I give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the tent of meetin
THE EXTREMES (b)
Recently, I heard a preacher who told someone that the reason his project has been slow was because he did not pay tithe from the project funds. I was taken aback because I tried to process what I heard to be sure I heard well.
For instance, If the person took a loan to execute that project and there is interest to be paid, does it make sense to tithe from such? Let's use business people as a clear example. That preacher's assertion is akin to saying business people should tithe from their capital.
I have always known that tithe and other forms of giving should be drawn from profits not business capital/project funds gathered through donations or loan. That preacher guilt tripped the person to feel his lack of progress was because he did not tithe from project money.
2#.GUILT TRIPPING PEOPLE
If there is one thing that has made tithing distasteful to many, it is the issue of guilt tripping. This is a manipulative way of getting money out of people's pocket instead of making them understand the principle and purposes it serves.
In some church circle, when some are facing life's challenges, the first question they ask is, "are you faithful in your tithe"? If the person is a tither, they may say, "you'll overcome" but If not, the preacher will say, "you are in this challenge because you are not a tither". To me, that is not right.
I was surprised when a preacher attributed the ordeal of Job to lack of tithing. I was shocked to say the least. Looking at the kind of person Job was, I can guess he gave more than 10% to God though the bible did not record it but the bible says he feared God and eschew evil. He was a devout man. Devout people always give. I am yet to see a devout person who doesn't give. Why use his ordeal to guilt-trip others facing life challenges?
Abraham was a tither yet he suffered barrenness for a long period of time. What got him the promised child was his faith in God not his tithe. Even under the law, Jesus never asked those facing life's challenges If they were tithers or not. He preached the Gospel, cast out devils, healed the sick and raised the dead on the basis of His love and compassion while they responded in faith.
Matthew 9:36 says, "When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd"(NLT).
If you call on me to agree with you in prayers as regards an issue, how will you feel If I attribute your challenges to lack of tithing or your failure to support our missionary endeavour?
Asking that question shows lack of compassion. To be truthful, life challenges is no respecter of tithers and non-tithers. Life happens to all in one way or the other. There are tithing believers battling issues including pastors. Does that nullify their devotion to God? Tithing is not a validation of a man's walk with God.
We'll be hypocritical to say only non-tithers face life battles. That is not true. If Paul were to live in our generation, some of his colleagues in ministry may charge him for not tithing to a father in the Lord or a greater ministry with results seeing his great challenges in ministry yet that suffering was part of his calling.
Acts 9:15-16 says about Paul, "But the Lord said, “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel.And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake”( NLT).
Guilt tripping is mammon's way of getting money out of people's pockets regardless of their challenges. Manipulation and fear have always been the tool of religion to keep people subservient and under control. I'll never employ that tool in my life. That is why I labour in teaching the whole counsel of God.
Nothing is bad with tithing as I've always opined. How some people go about it is what makes it wrong. As a teacher of God's word, i'll rather have you support me and my ministry with your substance as an extension of your worship to God and to meet needs than to make you give out of fear.
When people give out of understanding of the principle&purposes behind giving, they do it willingly without coercion. It flows from within them without restraint. That is the kind of giver I want you to be
PRAYER: Father, give me understanding about these things.