LET'S TALK ABOUT TITHE: A BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE Pt.9

Good and noble intentions can be corrupted when it is not properly guided by the word. Every truth can be stretched to the extreme to a point where the very essence of it will be lost.

As I said previously, nothing is wrong with the principle&purposes behind tithing as revealed in scriptures but many things can be wrong with how it is taught and presented to God's people.

I will share another extreme about tithing today that is not so explicit but has caused a reaction among God's people.

4#.*THE GREAT IMBALANCE*

One of the reasons there is so much noise against tithing today is because of how some preachers have used the tithe of God's people for themselves only and neglect the poor. That's what I call the great imbalance.

Under the old covenant, we read how God instructed a portion of the tithe be given to support the poor, "Maaser Ani"( Deut 14:28-29). Meaning that the Levite were not the only one benefitting from it, the poor had their own share of it as well. The Levite never boasted about their wealth (from tithes), they were very conservative about it.

In the early church, all the generous giving were brought to the feet of the apostles. It is undeniable that they supported themselves from it and they also shared with those in need. The wealth went round. None of the apostles ever boasted about how much they had neither did they flaunt what they got from the collections of the people.

Today, it is not uncommon to see a carnal display of wealth and proudful boast about wealth among some preachers. In recent years, it has graduated from all that to verbal abuse of the poor, less privileged ministers and our Lord Jesus Christ himself. Imagine someone saying poverty was the reason Christ died.

*The blasphemy that has come out from the mouth of some preachers has made many to feel any form of giving is not worth it since it serves them only and not the poor. I can read into the hearts of people who criticize tithing and other forms of giving. They feel used and cheated. Though, how they feel does not nullify the principle and purposes of tithing&other forms of giving yet we must look inward as a church and right our wrongs*.

*I have always opined that ministers have no reason to flaunt wealth or make much noise about it especially where people are poor. The people will get wounded the more.  We are not showbiz people. We are believers whose lives should be lived in moderation*.

For instance, In a congregation where people (rich&poor) contribute to buy the pastor a car, it doesn't make sense to flaunt that car carnally and emphasize on it to a point where the people feel used. Why? Some who contributed cannot afford to buy one for themselves. They contributed collectively to make their pastor comfortable(not because they have one), why rub it on their faces as though he got it by your own wisdom?

The worse is when they are gaslighted for not tithing whereas some are doing it faithfully but because the preacher wants to prove a point to them that he got what he has because of something he is doing that they've not done, many get wounded in the process. This is emotional abuse. This is one reason many feel used and tired about church altogether.

I am talking to ministers of the Gospel today. We must be careful how we go about these things. There is a way we'll live our lives that will get the people wounded and offended such that when you talk about tithing, they'll think you are out to manipulate them again.

*The love of money must not supercede the love of souls especially the poor*. I know some will say our churches have welfare department. True, but how functional is it when compared to how the pastor's welfare is attended to promptly?  

The goal is not to continually give the poor handouts but to empower them so they don't depend on the church forever. Final counsel from Paul to us( preachers):

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