"Gifts and Giving"
Introduction
First, let us realize that we live in perilous
times, some would even say these are the end times. Man's technological ability
to be able to literally kill all life off this planet 10 times over by very
conservative estimates would indicate this may be true. Man's creation of
deadlier and deadlier weapons and weapons' systems continues. Parts of the
world are always going into and out of famines and civil wars all the time now
as a regular occurrence. Ultimately, there will only be one solution to man's
inability to rule over himself and the planet the Lord placed him on, and that
will be the actual return of the Lord himself. But on this subject, Jesus told
his apostles and disciples that just prior to his return, the gospel of the
kingdom of God would be preached around the world (Matthew 24:14). He
commissioned his apostles and disciples and all that would follow in their
steps to preach the gospel and baptize all that would heed their message of the
gospel (Matthew 28:18-20). Jesus has started to bring this to pass through many
high quality Christian evangelistic and teaching ministries that are now
spanning the globe in their outreach. Some of these ministries are
denominational and some are non-denominational or inter-denominational
Christian organizations. All these quality Christian evangelistic and teaching
ministries survive and go forward enabled by the Holy Spirit and coupled to a
high degree of financial commitment and support from a small but growing group
of Christians from all the denominations.
What are God's Biblical
principles of Gifts & Giving? I will answer that question in three parts:
Part 1
"Gifts and Giving"
In the biography of George Muller there are some very
fascinating parts that make up the whole of this apostle of faith. One such
part is his philosophy applying to the subject of gifts and giving. Here is a
man who built, established and ran five major orphanage houses totally on faith
and prayer, relying on the gifts and giving of others as they were moved by God
to give gifts to this great work the Lord started and performed through him.
Proportional to his income, he was one of the chief givers to this work the
Lord started through him. He never asked one single person for donations or
financial support for this work of the Lord. He relied solely on secret prayer
and petitions to God for the resources, financial and otherwise, to both build
and run these five orphan houses as well as a major evangelical organization
called The Scriptural Knowledge Institution. His philosophy is both refreshing
and scary, depending on how much faith in the Lord you have and how much faith
you have in His promises for provision. The book these excerpts are taken from
is George Muller, MAN OF FAITH AND MIRACLES by Basil Miller. It is
available online at: http://www.amazon.com or
http://www.Christianbooks.com
.
Today we find that so many people are being turned off to so called
Christian churches and evangelical speakers who have their hands out to the
general public for money, and even beg their congregations for money on a
constant basis. This is an insult to the Eternal God, who is far from being
broke. One of Mr. Muller's favorite Scriptures was "the silver and gold are
mine." To quote Mr. Miller's book, he says on page 105, paragraph 2, "The
Institution was started solely with God as its Patron and never once did it
veer from this original plan. Muller felt that God meant what he said when
affirming "the silver and gold are mine." If the work was centered in
the divine will, there would be plenty of God's silver and gold to promote its
Christian interests." Thus we see (and you will see if you read Mr.
Miller's book about Mr. Muller) that finances are no problem for a work
centered in the divine will. Now let's learn something of Mr. Muller's
philosophy about gifts and giving.
"The SUM total of Mr. Muller's life
was giving. He gave himself in prayer that in return God might give the
necessary supplies, not only for his own family, but also for the large family
of orphans. Basing his life upon receiving from God, in return he practiced the
art of liberality. Since God gave to him through faith he must also be among
those who were faithful givers.
Even the texts that influenced him most
were those on giving and receiving. Throughout his "Narrative" you will find
these passages boldly across the pages. Early he and his wife were led to that
scripture "Sell that ye have and give alms." (Luke 12:33). This was to
be the course of their lives. They were to be sellers and givers.
The
Lord, speaking through His Word, said, "Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name,
that will I do..." (John 14:13). And Mr. Muller based his work upon this
promise, asking largely that the Father might be glorified.
Since God
had told him to open his mouth Mr. Muller never feared to ask for whatever his
work must have. To him this promise was the foundation of all spiritual and
temporal success. Like a bird, he opened his mouth and the Lord filled it with
the supply of all financial needs.
In Genesis he loved the name Jehovah
Jirah, for it meant the Lord will provide (Genesis 22:14). Grandly did
God give provisions for the Institution and his Orphan Houses.
From the
first records of Mr. Muller's donations, we find him giving on a large scale.
