The Levite priesthood was one of the tribes of Israel dedicated to the service of God in the Temple. Today the church has evolved in so many ways that are different from the Levite priesthood with much more responsibilities. However, the function of tithes offerings and gift serves the same eternal purpose – ensuring that the work of God is fulfilled on the earth.
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” Ephesians 2: 10 NKJV.
Our relationship with God is a form of partnership which stems out of the love He has for us and we also give back in return. One of the ways we show God that we love Him is in the good works we do. Therefore, true tithing begins with an inward expression of love for God and His work. This is a fundamental aspect of any form of giving – giving with a willing heart and being cheerful about it. It brings a great reward. Don’t see your tithes and offering as another religious obligation that you to do but an act of sincere genuine partnership with God. Bring them with joyful worship before God. Don’t do it out of fear about the devourer affecting your life in disobedience. God wants us to walk with Him in love and not fear.
Offerings come in both monetary and material gifts. This is a discretionary giving as to the amount or form unlike the tithe that is a tenth of your income. Offerings take various forms from the Sunday and weekly gifts to specific gifts as you desire. In all forms of giving, be guided by these two scriptures in order to honour God.
“If you are really eager to give, then it isn’t important how much you have to give. God wants you to give what you have, not what you haven’t” 2Corinthians 8:12 Living Bible.
Everyone must make up his own mind as to how much he should give. Don’t force anyone to give more than he really wants to, for cheerful givers are the ones God prizes” 2Corinthians 9:7 Living Bible.
This second scriptures is particularly instructive as giving is a very private and personal responsibility. No one must influence what you give or else it simply is an act not done in true worship. Your heart is what honours God first before the seed.
I will address some concerns that have been raised about tithes and offerings in order to give you the biblical perspective as a lot of errors and ignorance has influenced giving.
The tithe is a tenth of your income. Don’t get into splitting hairs about gross and net income. God is specific about what your income is and that means money that comes to you exclusive of taxes etc. Now most of our income is monetary but some are often in kind. I will suggest that if you are not yet strong in your faith, start from your monetary income but be open to grow beyond the tenth. It shows an appreciation of many ways you have been blessed and that you are not doing it as a religious act. I started from a tenth and today I apply a twelve percent. Whatever extra you put is a discretionary one and don’t be influenced by anyone. The tithes go to your local church and not to any ministry. This is because your local church is where you are a member of the body of Christ. It is your core place of spiritual fellowship and your Pastor is your first spiritual authority. Don’t give your tithes to any ministry but you can give offerings to those that have blessed you spiritually as partnership seeds into their lives and ministries.
Over the years the ministries of many worldwide and local have been of tremendous influence in my life. These include Joel Osteen, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome; Paul Yonggi Cho, Joyce Meyers, Kenneth Hagin, Oral Roberts, Bishop Oyedepo, Brian Houston , Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, Creflo Dollar, Pastor Bimbo Odukoya.
The practical illustration of the above is that you cannot be registered as a student of one University and pay your school fees to another even though both are in the University community.
A controversial issue is how the tithe and offerings are used. Some, wanting to be the financial consultants over their tithes do not give it to their church but distribute it to various ministries. Their excuse is that they do not want it misused. This is an error. The tithes belong to God not to you. God has said to bring it into His church. Certainly there may be financial misuse in some churches but that is not an excuse to disobey God. When you give, you let go. God deals with each person as He pleases and whoever steals from God will certainly be punished.
The tithes and offerings are a substantial income for the church and the following are some of the ways that the resources are applicable
The Care of Our Pastors
“Let him who receives instruction in the word (of God) share all good things with his teacher (contributing to his support)” Galatians 6:6. Amplified Bible
and
“Pastors who do their work well should be paid well and should be highly appreciated especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching. “Never tie up the mouth of an ox when it is treading out the grain – let him eat as he goes along! “And in another place,” those who work deserve their pay!” I Timothy 5:17 -19, Living Bible
- Administrative expenses of the Church
- Projects (local and international)
- Tithes to other Ministries – partnership seeds.
- Taking care of the needy among members.
God’s work is a business – a spiritual business and therefore a lot of resources are required to make it productive and efficient. Your tithes and offerings keep the work running smoothly. So when there is a tendency to get distracted in your tithing and offerings. Think the big picture – God and I in a business partnership working for a global and eternal good. Be committed in your heart to work with God in accomplishing his eternal plan and giving will become an effortless act. Will there be temptations to not give? Certainly! But take comfort in the following scriptures.
“Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves but our sufficiency is from God” 2 Corinthians 3:5 NKJV
“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you that you always having all sufficiency in all things may have abundance for every good work”
2 Corinthians 9:8
and
For God who gives seed to the farmer to plant and later on good crops to harvest and eat will give you more and more seed to plant and will make it grow so that you can give away more and more fruit from your harvest” 2 Corinthians 9:10 Living Bible.
An antidote to temptation is not to have a need minded attitude. This means not having to focus on your needs rather than on your seeds. It is very enticing to see how much you have a need for all of your resources but a farmer does not eat all of his harvest for in it lies the seeds for the next. Don’t use the seeds for your next harvest (favour, opportunities, wisdom). You always have some resources to bless God with. Focus on that. Where do you stand today? If you are a tither, you have done well to recognize a key aspect of your relationship with God and I believe this message will help improve on it. If you are not tithing or have been against it, I also believe you will come unto a new understanding of what tithing is about. You have not pleased God but if you are willing to change, He is also willing to be merciful and guide you.
I have by experience learnt that when you have a sincere heart to obey God, even when you are in ignorance, deceived or in error, He will send His wisdom to reach you in an effortless way.
This message is one of those ways. When you have the basic understanding of God’s word you will find it is a delight to obey.
In closing, I implant this truth into your heart
“See to it that no one carries you off as spoil or makes you yourselves captive by his so-called philosophy and intellectualism and vain deceit (Idle fancies and plain nonsense), following human tradition (men’s ideas of the material rather than the spiritual world), just crude notions following the rudimentary and elemental teachings of the universe and disregarding (the Teachings of) Christ (The Messiah)”. Colossian 2:8. Amplified Bible
This applies to all secular and spiritual matters.
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