Tithes & Offerings Continued
Practical Considerations
Gtcotr/ws100103
Point # 215 What You Have Makes No Difference To Anyone … It’s What You Do With What You Have That Makes A Difference.
Key Scripture: 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.
Tithe - The Primary Word In The OT
Hebrew - rsem ma‘aser mah-as-ayr’ or rsem ma‘asar mah-as-ar’ and (in pl.) fem. hrsem ma‘asrah mah-as-raw’
AV-tithe 27, tenth part 2, tenth 2, tithing 1; 32
Genesis 14:20 - Malachi 3:10
Literal translation: Tithe; Payment of a tenth part
The Primary Word In The NT Translated Tithe -
Greek - dekath dekate dek-at’-ay
AV-tithe; tithes; tenth; tenth part - (10 times)
Literal translation: A tenth part of anything; A tithe
Matthew 23:23 - Hebrews 7:8
This Word For Tithe Has The
Same root as: ‘ten’ - 24 times in AV NT
Matthew 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
Luke 19:13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.
Percentage giving is not only found in tithing, but also in offerings:
1 Corinthians 16:2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
30/60/100 Fold - 100 Fold Now In This Life - Much Given, Much …
A Biblical Tithe Is The First One Tenth Part Of All Increase, The Holy Portion, Dedicated By God To Be Brought To His House And Given To The Priest
Paul defended this OT principle as a NT truth.
* 1 Corinthians 9
13 Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?
14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
History Records That The Greatest Strengths, Weaknesses, Successes And Failures In The Church Are In Some Way Connected To The Giving And Receiving Of Tithes & Offerings.
Some Congregation Members And Priests Alike Do Not Manage Their Money And/Or God’s Money Correctly.
Disobedience Or Misconduct On Either Part Does Not Excuse Or Allow For Disobedience Or Misconduct On The Other.
Each Person and Every Priest Has A Proper Response To God For Which They Will Be Individually Rewarded.
Proverbs 3
9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
This is without respect as to how it is managed by the priests.
Both Eli’s sons, OT, & Ananias & Sapphira, NT, are examples of God policing priests & congregation members who serve themselves
Did You Know That Priests Are Commanded To Tithe Also
This Is A Priestly Responsibility That I Teach Everywhere
Numbers 18
25 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
26 Thus speak unto the Levites, and say unto them, When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave offering of it for the LORD, even a tenth part of the tithe.
27 And this your heave offering shall be reckoned unto you, as though it were the corn of the threshingfloor, and as the fulness of the winepress.
28 Thus ye also shall offer an heave offering unto the LORD of all your tithes, which ye receive of the children of Israel; and ye shall give thereof the LORD’S heave offering to Aaron the priest.
29 Out of all your gifts ye shall offer every heave offering of the LORD, of all the best thereof, even the hallowed part thereof out of it.
30 Therefore thou shalt say unto them, When ye have heaved the best thereof from it, then it shall be counted unto the Levites as the increase of the threshingfloor, and as the increase of the winepress.
31 And ye shall eat it in every place, ye and your households: for it is your reward for your service in the tabernacle of the congregation.
32 And ye shall bear no sin by reason of it, when ye have heaved from it the best of it: neither shall ye pollute the holy things of the children of Israel, lest ye die.
No One Is Exempt To Give Or Keep The Tithe To Themselves Or Their Own Benefit - ‘The Tithe Is The Lord’s’ Leviticus 27:30
Tithing To Priests & By Priests Began 500 Yrs Before The Law
Hebrews 7
8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.
9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.
10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.
Often Asked Questions About Tithes & Offerings
Question: I am a housewife and have no income. My husband does not want me to tithe but I keep the checkbook. What should I do?
Answer: Two Main Things:
1. Obey your husband as unto the Lord.
* 1 Peter 3
1 ¶ Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;
2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.
This is your proper response to God’s word. Do not make this a continual point of heated arguments.
2. Pray to God for your husband.
* 1 Peter 3:5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:
> Trusted God
> Adorned themselves with a meek and quiet spirit (as opposed to loud, threatening, nagging or demanding)
> Submitted to their own husbands
* Do not be more upset with your husband’s non-giving than you are with your own lack of respect for submission. Husbands are won by beholding Godly behavior, not unruly behavior with no fear of God.
When you pray:
* Ask God to forgive his ignorance and patiently and mercifully bring him to the knowledge and conviction of His word. Give God time and space to work.
Question: My wife does not believe in tithing. How can I convince her it is God’s will?
Answer:
First - At times it is difficult to be the leader. Husbands are called to love their wives like Christ loves the church. Jesus said that if the church were to ask Him anything in accordance with His Father’s will, He would do it. However, this is not to say that Jesus would capitulate to the wishes or demands which go against God’s word.
God has given you the responsibility to lead your wife and family in a way that pleases Him, not necessarily her. Lead by example … you should not expect your wife to follow you when you do not follow your leader. Tithe. 1 Corinthians 11:3
Next: Pray to God for your wife. Ask God to intervene and to gently bring her to her own conviction of the truth.
Question: We would like to tithe but we do not have the money. If we were to take out ten percent, we could not pay our monthly bills. What should we do?
Answer: Here are some steps I suggest:
1. Pray to God for forgiveness, mercy, wisdom and resolve.
* forgiveness for getting yourself into such a state that you have to break covenant with God to keep contract with Visa
* mercy for the deliverance you need from him
* wisdom for the plan you must make for your future
* resolve not to waiver from His pathway again
2. Mark 2:27 And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:
* In the same way, tithing was made for man and not man for tithing.
* Tithing was not designed to be a burden but a blessing.
* Challenge your perspective of the covenant … “Are You Willing?”
* 2 Corinthians 8
12 For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
13 For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:
14 But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:
15 As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.
In order to fulfill God’s plan He needs you willing to be a supply for others who are less blessed. Not only willing, but cheerful as well.
3. Put a plan in place
* Remember, Covenant Before Comfort & Convenience
* Haggai 1
4 Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste?
5 Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.
6 Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.
7 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.
8 Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the LORD.
9 Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the LORD of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house.
Proverbs 27:20 Says, that the eyes of man are never satisfied.
* It seems to boil down to An Issue Of Financial Priorities With God. Do God’s children think as much about His house, His stuff and His work, His servants as they do their own?
* Remember The Young Rich Ruler - Mark 10
* Paul told Timothy to charge the wealthy to Be Willing And Ready To Give - 1 Timothy 6
Question: What is the difference between tithes & offerings
Answer: We will have to get to that at another time.
Point # 215 What You Have Makes No Difference To Anyone … It’s What You Do With What You Have That Makes A Difference.