During the first year of his life of trust (1831) he received L151 in answer to
prayer; but he gave L50 of that sum. [A British pound of that time was worth
$5.00] During the second year he gave L70 out of an income of L195. His income
for 1833 was L267 brought in through faith, and his gifts amounted to
L110.
This giving and receiving kept pace with each other during the
long years of his career. For the ten years from 1836 to 1845 his income from
all sources was approximately L3,400 and through faith he placed back into the
Lord's work about L1,280...
From 1856 to 1865 his income amounted to
L10,670, over $50,000...and out of this he devoted L8,250, or a total sum of
41,250, to God's work. Out of L20,500, received from 1866 to 1875, he turned
back to Christian endeavors, nearly an average of L1,800 a year [L2,500 a year
- L1,800 = L700]. During the next ten years, the last of which a direct record
is available, he gave away L22,330 from an income of L26,000, which left him
the sum of L3,670 to live on for a period of ten years, or a little over $1,800
a year. And it must be remembered that this decade--`1876 to 1885--was devoted
to extensive missionary travels, which constituted a heavy drain on his
personal finances.
These donations came to him through faith alone, and
he recognized that he must be the channel through which God's gifts should flow
out to others in need. He looked upon himself as the Lord's steward. What
money he received he believed should be given rather than hoarded.
A
crippled woman, who through the years was a constant though small giver to the
orphanage work, expressed Mr. Muller's philosophy of living and
giving. She began giving a penny a week out of her earnings toward the
care of the orphans, and the Lord blessed her so much that she was able to
raise her weekly gift to six shillings, or a dollar and a half. One gift she
wrapped in a piece of paper, on which she had written: "Give; give--be ever
giving. If you are living, you will be giving. Those who are not giving are not
living."
The total amount Mr. Muller gave away out of his private
funds amounted to approximately $180,000 from the year 1831 to November, 1877.
This it must be recalled came out of a poor man's penury. He had only what he
prayed in from day to day.
The Fifty-ninth Report of the Institution,
issued May 26, 1898, immediately after Mr. Muller's death, reveals a very
interesting item concerning this servant's method of giving. Year by year in
the annual Reports there were frequent entries of gifts "from a servant of
the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up
treasure in heaven."
Mr. Wright, who succeeded Mr. Muller as head of
the Institution, checked those entries, and found that this servant had given
up to March 1, 1898, the aggregate sum of eighty-one thousand four hundred
and ninety pounds, eighteen shillings and eightpence.
That servant
was none other than Mr. Muller himself, who gave out of his own money more than
sixty-four thousand five hundred pounds to the Scriptural Knowledge Institution
alone, and to other individuals and organizations seventeen thousand more. It
seems inconceivable that a poor man should thus give more than $407,450 to the
work of God.
There is no other case on record of such magnificent gifts
coming from a humbled servant of the Lord. It is estimated that John Wesley
gave away nearly $150,000 to spread the cause of Christianity. When Wesley died
he left behind him a well worn frock coat, two silver teaspoons--and the
Methodist Church.
When Mr. Muller died his entire personal estate
amounted to L169 9s. 4d., approximately $850, or which his household effects,
books, furniture, etc., amounted to well over $500. The only money in his
possession was actually $350. He died a poor man, though the Lord had entrusted
to his hands well over a half-million dollars.
George Muller looked upon
himself as God's steward. One of the texts which influenced him was, "Give
and it shall be given unto you. Good measure pressed down, shaken together and
running over shall men give unto your bossom."
He believed and saw
this promise bountifully verified. "I had given," he testified, "and God
caused to be given to me again bountifully."
He affirms that he
believed what he read in the Bible, and acted accordingly. Though acting on
God's promises, and rejecting the offer of a stated salary of L55 a year, God
literally gave him a fortune...a fortune which he shared with those in
need.
Out of this overflow of experience in giving, Mr. Muller had
very definite thoughts on giving. Giving to him was the heart of the Christian
life...give self in full surrender to God, and out of what God gives return to
Him liberal gifts. This was his giving philosophy. Let us read and heed
some of his advice on this subject.
"Many of the children of God,' he
affirms, "lose in a great measure the privilege, and also the blessing to their
own souls, of communicating to the Lord's work to the necessities of the poor,
for want of a regular habit of giving."
When asked, "How shall I
give?" Mr. Muller responded:
On the score of the method of giving, Mr. Muller was often
asked, "How shall I put aside my gifts? Must I actually separate this money
from my other money?"
