Contributor: Isekhua Evborokhai

INTRODUCTION

In the past few weeks we have been looking at several lessons that will help us; as believers avoid abuses and false practices as it relates to Biblical prosperity that has become the order of the day these days. Last week, we looked at the true definition and practical application of the hundred-fold return Jesus referred to against erroneous teachings surrounding it. In today’s study we will be looking at another possible error to avoid in the guise of 'Debt-Breaking' or 'Money-Multiplying’ Anointing.

THE HONEST TRUTH

The truth remains that fundraising has become a fact of life—a necessary part of every effective Christian organization if it is to survive. Gordon Lindsay; one of the leading ministers of the Pentecostal movement and the healing revival in the twentieth century wrote the following: “[Money] is an important element in promoting Christian work. Its availability to a considerable extent governs the scope of our activities. It is, therefore, natural that a minister looks for ways and means by which he can secure necessary funds for the work that he feels called to do. But here lurks many pitfalls in which the unwary may stumble. The line between the permissible and the objectionable is sometimes very thin. Some men have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for missions, and their work is to be highly praised. Others have raised comparatively insignificant amounts, and the manner in which it was done or the way they used it, has called forth strong condemnation. If people are told that the money is to be used for a certain purpose, and it is spent largely for other things, then it is being raised under false pretenses. This is a sore point. Certainly, there are costs in raising missionary money. Anyone who says otherwise doesn't speak the truth.”

There has been claims in that past about some preacher who either claims—or is said by others—to be especially anointed to "break the power of debt" over people's lives or to be able to "multiply people's money back to them." In most cases, this “special anointing or ability” can only be activated by giving an offering to this minister or the organization he represents. There is however no scriptural backing to such claims. Unfortunately, it is simply a scheme to raise money for the preacher, and ultimately it can turn out to be dangerous and destructive for all involved. We need to be extremely careful about elevating certain ministers to higher-than-human status. Our focus should be on God rather than man.

THE EXPECTED RESPONSE

Certainly, money can be more productive for the Kingdom of God when it is sown into a productive ministry. And there are gifted ministers skilled at building confidence and motivating people. But Christians should be giving to help get the Gospel out and to do God's work, not to get some "highly anointed minister" to multiply their money back to them.

Acts 14:8-18 tells the story of when Paul and Barnabas ministered in the city of Lystra, and a lifelong cripple was raised up, leaping and walking. When the people of the city saw what had happened, they cried, "The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men." They called Barnabas Jupiter and called Paul Mercurius. The Bible says the priests of the city brought oxen and garlands to offer a sacrifice to them.

To restrain the people from worshipping them, Paul and Barnabas had to run among the people and testify that they were just men in the service of the Living God. It seems there is something about human nature that wants to elevate certain people to god-like status. But these days, you rarely see such actions; instead these so-called ministers allow the weak to elevate them and make them believe that if they put money into their hands the will somehow, magically, bring increase and multiplication of their finances. This can quickly degenerate into wrong motives or covetousness as many could be tempted to give, not just to bless God's work, but out of greed for the material gain they hope to get for their own selfish purposes.

THE PITFALL

A person who feels that he is in bondage to debt may give a hope against hope that the minister will help him get such a miraculous return from his offering that he can pay off his debts and get a fresh start.

Kenneth Hagin writes:

“I've heard of people with large credit-card debts or medical bills who had been told to expect "supernatural debt cancellation." Then, through a computer mistake or human error, they received a statement showing that they no longer owed anything or owed a substantially smaller amount. In some cases, a bank deposit was posted incorrectly, giving them credit for a larger amount that was enough to pay off an indebtedness. There is nothing "supernatural" about these kinds of events. Trying to take advantage of them will only lead to more trouble. If some kind of mistake is made in which a Christian is credited with money that he knows doesn't belong to him, he has a moral, ethical, and biblical obligation to rectify the matter.”

How many of us will do this today?

It's been said that as a young man, Abraham Lincoln worked as a clerk in a store. A woman came in one day and purchased some items. Lincoln added up her bill, and it came to two dollars and six and a quarter cent. She paid the bill, was entirely satisfied, and left. Later, Lincoln began to question his calculation. He refigured it and realized the bill should have been two dollars even. That night when he locked the store, he walked two to three miles to her home and paid her the six and a quarter cent.

The Bible says, "If you see your brother's ox or sheep straying, do not ignore it but be sure to take it back to him. If the brother does not live near you or if you do not know who he is, take it home with you and keep it until he comes looking for it. Then give it back to him. Do the same if you find your brother’s donkey or his cloak or anything he loses. Do not ignore it" (Deut.22:1-3 NIV).

SUPERNATURAL WEALTH TRANSFER

So, what about Ecclesiastes 2:26 which says: “To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.”

How then did God intend for this supernatural wealth transfer happen?

The Lord’s intention is that the fruitless labour of the sinner in heaping up his often-ill-gotten gains is not altogether wasted. His treasure is passed into hands that make a better use of it than he has done.

Proverbs 28:8 says, “He that by usury and unjust gains increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor,”

And in Job 27:16-17, the Bible says: “Though he heaps up silver as the dust and prepare raiment as the clay; he may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, and the innocent shall divide the silver.”

Also see Proverbs 13:22, A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.”

God can and will supernaturally transfer the wealth of the ungodly to those who fear him. But not His children who seek after wealth like the ungodly; propelled by greed and not His children who don’t seek to please Him or are void of wisdom and knowledge.

CONCLUSION

For most people, getting out of debt is not an instantaneous or overnight process. They don't experience a single miraculous “breakthrough" in which God dumps a big lump sum in their lap. Usually it involves many months—maybe years—of hard work, diligence, good money management, wisdom, living within one's means, and the blessings of God that come through faith. Matt. 25:16-17 tells us the one way of multiplying resources. Hard work!

“16 The one who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he [made a profit and] gained five more. 17 Likewise the one who had two [made a profit and] gained two more.”

The minister who claims to have a "debt-breaking" or “money-multiplying" anointing is in danger of being led deeper into error. Instead of presenting a balanced message of the full Gospel and fulfilling the call of God on his life, he may become a narrowly-focused "specialist," dealing only with money and financial gain. He may even develop into such a skilled fundraiser that he becomes a "hired gun," brought in by other ministry organizations to raise money for them (for a "cut" of the “take"). Instead of living to bless people, strengthen local churches, and advance the cause of Christ, such a preacher runs a great risk and faces great temptation of focusing only on what he can get for himself and his purposes. Somewhere along the way, his original call and mission gets laid aside. The Apostle Paul said, “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a cast-away" (1 Cor. 9:27). That is much too high a price to pay for money.

