I have to admit
that it really annoys me to see or hear evangelists, ministers, preachers,
etc, taking up precious time on the subject of prosperity. Often called
'seed sowing' or 'sowing seeds'. It's a relatively new concept for today's
preachers and unfortunately a waste of a 20 minute to half hour or more
sermon. I can see encouraging people and teaching them that prosperity is
good and from God but not in the manner you see today. Under NO circumstances
should personal prosperity be the bulk of any sermon.
Prosperity is
FROM GOD and it occurs when
YOU GIVE. Where you give,
or donate to, is a matter of intense prayer and listening to God's direction.
Giving is the main point here, not receiving!
When I say GIVE I don't mean as these
preachers that harp on it as part of their daily sermons, most of those
types of preachers are concerned with pocketing your hard earned money.
Many of these so called 'Preachers of God' are rich off the backs of those
that are convinced they're going to hell if they don't give them their money.
Being wealthy is not something to brag at ... actually it is a greater cause
and means to GIVE with. Shame on those that act unbecomingly due to God's
graciousness! None of the apostles were rich that I'm aware of, if they
were they certainly never said so. I'm not saying rich is bad, I'm saying
that the more wealth you have the less *lip flapping* you should do about
your prosperity, preach the gospel and give of your abundance to those that
are in need and don't forget to THANK Almighty God for His gifts to you
... but remember, those gifts are
NOT for you but so that you can
pass them on to those less fortunate than yourself.
One thing that really annoys me is
giving to a -charity- or -cause- only to wind up on their mailing list and
then I get masses of *give us more* mail I did not ask for and in many cases
I get said mail/email in spite of specifically asking NOT to be added to
their mailing list. Go figure! Yes, giving is imperative but not randomly
with no form of checks & balances, and certainly not as a means to wind
up on someone's mass junk mail or email list! If I found them to donate to
them in the first place then I can find them again if I think them worthy
... unasked for mail/email just urks me and I tend never to donate to those
abusing God's tithe in this way. Unfortunately it's a live and learn situation.
If you do get masses of unwanted mail or email, keep bugging them to stop
and tell them they will loose you as a giver, you will find another worthy
cause, if they don't quit.
In the Old Testament (Deuteronomy,
Leviticus, etc) God asks for 10% of their (the 12 tribes) increase, which
back then was crops & animals because that was how they traded and earned,
men were great (rich) if they had many crops and large herds, even in the
New Testament it was so. You can read about tithing by visiting
BlueLetterBible.org
(BLB) and typing in the search phrase box 'tithe' or 'tenth' (without the
' '). There is actually no scripture that I could find about tithing money,
nor specifically 10% of all you have as it relates to Gentiles since the
Old Testament is basically a history book of the Israeli peoples and speaks
to the coming of Jesus as we see Him in the New Testament. Jesus and the
apostles were Jews and they all observed the laws and statutes as set forth
and documented in Moses' day. I'm not dismissing the OT, nor am I saying
tithing is not justified today ... quite the opposite! There's plenty in
the Bible about GIVING and that is the key issue here! Giving a set amount
(10%) honors the laws of old but moreso it shows that you are listening to
God. The NT shows us alot about how GIVING is a means to receiving (sowing
seed and reaping prosperity as a result of giving). I searched BLB for the
word 'give', here are some NT scriptures to consider (
KJV):
Mat 5:42 Give
to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not
thou away.
Mat 7:9-10 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask
bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a
serpent?
Mat 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead,
cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
Mat 19:21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go [and]
sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure
in heaven: and come [and] follow me.
Mat 19:29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren,
or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my
name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting
life.
Mar 10:29-30 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say
unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or
father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,
But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren,
and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and
in the world to come eternal life.
Luk 18:12 I
fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
Jhn 7:19 Did not Moses give you the law, and [yet] none of you
keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?
Act 3:6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such
as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and
walk.
