What were you taught about Tithing, Offerings or Giving?

For me, I never questioned tithing. If God said to do it, we do it. This is what I was taught.

And I did tithe… many times to the detriment of our lifestyle. Sure, I had to learn to budget better, not lust after material things and learn to go without or feed the desire for instant gratification – all good things to learn by the way.

Then one day, when things were going well, I thought, “Tithing places a limitation on my giving. What if I wanted to give more than 10%?”

The answer I was told is that you can ‘give’ over your 10% – that’s just called an “offering“.

And, what if I wanted to split my tithe between two ‘storehouses’ e.g. my church that feeds me and say ‘give’ to a mission organisation feeding the poor?

I was told all sorts of things around that question. Most confusing.

Tithing, offerings and giving?!

Thus I thought, “I know, I’ll read my Bible for myself and see what it says…”

Tithe – First Mention

Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything – the first tithe and that was to a priest.

After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything. (Gen 14:17-20)

Melchizedek must have been eminently righteous to have earned such titles as “King of Righteousness” and “King of Peace.” He stood alone in his office, as priest of the Most High God. He was known by undeniable tokens as the man whom God had consecrated to be His priest.

Notice Melchizedek was a Royal Priest – like Christ. Melchizedek brought out bread and wine – symbols of Christ, and blessed Abram.

And Abram’s response was to, first, give a tenth of everything (his spoils of war). Then, second, with the remainder of his spoils, in verses 21-24, he chose to return it to the king he had conquered.

Jacob at Bethal makes a deal with God and committed to give ‘a tenth’

Jacob at Bethal committed to give ‘a tenth’ of all God gave him to God’s household and those within it.

He called that place Bethel, though the city used to be called Luz. Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father’s household, then the LORD will be my God and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.” (Gen 28:19-22)

Commandments from Torah

The following are from the commands the LORD gave Moses at Mount Sinai for the Israelites.

“‘A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD. (Lev 27:30)

It is the Lords and it is holy… if you want to use it, you have to repay it with an additional 20% added.

Whoever would redeem any of their tithe must add a fifth of the value to it. Every tithe of the herd and flock–every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd’s rod–will be holy to the LORD. No one may pick out the good from the bad or make any substitution. If anyone does make a substitution, both the animal and its substitute become holy and cannot be redeemed.'” (Lev 27:31-33)

The Levite priests received, from the Israelites, the tithe as their wages for the work they did at the tent of meeting. The tithe was for them and their household. Then, the Levite Priests gave a tithe of their tithe (the Lord’s portion) to Aaron the head priest.

The LORD said to Moses, “Speak to the Levites and say to them: ‘When you receive from the Israelites the tithe I give you as your inheritance, you must present a tenth of that tithe as the LORD’s offering. Your offering will be reckoned to you as grain from the threshing floor or juice from the winepress. In this way you also will present an offering to the LORD from all the tithes you receive from the Israelites. From these tithes you must give the LORD’s portion to Aaron the priest. You must present as the LORD’s portion the best and holiest part of everything given to you.’ “Say to the Levites: ‘When you present the best part, it will be reckoned to you as the product of the threshing floor or the winepress. You and your households may eat the rest of it anywhere, for it is your wages for your work at the tent of meeting. By presenting the best part of it you will not be guilty in this matter; then you will not defile the holy offerings of the Israelites, and you will not die.'” (Num 18:25-32)

The Israelites were given this specific Tithing Command:

(a) Set aside a tithe of all produced for each year, then you and your whole household¹Household – this included the family and the business of the family, inclusive of the workers, and the Levite within your gates (see Deut 12:18). consume (eat) it as you see fit!
(b) Then, every third year, take the tithe for that year and store it in the town (local congregation) for foreigners, fatherless, widows,(those in need. abandoned) and the Levites.

Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year. Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and olive oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the LORD your God at the place²Place – mfqm (מקום M-QWM) – Place: A place one rises up to. [freq. 402] |kjv: place, home, room, open, space, country| {str: H4725} he will choose as a dwelling for his Name,³Dwelling for His Name: a place where God’s honour, character and authority is present. It is not in your home, but external to it. The temple. Today this would equate to your local congregation in the local church. so that you may learn to revere the LORD your God always. But if that place is too distant and you have been blessed by the LORD your God and cannot carry your tithe (because the place where the LORD will choose to put his Name is so far away), then exchange your tithe for silver, and take the silver with you and go to the place the LORD your God will choose. Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice. And do not neglect the Levites living in your towns, for they have no allotment or inheritance of their own. At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year‘s produce and store it in your towns, so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. (Deu 14:22-29)

The Third year, the year of the tithe, you give it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied …and you will be blessed!

When you have finished setting aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied. Then say to the LORD your God: “I have removed from my house the sacred portion and have given it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, according to all you commanded. I have not turned aside from your commands nor have I forgotten any of them. I have not eaten any of the sacred portion while I was in mourning, nor have I removed any of it while I was unclean, nor have I offered any of it to the dead. I have obeyed the LORD my God; I have done everything you commanded me. Look down from heaven, your holy dwelling place, and bless your people Israel and the land you have given us as you promised on oath to our ancestors, a land flowing with milk and honey.” (Deu 26:12-15)

Note that for 6 years they tithed. But in the 7th year the land rested. So, no tithe in the 7th Year as all is consumed within the household only and not harvested.

But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest to the land, a sabbath for Jehovah. You shall neither sow your field, nor prune your vineyard. You shall not reap that which grows of its own accord of your harvest, neither gather the grapes of your undressed vine. It is a year of rest to the land. And the sabbath of the land shall be food for you, for you and for your servant, and for your slave woman and for your hired servant, and for your stranger who stays with you, and for your cattle, and for the beast that is in your land, shall all the increase of it be for food. (Lev 25:4-7 MKJV)

It is the same for the Jubilee Year (the year after 49 years), the 50th Year. No Tithe. So, the 49th year & the 50th Year there is no tithe. All of that which grows of its own accord is for food (consumption) and not profit (reaping).

The last Jubilee year was 1996 A.D., the next is 2045 A.D.. Jubilee Year is a time to forgive debts.

That fiftieth year shall be a jubilee to you. You shall not sow, neither reap that which grows of itself in it, nor gather in it of your undressed vine. For it is the jubilee. It shall be holy to you. You shall eat the increase of it out of the field. (Lev 25:11-12 MKJV)

They also gave 3 offerings each year as well!

Concerning the Feasts, Scripture is rather clear that three times a year, men of God should appear before their Heavenly Father… and, they should not appear empty-handed:

Three times in a year shall all your males appear before Jehovah your God in the place which He shall choose: in the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and in the Feast of Weeks, and in the Feast of Tabernacles. And they shall not appear before Jehovah empty, but each with his gift in his hand, according to the blessing of Jehovah your God, which He has given you. (Deuteronomy 16:16-17 MKJV)

They also paid to the King (TAX)

The warning against having kings over us (instead of the Lord) costs us. For the Israelites, it was 10%.

He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use. He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. (1Sa 8:15-17)

Today we have to pay the government TAX (way more than 10%!) – render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s.

And answering Jesus said to them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. And they marvelled at Him. (Mar 12:17 MKJV)

Israelites also put commands upon themselves (not God) – 33% Giving/Year

The Israelites also put commands upon themselves (not God). For example, they paid an offering of 33% of their income to the House of their God to cover the cost for all the celebrations and work of the house of God.

Also we put commands upon ourselves, to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God, for the showbread, and for the continual meal offering, and for the continual burnt offering, of the sabbaths, of the new moons, for the set feasts, and for the holy things, and for the sin offerings to make an atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God. (Neh 10:32-33 MKJV)

Storeroom Implemented & Tithe of a Tithe

Then the concept of the Storeroom was implemented… plus a tithe of a tithe to a Treasury Storehouse.

