Cheerful Giving

 

I have heard many attacks on the preachers around the world. I have heard this statement. " Preachers, don't want to work, and all they want to do is just take money from poor people." This is a common statement that goes on around the communities, and the world. I think preacher's just don't want to work they say. Well, if that is your statement towards preachers, then you don't understand God at all. You don't understand what God commands about tithes. You see where the preacher goes wrong, is instead of using the tithing money for the advancing of the kingdom of Christ, He uses it to advancing the kingdom of himself, and his ministry. This is where this statement has rooted from. It comes from hurt people in the church, who has been hurt by some governing officer of the body of Christ. If you remember this, that the evil spirits like to hide out in the church and they want to discourage the believers. Now, I understand that there a many preacher's out there that are only in the business in making a profit. But, on the flip side, you need to understand that a ministry cannot run without money coming in. No, household, no organization can run without money coming in. This is very important for any organization and especially a Christian organization. So, what does God say about tithes. Is it preacher's that our trying to take your money, or is it a commandment of God. Let's take a look at one passage.

 

 

Malachi 3:7-12

7 Ever since the days of your ancestors, you have scorned my laws and failed to obey them. Now return to me, and I will return to you," says the LORD Almighty."But you ask, 'How can we return when we have never gone away?' 8 "Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me!"But you ask, 'What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?'"You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me. 9 You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me. 10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do," says the LORD Almighty, "I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won't have enough room to take it in! Try it! Let me prove it to you! 11 Your crops will be abundant, for I will guard them from insects and disease. ^F6 Your grapes will not shrivel before they are ripe," says the LORD Almighty. 12 "Then all nations will call you blessed, for your land will be such a delight," says the LORD Almighty.

 

There is so much to write about tithes and offerings, but this is a very popular verse of the bible. It is very important to God that we tithe a tenth of what we have to the ministry of the Lord. Does this only mean a church, the answer is no. It means the ministry of the Lord. What God's commands us is to take a tenth of your income and use it in a way that would represent Jesus Christ.

            Let's say you're a little kid and you make 5.00USD. How would you use that money to glorify our Lord Jesus Christ, Well, one way that you would use it to glorify Christ is to take a tenth of that, which would be 50 cents. Use 50 cents to glorify the Lord Almighty which that money. Maybe you would give it on a Sunday or maybe you would buy your friend a candy bar. What ever you do with that 50 cents, you should do it with the respect of Christ. Jesus Christ, should take the credit of that 50 cents. Now, let's just say that this child used that 50 cents and he bought and candy bar for his friend. But, He didn't mention anything about Jesus and he took the credit for buying that candy bar. Is this pleasing unto the Lord. Absolutely NOT. This does not please the Lord, because we should never take any credit for the Blessings of the Lord. You see this boy gave money, and it looked like He was doing a good thing, but he did it in selfishness and he took credit for it. This does not please the Lord because it comes from the heart.

            Another thing is, not only does God command us to tithe and give a tenth of what we have, but He also commands us to do it cheerfully. We must remember that tithing is a heart issue and it should only come from out hearts. Let's take a look at this verse:

2 Corinthians 9:6-15

6 Remember this?a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 7 You must each make up your own mind as to how much you should give. Don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves the person who gives cheerfully. 8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. 9 As the Scriptures say, "Godly people give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will never be forgotten." ^F29 10 For God is the one who gives seed to the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will give you many opportunities to do good, and he will produce a great harvest of generosity ^F30 in you. 11 Yes, you will be enriched so that you can give even more generously. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will break out in thanksgiving to God. 12 So two good things will happen ?the needs of the Christians in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanksgiving to God. 13 You will be glorifying God through your generous gifts. For your generosity to them will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ. 14 And they will pray for you with deep affection because of the wonderful grace of God shown through you. 15 Thank God for his Son ?a gift too wonderful for words! ^F31

 

So, we must remember that tithing is a act of the heart, and it is a act of obedience unto our Lord our Father. So, this is very important that we tithe. Now, does that bible say that we must tithe to the church. The answer is no, we can give anywhere as long as it edifies the Lord. Let's just say that there is a man who is struggling with whisky. He needs whisky, so he comes and ask you for money. Should we as Christians give him money to support his bad habit? The answer is no, we should not do this because your money would not go to edify the Lord.  God is very concerned about our money and where we spend it and where were it goes. Remember tithing has nothing to do with the amount, but it has everything to do with the heart. When we give 10 percent of our money back to the Lord, to honor his blessings in our lives, this is done with a joyful heart. I have heard some people give more then 10 percent. Some people love the Lord so much that they give 50 percent of their pay. It all has to do with faith and the heart. The amount does not matter. We must not make tithing a religious thing. It must come from the heart, this should not be something that makes you feel bad. I have seen some preacher's make their congregation walk in front of everyone, just to see who is tithing and who is not. This is something that should not be a religious thing and this should be something of the heart. Let's take a look at another passage of tithing.