Act 20:35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring
ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus,
how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Rom 12:20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst,
give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
{There's
an interesting explanation for *heap coals of fire on his head*: in the
old days Jews would go to each other's houses early in the cool of the morning
and share coals to light each other's stoves for heat ... the young boys
of the houses would carry the warm coals in pots on their heads and give
them out to others in the village to help them get their stoves started so
they could warm their houses. When you think of it in this respect you see
that it is a GIVING action, not a damning one as most believe. This passage
is actually talking about passing on *warm fuzzies*, not condemnation! See
how we can misunderstand even the kindest acts?}
2Cr 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, [so
let him give]; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful
giver.
Eph 4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him
labour, working with [his] hands the thing which is good, that he may have
to give to him that needeth.
1Ti 4:15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to
them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
Jam 2:16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be [ye]
warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are
needful to the body; what [doth it] profit?
I heard on a sermon once that
if you don't give to those in need God will choose someone else to do it,
which is basically a take on Esther's actions to save the Jews of her day,
read her story (book of
Esther) in the OT. Give and you may well
be saving someone's life, don't give and what is yours shall be taken from
you up to and including your own life (we see this in the NT where a certain
man and wife try to cheat the apostles and end up both dying, read about
it in
Acts 5:1-11). God GIVES to those that GIVE, He takes from
those that don't give ... I'm talking about His people by the way, not satan's
... we are accountable to God on what we do with what He gives us! We are
servants, we are to give & serve others all we can because we give from
God whose abundance is neverending. He created everything, therefore it's
His to give, and He does that through you, me and others that are listening
to His voice. Just now I heard (on 700 Club program) of someone that discovered
the benefits and joy of tithing, the man speaks of when he was dirt poor
saying, "How can God trust you with alot if He can't trust you with a little?",
so true! His point being that God does not need your money but He does WANT
your obedience. This person literally went from rags to riches in nine months.
That could be YOU!
The passage below says to give, and
whatever you give it shall be given back to you again in kind. That's good,
but by the same token you should turn around and give of that, then again
you will receive, give again, receive, give again and so on. Not giving
is really your lack because if you don't give to others God has nothing
to return to you. Do you get it??? Remember, what you tithe is NOT yours,
it is God's, you are just the means He has to distribute His funds and services
to the needy. And even though you've given back to God 10% of all that He
has given you, ponder the thought that He has left for you 90% to do with
as you please ... is that not a gracious God!?
Luk 6:38 Give,
and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together,
and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure
that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
Here's what I'd
suggest you do in the manner of tithing (setting aside 10% of your income
for God's purposes); how and when to give God's tithe.
Set up a Tithing Bank Account:
Set up a bank account specific to
the purpose of donating, perhaps call it Tithing. I'm serious, go to your
bank and set up a checking Tithing account. Each and every paycheck deposit
10% (before or after gov't taxes, etc, is up to you). If your paycheck is
autodeposited to another account make an effort to transfer 10% to your tithing
account. Keep an excel spreadsheet or some other method of tracking of how
much your paycheck (or other income dollars) is (either your gross or net),
multiply it by 10% and keep track of both numbers every time you get income.
Even if it's cash ... any and all dollar valued income should be accounted
for when tithing! I suggest you set up a Tithing Checking Account so that
if you wish to donate to certain charities you can write a check from your
tithing account.
Keep track of your income and your tithe (incoming
& outgoing):
I keep track of all my income and
make sure to log 10% of all of it. I don't happen to have a separate checking
account but I do keep track of all in a tithing excel spreadsheet that I
put in the net income from (after taxes ... giving to Caesar that which is
Caesar's), which is my husband's take home pay, I also tithe from my paychecks
when I work. Then I start looking for a place or places to donate. Some charitable
organisations I've donated to are listed below and are listed as an FYI
(for your information) purposes only. I also keep track on that same spreadsheet
of what and when, and to whom I tithe and how much given. I have a running
total so I know at all times what I have of God's to give.
Give the 10% tithe FROM GOD, not as though it
is yours ... it isn't:
You are God's trusted representative
of that 10% tithe, whether great or small. I always put in the check description,
or on the back of the envelope ... *Gift from GOD* because it IS from Him,
not from me. Finding reputable places to donate can be time consuming and
cumbersome, but I'm sure that you, like me, don't want to see God's tithe
wasted or worse yet not used for the purposes you deemed. Here are some
suggestions to consider when looking for places to donate:
- Pray for guidance, ask the Lord which of the many charities He
wants you to give to but don't delay too long. If you don't feel He's answering
you perhaps that is your answer, it may be that He's saying that whatever
you decide He'll back and bless. Don't let your tithe account get too big,
remember it's God's money and He wants you to use it to help others now,
for tomorrow we die!