Parts of this study was culled from The Midas Touch by Kenneth E. Hagin

Contributor: Leye Olayiwola

Introduction: The idea that God will reward our giving by paying a one-hundred-to-one return on what we give to His work has become a very popular concept. It is almost commonplace to hear ministers refer to it at offering time, urging people to "give generously and believe God for a hundredfold blessing." What really did Jesus Christ mean when he mentioned “hundred time as much” in the scriptures? Does the hundred fold return (literally and mathematically) work for everyone who gave money offerings and tithes? Is it even possible? We will consider these and many more in our study today.

1. THE HUNDRED FOLD RETURN

“Peter started saying to Him, “Look, we have given up everything and followed You [becoming Your disciples and accepting You as Teacher and Lord].” Jesus said, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, there is no one who has given up a house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake,  who will not receive a hundred times as much now in the present age—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms—along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life.” [Mark 10:28-30 AMP]

• Notice that there is nothing said in this passage about tithes or offerings. The context refers to people who have made an absolute commitment to follow the call of God upon their lives, leaving their former possessions, families, and lifestyles behind. See also Luke 18:28-30
• Jesus responded to Peter by saying, "Every man who sacrifices his all for My sake, and the Gospel's, shall receive a hundredfold in this life of houses, brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, wives, children, lands, and persecutions".
• What did Jesus mean when He said they would receive a hundredfold of houses and family? Wiser men than me who have spent lifetimes studying the Scriptures and the life and times of Jesus have given their interpretation. To these itinerant evangelists who would become missionaries to the world, traveling alone with little more than the clothes on their backs, He promised that houses in strange lands would open their doors to them—a hundred, if need be. He promised that as they preached the Gospel of the Kingdom and won souls to Christ, they would enjoy fellowship with countless brothers, sisters, mothers, and fathers—a multiplied family of faith.
• Is the hundredfold return available for us today? Yes, of course, it's available for all who have left everything to commit their all for the sake of Christ and the Gospel!
• Does the hundredfold return mean that when we give an offering, we should get out a calculator and compute the monetary payback we expect to receive at the rate of one hundred to one? In other words, if we give a dollar to God's work, are we promised that He will give us a hundred dollars back?
• Let's consider a hypothetical example of what would happen if an individual actually had this happen just seven times in his life. Since the purpose of prosperity is to provide believers with the resources to do God's work, we'll assume that once this individual began his giving with a dollar and received his multiplied return, he "reinvested" the total amount back into the Kingdom of God by giving again. Here's how that scenario would play out with the hundredfold return working a mere seven times: $1 x hundredfold return reinvested seven times over will yield  $100,000,000,000,000 (one hundred trillion dollars!)
• At the time of this writing( THE MIDAS TOUCH), the man with the most financial wealth in the world is considered to be Bill Gates of Microsoft; his net worth is estimated to be as much as $85 billion. So a person for whom the hundredfold return worked as described above would have 1,176 times more money than Bill Gates!
• Perhaps you know of a Christian who has been very generous in his giving and has strong faith in God's ability and willingness to give prosperity to His children. Let's say that over the years this person accumulates a net worth of ten million dollars. Most people would agree that this individual is quite wealthy—that financial prosperity is a reality to him.
• However, this wealthy Christian's ten million dollars is a microscopic fraction of what could be realized on the hundredfold return on an initial dollar offering reinvested seven times as described above. In fact, that ten million dollars would have to be multiplied ten million times to equal the hundred trillion dollars hypothetically received by the individual who had his single dollar returned a hundredfold just seven times over.
• Consider also that almost any Christian who is faithful in tithes and offerings would not have begun with a single dollar, but hundreds of dollars! If the hundredfold return worked literally and mathematically for everyone who gave money in an offering, we would have Christians walking around with not billions or trillions of dollars, but quadrillions of dollars!

2. INTERPRETE THE WORD OF GOD CORRECTLY

“Study and do your best to present yourself to God approved, a workman [tested by trial] who has no reason to be ashamed, accurately handling and skillfully teaching the word of truth.” [2 Timothy 2:15]

• Overemphasizing or adding to what the Bible actually teaches invariably does more harm than good. Over the years, many believers have leaped to false and totally unrealistic conclusions regarding teachings such as the hundredfold return. Feeling that they have been promised remarkable, extraordinary, and phenomenal returns, some have ended up disappointed and disillusioned when the result didn't materialize as they envisioned.
• Going back to the original question—should a believer expect a monetary payback at the rate of one hundred to one when he pays his tithes or gives an offering? Absolutely not! Then why do some preachers teach that? Well, ministers are just human, like everyone else. Sometimes they make mistakes. Every now and then, an idea or concept comes along that sounds really exciting; people are really taken with it and eager to respond to it. It's easy to just jump on the bandwagon and go along with the crowd without taking the time to search out the Scriptures and examine the idea in detail.

“Other seed fell on good soil and yielded grain, some a hundred times as much [as was sown], some sixty [times as much], and some thirty. He who has ears [to hear], let him hear and heed My words.”

[Matthew 13:8-9]

• The parable above was not talking about money. The seed is the Word. The stony and thorn-infested ground has no return at all—some who hear the Word do not respond. But even in good ground, the amount of return differs. Some Christians don't grow and develop much—maybe thirtyfold. Others may develop more. And some become great, devout, faith-filled, productive Christians—the hundredfold folks. In other words, they receive the maximum benefit from the Word of God they have heard.
• And the other commonly used hundredfold passage that we looked at earlier isn't about giving money, either. Mark 10:28 through 30 is talking about Christian service. Jesus wasn't talking about multiplying tithes and offerings.
• It is quite possible that there may be some individuals who have given a certain amount and received a multiplied return on it, perhaps even a hundredfold—but not on every dollar they have ever given to the Lord!