 

Mark 12:41-44

41 Sitting across from the temple treasury, He watched how the crowd dropped money into the treasury. Many rich people were putting in large sums. 42 And a poor widow came and dropped in two tiny coins worth very little. 43 Summoning His disciples, He said to them, "I assure you: This poor widow has put in more than all those giving to the temple treasury. 44 For they all gave out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she possessed--all she had to live on."

 

Please understand; that you don't have to wait to start tithing. It doesn't matter on how much money you have in your wallet. What matters is the heart. Looking at this passage above you can see that this poor widow had a bigger heart to the Lord, then these rich people. Even though this poor widow only gave two coins, she gave all she had to the Lord. She gave on faith. Now, remember that tithing is an act of faith and a act of the will. It's believing that our Lord Jesus Christ will provide for us, no matter what. Now, I'm not recommending that you go and spend all your money and give it away. It's not about that. It's about the heart. When you do give, give with your heart, and don't expect in return. A lot of people tithe, and they expect in return. No, we do not tithe and respect in return. We tithe in an act of obedience and a act of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

            So, is tithing the same in the old covenant as it is in the new covenant. The answer is yes. It's the principal, and the heart is the same then as it is now. Just like our Lord says, I am the same today, yesterday, and in the future. I cannot stress enough tithing is an act of the heart. What if you want to tithe and you don't have money for your family. Should we continue to tithe, when our family doesn't have enough food?  The answer is we should take care of our families first. But, we must be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. If the Lord wants you to tithe, you should tithe even with a little. This requires an act of faith and this is also pleasing to our Lord. Please read 1 Kings Chapter 4. Remember the act of tithing is in the heart and should not be religious at all. Let's take a look at another verse in the bible:

Matthew 23:13-33

13 "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You lock up the kingdom of heaven from people. For you don't go in, and you don't allow those entering to go in. 14 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You devour widows' houses, and make long prayers just for show. This is why you will receive a harsher punishment.] 15 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to make one convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as fit for hell as you are! 16 "Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'Whoever takes an oath by the sanctuary, it is nothing. But whoever takes an oath by the gold of the sanctuary is bound by his oath.' 17 Blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the sanctuary that sanctified the gold? 18 Also, 'Whoever takes an oath by the altar, it is nothing. But whoever takes an oath by the gift that is on it is bound by his oath.' 19 Blind people! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift? 20 Therefore the one who takes an oath by the altar takes an oath by it and by everything on it. 21 The one who takes an oath by the sanctuary takes an oath by it and by Him who dwells in it. 22 And the one who takes an oath by heaven takes an oath by God's throne and by Him who sits on it. 23 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You pay a tenth of mint, dill, and cumin, yet you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy, and faith. These things should have been done without neglecting the others. 24 Blind guides! You strain out a gnat, yet gulp down a camel! 25 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence! 26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so the outside of it may also become clean. 27 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men's bones and every impurity. 28 In the same way, on the outside you seem righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. 29 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous, 30 and you say, 'If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we wouldn't have taken part with them in shedding the prophets' blood.' 31 You therefore testify against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers' sins! 33 "Snakes! Brood of vipers! How can you escape being condemned to hell?

 

 

Remember tithing is not in the look, but it's in the heart. These Pharisees, would give a tenth of what they had to the temple. But it would be for show. It was all a look. Sometimes I feel sorry for the rich man. The millionaire give money to charity, He does because he knows it is the right thing to do. He has a lot of money, but when you have a lot and you give 1,000,000 to charity. You think you have given such a large amount. That somehow that pleases the Lord. You rich Pharisee, you have not understood the gospel of Christ at all. All, you want to do is edify yourself with the amount that you have given and you have not given with your own heart. This was the attitude of the Pharisees. I pray that this week, you will give Jesus Christ your heart, and remember that Jesus love a cheerful giver.

            How blessed it is to be able to give. If you can give something to someone, that means God is blessing you. I pray today that you would decide in your heart to give to God's kingdom.

 

 

By:

Dean Shinaver