TITLE Fully Pay Your Tithes!
Psalm 19:1 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows the works of his hands.” It is said that the original nature of all creation that exists is the means for proclaiming the glory of God.
Therefore, man must mobilize the entire creation that God has given him to serve God, please God, and glorify God (Ecclesiastes 12:13).
The inspirational Bible given us today says, “Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of your produce, and your storehouses will be full, and your presses will overflow with new wine” (Proverbs 3:9-10). It means to consecrate a tenth of all material income we receive as a confessional sign of the fear of God. It means to use material offerings as a visible sign of loving and serving God. Then, tithing becomes an important part of God's people's worship of God.
Today we receive our second message on the lesson of tithing. I want to think from a practical standpoint.
I. Different types of tithing
1. Opposite type
① The New Testament Age is the Age of Grace and the Age of Salvation. In other words, it is argued that legal regulations should be abolished, and love is more important (Romans 6:14). ② It is the claim that the owner of wealth is the person himself. ③ It is also the reason why my income is too low. ④ On the other hand, the reason is that my tithe is too large and I cannot give it all. ⑤ The reason is that there is no basis for calculating self-tithing. ⑥ Another reason is that the church misuses the offerings. ⑦ The reason is that tithing cannot be legalized because it has absolutely nothing to do with salvation. All of this is human-centered thinking that completely contradicts biblical teaching.
2. The type of reluctant giving
① Reluctantly, forcibly, out of a sense of duty. However, it is said that God's request is to be willing (Ephesians 6:6-7, 2 Corinthians 8:7). ② It is a type of punishment that is given out of fear of God's punishment (punishment). But God is not a God of fear, but a Father of love. ③ This is a type of tithing that you pay according to your own wishes. Tithing is paid according to circumstances and without prior preparation. They spend first as much as they need it, and pay the rest if they can afford it, calling it tithing. However, tithing should be the first offering (Matthew 6:33), and the first fruits should be to honor God (Proverbs 3:9). ④ Resonantism, face, or tithing. It is a so-called face-building (?) tithe by comparing yourself with others in your church position. Tithing is never desirable.
3. Types of Relief Tithing
This is a kind of commercial blessing concept. He is the type of person who considers giving a bribe(?) to God or tithing as a blessing. Tithing can never be an act of commerce with God or an act of ups and downs.
4. A type of offering for the purpose of sustaining the church
Of course, tithing is a decisive force in the financial management of the church. Nevertheless, the driving force that sustains and revives the church is the Lord Himself and the work of the Holy Spirit. For this reason, tithing payers mistakenly believe that they are the masters of the church.
5. Tithing for the Glory of God
Tithing is a faith that believes that it is an act of obedience to God's own supreme command. It is the idea of giving as a means of glory to love, serve, and please God through it. Whether we eat or drink or whatever we do, we do it for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).
In this sense, A. Rogers said, “Tithing is a channel through which God is revealed. Because it is a means of growing our faith in you through tithing.”
When William C. Burns left for a Chinese mission, someone sarcasticly said to him, "You're going to convert all the Chinese, right?" Then he resolutely replied, “No. I am only going to China for the glory of God.”
If someone asks us, “Do you pay tithing for a blessing?” “No. I will tithe for the glory of God.” Tithing is considered one of the items of holy worship to serve God.
II. Practical Questions and Answers About Tithing
1. Is tithing the whole of the yearbook?
no. Tithing is the basis of all yearbooks. There are many other acts of thanksgiving in the Bible.
2. Will tithing be calculated from gross income or net income?
The Bible says tithe of income (Luke 18:12). It is also called a full tithe (Mal 3:10). You must pay tithing from your income in all cases.
3. What should I do if I feel ashamed because my tithing is too small, or if it is too much?
Both have nothing to do with each other. Little or more, because it belongs to God Himself.
4. Is the church the only storehouse to pay tithing?
That's right. Only the church. He told me to pay a full tithe so that I may have food in my house (Mal 3:10). Then, do 'my house' and 'my storehouse' refer only to the church? ① Can't you share your tithes with seminaries, other charitable organizations, missionary organizations, and rural mother churches? ② Even among the tithes, can it be used for a specific minister who prays for him, for his own gospel work, or for monthly membership fees or entertainment for ministers in various churches?
That's a very bad idea. This kind of person has the wrong concept of tithing.
Tithing belongs to God. It is public money. Therefore, the ownership or right to use rests solely with God Himself. Therefore, it must be dedicated to the church, the body of God's own body, and the church must publicly use it for good.
Most of these kinds of cases make the mistake of using the tithe as a self-centred out of a sense of sympathy, selfishness, or ups and downs. They all run the risk of leaving behind and following a selfish master.
EC Wolt said, “By giving my full tithe to the Lord through the church, I am preaching the gospel in India, teaching the Bible in Taiwan, caring for patients in a hospital in Switzerlandland, and at the same time speaking in a dialect of Haiti and Indonesia. Translating the New Testament, I am delighted to be able to care for orphans in Vietnam and Korea with love.”
5. Is it right to use the tithe for the pastor's living expenses and the other annual expenses for general expenses?
6. What should I do if I cannot afford to pay tithing?
The question itself is unreasonable. The Bible says that the children of the righteous do not beg. With regard to tithing, isn't it already spiritual poverty in itself to receive any kind of discrimination or benefit because I am poor? The life of tithing is always followed as long as the material is useful to me. Didn't the poor widow say that she gave all of her living expenses to the Lord?
7. Is it right to tithe even when sitting in debt?
You must give it. All Christians, just like the people of this world, are living in debt on many occasions. When you are sitting in debt, you will have to tithe to pay off that debt.
8. Should children who dictate pocket money from their parents also pay tithing?
Young children, who are not yet financially productive, are in fact receiving small sums from their parents. And it is already a fraction of nine tenths given after parents pay tithing. But even so, children should be taught the life of tithing from an early age as a religious education that teaches the ownership of God, human stewardship, and the secret of blessing.
9. Do I have to pay tithing when I receive severance pay or an inheritance?
Of course you have to give. The severance pay you will receive for the rest of your life should be considered as yours for the rest of your life. The inheritance will be subject to the will, but in the absence of a special will, it would be natural to set aside the tithe from the property that would receive it and belong to it.
As Samuel Young said, “All our offerings should be central to the grace of the cross of Jesus Christ.” J. Wesly said, "The last part of a person's conversion work is a wallet." Martin Luther said, “Every Christian must experience change in two ways. First the spirit, then the wallet. It is natural for believers to suffer and suffer spiritually because they do not pay tithes. This is the healthy suffering of a believer.”
Dear saints,
Say it again. Tithing can never be a condition of our salvation. It is one of the supreme acts of retribution for the salvation we have received.
Someone said about tithing, “First, I was surprised to see that my faith was strengthened by paying tithing. Second, I was surprised to see that my material life became more abundant. Third, how can I pay this kind of money for the kingdom of God? Fourth, I was surprised that the courage of faith was added, and fifth, I was surprised that the remaining nine (10/9) could be used wisely and on a large scale. Sixth, I was surprised at the folly of the past when I was greedy without knowing this blessing. I was surprised to find out.”
Clearly, tithing is God's own command. It is a command for our blessing. So it is said that Rockefeller decided on two mottos. First, I was going to teach my children to tithe, and second, I would teach them to never waste money even if they were rich.
In fact, the act of tithing toward God is a confession and a sign of reverent reverence toward God. There is a record that a man named John Phillips in the United States compiled statistics on families that served God well and those who did not for 200 years. Among them, I saw one representative example.
Investigating the Masushiko family, a Japanese-American family who ruined the church, expelled the Lord's servant, and even left the church, 306 beggars, 63 robbers, 7 murderers, 26 prostitutes and fool It is said that 203 families, 73 low-ranking officials, and the rest were ordinary people.
Proverbs 3:9-10 given today, “Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of your produce, and your barns will be full, and your presses will overflow with new wine.” Promise. Exodus 20:6 says, “I show kindness to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.” Isn't it really a promise of blessing that is magnified 30 times, 60 times, and 100 times? The act of tithing is the secret and the secret to God's children to obtain 30, 60, and 100 times wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18). - Amen -