“If your tithes and offerings last year were $5,000, did you receive a hundredfold return of a half million dollars? If you gave a total of $20,000, did you receive $2,000,000? Do you expect to? I think you get the point. I did, too, and that's why I no longer tell people to expect the hundredfold return on their offerings. I just stay with what the Word of God says: "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over ..." (Luke 6:38). I always claim the "running over" blessing.” – Kenneth E. Hagin

• Conclusion:

Please understand we are not trying to be cynical, nor are we trying to take away anyone's faith concerning God meeting his or her needs. But we believe it is important that we be realistic and sound in what we teach. We must "rightly divide" the Word of God and carefully seek the truth in interpreting the Scriptures.

Part of this teaching was taken from “THE MIDAS TOUCH” by Kenneth E. Hagin

Contributor: Isekhua Evborokhai

INTRODUCTION

In last week’s study we asked ourselves a very important question: “Is Financial Prosperity a Sign of Spirituality?” And in answering the question we learnt how thinking, teaching and believing that this is true is erroneous. Today’s study attempts to address another error. A popular teaching in recent years; that giving should be mechanically linked to getting. On other words, if you need something, give something. Sow a car to get a car. Sow a suit to receive a suit. Although this is not out rightly wrong, it is another example of taking a basic truth and carrying it to the extreme. Like any other biblical truth, there is a ditch of error on both sides of the road; and thus, balance is required.

Genesis 8:22 says: “While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.”

Luke 6:38 says: “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

PLACING THE TRUTH IN VIEW – STRIKING THE BALANCE

2 Corinthians 9:7-8 says:

“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. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”

On one side of the road, there are some people who do not seem to realize that God wants to bless them as we see in verse 8. They have no understanding at all of the practical application of the law of sowing and reaping in their personal lives. As a result, giving for them is strictly a matter of duty. They may give, but they have no faith or expectation whatsoever about receiving anything from God. This is unfortunate because they undoubtedly miss out on some of the blessings that God has for them.

On the other side of the road are the greedy folks who are attempting to use their giving to manipulate God. They try to make the offering plate some kind of heavenly vending machine—put in your offering, pull the handle, and get your blessing back! This is certainly the wrong motive for giving.

Some people go so far with this kind of thinking that they get into foolishness, giving away their car in the hope of getting another, presumably better, car. These people sometimes end up walking for a long time!

It is a natural, God-given phenomenon that we usually reap more than we sow! (See Luke 6:38, Prov.11:24); but there is a thin line between the exercise of faith in sowing and covetousness! This thin line is called “motive”.

MAKE SURE YOU ARE LED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD

Romans 8:14-17 says:

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”

There are several instances when God would deal with an individual about giving his/her car to some person or ministry. And the person obeyed the Lord out of their love for Him, God blessed them in return, with another vehicle; and sometimes better ones. But God's specific, personal direction for one individual does not become an across-the-board doctrine for the whole Church. There is no spiritual formula to sow a Nissan and reap a Mercedes.

Many preachers have used the story of the widow of Zarephath as an example of a person giving out of her need and being prospered in return as a doctrine for giving. According to First Kings 17, there was a famine in the land, and this poor widow was down to her last handful of flour and few drops of oil. She was about to prepare one last meal for herself and her son and then starve to death. Elijah, the prophet, asked her to prepare a cake of bread for him first and then cook for herself and her son. He told her that the Lord said, "The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord gives rain on the land"(see First Kings 17:14 NIV). When she obeyed by giving bread to Elijah, her supply was miraculously multiplied; she received bread. Jesus referred specifically to this event in the very beginning of His earthly ministry. He said in Luke 4:25-27 NIV:

"I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah's time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon. And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian"

GOD OPERATES ON PRICIPLES, BUT HE IS NOT STEREO-TYPED

The Bible clearly teaches that God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34). His love and blessings are available to all. But there is no absolute spiritual law that says every individual will experience the love and blessings of God in exactly the same way.

Jesus has made healing available for all. But we see from His dealings that not all lepers will be healed in the way that Naaman the leper was.

He also made prosperity available for all, but again, not all people are going to be prospered the way the widow of Zarephath was. God did not tell every leprous person to dip seven times in the Jordan River, and He didn't tell every needy person to give their last bit of food to Elijah. There are no one-size-fits-all rules for healing and prosperity.

CONCLUSION

If the Lord speaks to you in a clear and compelling way to give your coat to someone, then do it. But give it out of love and obedience to God. In that case, I believe God will reward you and not leave you shivering in your shirt sleeves. But be sure of your motives in giving your coat. Don't do it just because you heard the testimony of some other person who gave away a coat and was blessed with a new leather jacket. Don't say, "I want a leather jacket, too, so I'll give away my coat."

Our motives are crucially important. We need to be willing to give in obedience to God even if we never receive one thing in return. We must keep our hearts right and guard against covetousness. At the same time, we need to realize that God does want us to have faith, expecting Him to meet our needs.

Parts of this study was culled from the Midas Touch by Kenneth E Hagin

Contributor: Martins Olubiyi

Introduction:

In our last Bible studies, we have seen that it is God desire and wish that believers should prosper. He said unequivocally through His word that ‘Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth’. 3 John 1: 2. Today we are going to study about a poignant question: Is financial prosperity a sign of spirituality?

Aim: The aim of this study is to avoid abuses and false practices.

7 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. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor, their righteousness endures forever”.  

What is Spirituality?

Spirituality, from scriptural perspective is living the lifestyle of Jesus in thought, in action and in deeds. It is a lifestyle of obedience through absolute surrender to the will of God. Spirituality is living in holiness by eschewing the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life.

What is Financial Prosperity?

Prosperity is the state of flourishing, attainment of successful social status, or thriving condition, especially in financial respect. Financial prosperity is having riches in monetary term.

Money is a necessary commodity in today’s civilization. Today all the products and services needed for even an ordinary lifestyle must be purchased. Going through a single day without spending money for something is difficult, if not impossible. Just as dependence on money affect the way most people live their day-to-day lives, it also has a major impact on the way churches and ministry carry out their work.

Erroneous Teachings:

Teaching that financial prosperity is a sure sign of spirituality. This teaching suggests that throughout the Scripture, God Has rewarded faith and holiness with material blessings. The implication is that if a person is not experiencing financial abundance there must be a spiritual deficit in his life- probably caused by not giving enough. For instance, teacher might quote Mat 6: 33 and says, “If you are not having “all these things” added to your life, you must not be seeking first the Kingdom of God”. It is like telling a person who has not received healing for a sickness or disease that evidently, he just doesn’t have enough faith.   