"That is the simplest," he answered, "and in many
respects the best way....A memorandum book may be kept, in which on one side is
entered what is put aside for the Lord, to be expended on the poor, or for
other benevolent and religious purposes, and on the other side may be put down
what has been expended, and from time to time a balance may be struck. The
amount thus put aside for the Lord is of course faithfully to be used for Him,
else it would be mocking God; and therefore, instead of obtaining a blessing,
it would rather be a curse."
"Am I to give with the idea of being repaid
by the Lord?" a friend asked this man of prayer.
"Though we should never
give," he responded, "for the sake of being repaid by the Lord, still,
this will be the case, if we give from the right motives. It is God's own
declaration that it will be so. This is plainly to be gathered from the
following passages...'Give, and it shall be given unto you.'...'He that hath
pity on the poor, lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will He
pay him again.'"...
From his own experience and through the many letters
he received he was well able to give testimony as to the blessing which comes
from systematic giving.
"I enclose a Post Office Order for L5," writes
an Irish manufacturer, "which by the blessing of Almighty God, I am enabled to
send you this year. You will no doubt remember that the first sum I sent to you
was 5s., I think now four years ago; and, indeed at that time it was a large
sum for me to send....
"For some years previous to the time I sent you
the first amount I was at times much perplexed over the subject of giving; and
the end of my reasoning was always that a person so straitened in circumstances
as I was then, was not called upon to give. I kept this opinion until one of
your Reports fell into my hands, and from the accounts contained therein, was
encouraged to send you the first amount of 5s. Soon after I thought my
circumstances got somewhat easier....I have proved that just as I give the
Lord gives in return....I sometimes withheld when I ought not, and just as I
withheld, the Lord in His infinite mercy withheld also....But above all, I have
to thank God that my spiritual condition is much improved since I began to
give."
"Since I began to devote a regular proportion of my earnings to
the cause of God," wrote a donor from Orkney, whose gift amounted to $15, "He
has, I rejoice to say, greatly increased both my ability and desire to do
so."
On Proportionate Giving
One man sent Mr. Muller a Paisley shawl, worth about $25, and
with the gift enclosed a note, saying, "It is now about ten years since I first
adopted the principle of proportionate giving....Prior to that I used to
wonder, with every sovereign I gave, whether I was not doing more than was
prudent, and the result was I had little pleasure in giving. Now, however,
having been greatly prospered in business, I find myself able to give fourfold
what I did, and can understand better what is meant by the blessedness of
giving.
....The adoption of the principle of proportionate giving has
enabled me on the one hand to guide my affairs with discretion, and on the
other to refrain from 'robbing God.'"
Obtaining Gifts God's Way
Mr. Muller was a stickler for obtaining gifts in God's way. "It
is not enough," he says, "to obtain means for the work of God, but that these
means should be obtained God's way. To ask unbelievers for means is not
God's way; to press even believers to give is not God's way; but the duty and
privilege of being allowed to contribute to the work of God should be pointed
out, and this should be followed up with earnest prayer, believing prayer, and
will result in the desired end."
This is a plan which he practiced
throughout his life. Not once, even when asked to do so, did he ever tell
anyone how pressing or how great were the needs. He always told this to the
Lord, and expected God to move upon someone to supply those needs.
He
often thought that giving in adversity would prove a greater blessing than
giving in prosperity. Giving in adversity, when needs were pressing, shows that
one truly trusts in God for supplying his daily needs, while giving in
prosperity places upon the giver no particular hardship.
He never
hoarded, for when one hoards, he affirms, God would send him to his laid-up
treasures rather than to his knees in the time of need. "I have every reason to
believe," he testifies, "that, had I begun to lay up, the Lord would have
stopped the supplies....Let no one profess to trust in God, and yet lay up for
the future wants, otherwise the Lord will first send him to the hoard he has
amassed, before he can answer the prayer for more." [This is not condemning
normal budgeting for weekly, monthly and quarterly expenses, and even the
yearly car insurance bills we all face.]
Even to the smallest items, Mr.
Muller believed that he was God's steward. He did not think that he owned, or
possessed anything only as they came as gifts from the Lord to be used for
God's service.
"It is the Lord's order," he observes, "that, in whatever
way He is pleased to make us His stewards, whether as to temporal or spiritual
things, if we are indeed acting as stewards and not as owners, he will make us
stewards over more....
