To Tithe or Not to Tithe
- Details
- Category: Religion
- Published: Monday, 07 October 2013 20:55
- Written by Patricia Loves-Truth
Written by - Patricia Loves-Truth
Give? Yes, but how much and to whom?
Two or three times a week, many Christians attend church or some sort of fellowship around the Word of God. Sometime during these meetings a tithe, abundant share, offering is asked to be made. Giving is a principle, it is a law. Not in the sense that you HAVE to do it, but in the sense that if you give, you will receive.
The problem comes in where churches and ministries build bigger and better buildings, give higher salaries to their leaders and everyone but the congregation prospers. What is the tithe, offering, abundant sharing ACTUALL for? God makes all things abundantly clear, when we choose to pay attention.
II Corinthians 8 and 9 are very clear on what this money is for. NOT just for the Preacher, but to MINISTER TO THE SAINTS! Who are the SAINTS? WE ARE!! II Corinthians 8: 2How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. 3For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves…” The Corinthians gave LIBERALLY. Paul calls their money their, “POWER”
Why did they give? Was it to build a bigger church? NO! Was it
 |
| Custom Jesus Steering Wheel Cover Only $14.99 |
to send Pastor and First Lady on a much needed trip to Hawaii? NO! Then what? Paul tells us plainly in vs.4, “4Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints! They took the money and ministered, took care of the SAINTS! Not the preachers, the buildings etc.
Paul goes on to say that he and a few other believers, Titus, and Timothy etc., travelled and administered the funds to the believers, so they couldn’t be blamed for doing anything dishonest with the money! II Corinthians 8:20-21, Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us: 21Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
Now most of us know and understand that chapter headings, numbers of verses etc were added to the Bible, not part of the original text. So when we get to “Chapter” 9, it is a continuation of the conversation of chapter 8. 9:1, “1For as touching the ministering to the saints” What is Paul going to be talking about here? The ministering to the saints! The entire chapter discusses this, so I will ask that now that you know WHO Paul is talking about, you go read it for yourself.
To sum it up, he says if we sow sparingly we will reap sparingly. Let every man give as he chooses to in his own heart. Not of constraint or out of necessity. WHY? Because God LOVES a cheerful giver. You won’t be cheerful being forced out of fear to give! Vs 12 and 13 Sums up what I’m sharing perfectly, “12For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; 13Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all…! I’m not saying ministers shouldn’t receive a salary, but just as we hold our natural government accountable for our money, we should even more hold our ministers accountable!