A good cry I hope @Pink :) God bless you Let the words of your mouth, and the meditation of your heart, be acceptable in His sight, He is our Redeemer :)
Amen @Matthew and @Handful, Another thing is the attitude and the understanding of the giver and the recipient. We have all been in the position to give or tithe, or at least should. However, when we give, let us not give because we will receive. Let us give because it is right, expecting a blessing isn’t wrong, but let it be done with meekness.
Secondly, to the recipient of the giving. Let the recipient know money or a physical thing is not the only thing we receive. If you are a recipient, desire the prayers of your people, desire to see your people be blessed. If a person doesn’t give, do not make it seem like it is their obligation to give to you. Maybe that person is going through a financial struggle, or perhaps they are going through a spiritual struggle and they are questioning things in their life.
Instead of frowning at them for not giving, love them, and pray for blessings in their life, and let the peace of God passes all understanding in the life of the individual.
The word tithe has its roots meaning in the word ten, this means, we give one tenth of what we have, or earned.
Tithing in its originality was far more than giving a 10 percent of a paycheck. Virtually everything in one’s life, in turns of ownership, and work related, the 10th was to be given to the Lord.
Giving to the Lord
How do we give to the Lord considering He is in heaven and we are on Earth? We give by supporting His will on Earth, by supporting the cause of His will. Like in Old Testament times, the Temple was the center of the nation. Their social and economics were built around the Temple, by paying tithes to God’s temple, unto the high priests, this ensures the fluidity of the social dealings between the people. Tithing also leads to other greater opportunities of which the one that is tithing did not foresee until it was made manifest. (Of which we will address later)
Tithes are not to be viewed as a burden. Rather, it expressed the believer love of God’s divine order, of which we do not yet understand in its fullness, but we trust in God. Everyone has something to give, but it is up to the individual to search within themselves with a desire and a willing heart.
Offering
Voluntary contribution, also known as offering. This is without the sense of duty, in acknowledging God’s divine order of things through tithing. The emphasis concerning an offering is to give spontaneously, expressing devotion to the Lord, it is not a gift given out of a sense of duty, neither it is given to win promised blessings. A prayer is also an offering or voluntary contribution.
(Psalms 119:108) Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me thy judgments.
Tithing is a duty to give, while offering is the act of spontaneous giving.
Although, one might argue that tithing was under the Law of the Old Testament, so, we are not to tithe today. However, are we not to receive blessings today? With tithing comes blessing. Secondly, as long there is a need for the will of God on Earth, we ought to support that cause through tithing or free will offering.
When we give, it is not because God needs what we have. Rather, it is a divine order that will return as a blessing to the giver.
The benefit of tithing
This is expressed through an illustration based in a third world country that is on a path to an industrialized nation. A certain man, with his wife and their sons, though they lived in poverty, there were those who lived in abject poverty. Regardless of their lack of many things, yet, an assembly of people always gathers together at the shack of this certain man. There they studied the Bible, prayed, worship and sing praises to the Lord.
The certain man taught the people the importance of tithing. Though they had almost nothing to give, yet, every once in a while, someone would give the equivalence of one United States penny. They worked in the fields, they worked in homes and off the streets, but for their abject poverty, they were compensated in the wages of food, instead of money.
At the end of every Church service, when a penny was received, he would walk 3.4 hours to the nearest shopping center. There he will meet with the store clerk and give him the penny or few pennies and ask him to keep it for him. The clerk didn’t understand why, but he felt there was something different about this man, something positive of which he could not explain. He accepted his request that this went on for about a year. It was now late December, with snow on the horizon. The certain man woke up earlier than usual before the Church service that morning and walked many hours to the shopping center. There he met with the store clerk, and he inquired of the deposit funds. The clerk reaches down and brought up a small box filled with cash, shaking it in his hands, he emptied the small amount on his desk and counted it. Looking at the certain man, he announced the amount of money therein, the equivalence of $10. With a smile on his face and a bounce in his steps, he signaled to the clerk that he will be back later.