Receiving a financial windfall is not a sure and absolute indicator of the blessing of God. It could be an indicator of bank robbery or gambling. If wealth alone were a sign of spirituality, then drug traffickers and crime bosses would be spiritual giants. 1Tim 6: 5. 

Differences between material wealth and spiritual blessings:

Prov 10: 22. The blessings of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it. (KJV) The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, without painful toil with it. (NIV)

James 1: 9, 10    

9 Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. 10 But the rich should take pride in their humiliation- since they will pass away like a wild flower.

James 2: 5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the Kingdom He promised those who love Him?

Paul’s charges to Timothy in 1Tim 6: 6-9, 17

Golden Nuggets from Proverbs: Prov 15: 16; 16: 8: 28: 6

Connection and Disconnection.

Material wealth can be connected to the blessings of God or it can be totally disconnected from the blessings of God

Divine Connection:

God’s factor in the life of Job.

Job 1: 1-2, 3; Job 29: 4, 12

In 1 vs 1. Job’s story is not a fiction! Job was a man who lived in Uz. (Uzbekistan/ Southern Syria). 

In 1 vs 1 also, He was blameless and upright, he feared God and shunned evil.

In Chap 29: 4 “As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle”.    

In Chap 1 vs 2, He was blessed with children

In Chap 1 vs 2, He was blessed with material possession

In Chap 1  vs 2, He was the greatest man among all the people of the East 

In Chap 29: 12, “because I rescued the poor who cried for help and the fatherless who had none to assist them.

God’ factor in the life of Joseph of Arimathea:

Mat 27: 57-60; Mark 15: 43-45; Luke 23: 50-53; John 19: 38-42;

Joseph of Arimathea fulfilled prophecy Isa 53: 9.

Divine Disconnection.

God’s factor out of the life of Nabal the Calebite.

Nabal was the husband of Abigail in 1 Sam 25: 2-3.

In vs 2, He was a property owner and was very wealthy 

In vs 3, He was a harsh man (surly and mean).

Conclusion

Financial prosperity is not an infallible gauge of a person’s spirituality. Therefore, it is expected of us to take heed to the admonition of our Lord when He said, “Watch out and guard yourself from all types of greed, because one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (NET Bible).

Parts of this study was culled from the Midas Touch by Kenneth E. Hagin                              

INTRODUCTION:

Last week’s study saw us looking at a very interesting topic – Caring for the Messenger where we learnt how important it is for us to care for our pastors and spiritual heads and the blessings we receive for it. As we see in Matthew 10:41-42. Today we shall be considering a topic that many leaders have conveniently shied away from; bordering on the word - Balance! As it relates to Giving and especially Tithing! Balance is “a state in which different things occur in equal or proper amounts or have an equal or proper amount of importance or in the correct proportions”. The opposite of “Balance” is “Imbalance” or “Extremity.” Balance implies you are not picking and choosing scripture to obey but considering all the facts while being guided solely by biblical principles! We need balance because the lack of it means we are thrown into extremes; and that is where the enemy wants us to be because it is easy to get into the ditch of error on either side of the road. A Balanced message therefore implies a message that is not one-sided but complete and entire.

THE ROOT CAUSE OF IMBALANCE

Where the problem lies (and both parties - those who are for tithes and those who are against - are guilty). Is the picking and choosing of what Jesus’s sacrifice covers and which of God’s commands to obey.

THE ANTI-TITHING CAMP

This Camp quotes Galatians 3:13 and say that we don’t need to obey the law because Christ has borne the curse of the law by being hung on a tree. So, let’s read the scripture and see what He did

“But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree."

He rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law and took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. He did not take away the responsibility of our obedience and the blessings that come with it.

Clearly, we are no longer under the curse of the law. What this implies now is that what now propels us to obey God’s commands which includes giving Him His tithe is our love for Him not our fear of the curse.

Many ministers are uncomfortable with preaching this truth because they fear people will take it for granted. But there is nothing we can do but for the truth! Our obedience to God in all giving; tithes, offerings, first fruits, etc. should be propelled by the love of God and not by the fear of the curse!

They also quote Matthew 5:17 which says:

“Do not think that I came to do away with or undo the Law [of Moses] or the [writings of the] Prophets; I did not come to destroy but to fulfil.

And then they go on to say Jesus has fulfilled the commandments, we do not need to fulfil them again. But let’s take a closer look at that scripture and how other versions render the phrase “fulfil it.” Most versions use the same phrase “fulfil it” but two versions render the verse slightly different and throw more light:

The Message version says – “Complete it”; the Living Bible says – “Make them come true”

Now let’s re-read Jesus’s statement in verse 17 in this light and we will see what truly makes sense.

“Do not think that I came to do away with or undo the Law [of Moses] or the [writings of the] Prophets; I did not come to destroy but to complete the Law of Moses and to fulfil the [writings of the] Prophets;

Completing the Law

In terms of the law, we will see how He has come to complete them when we read the rest of the verses from 18-47 with emphasis on the verses 21-22, 27-28, 31-32, 33-37, 43 - 47

Fulfilling The [Writings of the] Prophets

What did the prophets say about Jesus? There are about 55 prophecies that cover His Birth, Ministry, Death and Resurrection. We will just mention one of each

His Birth: Prophecy (2 Samuel 7:12–13) – Fulfilment (Matthew 1:1)

His Ministry: Prophecy (Psalm 40:9) – Fulfilment (Matthew 4:17)

His Death and Resurrection: Prophecy (Psalm 22:18) – Fulfilment (John 19:23–24)

These and many others Jesus came to fulfil and He did fulfil them!

Romans 3:31 (AMP) also says: “Do we then nullify the Law by this faith [making the Law of no effect, overthrowing it]? Certainly not! On the contrary, we confirm and establish and uphold the Law [since it convicts us all of sin, pointing to the need for salvation].

THE TITHING CAMP

There are pastors who have focused more on money, giving, and prosperity than any other subject. Sometimes they would put a guilt trip on people if they didn't give, or they would use high-pressure tactics to motivate individuals to respond. Yes, we know all the scripture verses that teach both the responsibility and blessing of giving. The Bible does say, "Give, and it shall be given unto you..."(Luke 6:38).

It does say, "... seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew6:33).

Giving in the Kingdom of God is a very important truth. These truths should be taught to all believers. But using schemes, guilt trips and high-pressure tactics is however not the right way to present this important truth to the people of God. Reason being that the Bible also says: "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver" (2 Cor. 9:7).