“Moreover, we will bring to the storerooms of the house of our God, to the priests, the first of our ground meal, of our grain offerings, of the fruit of all our trees and of our new wine and olive oil. And we will bring a tithe of our crops to the Levites, for it is the Levites who collect the tithes in all the towns where we work. A priest descended from Aaron is to accompany the Levites when they receive the tithes, and the Levites are to bring a tenth of the tithes up to the house of our God, to the storerooms of the treasury. (Neh 10:37-38)

Storeroom created to organise the abundant giving of tithes and offerings.

As soon as the order went out, the Israelites generously gave the firstfruits of their grain, new wine, olive oil and honey and all that the fields produced. They brought a great amount, a tithe of everything. (2Chron 31:5)
…and Azariah the chief priest, from the family of Zadok, answered, “Since the people began to bring their contributions to the temple of the LORD, we have had enough to eat and plenty to spare, because the LORD has blessed his people, and this great amount is left over.” Hezekiah gave orders to prepare storerooms in the temple of the LORD, and this was done. Hezekiah gave orders to prepare storerooms in the temple of the LORD, and this was done. Then they faithfully brought in the contributions, tithes and dedicated gifts. Konaniah, a Levite, was the overseer in charge of these things, and his brother Shimei was next in rank. (2Chron 31:10-12)

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse (don’t rob God)

Robbing God…. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse. So the Temple and its workers were fed.

“Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse–your whole nation–because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the LORD Almighty. “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the LORD Almighty. (Mal 3:8-12)

Then, Jesus turned up!

Who was not to Neglect the Tithe?

Jesus, said to the teachers of the law and Pharisees not to neglect the tithe as per Torah⁴Torah is the First Five Books of the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament. Also known as the Pentateuch. !

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices–mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law–justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. (Mat 23:23)

The Pharisee tithed.

The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people–robbers, evildoers, adulterers–or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ (Luk 18:11-12)

In both cases above, Jesus was talking to those who were under the Law which meant they were legally obligated to the letter of the Law to work out their salvation through works alone.

Jesus, the High Priest… what does that mean to us?

This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever. Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people–that is, from their fellow Israelites–even though they also are descended from Abraham. This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. And without doubt the lesser is blessed by the greater. In the one case, the tenth is collected by people who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living. One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor. If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood–and indeed the law given to the people established that priesthood–why was there still need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also. He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. For it is declared: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God. And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: ‘You are a priest forever.'” Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant. Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Such a high priest truly meets our need–one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever. (Heb 7:1-28)

Just as Abraham freely gave Mechezadek (a Priest) a tenth of everything from the spoils of war, maybe we too give, not out of obligation or by Law, but freely give unto Jesus, now our High Priest, a tenth of everything from our spoils of ‘war’ (work).

What we are exhorted to do.

We are exhorted to ‘share’, make contribution:

But do not forget to do good and to share⁵Share – G2842 κοινωνία Transliteration: Koinonia (koy-nohn-ee’-ah) Definition: 1. fellowship, association, community, communion, joint participation, intercourse; a. the share which one has in anything, participation b. intercourse, fellowship, intimacy (i). the right hand as a sign and pledge of fellowship (in fulfilling the apostolic office) c. a gift jointly contributed, a collection, a contribution, as exhibiting an embodiment and proof of fellowship , for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. (Heb 13:16 MKJV)

Giving to ‘necessity’ ….

Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as regards giving and receiving, except you alone. For even in Thessalonica you sent once and again to my necessity. I do not say this because I desire a gift, but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. But I have all, and abound. I have been filled, having received from Epaphroditus the things which you sent, an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable and well-pleasing to God. But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Php 4:15-19 MKJV)

Generous giving…

And sitting down opposite the treasury, Jesus watched how the people threw copper coins into the treasury. And many rich ones threw in much. And a certain poor widow came, and she threw in two lepta, which is a kodrantes. And He called His disciples and said to them, Truly I say to you that this poor widow has cast in more than all those who have cast into the treasury. For all cast in from their abundance. But she, out of her poverty, has cast in all that she had, all her livelihood. (Mar 12:41-44 MKJV)

Generous giving and distribution to ensure all needs met…

For neither was anyone needy among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the prices of the things that were sold, and they laid them down at the apostles’ feet. And distribution was made to every man according as he had need. (Act 4:34-35 MKJV)

Therefore…

Our House first

For the ministry of this service not only supplies the things lacking of the saints, but also multiplying through many thanksgivings to God, through the proof of this ministry they glorify God for your freely expressed submission to the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of the fellowship toward them and toward all, (2 Corinthians 9:12-13 MKJV)

Who is our House?