That morning he preached from Galatians 6:9 to his Congregation. At the end of the service, he greeted them like always, but with a surprise news, of taking them on a journey. The younger children with their parents, along with the teens and their parents, with the wife of the certain man and their two sons embark on the journey toward the shopping center.
There they waited in line with the rest of the shoppers. When it was his turn to face the clerk. He smiled, and said, you are back! He nodded with a grin, pointing at his church members; with my family, he said. The clerk added, quite a large family, he replied, yes, my family in the faith. The clerk asked him, what can I do for you today, more deposit? With a big smile he answered, withdraw. The clerk thought within himself, $10 is he serious? He once again brought up the little box of cash, with others still in line waiting their turn. The certain man explained briefly the origin of the cash from the people, through tithes, a penny at a time and the time frame of its accumulation. He then handed it back to the clerk, asking him to offer them a hot beverage. We do not have much, but we will share what the money has to offer. However, at least we can have something pleasant for a few hours before the Christmas. The cups (Styrofoam mugs) and straws will be given to the younger ones among us as a present to play with for the Christmas.
This is how poor they were, but the smiles on their faces were radiant. However, virtually everyone else in the line, eyes were filled with tears. Many of those in line instantly offered them dinner at their homes, but for the number of their size it was almost impossible. The store clerk suggested, they could bring the meal later in his store when he closes. There they all can have dinner together. Though they return with meals, and other presents, but they could not stay due to the accumulation of the snow.
The duty of a good Christian is not only in giving a penny or more, but doing that which is right. This was seen among the certain man and his people. As they waited outside the store for the meals, they went on helping the shoppers with the groceries and carts. Many of whom in return give them a portion of the contents of their shopping carts with cash. They had so much, the only problem was how to take all back with them to their respective homes.
As the evening approaches, the store clerk stood outside with them. He could not take them in his car due to the weather condition, so he offered them to keep their gifts in his store, to pick it up the following day. While they talked, in the distance was a car, out came a big man in appearance. Without speaking, he hurriedly got what he wanted from the store, while returning to his car. His rush came to a halt. The sound of his acceleration grew louder, but his car stood still in the snow.
Two of the people of the certain man, went out to give the big man helping hands. Slowly the tires of his car rolled out, and he drove away. In the distance, he stopped and returned to the two who just helped him. As he later recorded, he reached out his hand as a sign of a thank you gesture, but to his surprise, the hands of his helper were rather small. Looking closer, he realized these were women who have just helped him pushed his car through the snow. They did not wear clothes to show their beauty, for they couldn’t afford the cost, they dressed to keep warm through the weather. He did not know what to think, according to him, he drove home with this thought of their hospitality on his mind. Upon arriving home, he handed over the ham to his wife and told her he was switching cars to use his truck with a plow to plow the roads, and he will be back.
Back at the store, the certain man along with his people. Took very few things from their many gifts and were ready to trek home in the falling snow, when in the distance was a bright light coming toward the shopping center. It was the biggest car they have ever seen, out came a man, a big man. He walked toward them, revealing his face, he was the man they helped minutes ago.
Where are you going he asked? Home, they replied. In this snow he added? Yes, we are, together, we will make it home. Then tomorrow we will return with others to pick up our gifts from the good store clerk, they answered.
Looking over at the store clerk, he asked, you give them gifts? The clerk answered, not really, they’ve earned it themselves.
Their discussion came down to the big man agreeing to take them home with all their gifts at once. For the first time, the next day, on Christmas morning they had more than they could ever imagine. They obeyed the word of God by giving their tithes, though it was little, but God remembers them in their giving.
Little is much, when God is the focus . . .
