By Pastor
Boniface Amani Gichina (Read More Powerful Biblical Articles in this other
blog: http://yourlivingbread.blogspot.com/)
When we have brought to God His tithes and His
offerings, we should understand that we have not given God anything. His tithes
and His offerings are His to begin with. We are just doing our duty of bringing to God what is already His. It is
good to do our duty, but we must understand that by doing our duty, we are only
being faithful handlers of God’s possessions, and avoiding becoming robbers.
In the Old Testament, God gave permission to His
people to bring gifts to Him that were beyond the requirement of tithes and
offerings. Even when people wanted to do that, however, God set the standards;
He has never accepted just anything that people decide to bring Him.
But if one among His people wanted to bring a gift to
God beyond what was required, or if he wanted to help a needy brother or
sister, God allowed it. Concerning such offerings and alms, Jesus said simply:
“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”.(Luke 6:38)
Concerning this opportunity to give beyond what was
required, Paul told the saints in Corinth,
“But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap
also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not
grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians
9:6 - 9)
It is a waste of money to give with half a heart. You
will regret that you gave, and there is no reward from God for that. It is a
waste of money to give because you have been made afraid not to do so, or
because someone has made you feel guilty if you do not give. There are many
ways and tactics that religious men have invented to pressure people into
giving when it really not in their heart to give.
When people are
pressured by such tactics, they afterward invariably regret yielding to the
pressure, and their hearts are further hardened against generosity by a feeling
of being taken advantage of.
We all need to be made aware of the blessings that
follow obedience to God’s laws concerning tithes and offerings, and giving
beyond that. But if it is not in a person’s heart to do those things, it is
evil to pressure him to give because tithes and offerings are not acceptable to
God if the person bringing them doesn’t really want to do it. It is a matter of
the heart.
Where is your heart concerning God and money? That is
the only real issue. God sees the heart before He see what you have brought to
Him.
“…for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh
on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” (I Samuel 16:7)
The Lord knows that we are made of dust and stagger
sometimes in our walk of faith. But He continually challenges us to trust Him.
Often, it appears, He has more confidence in us than we have in Him. One of the
challenges that He believes we can meet is the one He issued to His children
through Prophet Malachi:
“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that
there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of
hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a
blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” (Malachi 3:10)
Every commandment of God is intended for our
happiness. If we walk in His ways, the end will be joy forever. There are fears
to overcome, difficulties to endure, and snares laid for us. But we belong to
God, and He is mindful of every step we take. He will never leave us nor
forsake us.
Believe His word. Don’t stagger because of unbelief
and fear. Walk in His ways and you will live forever in peace. Jesus gave us
the following comforting words:
“Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good
pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32)
We will never out-give God. We cannot overtake God in
giving to us. He gave His only son for our redemption.
Giving to God tithes and offerings is remembering God
for giving us what we already have. The Israelites were commanded to be doing
it so that God can establish His covenant with them.
“But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is
he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant
which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.” (Deuteronomy 8:18)
Be courageous, and believe God. He has promised us
that He will care for us forever if we simply trust Him in this evil and greedy
world. We express our trust in Him by giving our tithes and offerings.
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