This book is a depth study on tithing and hopefully help us come to the realization that it can be a blessing to those who honor and celebrate it as being in business with God to advance His kingdom on earth.
Dear reader, you will discover in these pages some valuable insights to help you prosper and fulfill the call that is upon your life and ministry. In this study, we will study the prosperity gospel and how it has been abused as others tended to make it into a business instead of a ministry.
Beloved, we ask that you prayerfully open your mind as we attempt do an in-depth study on tithing and hopefully come to realization that it can be a blessing to those who honor and celebrate it as being in business with God to advance his kingdom on Earth.
Excerpt
Excerpt from Chapter 8
Dear reader, there is an old saying that if you see your ship on the horizon, swim out to meet it.
God says in Ecclesiastes the eleventh chapter “cast your bread upon the waters and it will return after many days.”
You know beloved, is it a coincidence that my bible fell open this very morning to this scripture in my morning devotions, and now I am using it in this book?
Dear reader as we go further, we will discover how there is a blessing in our giving providing it is given with the right attitude.
Beloved, the summary of this scripture is (to cast one’s bread upon the waters) is to give generously without worrying about what you will gain from it or what the people will do with what you give them for we are giving to the kingdom of God, and he will give us showers of blessing including a promise to keep our soul alive in famine.
Saints, we learned in earlier chapters that God has always had a portion that is His and His alone. In order to refresh our memory and since this is the last chapter of our study, let’s reflect on some of our teachings and refresh our mind on what God says concerning the tithe.
We can start by looking at our first man Adam being told he can eat of all the trees in the garden but one and the day he did he would surely die. All through history, God has had his part.
Saints, we can do some old history research and find God allowing man in the outer and the inner court of the temple, but the Holy of Holies was off limits except for the high priest to enter once a year, offering the blood of the innocent lamb as a substitute for man’s sins to be passed over for one more year.
Beloved, God has always had what we call the tithe of divine portion throughout the history of dealing with his people.
He allows us to keep ninety per cent of what we earn, and he does not put stipulations on how we should spend it but only asks for ten per cent of our earned wages to fund his gospel.
Beloved, God knows if we are faithful in our tithes, we are showing him love and he has all our heart for he said in his word "if we love him, we will keep his commandments.”
Saints, a good many people today tend to give to the work of God after they have paid everything else however Moses taught that if we give off the top then it is the same as if we gave the whole check. You may ask “how we know we will be blessed if we do what his word says?”
Beloved, did you know that you can invest your time and get a return on your investment. You can also manage your time, but you can never save or retrieve it. Beloved, there is more in giving to God’s work besides your money.
There is such a blessing in giving our time, our talents, and our resources that God’s work can continue.
Saints, did you know that J.L Kraft the head of the Kraft Cheese Corporation, believed in tithing? He made the statement that for many years, he had given 25% of his enormous income to Christian causes and stated that the greatest return on his money has been on the money he gave to God.
Beloved, J.D. Rockefeller made the statement “I never would have been able to tithe the first million dollars I ever made, if I had not tithed my first salary, which was one dollar and fifty cents a week.”
Beloved, do you see and understand how these two men have proven the promises of God in their lives which showed up in their business.
The divine promises follow those that put God first in their lives and the blessings will be poured out as the windows of Heaven are opened.
Beloved, God desires that we put our complete trust and dependence upon him that he is a God that is more than enough. May we learn to place our focus on him and his word instead of our situations and misgivings.
Beloved, God not only wants us to trust him, but he wants us to test or prove him. Beloved, when God has our wallet, he has our heart.
Beloved, tithing shows where our heart is.
There is an old saying that “what you truly love will tell on you.” Mathew sixth chapter says, “where your treasure is, there will be your heart also.”
Beloved, according to polls before the pandemic, the average Christian pays more for premium cable including satellite services than they give to missions.
The average family pays more for pet care a year than they give to charity. The average woman in the USA spends more on fingernail polish, makeup, hair dye, shampoos, hair sprays, and personal care products than they give in church offerings.
Beloved, we find in the word of God the story of the rich young ruler that made the boast that he had kept all the commandments from his youth up but could not bring himself to obey the Lord’s request to sell all and give his goods to the poor.
The Lord did not want his money but was simply pointing out that he was failing in the commandment to put no other gods before the Lord. Church, we could have been reading of his works today, but the Lord knew where his heart was and pointed it out to him.
The bottom line is that his money was his God. It is sad when books and magazines are read many more times than the bible.
Beloved, I feel like stopping in this study and asking a serious question, “where are we investing today, and why do we find giving to the Lord and his work a burden?”
Beloved, our treasures are wrapped up in the carnality of everyday life and the bottom line is that we seek pleasures and entertainment more than we want to know God and become like the rich young ruler of putting earthly things before God.
Beloved, let me step up and say that the discipline of faithful tithing is not about money or man, the discipline of faithful tithing is God himself, his cause, and his purpose.
Tithing provides a financial plan for operating the church and meeting the needs of its members including the surrounding culture.
Beloved, if all of God’s people believed in and loved tithing, there would be no need in the body that could not be fulfilled.
Saints, tithing is a plan God uses to grow and develop his people, unlocking the storehouse of Heaven where Greed and selfishness is defeated, it is where God’s plan for his people is released, thus freeing him to bless his people as he brings in his kingdom here on Earth.
Saints, whatever you want God to bless such as your marriage, ministry, business, your time, and finances, simply put him first.
God tells us in Proverbs 3:9-10 Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.
Beloved, nowhere in scripture can we find “give God our leftovers” but we do find several scriptures speaking of giving God the first fruits of our increase.
Saints, tithing in the New Testament church is a privilege to be in partnership and business with God to see his kingdom flourish on this planet, touching and changing lives for eternity.
Revelation: The Easy Study Bible Commentary
Not for scholars but for anyone who struggles to understand the New Testament!
The Easy Study Bible Commentary takes The Easy Study Bible Diagramed and examines, describes and expounds upo
Jude: The Easy Study Bible Commentary
Completely Revised and Greatly Enhanced!
Not for scholars but for anyone who struggles to understand the New Testament!
The Easy Study Bible Commentary takes The Easy Study Bible Diagra