Try Me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
I'm late in the post, but I think this fits right in too
Malachi 3:8
Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
True @Pink, 😊 and thanks PSW ☺
A good cry I hope @Pink :) God bless you Let the words of your mouth, and the meditation of your heart, be acceptable in His sight, He is our Redeemer :)
Amen @Matthew and @Handful, Another thing is the attitude and the understanding of the giver and the recipient. We have all been in the position to give or tithe, or at least should. However, when we give, let us not give because we will receive. Let us give because it is right, expecting a blessing isn’t wrong, but let it be done with meekness.
Secondly, to the recipient of the giving. Let the recipient know money or a physical thing is not the only thing we receive. If you are a recipient, desire the prayers of your people, desire to see your people be blessed. If a person doesn’t give, do not make it seem like it is their obligation to give to you. Maybe that person is going through a financial struggle, or perhaps they are going through a spiritual struggle and they are questioning things in their life.
Instead of frowning at them for not giving, love them, and pray for blessings in their life, and let the peace of God passes all understanding in the life of the individual.
Amen, I will share this with my stingy family members hahaha I love them though ☺
That's why I enjoy your explanation. Even when I have a moderate understanding of a topic, but your illustration brings it out clearer.
Blessings
The word tithe has its roots meaning in the word ten, this means, we give one tenth of what we have, or earned.
Tithing in its originality was far more than giving a 10 percent of a paycheck. Virtually everything in one’s life, in turns of ownership, and work related, the 10th was to be given to the Lord.
Giving to the Lord
How do we give to the Lord considering He is in heaven and we are on Earth? We give by supporting His will on Earth, by supporting the cause of His will. Like in Old Testament times, the Temple was the center of the nation. Their social and economics were built around the Temple, by paying tithes to God’s temple, unto the high priests, this ensures the fluidity of the social dealings between the people. Tithing also leads to other greater opportunities of which the one that is tithing did not foresee until it was made manifest. (Of which we will address later)
Tithes are not to be viewed as a burden. Rather, it expressed the believer love of God’s divine order, of which we do not yet understand in its fullness, but we trust in God. Everyone has something to give, but it is up to the individual to search within themselves with a desire and a willing heart.
Offering
Voluntary contribution, also known as offering. This is without the sense of duty, in acknowledging God’s divine order of things through tithing. The emphasis concerning an offering is to give spontaneously, expressing devotion to the Lord, it is not a gift given out of a sense of duty, neither it is given to win promised blessings. A prayer is also an offering or voluntary contribution.
(Psalms 119:108) Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me thy judgments.
Tithing is a duty to give, while offering is the act of spontaneous giving.
Although, one might argue that tithing was under the Law of the Old Testament, so, we are not to tithe today. However, are we not to receive blessings today? With tithing comes blessing. Secondly, as long there is a need for the will of God on Earth, we ought to support that cause through tithing or free will offering.
When we give, it is not because God needs what we have. Rather, it is a divine order that will return as a blessing to the giver.
The benefit of tithing
This is expressed through an illustration based in a third world country that is on a path to an industrialized nation. A certain man, with his wife and their sons, though they lived in poverty, there were those who lived in abject poverty. Regardless of their lack of many things, yet, an assembly of people always gathers together at the shack of this certain man. There they studied the Bible, prayed, worship and sing praises to the Lord.
The certain man taught the people the importance of tithing. Though they had almost nothing to give, yet, every once in a while, someone would give the equivalence of one United States penny. They worked in the fields, they worked in homes and off the streets, but for their abject poverty, they were compensated in the wages of food, instead of money.
At the end of every Church service, when a penny was received, he would walk 3.4 hours to the nearest shopping center. There he will meet with the store clerk and give him the penny or few pennies and ask him to keep it for him. The clerk didn’t understand why, but he felt there was something different about this man, something positive of which he could not explain. He accepted his request that this went on for about a year. It was now late December, with snow on the horizon. The certain man woke up earlier than usual before the Church service that morning and walked many hours to the shopping center. There he met with the store clerk, and he inquired of the deposit funds. The clerk reaches down and brought up a small box filled with cash, shaking it in his hands, he emptied the small amount on his desk and counted it. Looking at the certain man, he announced the amount of money therein, the equivalence of $10. With a smile on his face and a bounce in his steps, he signaled to the clerk that he will be back later.
