The fear of the law of tithing (Part 9)
Verse of the Day: 1 Corinthians 9: 11 " If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you?”
One of the major reasons that discourage people to give is the wrong teaching. People are poorly taught when they learn that when we give money to the church (tithes and offerings) they are automatically blessed financially. What we often forget to specify on the subject is that between the seed and harvest there is a time of trial.
God does not act immediately but He waits to test our sincerity and faith. So if you sow, you must learn to wait, but you have to wait in sowing on a continual basis. Many are discouraged when they do not see immediate results but the Word of God says in Galatians 6: 9 " Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up"
An important principle is that if you belong to a church or a Christian organization or a church that feeds your soul with the Word of God that acts and wear fruits in your life, you are supposed to financially bless it because God used it to enlighten you and open doors in your life. Giving to the church should not be a simple act of religious routine but it has to be a spiritual act that God accepts according to His principles. Your money should normally go where your soul is nourished.
In the verse of the day, Paul wrote to the Corinthians, saying: " If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? "(1 Cor 9:11). Paul wants them to understand that if he sowed in them spiritually (by teaching the Word that transforms), they are supposed to (according to the divine principle) assist him materially. In verse 14, he is more direct when he says that this is an order from the Lord: "Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live of the gospel" (1 Cor 9: 14). He made the same point in the church of the Galatians when he wrote: "Let him who is taught the word share all good things with him who teaches" (Galatians 6: 6)
If you are a pastor, a spiritual guide or a minister of God, and that there are Christians who materially assist you so that you can exercise your ministry, you have to assist them spiritually by praying daily and fighting spiritually for them.
Similarly, if you are a Christian and you are spiritually assisted by a shepherd, a spiritual guide praying for you or feeds your soul regularly, you are supposed to materially assist him according to the principle of God.
Concerning the law of tithing, nobody said that we should not tithe, but we must give according to the heart (the percentage of your choice) and with joy (2 Corinthians 9: 7) without condemnation or pressure. If there is no joy, you are not giving to God.
Do not write your name on the envelope for Jesus said, " But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing" (Matthew 6: 3). You must give discreetly. This is not easy for Westerners as the USA, where the church has to inform the tax office about the Christians who gave money and they receive a percentage back at the end of the year. But in the church I attend, it was decided not to write names on the envelopes: we just write "gift" or "thanksgiving." This allows leaders to treat everyone the same way and they give glory to God and not to men.
Here is my advice: If you have a monthly income, pray and decide a certain amount and give an order to the bank. With an electronic permanent wire, it will allow you to focus on other things.
In the tenth part, I will end this teaching by speaking of another principle of God which is extremely important, even essential as regards the law of giving.
Chris Ndikumana
The fear of the law of tithing (Part 10)
Verse of the day: Proverbs 19: 17 "He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, who reward him according to his work"
Throughout the bible, God insists on assistance for the poor whether it is in the Old or the New Testament. If God has blessed you with money, the poor are supposed to have part of it according to the principle of God. This does not mean that you have to be rich to help the poor but as long as you earn money (any amount), think about the poor.
The verse of the day (Proverbs 19: 17) says that if we are kind to the poor, we lend to the Lord. Why "lend to the Lord"? Because a poor shall never be able to repay you and God will repay you on his behalf.
God's heart is very committed to the poor and if you make a gesture of love for the poor, you touch the heart of God. If you are close to the poor, you are close to God. If you do good to the poor, they are grateful and they do not know what to do for you but God will know what to do for you. He will do it, but in due time (depending on Him). Meanwhile, continue to do good without murmur or complain but with joy and gratitude.
Today we rarely hear in Church the teachings regarding the assistance of the poor but when you see how James describes the church or religion according to the mind of God, I think we should more think about it. He said: "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world" (Jacques 1: 27). When the bible speaks of the poor, it is especially widows and orphans or persons without assistance.
Actually, the assistance of the poor should be a priority in the church of Jesus Christ. Early in his ministry, Paul had to leave with Barnabas with the church blessing that recommended them many things but especially to remember the poor. Paul says in his letter to the Galatians, where he writes: “All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along" (Galatians 2: 10)
LAST IMPORTANT ADVICES:
Let no one judge you on what you give as money because you give to the Lord and not to men. No one has the right to know what you give; If you give, give secretly and God who sees in secret will reward you (Matthew 6: 3-4).
Do not be bound by 1/10 but give according your heart and especially give with joy and without pressure (2 Cor 9: 7) according to the direction of the Holy Spirit.
Do not write your name on the envelope to avoid the pressure and the honors of men.
No matter what you earn per month, share your income with the poor. There must be at least a real widow or orphan on your way that would thank the Lord for your generosity.
If you find someone to help, make a commitment to help monthly as long as you have something to give.
Invested in the heavenly kingdom by sowing in the work of God in blessing his works and his servants.
Take care of your family because it is the fulfillment of the word of God (1 Timothy 5: 8)
Money has value only when used for good and God will not bless what you keep, but what you give.
May the Lord be praised for these revelations
Chris Ndikumana
