Tithes and Offerings

March 12, 2023 Starla Bice Comments 0 Comment

“There are so many scammers. And the people are skeptical about giving tithes and offerings with good reason. God is already speaking to His people.”

This is part of a reply I recently wrote to someone who told me about his mission. And asked me to pray for God to raise up His people!

It is an excellent mission! It is also in West Africa. How do I know when I should actually give?

We Can Know

You Will Want To! Sound familiar? This has become foundational for my own life. I want to do everything God wants me to do. That is how we can know.

Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, [so let him give]; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. – 2Co 9:7 KJV

First Things First

If you are not delighting yourself in the Lord (Psalm 37:4), giving tithes and offerings are not the first issues that should be concerning you!

New Testament Verses Concerning the Tithe

You can read over these and get some clarity for the purpose of tithing. You can also see that hypocrites love to tithe too!

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, 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. – Mat 23:23 KJV

But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. – Luk 11:42 KJV

I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. – Luk 18:12 KJV

Hypocrites are the ones who will use Malachi 3:8 to guilt and shame you into giving to their church or ministry!!!

He Gives Seed to the Sower

And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham: – Heb 7:5 KJV
But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. – Heb 7:6 KJV

And here men that die receive tithes; but there he [receiveth them], of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. – Heb 7:8 KJV
And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. – Heb 7:9 KJV

I noticed the following verse was missing from the above passage of Scripture. So I went back in to see what it said. The author of Hebrews is explaining tithes and the comparisons between the Old and New Covenants. Abraham was blessed! And we have an even greater covenant with God (Hebrews 8:6). Even more, 2 Corinthians 1:20 says that all the promises of God in Christ are yea and in Him Amen!!!

Why?

Unto the glory of God by us.

And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. – Heb 7:7 KJV

Without controversy, we are blessed by God! Hallelujah!!! Christians, God gives us an unfair advantage because it is His goodness that leads us, the church, and the lost and dying world to repentance! That is exactly what Revelation 12:11 tells us: We overcome the devil and all of his lies and deceit by the blood of the Lamb, the word of our testimony, and we get to do it with no fear!!!

Give to Give

We know according to the Scriptures that we are to give. And God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek and believe Him (Hebrews 11:6).

Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. – Luk 6:38 KJV

Who doesn’t want other people to support their ministries so that they can quit their “job” and focus on seeking and serving the Lord full-time? I would be lying if I said that I am not looking forward to that day myself. And I know it is coming. But God told me to buy the truth and not to sell it.

Buy the truth, and sell [it] not; [also] wisdom, and instruction, and understanding. – Pro 23:23 KJV

That is what I look for in my mentors also. The ministers on our “Opportunities to Give” page have more free resources and teachings that they are giving away than you could enjoy in a lifetime.

Again, there are scammers and hypocrites.

Hypocrites Defined

Hypocrites

And Paul addresses some issues in 1 Corinthians 9 that he also faced in ministry.

Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: – Phl 1:15 KJV

I also told my friend, “I am praying in the spirit to find out what the problem is, but I can guarantee you that God has already made provision for His work and His will to be done. Blessings!!!!” See, until I have the desire and resources to give to one more mission, I can be free from guilt and shame for not giving (2 Corinthians 3:17).

I have eliminated all confusion, guilt, shame, condemnation, etc. from my Christian walk by

fellowship with our Lord, see “The Lord is Gracious“
discipleship,
and the guidance of our Comforter, Jesus’ Holy Spirit.