Consider random thoughts about tithing.
Having been a tither since before I accepted Jesus as Savior, it’s been a pleasure to be a tither plus love offering-giver serving him as Lord. I continue teaching tithing plus to this day, including the past eight years to a Senior’s church. Now I do it through offering devotionals where I did it previously through quarterly messages. I’ve never understood why preachers suddenly lose their nerve when the subject of giving surfaces. Since God SO loved that he GAVE Jesus, how can Christians love God so LITTLE by refusing to PAY him the Biblically-honored tithe? Since Abraham is our spiritual ancestor, and he paid the tithe, Genesis 14:18-20, Christians can’t pay God less. Since Hebrews 7:1-10 teaches that Levi collected tithes from Israel for the Aaronic priesthood, and through Abraham Levi paid tithes to Melchizedek, a type of Christ, Christians owe tithes to God. Since Jesus himself indirectly taught tithing, Matthew 23:23-24, Christians can’t overlook his example by stressing our need to be just, merciful and faithful. Consider an approach the following offering devotional emphasizes. Truth Taught, Whatever the Response. In Acts 11:27-30 we learn that New Testament prophets could preach, explain and exhort, roles preachers have today. They could also foretell the future, a role outside our pay scale. We notice that Agabus in Antioch of Syria provided the information of a famine in Judea, but made no recommendation. Someone else in the Antioch church, one of the elders or likely Paul or Barnabas, understood the opportunity, privilege and duty the information entailed: receive an offering and send it to Jerusalem to show our compassion. Like Agabus, a preacher as prophet of God’s word must tell you what God says on any subject—including tithing. And has the right to urge compliance. Nevertheless, after sharing the truth, and urging obedience, leaves to each individual the right of choice. The Holy Spirit, not preachers, reserves the right to enforce obedience. The Christians in Antioch, moved to compassion by the information shared, gave “each according to his ability”...no communal living existed in Antioch. After hearing what God says about tithing, will we let the Spirit move us to obedience? Christians will develop a lot of habits they’ll have to break as they grow in discipleship. If they learn to tithe, and become committed to faithfully paying it, they’ll have made one habit they’ll never have to break. End Part III
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