The Message version renders this passage thus:

"I want each of you to take plenty of time to think it over, and make up your own mind what you will give. That will protect you against sob stories and arm-twisting. God loves it when the giver delights in the giving"

There are also preachers try to hammer Christians by quoting from Malachi chapter 3 saying that they are cursed if they don't pay tithes and give offerings. Obviously, this is not correct. While the people of Malachi's day were under the Law of Moses, the New Testament plainly declares that Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the Law (Gal. 3:13). “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”

Does that mean that tithing is no longer valid? Not at all.

God's people were tithers four hundred years before the Law, and Jesus reaffirmed the validity of tithing in His teaching. In the only recorded instance of Jesus' referring to tithing, He said it should be done!

In Matthew 23:23 NLT Jesus, addressing the Pharisees said:

“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. YOU SHOULD TITHE, YES, but do not neglect the more important things.” Emphasis mine.

CONCLUSION

This is the end time; we should be aware that there’s a continuous stream of attack from the gates of Hell. In these past few months/years the specific attack is by the god of money (mammon) diverting the funds that should be used in propagating the work of the kingdom into the hands and pockets of the greedy, stingy, ignorant and confused; whether they are pastors or members.

People claim that if the leadership of the church told the people the needs of the church they would give freely. This is simply a baseless claim. Well, God asked for a tithe because He knows us better than we know ourselves. The amount of noise made over the payment of tithes is usually directly proportional to the amount of love we have for money! Be it the pastors or the members!

It does not matter if “Men of God” say you are cursed if you do not pay your tithe! No one can undo the fact that Jesus has taken up the curse of the law on our behalf! The truth is this: There is no curse today for not tithing. We are free from the legalistic requirements of the Mosaic Law. Is there any other consequence? Yes, if we don't tithe, we limit ourselves from receiving the blessings God has promised those who pay tithes and give offerings by faith.

Giving is an essential part of Christian living. Every Christian leader has a responsibility to practice and teach what the Bible says about giving. But the emphasis must be kept in balance with teachings about other truths and doctrines in the Word of God.  Pastors do as much a disservice to their congregations by never teaching on tithing and giving as by talking about it all the time. There must be balance. And the purpose for the instruction must be for the benefit and blessing of the people—not just for what the preacher will gain from it. The Bible says that Jesus went about teaching, preaching, and healing (Matt. 9:35). It doesn't say that He spent a lot of time taking up offerings and emphasizing prosperity. We know He did have partners who supported His ministry. We can find scripture references where Jesus talked about money and giving, especially in reference to helping the poor. But even the critics of Jesus were never able to say that He was in it for the money. Instead, the report that was published throughout all Judaea was that He went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil (Acts 10:38).

Parts of this study was culled from the Midas Touch by Kenneth E Hagin

Contributor: Dolapo Olaoye

Introduction:

Last week, we learnt what it means to partner with God and ways we can partner with God. We went further into “motives” for serving and giving. We then concluded that, rendering service to God and giving are tried and proven ways to plant seeds for a harvest that will result in our needs being met.

Today we are going to look at four ways in which a church should care for its pastor: respect, financial support, accountability and submission of the congregation to the Word of God.

HOW CAN THE CHURCH CARE FOR A MESSENGER (“PASTOR”)?

 1. Respect

God asks us to respect our leaders, including the pastor. 1 Thess. 5:12-13

“But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another”.

Caring also includes honoring the pastor and being at peace with him, as well as the other leaders. Pastors deserve honor and respect because he is the one who ministers to the congregation day-by-day, week-by-week, and month-by-month.

We need to resist the temptation of undervaluing Pastors. Focus on their strengths, pray for their weaknesses, Stop comparisons, Appreciate the “small” stuff.

Paul did not say recognize those who preach great sermons or oversee successful ministries. He said: "respect those who labor among you…..."

 2. Financial Support

A church should care for its pastor financially.

• Jesus accepted financial support from people during His ministry (Luke 8:2-3).
•  Apostle Paul willingly received financial support and indicated that God was well-pleased with such a gift (Phil. 4:18)

Financial support should include a regular salary and benefits. If a pastor isn’t being paid generously, his mind and heart are likely divided. I Timothy 5:17-18:

Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and “the laborer deserves his wages.” 

Worrying over finances is a difficult thing many pastors go through and honestly it should not be the case. It also makes them stressed, worn-out etc. and yes I know some will say “sure the Lord will provide”.

Yes, the Lord provides and the Lord provides through His people (you and I). Apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians 9-7 “Let everyone give as his heart tells him, neither grudgingly nor under compulsion, for God loves the man who gives cheerfully. After all, God can give you everything that you need, so that you may always have sufficient both for yourselves and for giving away to other people. As the scripture says: “He has dispersed abroad, he has given to the poor; his righteousness remains forever.” 

Not many pastors generally have time for family holidays yet at least every summer we take our family and go even on a weekend holiday. A way of financially supporting pastors will be to provide them with a paid family holiday—perhaps anonymously. Be creative and generous with your financial care.

 3. Accountability

In a church all the leaders become accountable one to another. They are accountable for their approaches, their spiritual lives, and their behavior. The church can also care for its pastor by holding him accountable for his actions and life as he is not more holy or above everyone.

However we need to be careful because some people have a habit of worshipping their pastor, putting them on a pedestal, and they eventually become ‘pastor-worshippers.’ Remember pastors are human beings too. Value the message not the messenger.

God never intended for any leader to be “beyond rebuke,” It still does not mean we should be finding fault with every of their flaws. Everyone has flaws. The issue however is when we consistently sin in a certain area, then each one of us needs help. God is more concerned about our holiness than our comfort.

 4. Submission

Finally, if the church believes that God has called their pastor to preach and teach the Word, then the congregation automatically have a responsibility to listen carefully and submit (unless he teaches error). This encourages the pastor to minister joyfully.

 “Obey your leaders, and submit to them; for they keep watch over your souls, as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you”. Hebrews 13:17

Conclusion:

It is important to note that giving to pastors should not be only because they are in need. The Bible encourages that we give to them because it is a source of receiving a peculiar blessing from God! Matthew 10:41-42 says” “Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”

There are many ways to care for our pastors. We have studied 4 different ways today and once we respect, financially support, hold accountable and submit to our pastors, it will go a long way towards their ways of ministering to us. Caring is also an act of giving and remember proverbs 11:24: “Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything” NLT.