"Even in this life, as to temporal things, the
Lord is pleased to repay those who act for Him as stewards...
Your
Church Got Needs? Try this: "When needs were pressing, Mr. Muller would
call the staff together for prayer, and often on getting off their knees, dray
wagons would be seen backing up to the kitchen door, loaded with buns, bread,
apples, cakes, potatoes, boxes of soap, sacks of peas, haunches of venison,
rabbits and pheasants, and every other conceivable edible article."...
"Thus from year to year did God supply the needs out of thousands of bountiful
storehouses which were consecrated to his work. When a need existed Mr. Muller
would pray diligently for it, and shortly near by or thousands of miles
distant, God would put it in the heart of some person to supply it. For more
than sixty-three years God matched every petition of Mr. Muller with its
appropriate gift."
Part II
The Christian's obligation in Gifts and
Giving
A study of tithing, God's Biblical standard of giving
Malachi 3:8-11. "Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me!
But you say, 'In what way have we robbed You?' 'In tithes and offerings. You
are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation. Bring
all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and
prove Me now in this,' says the Lord of hosts, 'If I will not open for you the
windows of heaven and pour out for you such a blessing that there will not be
room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so
that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to
bear fruit for you in the field,' says the Lord of hosts; 'And all nations will
call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land,' says the Lord of hosts."
Now in language, this seems to be addressing "the nation of Israel", or
at this time, the nation of "Judah" (Israel having been taken into captivity in
721b.c. by Assyria). But we find a few verses later a passage that many
Christian pastors and teachers correctly interpret as addressing Christians in
the church age. If this passage addresses Christians, as many teach and
believe, then Malachi 3:8-11 is also spoken to Christians as well as it's
originally intended audience of Jews during Malachi's time in Jewish history.
Let's look at this passage of Scripture. Malachi 3:16-18 states, "Then those
who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord listened and heard them;
So a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and
who meditate on His name. 'They shall be Mine,' says the Lord of hosts, 'On the
day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them as a man spares his own
son who serves him.' Then you shall again discern between the righteous and the
wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him." As I said,
most Christian teachers interpret this passage as being spoken to and aimed at
Christians, not Jews. What is the time when the Lord makes up His Jewels? Isn't
it found in 1 Corinthians 15:49-56, Revelation 5:9-10; 19:7-21? So then,
Malachi 3:8-11 also applies to Christians, being a part of the very same
chapter that the Lord's comments about "making up his jewels" appear in.
Now we know a tithing structure was commanded and set up for the
theocratic nation of Israel in Moses time. Tithing was a commanded part of the
Old Covenant Law of God commanded to Israel at Sinai. We'll read the actual
commands later. But when that covenant ceased, so did the tithing command
unless we can find a transference of that command into the new covenant. The
apostle Paul was the great explainer of the principles and commands of the new
covenant law of God, which is the law of God restored to its higher spiritual
intent at Jesus' death and resurrection, and applies to all Christians
everywhere and of every age. Romans is one of the greatest epistles for
explaining the gospel of Christ and new covenant law of God in action. Hebrews
is another epistle where Paul really gets into some solid explanations of other
parts of the new covenant law of God, also called the law of Christ. So we must
prove that the authority to levy tithes has somehow, somewhere, been
transferred over to the Christian church as a whole. Otherwise the tithing
command is merely an obsolete part of God's Old Covenant Law commanded to the
nation of Israel at Sinai (sort of like a tax law which is no longer necessary,
since the nation the tax law existed for was no longer in existence [it wasn't
until 1948], and is no longer a theocratic government. So we must look for a
transference of the tithing command somewhere in the New Testament writings
before the destruction of Jerusalem and the Levitical Priesthood that had the
right to levy tithes from the people of Israel, now the Jews.
Turn in
your Bibles to Hebrews 6:19-20; 7:1-28. We read "This hope we have as an anchor
of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the
veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High
Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. For this Melchizedek,
king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the
slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham gave a
tenth part of all, first being translated 'king of righteousness,' and
then also king of Salem, meaning 'king of peace,' without father, without
mother, without geneology, having neither beginning of days nor end of life,
but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually. Now consider how
great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the
spoils. And indeed those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the
priesthood, have a commandment to receive tithes from the people according to
the law, that is, from their brethren, though they have come from the loins of
Abraham; but he whose geneology is not derived from them received tithes from
Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. Now beyond all
contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better. Here mortal men receive
tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives.
Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to
speak, for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met
him." So we have established that Abraham paying tithes to Melchizedek
was a far higher order of paying tithes than the people of Israel paying tithes
to Levi, who was still in Abraham's loins, unborn as yet for two generations,
Levi being one of Abraham's great-grandchildren, sons of Jacob. So we must look
for a priesthood of the order of Melchizedek to supersede that of the
priesthood of Levi. If this can be established, then what Paul has just stated
here is that the tithes are now to go to this higher order priesthood, that of
Melchizedek. Let's read further in verses 11-28 and see how Paul shows the
establishment of the priesthood of Melchizedek. "Therefore, if perfection were
through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law),
what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the
order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron?
For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change
of the law." What law? What law has Paul been talking about from
verses 1-9 of Hebrews 7? Taken in context with those previous verses, the only
law of God being discussed was the law of tithing. So this whole chapter is
discussing the changing of the tithing law, and more precisely the transference
of the right to tithe from one priesthood to another higher order of
priesthood. Let's keep reading. "For He of whom these things are spoken belongs
to another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the altar. For it is
evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing
concerning priesthood. And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of
Melchizedek, there arises another priest who has come, not according to the law
of fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life. For he
testifies:
'You
are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek'
[Psalm 110:4]
For on the one hand there is an annulment of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God." Now some might say that Paul is annulling the tithing commandment here. But reading further into chapter 8 of Hebrews shows Paul is stating that the whole old covenant Law of God has been disannulled and superceded by a greater new covenant law. The parameters of these changes are explained in the book of Hebrews. But here Paul is showing that the right to tithe has been transferred to another priesthood. Now he's about to show that the old Levitical priesthood has been superceded by a far greater High Priest and priesthood. Let's keep reading. "And inasmuch as He was not made priest without an oath (for they have become priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said to Him:
"The
Lord has sworn and will not relent,
'You are a priest forever according to
the order of Melchizedek'"
[Psalm 110:4]
by
so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant. And there were
many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. But He,
because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is
also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He
ever lives to make intercession for them. For such a High Priest was fitting
for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become
higher than the heavens; who does not need daily, as those high priests, to
offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people's, for this
He did once for all when He offered up Himself. For the law appoints as high
priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the
law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever." So you can see by
context, the "commandment" that is being annulled is the entire old covenant
commandment system of law that are not carried over in the New Testament
writings, and are referred to as "the law of Christ." Paul has previously shown
in Hebrews 7:1-12 that the right to levy tithes has passed to the priesthood of
the order of Melchizedek--the law was changed, vs. 12. Now he has just shown us
that the Levitical priesthood has been superceded by a higher priesthood, the
order of Melchizedek, and that the whole old covenant law of Moses has been
annulled. Also there is a permanent High Priest of the order of Melchizedek,
Jesus Christ. (Read Hebrews 8 to see Paul's description of the new covenant
replacing the old.) Turn now to Hebrews 4:14-16 and let's read, "Seeing then
that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the
Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest
who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we
are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that
we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
So we see
Paul spelling out an important change of the right to levy tithes from the old
Levitical priesthood, to the new covenant order of Melchizedek, with Jesus as
High Priest of this order. Christian pastors and organizations that are truly
of Christ all fall under this order of Melchizedek and have the right to levy
tithes of their members. It's that simple. But Paul stated in his epistles that
although he had this right to levy tithes of the churches he established, he
chose not to exercise this right, but to work by hand himself to support his
ministry that no one be stumbled by thinking he was "making a living off of
them." But he stated elsewhere that the ox that treads the corn was not to be
muzzled. As we saw and read in Part I, George Muller showed us the central
attitude churches and Christian organizations ought to have and demonstrate in
seeking support from their members. Paul set the same example here as well,
trusting entirely to God for his welfare and support. So there is a very
critical balance between the giver and receiver in the area of tithes, gifts
and giving. The receiver has an obligation to refrain from demanding tithes and
offerings and trust to God for them, and the giver has an obligation to give
tithes, the basic pattern of giving God has established for His people. Many
Christian organizations don't fully follow this balance, but it is Scriptural.
Now let's take that look at the old covenant tithe structure and how it
originated.
Abraham tithed to the One who become Jesus:
Genesis 14:18-20. "Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread
and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said:
'Blessed
be Abram of God Most High,
possessor of heaven and earth;
And blessed
be God Most High,
Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.'