- Charities should not have more than a 10% administration cost,
meaning that 10% or less is spent on themselves to administer their company,
advertisements, pay their staff and bills, etc. The remaining 90% of donations
they receive should go to the cause they say they are using it for.
- Be watchful that the monies you are sending is indeed being used
for the purpose you are donating for. I am leary of donating to any company
or charity that has a disclaimer that they may use the funds for other purposes
if you don't specify ... often not giving you anywhere (especially on their
websites) to specify where you want your tithe used. That doesn't necessarily
mean you shouldn't tithe to them but if you donate, especially online, then
by all means watch out for those disclaimers ... it might be best if you
mail a check so that you can include a note specifying where you want the
funds used, or find a charity that does allow comments where you can speicify!
I'd suggest you keep a copy of your check and note, you should always keep
track of such things anyway!
- I don't think it matters whether a charity is tax-deductible or
not, that's just my personal opinion. You are giving from God and God doesn't
care about tax deductions. I don't pay attention to whether a charity is
tax deductible, I pay attention to who they are serving and what they are
doing to help those in need. Tax-deductible status just means that the charity
doesn't pay taxes, they are tax-exempt, therefore you get a tax slip from
them so that you can claim tax exempt status for that donation. I don't think
it should matter to you since you are giving of God, not yourself. If you
are giving from yourself, of your own personal checking and not tithe related,
then by all means feel free to consider such things.
- If you donate to a church whether during services or online, investigate
in advance what they do with the donations. Many churches have multiple
areas they work in, some including mission work (working outside your country
bringing the gospel to nations that don't know Christ), feeding the starving
in poor countries, clothing and caring for the homeless, providing medical
care for those in need, caring for orphaned children, helping the elderly,
visiting prisoners and bringing them the gospel, visiting the sick in hospitals,
educating those in need, etc. Make sure the funds are going to the area you
are donating for. If you like a church or find the sermons of some ministries
particularily edifying to your soul then by all means donate but again things
that are for your own personal use should be paid for from your money, not
God's! Gifts from God, and you or others, allow these ministers to continue
spreading their good seed and the word of God throughout the world ... when
they do this with tithes you've given ... in effect you are doing it also.
- Make your charities of choice accountable to you. Ask for statements
of what they did with your gifts. If they don't provide such things perhaps
you need to find charities that do. Be careful, research before you give.
This may sound harsh but you are giving in trust that it gets to those who
need it ... don't believe everything you hear and only believe half of what
you see ... ultimately it's up to you to make sure your tithes & gifts
get to where they need to go.
- If you feel a strong inner urge to donate to a cause or charity
then it's likely a prompting within from the Holy Spirit, at NO TIME should
you ignore this prompting! Of course you must discern whether the prompt is
worthy and godly but if so do NOT delay in sending whatever funds you are
urged to send. Often when the Holy Spirit speaks to you he also will disclose
how much you should send from God's tithe fund that you have stored up. This
happened to me a couple of times during the 2005 natural disasters of the
Asian Sunami and the southern USA's hurricane Katrina. I used trusted charities
to make those donations and did it without haste for the amounts I felt the
Holy Spirit call me to send. It has also happened to me on occasion when
I hear of someone being sick, or a relative passing away and the deceased
family is in need, I have been prompted by the Holy Spirit to give a few times
to such as these.
Below are links to charities I've
donated to, site links will open in a new browser window, contact me at
PACM (Phoenix
ALIVE! Christian Ministries ~ our ministry site) if any of these links go
bad &/or if you'd like to otherwise contact me.
Here's a website that ranks many
charities and is well worth a visit if you are looking for information on
companies and charities you wish to donate to, bear in mind that many churches
are not listed here because by law they don't have to disclose the information
that those listed do. Check out the multiple pages of charities they've ranked/rated,
and they have alot of good advice on how to donate, what to be aware of
beforehand, etc ...
