Galatians 6:5-10
"For we are each responsible for our own conduct. Those who are taught the Word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good things with them. Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith."
[Emphasis added.]
Last week we talked about how Satan tries to bait us and in doing so, take our focus off Jesus by causing division, namely regarding offense. Another area where Satan attempts to divide by baiting is in the area of giving, more specifically, tithing. As this ministry's "About" page states, we protect our peace and joy around these parts, so I will not be raising blood pressures and debating on the topic of tithes, but I will be talking about giving. Because out of the fountain of giving springs forth much and the Believer in fellowship with God produces a personal and fruitful habit; having a foundation on giving helps us rightly put into focus tithing and any other way we give back to the Kingdom.
Firstly, we must acknowledge at the outset that God owns it all! 100%! 100%! 100%! Therefore, anything He provides to us is gracious, generous and at the discretion of His sovereignty. And my dear Masterpiece, He doesn't need our money, but He does need and require our worship, our obedience and our heart. How? By His instruction to give in reverence, awe and holy fear of Him. Meaning it is not an amount that is an afterthought, or a crumb left over after we've done all we desire to do, but a first thought that is:
Sacrificial
Generous
Joyous/Cheerful
Obedient/Willing
Unabashed
Some define that as the 10% tithe. Some define that as an amount put on their heart by the Holy Spirit. Some define that as the 20% to upwards of 30%, which is in the area of what the required Old Covenant tithes and offerings actually amounted to. However it is defined for you, it is ultimately an amount defined by God to bring forth the best possible for you, your heart and His glory. A submitted heart realizes that since 100% belongs to God and He provides all that is needed, surely, He can be honored in my giving. Personally, I believe that is at minimum, a 10% tithe on gross and often times more, outside of additional offerings that the Holy Spirit may place on my heart. And I don't condemn myself or others if it is less and I certainly don't let others condemn or shame me. My goal is to be led by the Holy Spirit in submission to what I believe His Word instructs me to do.
Unfortunately, there are often two extremes squaring off that not only divides Believers but causes unBelievers to be put off. Either there is a condemning legalistic focus on the tithe or a worldly focus that just doesn't want to Give God anything and uses tithing arguments as an excuse not to do so. From my experience I know that when I committed to tithing, my world changed and never did I lack any good or needful thing, even through layoffs, moves and lean college years. At the end of the day, we know that the Kingdom and its work requires support. That hasn't changed and as Believers we must support it and its leaders to further the spreading of the Gospel. While Jesus fulfilled the requirements of the Law, this pre-Law principle counted to Abraham's descendants [including those ingrafted in through the New Covenant] remains for the benefit of Believers. We can only be responsible for our own behavior, not that of others. Worrying about others' actions should be neither our concern nor our focus because it attempts to put us in the place of God. Jesus' acknowledgement of the tithe in Luke 11 was followed by His admonishment to not lose sight of what is important.
Part of avoiding the trap of squabbling about tithes is realizing that God's requirement to be generous givers is not just about money. It is about soo much more. God gives us many resources and we can give in many ways including financially. Time, talent, service, Spiritual gifts, etc. Is there a ministry that you can serve through volunteering? A pastor you can help assist administratively throughout the month? Some Bibles you can donate? Placing ourselves as an offering means we are at God's disposal and withholding limits the fullness of true fellowship with Him. An open heart and generous hand are in a perfect position to receive from God. Not giving to get; but giving to worship the God you are acknowledging as the Source of your provision and blessing and Who won't stop loving you. And you know what? Giving just feels good.
Takeaways for you to remember.
#1 The tithe equals 10% of income.
#2 An offering is anything above the tithe.
#3 Giving includes tithes and offering and can extend to any resource gifted to us by God.
Yours in Christ!
Dr. Quahana
Want to enjoy some of the Scriptures inspiring this entry?
[All Scripture listed is NLT version unless otherwise noted.]
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