Tithe is it a Christian Obligation?
What is a Tithe?
Tithes is the tenth part of agricultural produce or personal income set apart as an offering to God or for works of mercy, or the same amount regarded as an obligation or tax for the support of the church, priesthood, or the like.
Tithe is a flat Tax Rate of 10% that belong to God. Is God fair in demanding 10% of my income? Absolutely Yes. You will recall that God put humans in charge/dominion of the world animal and natural resources and demanded only 10% from it as a Tithe or just to Test our obedience. He also, made a covenant with us that he would open the floodgate of blessings for us and he will prevent pests (sickness, court cases) from eating your crops or income.
Many Christians today were apprehensive about the word Tithe. Some were of the opinion that Christians are not obligated to pay Tithe. While scores of others frown at paying Tithe because the Church Pastors is mis-using the proceeds of the Tithe. This article will analyze whether paying Tithe was a Christian obligation and to compare the benefits of paying Tithe or not paying tithe. Remember God loves a cheerful giver.
Follow me to read some letters from God. He Commands his worshippers to test him out on this issue of Tithe.
“I give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the tent of meeting. (Numbers 18:21 NIV)m
“Speak to the Levites and say to them: ‘When you receive from the Israelites the tithe I give you as your inheritance, you must present a tenth of that tithe as the Lord’s offering. (Numbers 18:26 NIV)
As the above Scriptures indicates the Pastors are also obligated to pay 10% of their income as an offering to God.
Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year.
Then exchange your tithe for silver, and take the silver with you and go to the place the Lord your God will choose. Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the Lord your God and rejoice. (Deuteronomy 14:22, 25, 26 NIV)
Since our God is one, and he does not change, neither can he lie, then his words or command is still applicable to Christians today. Why? He said,
“I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty.
“But you may ask, ‘How are we to return?’ “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.
Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.
I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty. “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty. (Malachi 3:6-12 NIV)
What can we liking to devouring pests today?
Sickness and court cases.
Unjustified taxes, property taxes, etc.
Police Tickets and court cases.
Loss of property value and foreclosures.
Stock market crashes and devaluation of investments.
Robbery and 419′s and other losses.
God Bless a Cheerful Giver.
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.” (2 Corinthians 9:6, 7, 9 NIV).
Apostle Paul had more than he needed but desires that Christians have some credit to their own account as regard paying of Tithe when he said,
“Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent.
They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:17-19 NIV)
Since God will bless a cheerful giver then Christians are to give their Tithe and offering willingly. If you decide to sow little seeds , then expect to harvest Little crops or income. Remember God did change.
We humans are greedy by nature and we have forgotten that God owns all the resource of the word and he deserve to get 10% of our income with an unbroken covenant to open the flood gate of heavens to us.
He said, “Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. I trust the God of truth will pass this test to bless you if you can can trust him. I will not violate my covenant or alter what my lips have uttered. (Psalm 89:34 NIV)
What did Abraham Did to be call God’s Friend?
“Abraham is our father,” they answered. “If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would do what Abraham did. (John 8:39 NIV)
Are You ready to be bless like Abraham?
Yes! I want to be bless like Abraham because all Christians are spiritual offspring of Abraham. In other words, it is not the children by physical descent who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring. (Romans 9:8 NIV)
There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:28, 29 NIV)
If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed,
Then you must do the work of Abraham.
Abraham paid his Tithe without coercion.
Abraham was a Titer and he enjoyed God blessings. Abraham defeated his enemies and pay 10% tithes from the war spoil. And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abrams gave him a tenth of everything. (Genesis 14:20 NIV)
How to Test God on Tithe?
A lady said, she had two auto accidents in a year, four police tickets, she also lost her expensive Jewrys. When she calculate her losses at end of the year and compared it to the amount she did not pay in Tithe. she then realizes that paying her Tithe is smaller when compare to her losses. She then decides to put God to the test by paying her Tithe. She testify that, she enjoys God’s protection and the blessings came in torrents. Throughout the year she suffer no loss and she did not change even a flat tire. You too can put God to the test by paying your tithe.
The Question is, what if my pastor is mismanaging our Tithe?
We should allow God, who is a perfect Judge to judge the Pastor. We are not in a position to judge anyone but Jesus. Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, (John 5:22 NIV)
We pay taxes to our Government and we have no control over the use of our taxes by the Government. Similarly we should have the same attitude about our Tithe.
Our obedience to God will be rewarded by God. Not by Pastors. God will open the floodgate of blessing from Heaven to us. God has done it before and is still doing it today.
For example, Widow’s meal and oil replenished
God tested the Widow, when Elisha told her to use her remaining flour to make food for him. She obeyed. God supply her abundant foods and oil. (1 King 17:8-16)
Another example was Jesus feeds 5,000 people beside women and children with five loads of breads and five fishes. (Luke 9:13-17)
Finally, paying of Tithe to our Church is an acts of obedience to our God. It does not benefit God in any way but us. God put men as a dominion over all the world resource, Human disobedience made it difficult for us to take possession of our inheritance. Obedience is the KEY to open the floodgate of Heavenly blessings.
King Solomon said, “The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, without painful toil for it”.(Proverbs 10:22 NIV). I have been enjoying these blessings myself without pain.
Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. (Proverbs 3:9, 10 ; 1Samuel 2:30 NIV)
“As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.” (Genesis 8:22 NIV)
In summary paying our tithes and offering is one the way we can honor our father in the Heaven. He too will honor his promise by open the floodgate of heavenly blessings on us. And we shall reap what we sow.
May God almighty reveal the secrete of divine blessing to you. In the Mighty Name of Jesus. Amen.
Say these prayers,
My father and my God please give me an obedience heart, so that I can enjoy your abundant blessings.
Make me a blessing to other people around me.
Give me the heart of obedience to pay my Tithe and offerings.
Please open the floodgate of your Heavenly blessing on me and my family as you did for Abraham and your faithful servants. In The Precious Name of Jesus. Amen.
Pray that I may proclaim the good news to more people to come to Jesus
for salvation.
This message is delivered by Jesus Witness Ministries.
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Please visit our website @ Jesus Witness Ministries.com for various articles like this. I am always praying for you.
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