Contributor: Isekhua Evborokhai

INTRODUCTION

During last week’s study we learnt how with more money we can have more ministry. We saw the important role money plays in sending out ministers to reach the unreached. And more especially learnt about generous grace giving. In today’s study we will be looking at entering into partnership with God.

There are two great privileges that God has given to man. The first is salvation, which is the privilege to come into an intimate and eternal relationship with God, to be unified with Him in love. The second greatest privilege is to serve God with good works, which He performs through us as we allow Him to do so. Both privileges are a result of God’s grace.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God– not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:8-10)

WHAT IS PARTNERING WITH GOD?

It is a purposeful relationship with the Almighty where you and Him “pool” resources together (money, time, skills, grace, etc.) all for the sole purpose of advancing His kingdom on earth; bearing in mind I Chronicles 29:14 that says: “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. Having said that, God owes no man and will reward you! (Read Matthew 6:33, 19:29, Hebrews 6:10).

WAYS OF PARTNERING WITH GOD

There are several ways we can go into partnership with God and be part of what God is doing in the world today:

1. Engaging in the actual service of the Father; locally and internationally.

Ephesians 6:7 AMP says: “Rendering service readily with goodwill, as to the Lord and not to men,” 

To render service readily means to render service enthusiastically, gladly and cheerfully.

And to render it with goodwill refers to rendering service with willingness, concern and kindness.

2. Through giving: Tithing to our local church and giving offerings/seeds to other worthy ministries

Luke 8:1-3 tells us of those who gave to the ministry of Jesus

“Soon afterward, Jesus began going around from one city and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve [disciples] were with Him, 2 and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and diseases: Mary, called Magdalene [from the city of Magdala in Galilee], from whom seven demons had come out, 3 and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household steward, and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means [as was the custom for a rabbi’s disciples]. AMP Also read Acts 4:32-35

No matter what option we have been given the grace to engage in, our motive and purpose for giving should be pure and unselfish.

The ultimate motive that should drive every one of us is Love (1 Cor.13:1-3)

MOTIVES FOR SERVICE – Watch out for Pitfalls

1. Make sure you are not motivated by Eye Service. Ephesians 6:6 says: “Not with eye service, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart”
2. Make sure you are not motivated by Lip Service - Isaiah 29:13 says: “The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.””
3. Make sure you are not motivated by Show Off attitude Matthew 6:1 says: "Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.

MOTIVES FOR GIVING

1. We should do it because we love God. Giving is a natural expression of love. John 3:16 says, "God so loved the world that He gave."

And we should do the same; we should give to God because we love Him.

2. We should give to God in obedience to His Word. The Bible teaches us to give

to the Lord and support His work. In addition to the scriptures we've already examined, there are many others that are unmistakable in their instruction about giving.

3. We should give to help carryout Christ's Great Commission and support the work of those who are going into all the world with the Gospel.
4. We should give because we want to see people blessed. Our tithes and gifts help support outreaches of the local church and other organizations that minister to the poor, evangelize the lost and unreached, and build up the saints while equipping them for Christian service.
5. And, finally, way down the line, we should give in expectancy, believing God to honour the promises in His Word to bless and prosper us.

These five motives have been listed in an order I believe reflects priorities that are very important. However, it appears these days that undue emphasis is being placed on the last and it is being presented as the major reason for people to give.

Remember, God judges our motives; we can get away with deceiving others but nit Him! He will be definitely inclined towards the one who first loves Him, obeys Him, propagate His work, see His people blessed before they think of receiving from Him than to the one who starts off with receiving from Him first.

CONCLUSION

Rendering service to God and giving are tried and proven ways to plant seeds for a harvest that will result in our needs being met. The law of sowing and reaping applies in every of life’s situations including personal finances. The Bible is true when it says, " And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water;” (Exodus 23:25) and “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. . ." (Luke 6:38). These are good and valid reasons for giving. And I believe they will lead to true prosperity—spirit, soul, and body.

Parts of this study was culled from "The Midas Touch" By Kenneth E Hagin

Contributor: Leye Olayiwola

INTRODUCTION 

Why are preachers and ministries after everybody’s money? This is not the case with all. Again, we must avoid the trap of stereotyping ministers. Obviously, there are operating costs and expenses to maintain any ministry, and there are many Christian organizations which deal with the issue of offerings and fund raising very graciously and admirably. We can empathize with those who may have a negative attitude. It's not surprising why people have become weary with constant appeals for money — we really can't blame them. But at the same time, we must be careful not to become critical and abandon the spreading of the Gospel because of the abuses of some ministries. It is crucial that the message of Jesus Christ be delivered to the world. It is a matter of life or death!

1. WHY DOES THE CHURCH NEED MY MONEY?

The church or a ministry needs money to operate. Just like you and I need an income to pay electric, water, gas and every other bills, the church needs money to pay its bills too. When you give you are helping your local church care for people in the church and your community, plus you are helping send the Gospel around the world. That's why your church or favorite ministry needs your financial support. When Christians support God's work they are following the command of God to give. Giving is an act of faith and obedience to God. At times you may wonder why you should be giving to a particular church or ministry, because you have questions about how they were spending the money. Although, ultimately God will be the judge of the leadership of that church or ministry, we should also be good stewards (and investors) of God’s resources. God is not a waster!

“Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed.  And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours. “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. ²⁷ So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.” [Matthew 25:24-28]

However, it is always a privilege to give to God’s work and His Kingdom.

2. HOW MUCH SHOULD I GIVE?

Throughout the Old Testament we commonly see a reference to the tithe. Some people say in the New Testament, under the age of grace, that we should be giving even more than the 10% tithe of the Old Testament. Generous grace giving is the New Testament standard of giving. The real question is, how much do you want to be blessed? Some people give much more because they know God will bless them for their obedience. It's not a give to receive type of arrangement. It is more like, give and trust God to abundantly pour out His blessings on your family. God will bless you in ways that are far more important than money, but we must walk in obedience to enjoy those blessings. Faithfulness is the key in giving.

3. WHAT IS GENEROUS GRACE GIVING?

When you say “grace,” a lot of people, unfortunately, connect it with hang-loose, undisciplined living. But that is not grace! Nor is grace the balance point between legalism and licentiousness. Rather grace (as a system) is totally opposed both to legalism and licentiousness, which are two sides of the same coin.

