TITHING
1.And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.
1.And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.
2. And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.
3. And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:
4. For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.
Luke 21:1-4
Tithing is for those who desire to follow the Lord’s teaching concerning giving. In the Old Testament, it was required that ten percent of one’s income should be given to the storehouse of God. But, we find, in the time of David and Solomon, that people gave much more. In the Book of Acts, people gave of their substance, many times all they had.
The widow we read about in this passage, gave all she had. As we look at giving, we see a number of truths. Out of the abundance of the heart is where the true sacrifice comes. We must first realize God already has ownership of everything. Yet, He trusts us to use what He gives us in a proper way. It is said by many that ten percent of the church gives ninety percent of the money.
I’m a firm believer that giving is an act of worship. Numerous times throughout the Scripture we find people giving sacrificially to build the House of God. And, they even gave to rebuild a destroyed wall, as in the case of Nehemiah. I would encourage all of us to give. If we fail to give with a cheerful heart, our gifts will lose their value.
When we speak of giving to God, we should not overlook the giving of our time. All giving is a personal matter between the giver and his Lord. Before we get too far into this new year, have a conversation with God and follow His leadership in the giving of money and of time.
Praising God for the greatest gift ever given, His Son,
Jesus Christ!
Bro. Gene