I sat in Wednesday night service at my church this week kinda scratching my head. Not with anything that was taught, per se, but with the testimony/praise report section during this time and there were three people who got up and greatly affirmed that when they paid tithes that God blessed them and they never missed the money they gave, and that you are missing out on your blessing when you do not tithe.
Now I do not in any way discourage giving to the church or to the causes therein. I am speaking today solely about the motives in giving. I am NOT questioning the motives of those who testified Wed night, I am speaking on our motives in general.
Is it right to expect God to "give something back" to you for being a cheerful giver? I look at many in church in every station of life who "tithe" 10% of their increase to the church, and if they are giving because it pleases them to participate in the life of the church then GREAT, but there is a question that is begging to be asked:
What if God does NOT give you anything in return? What if giving was enough? What if everything in your life went downhill even if you are a faithful tither/giver? What if God required you to GIVE IT ALL without a blessing that YOU may be the absolute beneficiary of?
These are all hypotheticals, because I KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE THAT GOD BLESSES HIS PEOPLE! those that sow generously will reap generously as well.
So what is my problem you ask? AGAIN the motive of our giving. Do you tithe because you want to see the church blessed? Do you want to see the gospel preached around the world? Do you want to help your brother/sister in Christ who may need financial help? OR does your giving come from another place? From greed? Do you treat tithing as an "investment" and you EXPECT returns on your money? Do you look down on others who do not give as much as you do so you don't feel compassion for others in the body because they are not "paying to play?"
I will state my beliefs plainly, I do not tithe, but I will give offerings when God puts it on my heart to do so. My offerings are sometimes more than 10% of my increase, sometimes they are less than 10%. I do believe that if you are a Christian you SHOULD BE GIVING. I don't believe the bible supports the concept of the 10% tithe for the New Testament believer. It does however support the concept of SACRIFICIAL GIVING, giving all you have if need be to help others in the body. I'm not saying it does not happen at my church or in the body of Christ, but I just haven't seen it at the level of EQUALITY that the bible says should be seen. I too am guilty of this offense.
You have heard many a pastor either in person or on TV talking about Malachi 3 quoting the famous scriptures "Will a man rob God?" and "Bring ye the tithes into the storehouse" etc.
It is important to read the CONTEXT when reading the bible. Who was Malachi speaking to when he was given this word from the Lord?
Malachi 1:1 makes it clear: "The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi."
Malachi was speaking of the old covenant that God made with Israel, he was not speaking to the new testament believer, BUT you will find many a preacher today using Malachi's words to Israel to try to guilt people into giving 10% of their increase faithfully to their church. If you feel compelled based off this misinterpretation of scripture, I am sorry to tell many people that much of your giving may be in vain.
To some of these preachers, it is not about enriching the work of the Gospel or the people of God, it is about keeping the building (which they probably shouldn't have to begin with), and lining their pockets. Some are just ignorant to the teaching of the scripture. I have seen brothers and sisters in Christ ostracized because they are not giving 10% faithfully. What has Christianity come to? Jesus is not our celestial Santa Clause who responds to us at our beck and call to do what you ask him to. Some people think they are doing God a favor by giving, as if it God needs your money. He wants YOU and your total devotion to Him.
I read 2 Cor 9:6-15 and it reads like this:
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written:
"He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever."
Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
It is clear to me in this passage that Paul knows Christians should not be giving under the compulsion or arms being twisted, but give cheerfully according to what he has decided in his heart, whether it be 10%, 1%, or 100% of their increase. There is NO SPECIFIC AMOUNT A CHRISTIAN IS REQUIRED TO GIVE. I will say this, if you are not giving anything, something is wrong with your heart, because the heart of the Christian AUGHT TO BE GENEROUS according to what they have.
Should a Christian give all he/she has if they have a family to feed and a household to take care of, I say no, UNLESS it is a prompting of the Spirit, and if God has put it in your heart to give all you will be the most cheerful person coming down the aisle to give. Does it not say that anyone who does not take care of his family is worse than an unbeliever? (1 Timothy 5:7-8) Looking at the early church in Acts this is how they chose in their hearts to give:
Acts 2:42-47
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
They gave to OTHER CHRISTIANS WHO WERE IN NEED. They didn't give to benefit themselves ONLY but to God's glory.
Matthew 6:1-4
"Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Do you wear your giving on your sleeve? "Oh I pay my 10%" so that men may see your giving and praise you? Matthew 6 is a reality check, because that praise you want is your reward.
2 Corinthians 8
And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will. So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
(THIS IS IT!!! READ IT!)
I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
And here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.
Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, as it is written: "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little."
YES! This is the heart of giving! If you are willing to give according to what you may have NO MATTER THE AMOUNT, the gift is acceptable according to your means! It's not about a fixed amount. Christian this takes you being in tune with God and the needs of the people. This is not a free pass not to give anything, but it is a check of where your heart is... not according to amount, but to your earnestness to give SOMETHING.
Philippians 4:10-19
I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need. Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account. I have received full payment and even more; 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 his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
This Philippian church was concerned for the welfare of their brother Paul, and asked often what they could do to help him and often sent gifts to help him in his ministry. I encourage all Christian to do the same for their sisters and brothers. If the church is asking for money? Give according to your heart. Be generous, be cheerful, DO NOT BE FORCEFULLY COMPELLED or give GRUDGINGLY because you think you have to or think others will look down on you. That kind of giving IS NOT TO THE GLORY OF GOD!
Let us remember the words of Colossians 3:17 - And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
If your motive in giving is to get for yourself, to please men, or any other reason that does not involve giving God the Glory, your giving is in vain.
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