And
he gave him a tithe of all."
The
Israelites commanded to tithe to the Levites: Numbers 18:21,24.
"Behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tithes in Israel as an
inheritance in return for the work which they perform, the work of the
tabernacle of meeting...For the tithes of the children of Israel, which they
offer up as a heave offering to the Lord, I have given to the Levites as an
inheritance; therefore I have said to them, 'Among the children of Israel they
shall have no inheritance.'"
The Levites commanded to tithe to
the house of Aaron (from which the Levitical priests were reckoned and came
from). 1st Tithe: Numbers 18:25-28. "Then the Lord spoke to Moses,
saying, 'Speak to the Levites, and say to them: 'When you take from the
children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them as your
inheritance, then you shall offer up a heave offering of it to the Lord, a
tenth of the tithe. And your heave offering shall be reckoned to you as though
it were the grain of the threshing floor and as the fullness of the winepress.
Thus you shall offer a heave offering to the Lord from all your tithes which
you receive from the children of Israel, and you shall give the Lord's heave
offering from it to Aaron the priest."
As we will see a little bit
later, the major portion or dollar value of a person's tithes was the tithe of
cattle and livestock, and we will see that the theocratic nation of Israel had
three tithes. That will be explained later. But next we're going to see how the
cattle were tithed on.
Leviticus 27:30,32. "And all the tithe of the
land, whether of seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord's:
it is holy unto the Lord...And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the
flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto
the Lord." I.e. a guy would guide his herd through a restriction one by one,
under a rod. Every tenth animal was the Lord's, regardless whether it was good
or bad.
2nd Tithe
The second tithe, as we shall
see, was to be saved by the Israelites to enable them to be able to attend the
feasts of the Lord (mentioned in Leviticus 23), the main feast requiring
sustenance or money being the feast of Tabernacles in the fall. The law of the
firstborn covered the meat portion of this second tithe to be saved for feasts.
As we shall see, the males went to God, and we're given to the Levites for
their 2nd tithe. Thus they didn't have to save a second tithe. The first-born
females were saved for the individual's 2nd tithe, to be taken to the feasts.
They could be sold and converted to money and that money taken to the feasts,
or a portion could be sold and converted to money, whatever the person desired.
But the first-born females or money from their sale had to be taken to the
feasts. The firstborn males had to be given to the Lord, i.e. the Levites, and
was for their second tithe for the Holy Day seasons. Let's read the Scriptures
showing this. We find this going back to Abel.
Genesis 4:4. "And Abel,
he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the
Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering..." Leviticus 27:26. "Only the
firstling of the beasts, which should be the Lord's firstling, no man shall
sanctify it: whether it be ox, or sheep; it is the Lord's." Exodus
13:1-2,12-13. "And the Lord spoke unto Moses, saying, 'Sanctify unto me all the
firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of
man and beast: it is mine...That thou shalt set apart unto the Lord all that
openeth the matrix, and every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast;
the males shall be the Lord's. And every firstling of an ass
thou shalt redeem with a lamb...and all the firstborn of man among thy children
shall thou redeem." By inference, and the Jews will confirm this, the female
firstborn were kept and set aside for the individual's 2nd tithe in cattle.
Only was a literal tithe taken of the cattle for first tithe. A second full
tithe of cattle was not required, only the firstborn were required to be set
aside, males to the Levites, females for your own 2nd tithe on the hoof for
Holy Day seasons.
The Levites take the place of the firstborn
of the Israelite male children: (that's why they were to be redeemed.)
Numbers 8:15-18. "And after that shall the Levites go in to do the service of
the tabernacle of the congregation: and thou shalt cleanse them, and offer them
for an offering [a living offering, not sacrificed like cattle. Cf. Romans
12:1-2]. For they are wholly given unto me from among the children of Israel;
instead of such as open every womb, even instead of the firstborn of all the
children of Israel, have I taken them unto me. For all the firstborn of the
children of Israel are mine, both man and beast: on the day that I smote every
firstborn in the land of Egypt I sanctified them for myself. And I have taken
the Levites for all the firstborn of the children of Israel.
2nd and 3d tithe explained:
Deuteronomy 14:22-27.
"Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth
forth year by year. And thou shalt eat before the Lord thy God, in the place
which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy
wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks: that
thou mayest learn to fear the Lord they God always. And if the way be too long
for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it; or if the place be too far
from thee, which the Lord thy God shall choose to set him name there, when the
Lord thy God hath blessed thee: then shalt thou turn it into money, and bind up
the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which the Lord thy God
shall choose: and thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth
after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for
whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the Lord thy God,
and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household. And the Levite that is
within thy gates ["within thy gates" i.e. living within your local town or
community]; thou shalt not forsake him; for he hath no part nor inheritance
with thee. [i.e. be liberal with your 2nd tithe. He only gets the firstborn
males--no corn, wine or oil--so give him some.] Deuteromy 12:17-19. "Thou
mayest not eat within thy gates the tithe of thy corn, or of thy wine, or of
thy oil, or the firstlings of thy herds or of thy flock, nor any of thy vows
which thou vowest, nor thy freewill offerings, or heave offering of thine hand:
but thou must eat them before the Lord thy God in the place which the Lord thy
God shall choose, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and
thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates: and thou shalt
rejoice before the Lord thy God in all that thou puttest thine hands unto. Take
heed to thyself that thou forsake not the Levite as long as thou livest upon
the earth." It becomes obvious that this "tithe of thy corn, and of thy wine,
and of thy oil and firstlings of thy herd [males for the Levites, females for
the individual]" is referring to a second tithe which was to be taken to the
major feasts of Israel spelled out in Leviticus 23. The two major feast seasons
were Passover and the 7 days of Unleavened Bread and the Feast of Tabernacles.
All Israel was to go to the place the Lord placed his name at and attend these
Holy Days, called the Feasts of the Lord. Historically, we can see that this
place was Jerusalem at the Temple Solomon built, and in the time of Jesus, the
Temple that Herod embellished on the same site as Solomon's Temple. There
appears to be no first tithe of corn, wine and oil, or seed and fruit trees.
Just a first tithe or tenth of every animal passing under the rod. The big
dollar value in tithes was always cattle and sheep, not the corn, wine and oil.
Cattle and sheep could be sold and the money used to buy the other items. The
Levitical priesthood ran the ministry of the Lord and ministered to the people
of Israel for the Lord. Their pay was every tenth animal going under the rod.
Now a 3rd tithe is mentioned.
A 3rd tithe:
Deuteronomy 14:28-29. "At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the
tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates:
and the Levite, (because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee,) and the
stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates [i.e.
within your town, community], shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that
the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou
doest."
This according to Jewish scholars was a third tithe, separate
from the 1st and 2nd. It wasn't the first tithe now put aside for a different
use. It was a welfare tithe, required of a person every third year. The Lord
put a great deal of emphasis on taking care of the fatherless and widows, both
in the Old Testament and New Testament (read I Timothy 5:3-8, 16 where Timothy
as a pastor is charged with taking care of widows, if the widow's family
can't). But as can be surmised, these 3 tithes were part of the ancient
theocratic government of Israel's tax code for the running of a nation. The
religious teachers and instructors that taught the Law of the Land, the Law of
God, to the people were the Levites and the Levitical Priesthood. The tithes
paid for their support. The Word and Law of God was taught at the Holy Days and
Festival seasons, and the 2nd tithe guaranteed each Israelite had the funds to
attend, no excuses. Romans 14 points out that the keeping of Sabbaths and Holy
Days is now voluntary, and we find Jewish Christians, then and now observing
them, and Gentile Christians not doing so. We all have that freedom in Christ
as spelled out by the apostle Paul in Romans 14 to do as we please in that
area. If one wants to save a 2nd tithe to enable the observing of these days,
that is a totally voluntary thing, and no such new covenant requirement exists.
As we have seen, the right to levy tithes has passed from the Levitical
Priesthood to the Priesthood of Melchizedek (Jesus Christ). Jesus set the
example through the apostle Paul that this priesthood of Melchizedek is not to
be pushy or greedy in demanding their portion or tithe, and more recently
George Mueller made the same strong statements as Paul did through his life. So
in Part I we saw the proper attitude that Christian churches and organizations
are to have toward seeking the tithe/offerings of their flocks. The reason so
many people are mistrustful of giving to Christian churches and organizations
is mainly due to the attitude they exhibit in either demanding their portion or
in the plain greed exhibited by some less than reputable televangelists. The
body of Christ must strive to correct this nasty public image. In this Part II
we have seen the obligation of the Christian to give to the new covenant
priesthood of Melchizedek, i.e. the Christian church and/or denomination he or
she may belong to, the organization that spiritually feeds that individual.
