The first recorded instance of tithing in the Bible occurs in Genesis 14:17-20.......And Abram gave him a tithe of everything.

In the Old Testament the purpose of the giving of a tenth was to meet the material need of the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless (the orphan) and the widow. - Deut. 26:12-13 - The tithe was an expression of gratitude to God by His people. Basic to tithing was the acknowledgment of God's ownership of everything in the earth. All of these passages refer to Old Testament usage and to current Jewish practice.

Nowhere does the New Testament expressly command Christians to tithe. However, as believers we are to be generous in sharing our material possessions. Christ Himself is our model in giving. Giving is to be voluntary, willing, cheerful, and given in the light of our accountability to God. Giving should be systematic and by no means limited to a tithe of our incomes. We recognize that all we have is from God. We are called to be faithful stewards of all our possessions.

If we have sown spiritual things for you, why should you be surprised if we harvest your material things? Others are allowed these rights over you and our right is surely greater? In fact, we have never exercised this right. On the contrary we have put up with anything rather than obstruct the Good News of Christ in any way. Remember that the ministers serving in the Temple get their food from the Temple and those serving at the altar can claim their share from the altar itself. In the same sort of way the Lord directed that those who preach the gospels should get their living from the gospel. - 1Cor. 9:11-14 -

Now about the collection made for the saints, you are to do as I told the churches in Galatia to do. Every Sunday, each one of you must put aside what he can afford, so that collections need not be made after I have come. 1Cor. 16:1-2 -

Why we should be generous. Now here, ...................... As long as the readiness is there, a man is acceptable with whatever he can afford; never mind what is beyond his means. This does not mean that to give relief to others you ought to make things difficult for yourselves: it is a question of balancing what happens to be your surplus now against their present need, and one day they may have something to spare that will supply your own need. That is how we strike a balance: as scripture says: The man who gathered much had none too much, the man who gathered little did not go short.........................................and that it all comes as a gift out of your generosity and not by being extorted from you.

Do not forget: thin sowing means thin reaping; the more you sow, the more you reap. Each one should give what he has decided in his own mind, not grudgingly or because he is made to, for God loves a cheerful giver. And there is no limit to the blessings which God can send you-................ As scripture says: He was free in alms-giving, and gave to the poor: his good deeds will never be forgotten...........................By offering this service, you show.............. And their prayers for you, too, show how they are drawn to you on account of all the grace that God has given you. Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift! - 2Cor. 8 and 9 -

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Sunday, May 24, 2009

I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!

I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.

HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -