of all."
and in Genesis 28:20-22
"Then Jacob made a vow, saying, 'If God will be with me and will keep me on this journey that I take, and will give me food to eat and garments to wear, and I return to my father's house in safety, then the Lord will be my God. And this stone, which I have set up as a pillar, will be God's house; and of all that Thou dost give me I will surely give a tenth to Thee.'"
The fact that these offerings were made before the law means that they were voluntary just as our offerings are today.
We are not under the law, we are under God's Grace. Grace that was purchased through the blood of Jesus. And therefore we do not give our tithe to the church because we are commanded to, but because we want to honour God.
When I think about how God has changed my life I cannot believe that I'm only giving 10%. God has changed my life by 100%, and yet I give only 10%? Surely this is not right. If I consider what God has done for me combined with the fact that all that I have, already belongs to God and cannot be taken with us into the eternal Kingdom, then I should be giving God more than half!!
God more than deserves this. When we are a bit lazy in our work and check out our Facebook or call a friend on work time we still receive the same salary, even if we don't deserve it. God is with me in everything, he never clocks off early or forgets about my needs and yet for most of my life I gave back nothing.
So when I read how some Christians write about tithing being wrong and that if we take into consideration the tithing that went on pre-Moses then we should also be offering animal sacrifices as well, I am, quite frankly, horrified by their lack of wisdom, lack of understanding and lack of grace.
Giving can only ever be good.
But on the other hand, giving should be exactly this; a gift. There should be no coercion or guilt over giving. As it says in 2 Corinthians 9:7
"Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver."
So let God put it into your heart. You will know what to give when you have peace in your spirit from your offerings.
I love the little story about the chicken and the pig.
One morning the two animals are strolling around the farm when they see a tramp sleeping rough in the barn. He looks so bedraggled and forlorn that the chicken says to the pig; "Let's give him breakfast. Let's make him bacon and eggs."
To which the pig replies:
"That's all very well, for you it's an offering, for me, it's a sacrifice".
An offering is giving what you can afford, a sacrifice is giving what you really can't do without.
Dear Lord,
Thank you for your Grace, Father God. Thank you that you withhold nothing from us even though we are so unworthy. Thank you that you bless us every day and that we can give back in return through our tithes and offerings. Thank you for your wisdom in these matters and I pray that you will open the eyes of those that are blinded by poverty and greed and troubles of the world.
Thank you that in a time of global recession and in times of financial struggle you are always our Provider, our Jehovah Jireh. Lord you are my strength and my shield, an ever present help in times of trouble.
Father God, you are my rock, my fortress and my deliverer and I thank you Lord that I can surrender all my worries to you, for you did not give us a spirit of fear but of love, power and of a sound mind.
In Jesus' Mighty Name,
Amen.
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