Legalism and licentiousness both operate on the principle of the flesh. Legalism is an attempt to earn standing with God through human effort and leads to pride or condemnation, depending on how well you do. Licentiousness casts off restraint and lives to gratify the flesh.

But God’s grace is His unmerited favor based on Christ’s sacrifice. The motivating power in grace is the indwelling Spirit of God. The person under grace responds out of love and gratitude to God and depends upon the indwelling Holy Spirit to conform his life to what God requires. With that basic understanding of grace, let us consider what grace giving is not, and what grace giving is.

1. GRACE GIVING IS NOT;

• Random and irresponsible. It does not mean that you give every now and then, hit and miss; rather, it is planned and systematic (1 Cor. 16:2; 2 Cor. 9:7).
• Based on feelings. Being under grace does not mean living by feelings. Living under grace means walking by faith and obedience in response to God’s love. There are many commands under grace.
• Usually less than the requirement of the law. God’s grace should motivate us to excel far more than the minimum under the law (1 Cor. 15:10).
• Giving God the leftovers. God deserves the best, not just what is convenient. If we love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, then we won’t just give Him what’s left over after the bills are paid. He deserves first place.

2. GRACE GIVING IS BASED ON;

• God’s example in Christ (2 Cor. 8:9) -  Aren’t you glad that God did not just give a tenth! He gave all. The Lord Jesus Christ was infinitely rich. He dwelled in the unimaginable splendor of heaven, apart from the sin and corruption of this world. But He gave that up, laid aside His privileges, and took on human flesh.
• The concept of stewardship - “You are not your own, for you have been bought with a price ...” (1 Cor. 6:19-20). All that we are and have belongs to God, not just a tenth. We are merely the managers of His resources. As a good manager, we use the Owner’s resources to further His work (see Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-37; 11:27-30 for some examples).
• Inner motivation, not outward compulsion (2 Cor. 8:3-5; 9:7) -  Motive and attitude are crucial. It is better to give a small amount based on a loving response to God’s grace than it is to give a large amount based on outward pressure or pride. Note the attitude of the Macedonian believers: they had an abundance of joy (2 Cor. 8:2); they gave of their own accord (8:3); first they gave themselves to the Lord (8:5); they had both the readiness and desire (8:10-12, 9:2); they gave cheerfully, not grudgingly or under compulsion (9:7).
• We should not think, “How much do I have to give?” but rather, “How much can I give?” We should not wait for someone to pressure us with a need; we should look for needs that we can meet (8:4). Look for and give to Christian organizations or workers that do not pressure donors with desperate appeals for funds. There are so many pleading for your money so that they “won’t go off the air next week.” Let them go off the air!” Christians ought to give based upon inner motivation, not outward pressure.
• A new relationship with the Holy Spirit, not the old dispensation of the Law. Romans 8:14 says, “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God.” Galatians 5:18 says, “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.” The context of both passages shows that Paul is talking about the Holy Spirit leading the believer into righteous, godly living. In Galatians, such righteous living is spelled out in the context, in part, as sharing financial resources (6:6, 10).
• It’s easier in some ways to follow a set of rules. Just give your 10 percent and that takes care of the matter. But God wants us to be led by the Holy Spirit. That’s kind of scary! The Holy Spirit might want me to give 35 percent or who knows how much! But the point is, I am not living by rules, but in a relationship with the living God.
• How much God has prospered you. How much should you give? How much has God prospered you? (Note 1 Cor. 16:2, “as he may prosper”; Acts 11:29, “in the proportion that [they] had means”; 2 Cor. 8:3, 11, 12). Generally, they gave according to their ability, and in some cases beyond their ability. Sometimes you should give sacrificially. But the general principle is, give as God has prospered you.
• When God entrusts you with more money, instead of spending it on more junk that you have to protect from moths, rust, and thieves, you should ask, “Lord, how do you want this money used in Your kingdom?” As God gives you more, you should increase the percentage you give, not just the amount. If you have enough to live comfortably, then invest the rest where God pays guaranteed, eternal dividends.

CONCLUSION:

“How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who [b]preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” [Romans 10:14-15]

And how can they be sent without money? And how can they get the money except it be given them in God's appointed way, by the gracious and generous giving of God’s people "who have heard the joyful sound?"

Part of this teaching was taken from “THE MIDAS TOUCH” by Kenneth E. Hagin

Contributor: Martins Olubiyi

Introduction:

In our last Bible studies, precisely fortnight ago we examined the purpose of prosperity. Last week we also studied that God’s people must prosper to fulfil the great commission. Today, we are going to study about God’s plan for financing the church and its outreaches via tithing.

Aim: The aim of this study is to examine the purpose of tithing and the blessings it attracts to those who obey this Biblical commandment.

Text: Malachi 3: 10-12. [New International Version (NIV)].

10 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 enough room to store it.

11 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.

12 “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the LORD Almighty.

Tithe: What is it?

The concept of tithing was in practice before the old covenant was established. The first person to make a Tithe, which means a tenth (ten percent) of one’s increase was Abram (Genesis 14: 18-20). Abram’s tithe was not under the Law. The Law came more than six hundred years later. It was purely a voluntary act of gratitude to honour “The Most High God, Possessor of heaven and earth”. Abram simply appreciated God’s favour and gave up something of value to honour the One who had helped Him get the victory”. Tithing became a commandment under the Law as we read in our text in Malachi 3 vs 10; “Bring ye all the tithes……. saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”

As we know, there are a lot of debates about the concept of Tithe. The aim of this study is not to delve into opinions of people, but to see from Biblical perspective, the purpose of tithing and the blessing it attracts to those who obey it as a commandment. Jesus said I have not come to abolish the law, ……., but to fulfil. [(Mat 5:17) KJV].

Abram tithed to honour God with his substance.

“An honouring occurs when something that is of value to the one doing the giving is freely or voluntarily giving to someone as a sacrificial gesture of thanksgiving or appreciation. Is God worthy to be highly esteemed for what He Has done and what He still does and what He still does in our lives that we would specially honour Him for it? If it was that way before the Law, how much more should He be esteemed under the New Covenant where we have been given a better covenant with all things in Christ (Hebrew 8: 6).” – Rev. Bill Miller.

Why the Need for tithe?

