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Sunday, May 03, 2009

What Is Tithing?

Elder Dre, What Is Tithing? I'm not going to give (some) of you shameful readers, (I repeat: some, not all) would call a long, drawn out tediously exegetical, theological, hermeneutical, and philosophical perspectives on an answer to this question. But I will make it briefly worth your while.

Well my dear brothers and sisters in Christ, here we go. First of all "Tithing" in accordance with the Word of God in Deuteronomy 14:22-23 and 2 Corinthians 8:10-15, has purposes and principles. The purpose of tithing is to put God first in our lives in everything we have or do. We are to give God the first and best of what we earn in every aspect of the word. Not just in money or talent but also our time. For example, what we do first with our money, talent and time shows what we value most in our lives therefore we ought to value God first and foremost over any and everything in this life He has so graciously given us.

(1) Your willingness to give cheerfully is more important than the amount you give.
(2) You should strive to fulfill your financial commitments.
(3) If you give to others in need, they will, in turn, help you when you are in need.
(4) You should give as a response to Christ, not for anything you can get out of it.

How you give reflects your devotion to Christ.

(1) Each person should follow through on previous promises (2 Cor. 8:10-11; 2 Cor. 9:3).
(2) Each person should give as much as he or she is able (2 Cor. 8:12; 2 Cor. 9:6).
(3) Each person must make up his or her own mind how much to give (2 Cor. 9:7).
(4) Each person should give in proportion to what God has given him or her (2 Cor. 9:10).

God gives to us so that we can give to others.

Paul says that we should give of what we have, not what we don’t have. Sacrificial giving must be responsible. Paul wants believers to give generously, but not to the extent that those who depend on the givers (their families, for example) must go without having their basic needs met. Give until it hurts, but don’t give so that it hurts your family and/or relatives who need your financial support.

Last but not least, tithing is…

Mathematically it is a tenth. “… and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto Thee” (Gen. 28:11).

Scripturally it is a law. “Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase” (Deut. 14:22).

Morally it is a debt. “… Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings” (Mal. 3:8).

Economically it is an investment. “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matt. 6:20). “Give, and it shall be given unto you” (Luke 6:38).

Spiritually it is a blessing. “I will open the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it” (Mal. 3:10).

There you go, simple and true.

I still love you all, I repeat, (you all, not just some) and always will.

Amen!
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About Me

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I'm just, a nobody, trying to tell everybody, about Somebody who can save anybody. First I want to give love to the Father for giving me the opportunity to be an instrument for him to live in and live through for the glory that belongs to only him and Him alone. I served in the United States Navy for twenty one years and retired September 2003. During the last 3 years of my naval career, I served as co-pastor of Greater New Refuge COGIC in Fallon, Nevada under the tutelage of Pastor Gregory L. Brown. While there, I diligently served my pastor and church with the construction of a new sanctuary, and caring for the needs of all ministries, while simultaneously striving to stay focused on the mandate that the Lord had placed upon my life to preach the Word of God without compromise. I was licensed to preach November 2002 and Ordained June 2003. While stationed in Virginia Beach, Virginia, I proudly served and as constituent of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church for seventeen years under the leadership of Bishop Elect W. D. Scott, Sr. and presently serve under the leadership of Bishop B. Courtney McBath at Calvary Revival Church in Norfolk, Virginia.

MY THEOLOGICAL TRAINING:

It brings to my face a unadulterated smile each and every occasion I am asked, “Elder Dre, What Theological Training do you have?”

My heart beams with joy at the opportunity to humbly give full glory to God as I reflect on on how the prophets, patriarchs and apostles of old would have respond: Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joshua, Gideon, King David, Elijah, Elisha, Jeremiah, John the Baptist, Matthew, Mark, Peter, James, John and the other disciples, not forgetting the Saviour Himself.

How would they have answered the question: “What theological training do you have?”

The words of the prophet Amos also came to mind: “Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit:” Amos 7:14

I surely am not impliedly decrying theological preparation, education or training: I consider it essential, but not as much as some think. For the fact is, the Almighty raises up believers according to His own standards.

Educational qualifications, wealth, fame, talent, social standing, outward appearance etc. are useful; but they are secondary in His sight. Qualities like faith, obedience, holiness, humility, honesty, absolute loyalty to one’s spouse, the ability to raise one’s family to fear God and keep His commandments etc.; these are the things the Most High values.

“Man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”

Only on the Day of Judgment will it be known how truly educated, weighty and effective I have been. That is why I have to smile when the question arise.

The vanity of the question is only matched by the foolishness of my answer.

As the wise man wrote: “Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; all is vanity.” Ecclesiastes 1: 2 or as the apostle Paul commented in 2 Corinthians 11:16-30 when rattling off a long list of impressive qualifications “... I speak as a fool.”

Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. All who proclaim that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. 1 John 4:14-15 (NLT)

I am a preacher, but most of all, I proclaim that Jesus is the Savior with various applications of that truth in my everyday life. My dear friend, if you are a Christian, you are a preacher also. Whether you have been ordained or not, hired by a church or not, or ever been recognized as a preacher or not is beside the point. All who have God living in them are called to proclaim the Savior to the world. It is a Holy calling, and a demanding one. It will pull you out of your comfort zone, challenge your commitment, and help to develop you into the person God has created you to be.

John spoke as an eyewitness to Jesus' saving power. We speak as heart-witnesses; ones who have not seen Jesus with our eyes, but have experienced Him through personal transformation. I speak, and you speak, as a representative of Christ on earth. The message that we bring is simple, yet profound; that God the Father sent God the Son into the world to save those who are lost to bring them into relationship with Him. As you tell the story, and I tell the story, some will listen and receive the grace that God has sent us into the world to proclaim.

PRAYER THOUGHT: Father, what a privilege to be a spokesperson for You.

Thank you for stopping by. Stay encouraged and please do come back.