CharityNavigator.org
Ways of Giving & Tithing:
Giving 10% (money &/or goods):
I have given God's tithe to things like people that have survived natural
disasters, people that can be cured of leprosy, churches (when they pass
the tithe plate/bucket), etc. I have also bought christian tracts, yes I
believe that is a form of tithing ... you have to pay for them but when you
pass them on you may be saving a life (in the eternal sense), you never know
who's eyes or hearts those tracts will rest upon. I use the tracts from
LivingWaters.com
&
WayOfTheMaster.com
and find the tokens (simulated coins) particularily easy to pass on.
Volunteering your time & manpower:
Time is money, and your time is valuable to the Lord. You can volunteer
your time and manpower to charity as a means of tithing, especially if you
really, truly don't have money to give ... don't make that an excuse though,
you should still give 10% of all you have, but you can give yourself for
use in a soup kitchen helping to feed the homeless, visit and pray for/with
the sick in hospitals, minister to prisoners in jail, and preach the good
news gospel of the salvation of Jesus Christ to whomever you can. Our life
is fleeting and we need to concetrate on important things, which is NOT our
own prosperity but the prosperity, health, happiness and most importantly
the eternity of others. GIVE the gospel to all you meet and SERVE, that is
the message our Lord Jesus came to give. Even such as these articles fall
under volunteering one's time to further the cause and ministry of our Lord.
Praying is important: Prayer
is another form of tithing! When we pray for others, called 'intercessory
prayer', we are giving a gift from God. It is not a substitute for other
forms of tithing but to be used in conjuction with. If you are truly poor
and have nothing monetary to offer, no income of your own whatsoever ...
then pray for others. At least in prayer you can spend quality time with
the Lord and through your prayers for others the Lord will move in powerful
ways. This form of tithing can be used in conjunction with visiting the sick,
feeding the poor, etc. If you are absolutely housebound and cannot go out
then pray for the health and happiness of others you may know of that are
in need. Always make your prayers and supplications to God (the Father),
and end all prayer in the name of Jesus (the Son of God) for all things come
to the Father through the Son and only through the Son!
Col 3:17 And
whatsoever ye do in word or deed, [do] all in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
What a tithe is NOT: Don't be
so selfish as to think giving to yourself is tithing. If you want to buy
something for yourself like books, audios or video tapes of sermons to read,
listen to or watch ... that should come out of your personal checking, it
is not tithing ... tithing is to give to others in a way that you personally
don't benefit from except for the soul satisfaction of helping others. If
you buy books, audios, videos, etc, then you are benefiting ... unless you
are buying those items for someone else's edification. If you are buying
for yourself it is not a tithe. You should not tithe to your own ministry
if you are the beneficiary of that action unless you are using it to pay
a salary or build up your ministry until your it has grown enough where your
congregation is able to support you and your ministry. If you have a ministry
for the sole purpose of making money from it ... shame on you!
As explained, when you GIVE to others
... then you will receive and have prosperity ... and you are most certainly
heaping up treasures in heaven as promised. When God sees you are earnestly
trying to help others and save souls you will become prosperous beyond your
wildest dreams. Most of us cannot attain wealth because we are unwilling
to step on the toes of our brethren to get it, and that is a good thing.
But you do not have to suffer in poverty either, even if you are in poverty
now ... give what you can, be honest about it because GOD IS WATCHING, He
knows what you can afford to give. You aren't reading this article by accident
you know! The more you give the more He will bless you! Step out in FAITH,
GIVE til it hurts, pray about where and how to give. If you don't feel you
are getting an answer to such a prayer (I've felt that way myself), then
give to your best judgement, God will honor and back you as long as you GIVE
with a loving heart and a clear conscience. Don't expect to receive back.
Just do it for the benefit of others with an attitude of service to others,
especially the needy. Ponder this parable bearing in mind that WE are the
servants and Jesus is the man traveling (their Lord) ...
