Today's Christian lesson is on tithing --- giving to God. The word tithe literally means tenth. We as believers are called to give at least ten percent of our income to God. Some believers I know give less; some give more. Some, who cannot afford to give money, give in other forms, such as volunteer at their Church. Time, talent and treasure is all valuable and people give according to what they are able, what the needs of the community are, and according to their talents. Some, like me, took our Spiritual Gifts quiz and found out that we are well-equipped to preach, teach, and lead. Others sing or perform music for the Church. Others give in terms of welcoming people into the Church. They have the Spiritual gift of hospitality. Regardless of how we give back, we as believers are all called to give, and give generously. Today we will examine scripture in the Old as well as the New Testaments on this topic. No time, talent or treasure given to God is ever wasted.
"Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!" Malachi 3:10
"Speak to the Levites and say to them: ‘When you receive from the Israelites the tithe I give you as your inheritance, you must present a tenth of that tithe as the LORD’s offering." Numbers 18:26
"Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine." Proverbs 3:9-10
"He ordered the people living in Jerusalem to give the portion due the priests and Levites so they could devote themselves to the Law of the LORD. As soon as the order went out, the Israelites generously gave the firstfruits of their grain, new wine, olive oil and honey and all that the fields produced. They brought a great amount, a tithe of everything." 2 Chronicles 31:4-5
"and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything." Genesis 14:19-20
"We also assume responsibility for bringing to the house of the LORD each year the firstfruits of our crops and of every fruit tree. “As it is also written in the Law, we will bring the firstborn of our sons and of our cattle, of our herds and of our flocks to the house of our God, to the priests ministering there. “Moreover, we will bring to the storerooms of the house of our God, to the priests, the first of our ground meal, of our grain offerings, of the fruit of all our trees and of our new wine and olive oil. And we will bring a tithe of our crops to the Levites, for it is the Levites who collect the tithes in all the towns where we work." Nehemiah 10:35-37
"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:21
"Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.” Mark 12:41-44
Beloved, do you tithe? If you don't, why don't you? Do you not know that the LORD loves a cheerful giver? Do you not know that God has the power to multiply many times over what you give Him? I have been Blessed to have many friends ranging from multi-Billionaires, multi-Millionaires, plain rich folk, middle-class folk, as well as folk who are living on housing assistance and cannot hold down a job. Even to those who cannot afford to give anything, I urge them to go to Church every week, and if possibly, put $10 into the basket. If they cannot give $10, give $5, but give something --- whatever you can afford to give. Do you not know that God can feed many multitude with the scraps that you bring to Him?
"Jesus left there and went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up on a mountainside and sat down. Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them. The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.
Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.”
His disciples answered, “Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?”
“How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked.
“Seven,” they replied, “and a few small fish.”
He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people. They all ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was four thousand men, besides women and children. After Jesus had sent the crowd away, he got into the boat and went to the vicinity of Magadan."
So believer, whether you are rich or poor, can sing a melody or not, can preach a sermon or not --- whatever you can do for God, is NEVER wasted. So go now, and do for His Kingdom whatever you are able to do, and you will hear from me tomorrow when I post the next Christian lesson.
"Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!" Malachi 3:10
"Speak to the Levites and say to them: ‘When you receive from the Israelites the tithe I give you as your inheritance, you must present a tenth of that tithe as the LORD’s offering." Numbers 18:26
"Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine." Proverbs 3:9-10
"He ordered the people living in Jerusalem to give the portion due the priests and Levites so they could devote themselves to the Law of the LORD. As soon as the order went out, the Israelites generously gave the firstfruits of their grain, new wine, olive oil and honey and all that the fields produced. They brought a great amount, a tithe of everything." 2 Chronicles 31:4-5
"and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything." Genesis 14:19-20
"We also assume responsibility for bringing to the house of the LORD each year the firstfruits of our crops and of every fruit tree. “As it is also written in the Law, we will bring the firstborn of our sons and of our cattle, of our herds and of our flocks to the house of our God, to the priests ministering there. “Moreover, we will bring to the storerooms of the house of our God, to the priests, the first of our ground meal, of our grain offerings, of the fruit of all our trees and of our new wine and olive oil. And we will bring a tithe of our crops to the Levites, for it is the Levites who collect the tithes in all the towns where we work." Nehemiah 10:35-37
"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:21
"Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.” Mark 12:41-44
Beloved, do you tithe? If you don't, why don't you? Do you not know that the LORD loves a cheerful giver? Do you not know that God has the power to multiply many times over what you give Him? I have been Blessed to have many friends ranging from multi-Billionaires, multi-Millionaires, plain rich folk, middle-class folk, as well as folk who are living on housing assistance and cannot hold down a job. Even to those who cannot afford to give anything, I urge them to go to Church every week, and if possibly, put $10 into the basket. If they cannot give $10, give $5, but give something --- whatever you can afford to give. Do you not know that God can feed many multitude with the scraps that you bring to Him?
"Jesus left there and went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up on a mountainside and sat down. Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them. The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.
Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.”
His disciples answered, “Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?”
“How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked.
“Seven,” they replied, “and a few small fish.”
He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people. They all ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was four thousand men, besides women and children. After Jesus had sent the crowd away, he got into the boat and went to the vicinity of Magadan."
So believer, whether you are rich or poor, can sing a melody or not, can preach a sermon or not --- whatever you can do for God, is NEVER wasted. So go now, and do for His Kingdom whatever you are able to do, and you will hear from me tomorrow when I post the next Christian lesson.
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