It is all those who call this fellowship home – it is not all who gather here, but those who actively engaged with this House.

The House is defined by its Members (saints), then Believers(saints), then those (strangers) genuinely seeking and actively participating in the life of the church.

This includes the saints who have been gifted:

And truly He gave some to be apostles, and some to be prophets, and some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,(Eph 4:11 MKJV))

And those saints that work for the benefit of our house:

Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in Word and doctrine.(1Ti 5:17 MKJV)

In fact, all the saints have received ‘gifts’ or ‘talents’, according to their ability, for the benefit of the house:

To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. (Matthew 25:15-18 NIV)

The original apostles were sent out by Jesus with these instructions:

Do not provide gold nor silver, nor copper in your purses, nor a bag for the journey, nor two coats, nor sandals, nor staves. For the workman is worthy of his food. And into whatever city or village you enter, inquire who within it is worthy. And there abide until you go away from there. (Matthew 10:9-11 MKJV)
And remain in the same house, eating and drinking the things shared by them; for the laborer is worthy of his hire. Do not move from house to house. And into whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. (Luke 10:7-8 MKJV)

Wherever the workmen worked, they were to be looked after for they were worthy of their hire.

And if we desire to be worthy of the worker’s labour, share in the blessing of Peace, then we need to look after our workers. If we don’t ‘receive’ them, they can move on… at our loss.

And when you come into a house, greet it. And if the house is worthy, let your peace come on it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And whoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when you depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. (Matthew 10:12-14 MKJV)

Paul stayed with business people and worked for them as a means to pay his own way:

And after these things Paul departed from Athens and came to Corinth. And finding a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy with his wife Priscilla (because Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome) Paul came to them. And because he was of the same trade, he stayed and worked with them; for they were tentmakers by occupation. (Acts 18:1-3 MKJV)

Paul worked to pay his way; to meet his own needs. He saw this as his blessing that he participated in generous giving to the body of Christ

I have coveted no man’s silver or gold or apparel. Yea, you yourselves know that these hands have ministered to my needs, and to those who were with me. I have shown you all things, that working in this way we ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. (Acts 20:33-35 MKJV)

Paul also saw that by ‘paying his way’, he had the freedom to teach without any ties or strings attached and consequently God would receive all glory.

But I have used none of these things, nor have I written these things that it should be done so to me; for it is good for me rather to die than that anyone nullify my glorying. (1 Corinthians 9:15 MKJV)

It is important to note that this was possible for Paul as he was skilled as a tentmaker. He still stayed in homes under the hospitality of the householders and paid his way through working in their business. These business people were a worthy household.

Yet, while Paul chose not to be beholden to anyone, he makes it clear:

Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk? Do I say this merely from a human point of view? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing? For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it about oxen that God is concerned? Surely, he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us, because when the plowman plows and the thresher threshes, they ought to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ. Don’t you know that those who work in the temple get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.
(1 Corinthians 9:7-14 NIV)

Workers may receive their ‘living’ from the Gospel.

Today, churches or congregations are much larger and have much more complexities to operate in our modern-day society. As such, workers in the church are able to ‘live’ from the Gospel – a privileged position when paid to dedicate time toward the ministry of the church.

Why we give.

