If you give anything to or for God or His purpose because you have to, don't bother, it means nothing to God.
Its not what you give but how you give.
God finds joy in our actions when and only when they come from the heart; actions of love, thanksgiving, joyful charity, faith.
(Isaiah1, Psalms40, Hebrews10)
I used to give from fear because the pulpit taught me that the more I gave the greater God would bless me and that if I missed the opportunity to give, I would miss the blessing. In other words, God would hold back grace.
How ridiculous!
When I did give it was only cash in the plate because I believed it was between God and I.
I was wrong.
The church uses my tithing to set their budget and its tax deductible meaning that what I give is partially given back by the Government.
Should we not claim it as a deduction or pay it back to the church, for it no longer adds up to the perceived obligation of tithing.
Yes, sarcasm.
Even then there were times I missed church or could not give what I didn't have. Then one day the church sent me a letter wanting me to see the elders because I was not giving enough. I left that church and stopped going to church for years after.
I became angry about it because I was really trying my best to give beyond my means. I was not making enough to make ends meet as it was. Now the shame was worse because I was robbing God and felt He was angry with me, the church sure was.
Our church bulletin today says "Many people readily give God credit, but few cheerfully give Him cash", what a slam. Have we totally lost our focus!
If we give cash, how will the church know were giving, what the hell does the church want from us, were doing the best we can. Its a loose loose situation when it comes to the pulpit handing out its shame.
2 Corinthians 9:7 (AMP)
7 Let each one [give] as he has made up his own mind and purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves (He takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous, “prompt to do it”) giver [whose heart is in his giving].
God never expects us to give something He has not given us first!
Malachi 3:8-10 (AMP)
8 Will a man rob or defraud God? Yet you rob and defraud Me. But you say, In what way do we rob or defraud You? [You have withheld your] tithes and offerings.
9 You are cursed with the curse, for you are robbing Me, even this whole nation.
10 Bring all the tithes (the whole tenth of your income) into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now by it, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
This instruction is dealing with the Jewish people, an earlier dispensation or age. God was dealing with man in a different way than today. The pagans had their kings but the Jews depended on their God in heaven. The Jews Eventually rejected their Lord God and got their wish of a ruling king on earth, one of their greatest sins. So the Lord spoke to them through Samuel of all they would give up for their new king, and he will take the tenth of their seed and harvest and take their sons and daughters to build the machine of war and service to their human king, so be it.
We can still learn from this period in time and see how differently God dealt with man. Malachi 3 still applies today but through love, because of grace. No longer by the same mechanism of threat but love. Many churches ignore this dispensation and work it incorrectly against the grace of God! Everything God did for His people yet they rejected Him in favor of what, taxes?
Demand money from your children every week or else you will curse them for steeling from you. Stop talking with them and stop providing for them if they don't give regardless if they can or can not.
Is this how we should view our heavenly Father? We would never treat our children this way and neither would God our Father.
Crazy thinking, but many Christians live in fear because their pastor teaches them to not only tithe but give beyond tithing, give beyond that tax. Seems like the congregation needs rallied to support the church with a threat of the church extinction or god's wrath. If you give then you receive god's blessing, else...
I have been blessed over and over by supporting the church because I see the good in helping others in need and the message of grace and love can free people from the guilt and shame sin brings. Were loosing our family values generation to generation, children and youth need to learn core values taught in Sunday school. The church people are givers of love, they give their time and sweat to helping others, their family with giving hearts.
There is no need to instill fear. Part of our spiritual character is a giving heart, not because we have to pay a church tax or expect something in return but because it brings such joy to just plain ole give.
The truth is that you don't have to tithe to be blessed but you will be blessed with joy by tithing.
I now understand that the church counts on me paying a set amount every week for it is part of a spending budget, it keeps it operating and salaries paid. Whether I am there or not. We take responsibility for the church and community. There are so many people depending on each other, there is so much good in giving, it brings us together in love and friendship.
2 Corinthians 8:7 (AMP)
7 Now as you abound and excel and are at the front in everything—in faith, in expressing yourselves, in knowledge, in all zeal, and in your love for us—[see to it that you come to the front now and] abound and excel in this gracious work [of almsgiving] also.
God provides and you cannot out give God. It seems the more we give, the more He provides. There have been so many times I have emptied my wallet knowing it will be a couple weeks till pay day and feel good about it. Sometimes that is impossible because of family, bills or paying off that evil interest and it should be understood. Give from the heart using common sense.
Making people feel cursed, abandoned by God, just plain guilty for not tithing or giving money is wrong. Some people cant so they are pressured to stay away from church until they can put something in the plate, others just hate the hypocrisy they sense in the well off that like the credit for their giving. I have even heard were there is no place in heaven if you don't give to the ministry and some people actually believe it.
I recently heard someone mention they felt bad about going to church, unable to give, behind on giving, and I've heard the remark, its just an excuse not to go to church.
Praise God that He does not ask us to do His work out of our own will and effort!
God does not expect us to give unless we feel good about it.
Accept God's grace, His undeserved favor, and follow your heart when giving. Don't allow guilt to run your life. God does not need or want what you have, just you as you are.
Try and not allow the offering plate from keeping you away from church; fellowship with your family in Christ Jesus, they need you just as much as you need them.
Don't miss out the opportunity to fellowship with people lovers and God lovers.
I don't have to tithe, I get to tithe.
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