Tithing is a powerful way to plug in to what God is doing in the world. The combined tithes of a congregation provide the funds to support the outreaches of a church. Hence, we will be getting people saved, building up the body of Christ; Ministering to the poor; Supporting missions; perhaps sponsoring the gospel on radio or television, and helping to provide a living for the pastor and ministry staff – Malachi 3: 10

Where should we Tithe?

As a general principle, it is better to tithe to your local church. The local church is the primary means that God uses to bless people in the earth. The Local church is where the saints are cared for, and it is to be the base for all other outreaches. Various other ministries can and should be supported by offerings and other forms of financial support that comes from individuals and churches. But in most situations, the tithe should go to the local church. Mal 3:10; Heb 13: 17; Phil 4: 15.

Reasons and Purposes of paying Tithe.

Through our tithes, we able to have a part in God’s plan. We partner with God in carrying out His will. This brings great fulfilment and satisfaction- mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Mal 3: 11-12

Obedience to this commandment of Tithing opens the window of Heavens. Note there are three Heavens; one where the birds fly, or our atmosphere; another where the sun, moon and stars are; and the other where God dwells.

God pledges Himself to open the windows of heaven and pour us out the divinest blessings- overflowing blessings, “heaped up, pressed down, shaken together, running over,” that “there shall not be room enough to receive it.” Luke 6: 38.

The Six-Fold Blessings of Tithe:

• Excessive blessings in an overflowing dimension.
• God will rebuke devourers for your sake.
• Protected Results.
• Guaranteed harvest- Your labour is rewarded- ‘Seed time and harvest time’ Gen 8:22.
• You shall become a blessing to nations.
• You will be a delightful land.

Conclusion:

When we give tithes into our churches for the propagation of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, then we get to be included in their eternal reward. We are the body of Christ. We all have a part to play. “…from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the building up of itself in love.” – Ephesians 4: 16 (NASB).  It is not an offence to expect a return from God when we tithe. God emphasis in His word “Test Me”. All we need is an act of faith and to give our tithe with a cheerful hearth not as someone under coercion or duress. God loves a cheerful giver. (Cor 9: 6-7). Above all see tithing as a form of worship and honour to our God. (Prov 3: 9). Then watch out for the deluge of His blessing on your life.

Contributor: Isekhua Evborokhai

INTRODUCTION

In last week’s study, we considered the topic “The Purpose of Prosperity” and dealt extensively with one aspect of the purpose of prosperity - God blesses us so we can be a blessing to others! In today’s study, we shall be looking at the second aspect – Fulfilling the Great Commission.

As Christians, we can expect to be blessed and to prosper if we seek prosperity as a means to help accomplish God's will and purpose. Jesus said this about Himself,

"For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10).

Jesus has commissioned all believers to carry out the same mission. In Mark 16:15, He said:

". . . Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."

That seems clear enough—you go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature! With more than six billion people in the world today, we have a mighty big job left to do. We certainly need to walk in prosperity in order to have the funds to get it done. Jesus also pointed out that we need the power of the Holy Ghost in our lives to carry out His Great Commission. Acts 1:8says,

"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."

As the disciples were commanded by Jesus Christ, so have we

HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO GO ABOUT FULFILLING THE GREAT COMMISSION?

First, we should start in OUR JERUSALEM, or our hometown. Jerusalem was home to most of the one hundred twenty who gathered in the Upper Room on the Day of Pentecost. So, they started from there. Secondly, we are to be witnesses in OUR REGION, our Judaea, and in the region next to us, or our Samaria. Finally, we are to take the Gospel to THE UTTERMOST PART OF THE EARTH. The whole world!

FUNDS AND RESOURCES REQUIRED FOR THE GOSPEL

To fulfilment of the Great Commission is hinged on the availability of funds and resources. You will recall that initially when He sent them out in Luke 10:4 (AMP), He said:

“Do not carry a money belt, a provision bag, or [extra] sandals; and do not greet anyone along the way [who would delay you].

Note: A formal greeting back then was a lengthy ritual that sometimes included a meal. 

Fast forward a few chapters, in Luke 22:35-36, Christ Himself asked His disciples to switch onto a different mode. One which implied that they needed funds and resources.

“35 And He said to them, “When I sent you out without a money belt and [provision] bag and [extra] sandals, did you lack anything?” They answered, “Nothing.” 36 Then He said to them, “But now, he who has a money belt is to take it along, and also his [provision] bag, and he who has no sword is to sell his coat and buy one.” AMP

One thing is obvious: Poverty-stricken people are limited in their ability to fulfil the Great Commission. Without funds, they have difficulty going into all the world and neither can they help send someone else.

GOD’S WORK IS EASIER DONE FROM THE POSITION OF PROSPERITY

Luke 8:1-3 gives us a clear picture of Jesus’s ministry and that the work of God cannot be done from a position of lack but from that of prosperity.

“Soon afterward, Jesus began going around from one city and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve [disciples] were with Him, 2 and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and diseases: Mary, called Magdalene [from the city of Magdala in Galilee], from whom seven demons had come out, 3 and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household steward, and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means [as was the custom for a rabbi’s disciples]. AMP

So, if God requires every believer to help carry out this mission, then it must be His plan and His will for His people to prosper. God's work needs to be financed without a doubt. One of the ways His work is meant to be financed is by tithes as we see in Malachi 3:10. It says:

“Bring you all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house, and prove me now herewith, said the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”

The giving of God's people took care of God's house and those who worked there and provided the funds to carry out His work on earth.

THE POOR ARE NOT LEFT OUT AND SHOULD GIVE TO THE WORK TOO

It is obviously easier to give to the work of God out of abundance but the poor are not left out and should give to the work too. As a matter of fact, everyone should see giving in the Kingdom of God as a privilege. 2 Corinth.8:1-4 tells us of the Macedonian church who gave from their meagre means.

“And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. (NIV)

CONCLUSION

The work of the Gospel requires funds and resources. The “work” is not restricted to preaching the Good News only; but also, the meeting of the needs (emotional, financial, physical and spiritual) of others.

Jesus’s ministry depended on the support and generosity of believers as we see in Luke 8:1-3, to the extent that the ministry had a treasurer (John 12:6). Jesus Himself admonished the disciples in Luke 22:35-36 to take up their purses, bags and even a sword! Even if it meant selling possessions to buy one. But as we see from the example of the Macedonian church; being poor is not an excuse not to give to the work of God. The widow who gave her last mite (Mk.12:43,44)

Parts of this study was culled from “The Midas Touch” by Kenneth E Hagin