But I say this, He who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully. Each one, as he purposes in his heart, let him give; not of grief, or of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that in everything, always having all self-sufficiency, you may abound to every good work; As it is written, “He scattered; he has given to the poor; his righteousness remains forever.” Now He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for eating, may He supply and multiply your seed, and increase the fruits of your righteousness you being enriched in everything to all generosity, which works out thanksgiving to God through us. For the ministry of this service not only supplies the things lacking of the saints, but also multiplying through many thanksgivings to God, through the proof of this ministry they glorify God for your freely expressed submission to the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of the fellowship toward them and toward all, and in their prayer for you, who long after you, because of the exceeding grace of God on you. Thanks be to God for His unspeakable free gift. (2Co 9:6-15 MKJV)

It is a gift. To Share sincerely with generosity, a copious bestowal, liberally…

Then having gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, if prophecy, according to the proportion of faith; or ministry, in the ministry; or he who teaches, in the teaching; or he who exhorts, in the encouragement; or he who shares, in simplicity⁶Simplicity – G572 ἁπλότης – Transliteration: Haplotes (hap-lot’-ace)- Definition: 1. singleness, simplicity, sincerity, mental honesty a. the virtue of one who is free from pretense and hypocrisy 2. not self seeking, openness of heart manifesting itself by generosity (copious bestowal): – bountifulness liberal (-ity) ; or he who takes the lead, in diligence; or he who shows mercy, in cheerfulness.(Rom 12:6-8 MKJV)

Not only share what you have decided in your heart to give with generosity, but cheerfully

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2Co 9:7 NIV)

The marks of a true Christian… and note to whom

distributing to the needs of the saints, pursuing hospitality⁷Hospitality – G5381 Φιλονεξία – Transliteration: Philoxenia (fil-ox-en-ee’-ah) means: 1. love to strangers, hospitality – – entertain strangers hospitality. . (Rom 12:13 MKJV)

1. There should be no needs in our congregation of saints.
2. And we are to be also hospitable to the strangers… those who are not the saints in our midst.

And if we have abundance in our congregation, where are other saints in need that we may help? Those in the Mission Field. This is what Macedonia and Achaia did for the poor saints in Jerusalem – the gift was delivered by Paul:

But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. For it has pleased those of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints in Jerusalem. (Rom 15:25-26 MKJV)

Community, outside of our House

As an aside, and as we read about Samual’s warning about kings and Jesus’ position on giving to Caeser:

He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. Your menservants and maidservants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use. He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. (1 Samuel 8:15-17 NIV)

Then Jesus said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” ….
(Mark 12:17a NIV)

Today, the Government collects taxes that go toward helping the poor and needy. While some of our congregation may take up this support, our witness would be that they don’t need to, because we look after the saints! Because we are called to:

For, brothers, you were called to liberty. Only do not use the liberty for an opening to the flesh, but by love serve one another. (Gal 5:13 MKJV)

We are bound to thank God always for you, my brothers, as it is right, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of each one of you abounds toward one another; (2Th 1:3 MKJV)

For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; (1Jn 3:11 MKJV)

By this all shall know that you are My disciples, if you have love toward one another. (Joh 13:35 MKJV)

Our community about us, the one we are to witness to, will know, and without doubt, we are Disciples of Jesus Christ because of the love we have for one another… and the proof of our Ministry outworking the Gospel, is that all the saint’s needs, are met.

This is our witness to the wider community.

The witness is attractive and lifts the desire to be a part of our house – this for many may well be the means in which God calls them into relationship with Him. What better place for them to discover than the church. We are reminded:

… I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18b MKJV)

Therefore…

We share what we have decided in our heart to give, cheerfully and generously.

We are blessed with all self-sufficiency and can therefore abound to every good work.

We pay our Taxes for the benefit of our community.

Our ministry of service supplies things lacking for the saints, and toward the proof of the ministry outworking the Gospel e.g. our workers of the Gospel i.e. staff, feeding our poor amongst us, looking after the single mums or dads doing it tough, elderly widows, unemployed, sick or disabled; wherever there are needs of the saints. There we are to meet those needs!

And if we abound richly, then to help the saints elsewhere. That is, other Missionaries or Ministries.

Then, after all that, and only if it progresses the Gospel, we may help the needy, poor, widows etc., in the wider community.

Let’s now let’s return to: A Menu of Important Things.