That morning he preached from Galatians 6:9 to his Congregation. At the end of the service, he greeted them like always, but with a surprise news, of taking them on a journey. The younger children with their parents, along with the teens and their parents, with the wife of the certain man and their two sons embark on the journey toward the shopping center.
There they waited in line with the rest of the shoppers. When it was his turn to face the clerk. He smiled, and said, you are back! He nodded with a grin, pointing at his church members; with my family, he said. The clerk added, quite a large family, he replied, yes, my family in the faith. The clerk asked him, what can I do for you today, more deposit? With a big smile he answered, withdraw. The clerk thought within himself, $10 is he serious? He once again brought up the little box of cash, with others still in line waiting their turn. The certain man explained briefly the origin of the cash from the people, through tithes, a penny at a time and the time frame of its accumulation. He then handed it back to the clerk, asking him to offer them a hot beverage. We do not have much, but we will share what the money has to offer. However, at least we can have something pleasant for a few hours before the Christmas. The cups (Styrofoam mugs) and straws will be given to the younger ones among us as a present to play with for the Christmas.
This is how poor they were, but the smiles on their faces were radiant. However, virtually everyone else in the line, eyes were filled with tears. Many of those in line instantly offered them dinner at their homes, but for the number of their size it was almost impossible. The store clerk suggested, they could bring the meal later in his store when he closes. There they all can have dinner together. Though they return with meals, and other presents, but they could not stay due to the accumulation of the snow.
The duty of a good Christian is not only in giving a penny or more, but doing that which is right. This was seen among the certain man and his people. As they waited outside the store for the meals, they went on helping the shoppers with the groceries and carts. Many of whom in return give them a portion of the contents of their shopping carts with cash. They had so much, the only problem was how to take all back with them to their respective homes.
As the evening approaches, the store clerk stood outside with them. He could not take them in his car due to the weather condition, so he offered them to keep their gifts in his store, to pick it up the following day. While they talked, in the distance was a car, out came a big man in appearance. Without speaking, he hurriedly got what he wanted from the store, while returning to his car. His rush came to a halt. The sound of his acceleration grew louder, but his car stood still in the snow.
Two of the people of the certain man, went out to give the big man helping hands. Slowly the tires of his car rolled out, and he drove away. In the distance, he stopped and returned to the two who just helped him. As he later recorded, he reached out his hand as a sign of a thank you gesture, but to his surprise, the hands of his helper were rather small. Looking closer, he realized these were women who have just helped him pushed his car through the snow. They did not wear clothes to show their beauty, for they couldn’t afford the cost, they dressed to keep warm through the weather. He did not know what to think, according to him, he drove home with this thought of their hospitality on his mind. Upon arriving home, he handed over the ham to his wife and told her he was switching cars to use his truck with a plow to plow the roads, and he will be back.
Back at the store, the certain man along with his people. Took very few things from their many gifts and were ready to trek home in the falling snow, when in the distance was a bright light coming toward the shopping center. It was the biggest car they have ever seen, out came a man, a big man. He walked toward them, revealing his face, he was the man they helped minutes ago.
Where are you going he asked? Home, they replied. In this snow he added? Yes, we are, together, we will make it home. Then tomorrow we will return with others to pick up our gifts from the good store clerk, they answered.
Looking over at the store clerk, he asked, you give them gifts? The clerk answered, not really, they’ve earned it themselves.
Their discussion came down to the big man agreeing to take them home with all their gifts at once. For the first time, the next day, on Christmas morning they had more than they could ever imagine. They obeyed the word of God by giving their tithes, though it was little, but God remembers them in their giving.
Little is much, when God is the focus . . .
Try Me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
(Malachi 3:10)