The major portion of the Christian's tithe/offering should go to the
Christian church and/or denomination that spiritually nourishes him or her.
George Mueller stated, "We consider every believer bound...to help the cause of
Christ."
[There are some commentaries that do not believe that
Hebrews 7:1-28 is trying to prove that the right to levy tithes had been passed
from the Levitical Priesthood to the Priesthood of Melchizedek. There are other
evangelical commentaries that do believe Hebrews 7:1-28 is indeed trying to
show this. I have chosen to go along with those that do believe this to be the
case, as this is the middle of the road in the question of Christian giving. If
one does a careful study of everything Jesus said about how much we ought to be
willing to give, one will find that the percentage goes way above the one-tenth
tithe requirement of the Old Testament--as he brought out in giving the example
of the one widow who gave all she had. Many Christians give much less than a
tithe to the cause of Jesus Christ (and the churches they attend). Some very
few give far more than 10 percent. In my estimation, tithing should be the
minimum baseline of the average Christian. Often times many of us must give
that tenth (even taken from the net of our pay) in faith that the Lord will
make up the difference, knowing full well if we give that 10 percent our
budgets are broken. But in my own personal experience God always makes up the
difference. So for many of us Christians, giving a tenth becomes an act of
faith, and God rewards faith. Malachi 3:8-11 is a very good description of some
of the rewards God attaches to our faith in giving when we do it knowing full
well we can't afford it. For others, better off than most of us, a tithe is
very affordable, and that is where Jesus' higher standards of giving come into
play, if you will. This article about tithing then is primarily intended to set
a middle of the road standard.]
Part III
Who Should We Give To?
The
major portion of one's tithe/offerings should always go to the Christian
organization that most nourishes that individual spiritually. Paul said that
the church is the mother of us all, i.e. our spiritual Mom. God is our Father
in heaven who begot us. We were born-again into the church, the body of Christ.
We each have different Mom's in the sense that some of us were born into
different Christian churches than others. So whoever was or is currently
functioning as your spiritual Mom, providing weekly nourishment through a
pastor and church services, Bible studies, prayer-meetings etc., that is the
Christian organization that should receive the major portion of your
tithe/offerings.
As mentioned before, a whole host of quality Christian
evangelical and teaching ministries have sprung up around the world, and a lot
of them are non-denominational or inter-denominational. They all serve to
spread the gospel and help nourish and disciple Christians around the world. As
such, they also are worthy of our financial attention as well as our prayers.
So a Christian should also consider donating a smaller portion of his or her
tithe/offerings (I would say no more than one third) to a worthy Christian
evangelical or teaching ministry that benefits the whole body of Christ across
denominational lines. [i.e. I donate about 12 dollars a week to the JESUS Film
Project, and the rest of my tithe/offering goes to the church I attend.] George
Mueller set this example for us by donating a portion of the funds given to him
for his Christian work and orphan houses, and he donated it to qualified
Christian evangelical and teaching ministries. To name just a few that I have
come across that are reputable and worthy in both these categories:
So
we see that other than the churches and denominations we belong to that should
be receiving the major portion of our tithe/offerings, there are deserving
quality Christian organizations that one can and should give a smaller portion
of those tithe/offerings to. As George Mueller stated, such organizations, like
the few listed above, should be wholly and completely run and founded by
Christians, and they should believe and teach the gospel of Jesus Christ.
There are plenty of small Christian teaching ministries that are also
worthy of our support, but often go unnoticed. There is nothing wrong with
giving a smaller portion of your tithe/offerings to these as well. The ultimate
choice is yours. The body of Christ is starting to move and function
inter-denominationally and the flow of funding is vital to the Work Jesus is
now performing through these varied works of his. Don't miss out on the
opportunity to serve and assist the Works Jesus is doing around the world. Let
God's Spirit and Word be your guide. I have noticed that some of these
organizations (unlike the principles of George Mueller), have to advertise
their needs amongst other Christians and Christian groups to obtain sufficient
funding. This is not wrong and probably necessary because they are not a
denomination or church with a wide base of givers supporting them. Their asking
is essential to the furtherance of the works the Lord is working through them,
and should not to be confused with the grabbing attitude displayed by less than
reputable televangelists who ask and beg the public for money. [ABOUT THIS WEBSITE]
Editor
UNITYINCHRIST.COM
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