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Tithe?
It’s A
Matter Of The Heart
“Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give
according to what you have, not what you don’t have.” II Cor.
When it comes to giving, my own preferences, opinions and teaching
make it hard for me to approach this subjective topic.
On one hand, I know the tithe is “law” and in Christ, we are no
longer “under” the Law. On
the other hand, it’s hard for me to fathom how anyone who has tasted
God’s Grace, should not to give back to Him somehow; whether 10% or some
other amount. Read:
Genesis 28:10-22 I.
Tithing
As Covenant Law * this practice of tithing was specific
to
Leviticus 27:30-33 material
giving
Deuteronomy 14:22-29 material
and financial giving * under
the Law, God promised to materially bless
Malachi 3:8-12 robbing
God * However,
today in Christ, we live under
a new covenant Governed by the
Holy Spirit, Who writes His “law” on our hearts
Galatians
Hebrews 8:7-13 the new
covenant II.
Tithing
As Legalism * What
God originally intended for good, in Jesus’ day, it was the religious
leaders who perverted
Matthew 23:23-26 Jesus
called them hypocrites * God intended the tithe to be an
avenue to His blessing; but they turned the blessing into a burden to
satisfy their religious obligations
Luke 18:9-14 they
trusted in themselves III.
Tithing
As Worship
Hebrews 7:1-4 an act of
worship * Our
tithing as worship, then, acknowledges God and expresses our personal
allegiance to Him and His provision of blessings
to us
Mark * Express your gratitude towards God by your giving. Ultimately, tithing as worship isn’t about a percentage of income- it’s about the “overflow” of your heart and for you to acknowledge God is God ! The ultimate focus of tithing is the condition of one’s heart, not income
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