Sunday, 15 May 2016

The Real Principle Of Tithing (Part 1)

Living here on earth implies you would need food to eat, clothes to put on and shelter to live in; wealth acquisition is important, but it defers from a person to another. However, there is a mystery behind wealth acquisition, as we know it is God who has laid down basic principles to acquire wealth; there is a principle of giving of which one of them is the principle of tithing. Tithe is a tenth of a person’s substance given to God, while the remaining ninety belongs to you. Now if my definition of tithing is what you believe then you really don’t understand the principle God has set for the new covenant.

You see, many people follow the first tithing principle which is first seen by Abraham in Genesis 14:20 when the Priest Melchizedek blessed Abraham after which Abraham then gave the Priest a tithe of all the spoil. People believe since Abraham was blessed by the grace of God through faith, which is the dispensation we live in presently; then we are to give a tithe of ten percent to God. This is mistake people make and you need a proper orientation on what giving means.

You must have heard the story of a rich man who willed all that he had to his slave but just gave his son the opportunity of picking only one thing among the entire wealth. The wise son picked the slave, which implies that whatever the slave own belongs to him; this was what happened to us the moment we gave our life to Christ; we were bought with a price and this includes everything we own. This means the so called ninety percent that we think is ours belongs to God. So, the real tithe is giving everything back to God and not ten percent!

When you come to the understanding that God owns everything you own, it would then be clear how God wants you to use the wealth He has given you which is for a mission. Our life here on earth is just like the parable of the talent Jesus explained to us in Matthew 25:14-30; the wealth given to us is for investment which is to be multiplied for Him and not us. It is blessed to give than to receive; who and what we are to give is left to God to do the thinking and not us. Many of us sow wrongly and reap wrongly. Jesus said in Luke 12:32-34 saying “Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heaven that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (NKJV).

Our treasure is the kingdom of God, as for things we need, God has provided for them; He directs us how we are to use what He has given us. Investment is a God principle, but we are not to make the decision ourselves, He is. When you know and understand God owns all and everything has been provided for you by God, it helps our faith by seeing God as our source as He directs resources to locate us. Jesus said, “Give, and it will be given back to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” Luke 6:38 (NKJV). So, how well you trust that God has provided your needs determines how you give. There is no measurement of tithing in the new covenant because, it is by faith that we give. What if you don’t have faith when giving your ten percent, this would mean you’ve just thrown your substance away without gaining anything. It is by faith that we live and remember; you work for God and not for any other person. This is the gospel truth.

Why not accept Jesus today if you haven’t. Pray out loud, “Jesus, I confess that You are my Lord and Saviour. I believe in my heart that God raised You from the dead. By faith in Your Word, I receive salvation now. Thank You for saving me!” Congratulations, you’re born again, you are now brand new!

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GOD BLESS YOU.

Unless otherwise stated, the following scriptures are gotten from King James Version (KJV)

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