By Pastor
Boniface Amani Gichina (Read More Powerful Biblical Articles in this other
blog: http://yourlivingbread.blogspot.com/)
I will try to give answers to some questions presented
to me on Tithes and offerings in the course of writing this book. These are
just a few sample questions and answers that I hope will help the reader get
more insight on the subject of Tithes and Offerings.
QUESTION 1
Is tithing something that was for old testament people like Abraham and those under
the law of Moses?
ANSWER
Jesus said, "If Abraham were your father, you would do the works of
Abraham."
“They answered and said unto him,
Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye
would do the works of Abraham.”(John 8:39)
We know that one of the works
of Abraham was to render tithes to Melchizedek, an ancient figure of Christ
(Psalms 110:4). Abraham’s children live as Abraham lived. Tithing was not
simply a commandment that was given under the Law. Abraham and Jacob lived
hundreds of years before the Law was given, and they both offered their tithes
to God. Righteous people have always known what is right to do, and have always
done it. They did not need the Law of Moses; they were "a law unto
themselves." Actually, according to Paul the Law was not made for a righteous
man
“Knowing this, that the law is not made
for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and
for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of
mothers, for manslayers,” (1Timothy 1:9).
QUESTION 2
Is it true that there is a blessing which comes from tithing?
ANSWER
Tithing is one of the principal means by which we acknowledge God and His
blessings upon us. It is obeying His commandments not as convenient but us
commanded. Tithing is telling God that we do not want to be wise in our own
eyes. Tithing is telling God to direct us and to establish His covenant in our
lives.
These few scriptures will
illustrate this wisdom:
“In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he
shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and
depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine
increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst
out with new wine”. (Proverbs 3:6 – 10)
“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)
Do you want your barns to be
filled with plenty? Do you want to remember God for giving you power to get
wealth? Then, you know what to do. Just do it.
QUESTION 3
Why does the flesh sometimes struggle with the issue of tithes and offerings?
ANSWER
God’s system of tithes and offerings works against the flesh’s natural desire
to strive to be rich and to hoard up wealth. The system of God teaches us to be
like God, who gives liberally to all. The system also teaches us that what
comes to our hands is not just intended for our welfare, it is also meant for
others. Jesus advised His Disciples to
watch and pray in order to overcome the weakness of the fresh.
Watch and pray, that ye enter not into
temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.(Matthew 26:41)
QUESTION 4
Some people objects paying tithes because they think they make too much, or
too little money to bring tithes and offerings. Is that in order?
ANSWER
Some people claim that they make too much money to bring tithes and offerings
to the Lord; others say they don’t make enough. Nobody earns either too little
or too much money to obey God. We came to the earth naked and we will leave the
same way. Any increase in your life whether much or little is supposed to be
tithed.
QUESTION 5
Is there any judgment against, or punishment for those who refuse to render
their tithes and offerings?
ANSWER
Moses taught Israel thus:
"And
all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of
the tree, is the LORD'S: it is holy unto the LORD.” (Leviticus 27:30)
It is dangerous to treat what
is holy as unholy. It is dangerous for an unauthorized person to touch what is
holy unto the Lord. Uzzah touched the ark of God and was struck dead for his
indiscretion.
“And when they came to Nachon's
threshing floor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of
it; for the oxen shook it. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah;
and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God” (2
Samuel 6:6 – 7)
The sons of Eli lost their
heritage by mishandling God’s offerings (1 Samuel 2:12 – 17). Such stories
teach us that a child of God will be in some serious trouble if he holds on to
God’s tithes and offerings. They are, as Moses said, "holy unto the
Lord". It is also true that if someone takes God’s money into the hands of
a minister not sent by God, then he has put that minister into a dangerous
position. The minister is not ordained to touch holy things. What belong to God
must only be given to those whom God has ordained to receive it.
QUESTION 6
What is wrong with having tithes and offerings both total up to one tenth of
your income?
ANSWER
Our offerings must come from our nine-tenths because the one-tenth belong to
God already.