Mat 25:14-30
For [the kingdom of heaven is] as a man travelling into a far country, [who]
called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one
he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according
to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had
received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made [them]
other five talents. And likewise he that [had received] two, he also gained
other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and
hid his lord's money. After a long time the lord of those servants cometh,
and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents came and
brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents:
behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him,
Well done, [thou] good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over
a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the
joy of thy lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord,
thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents
beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant;
thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many
things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Then he which had received the
one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping
where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: And
I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, [there] thou
hast [that is] thine. His lord answered and said unto him, [Thou] wicked
and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather
where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to
the exchangers, and [then] at my coming I should have received mine own with
usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give [it] unto him which hath
ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have
abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which
he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there
shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Notice of the one with five talents
that he *traded* those talents and received five more talents, having ten
talents in all by the time his Lord returns? Same with the one that was
given two talents, he traded and received two talents more, four in all
by the time his Lord returns. They prospered! But the one that hid his talent
was hiding that which the Lord had given him ... not even making so much
as interest on it. Notice their Lord returns to reconcile with His servants
as to what they did with the talents that He had previously given them!?
Notice the five and two talent servants *gained* in addition to what was
given them, that again! But of the one who had one talent and hid it for
himself the Lord rebuked. To those that made good use of the talents He gave
them ... they would be promoted to rulers over many things and inherited
the joy (eternal heaven) of their Lord. To the one that horded the one talent
(did nothing with it) he had the one talent taken away and was cast into
outer darkness (eternal hell).
Do you know that you cannot understand
God's parables unless He imparts their meaning to you? Perhaps you never
realized what this parable meant and how it relates to you, and the things
God has given to you to invest in others, particularily those in need. God
does not want us stagnant with what He gives us, He wants us to GIVE and
to prosper. It's not how much you have (how many talents you are given),
notice both the five and two talent holders received the same blessing, it's
what you DO with your talents that counts! Talents in the passage above is
money but the spirit of the message has many potential meanings like: talent=money
(tithe); talent=souls saved; talent=gospel preached; talent=food given, etc.
Don't let your talents waste, use them ... that's why they were given to
you in the first place!
What? You don't think you need to
tithe or give? What if you lack because of your *giving*? The WHAT IF, or
WHAT ABOUT ME syndrome is from satan, cast it far from you! If you choose
to remain in your poor state (physically & spiritually) then by all means
don't give, but by the same token don't consider yourself godly either, for
you are not. Don't call yourself a Christian, for you are not ... Jesus gave
all He had and then as much as God gave Him power to give, which is ALL
THINGS. You inherit all things through Jesus, you are limitless in your
abilities from God. Only you listening to satan will diminish His light
within you ... keep THAT in mind when you see children in third world countries
starving and do nothing about it! Eat, drink and be merry while others are
starving and dying from lack while you wallow in your talents ... but woe
to you ... consider the words of Jesus ...
Mat 25:31-46
When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with
him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall
be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as
a shepherd divideth [his] sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep
on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto
them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom
prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred,
and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger,
and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me:
I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him,
saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed [thee]? or thirsty, and
gave [thee] drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took [thee] in? or naked,
and clothed [thee]? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto
thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you,
Inasmuch as ye have done [it] unto one of the least of these my brethren,
ye have done [it] unto me. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand,
Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil
and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty,
and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked,
and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall
they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst,
or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto
thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch
as ye did [it] not to one of the least of these, ye did [it] not to me. And
these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life
eternal.
Do you get that the hungry, thirsty,
strangers (in need), naked (poor), sick, and prisoners are all people Christ
identifies with, as being in need? Do you see that when you don't help the
needy Christ says you are refusing Him? He wants you to give to these people
and help them get through their trials of life and help them to come to
Him through the gospel, the Good News that Jesus Christ is the living Son
of God and has come to earth as a man to sacrifice Himself to pay our sin
debt. If you can't pay tithes in and of yourself then tithe to someone that
can/will! God sees all, remember that! You will be accountable for all your
actions, or lack thereof, someday. Please GIVE, in any way you can, to worthy
causes & charities ... you will be blessed if you do!
Rev 22:12
And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward [is] with me, to give every man
according as his work shall be.
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© Deb (Sandberg) Murtagh 2006
ALL Rights Reserved!