Tithing

Tithing to Christ

God’s Word declares profound earth-shattering statements that exposes the cause of the evil in our world. Here is one of those earth shattering statements, inspired by God to Paul in his first letter to Timothy. It is a warning to Christians of the trap Satan has set and admonishing those many believers who are caught in this web that so easily ensnares us.

(I Tim. 3/10) “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."

Satan uses every weapon in his arsenal to drive a wedge between us and the will of our Eternal Father. This weapon, the ‘love of money ' is at the very root of our sinful carnal natures. It feeds our instinctive fears and doubts and our innate desire to captain the ship of our own destiny through the waters of our own choosing. These will be the very same waters that engulfed Lucifer in his self-pride, steering him away from the will of the One True Creator God.

Make no mistake, no one has immunity against the insatiable appetite of greed and fear, but we do have access to Him who does have immunity against all darkness and is able to clothe us in the armor that defeats all the weapons of Satan as well as the weaknesses of our own sinful carnal natures.

The choice is given to each of us individually. No one is forced to abandon the helm we so jealously guard to turn the control over to the ‘One’ who will steer us into the will of God.

Not tithing puts us at the helm headed into rough waters; whereas tithing puts Jesus at the helm, steering us into the sea of tranquility establishing Gods purpose thru us.

Tithing is a commandment that is taken lightly by many Christians and whitewashed by the belief it is not a salvation issue. Sin of itself is not the salvation issue........rejecting the authority of Jesus Christ and disobedience to the Will of The Father is the salvation issue!

Many teachers are deceived on this point and teach that tithing is not a ‘new covenant’ commandment but only a part of the Old Testament law. They acknowledge the importance of giving but reject the doctrine of tithing. I’m stymied at their lack of biblical revelation.

Ignorance however is not an acceptable excuse because the commandment to tithe is recorded in scripture by Jesus Christ in both the new and old testaments. Those teachers announce boldly that tithing is not a New Testament commandment. When Jesus declares a commandment once with seven words is it not as binding as a commandment delivered seventy times?

The New Testament commandment to tithe is in Matt. 23:23. “Hypocrites! For ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment,

mercy and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. "

This is a commandment to tithe; and if we, like the Pharisees, pick and choose our obedience we too shall be rebuked as hypocrites!

Paul tells us in (Phil 2:12) “To work out our own salvation with fear and trembling.” Tithing is a part of that work, a righteous work, and as we have seen from Jesus words it is a work not to be left undone. (James 2:24) “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.”

“We commanded you,” Paul writes in (II Thess. 3/10), “that if any would not work, neither should he eat.”

We should not come to the banquet of God’s Word each week empty handed. Carrying our first fruits we enter His sanctuary with honor but shame ourselves if we enter His sanctuary with empty arms. Have we put our hand to the plow to work or have we come to the field only with a hope to share in the harvest.

Not being faithful in tithing is not trusting God or believing Him. Not being faithful in tithing is not expressing our love and thankfulness to God for His abundant provision. Not tithing is disobeying His commandment. And not tithing is not supporting or showing love to His Church, which should lead us to question the direction our rebellion of heart is taking us.

Our forefather Abraham tithed faithfully, yet still for our instruction God tested him, requiring an offering; and still Abraham was faithful and placed his son Isaac upon the alter.

What are you placing upon the alter? Even your due of 10%!

(I Cor 3/11-15) Those who build upon the foundation of Christ with gold, silver, and precious stones will be tithers. Those who build upon the foundation with wood, hay, or stubble are deceived or slothful or both. For every man's work shall be made manifest, for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abides which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

When we understand what is meant by salvation through fire we will with trembling and great fear be seeking repentance.

Do not be among the five foolish virgins whose lamps had gone out and they were not ready to enter the wedding banquet with the five prepared virgins; because after the door is closed they are told “I do not know you” and their salvation now is through fire where there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

The weeping is the sorrowful and repentant by the chastisement. The gnashing of teeth is the rebellious and enraged by the judgment and chastisement.

Paul ' s instructions on the collection for the saints are in (I Cor. 16/1-2). “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you offer his tithe as God hath prospered him.”

(II Cor 9:7), “Every man, according as he has decided in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." Tithing is an accurate thermometer for a Christians trust and faith.

In (Rev. 3/16) Jesus gives this warning to the lukewarm. " I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth. "

Our Lord Jesus Christ is grieved that all will not be prepared to enter into His wedding banquet at His Coming. Do not let Him be grieved over you! Allow His conviction to take root deep within your heart, mind, and soul and sacrifice all you are and have to Him who did the same for you, so at His return He can say of you; “Well done thou good and faithful servant, come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”

Written by Chaplain L Dale Johnston

Proofed by Pastor Gregg Crisp

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