The message to the world is also holy.
“The tithe . . . is holy unto the Lord. “
– Leviticus 27:30 1
“… We are laborers together with God …. “
– 1 Corinthians 3:9
Let me turn your attention to the offerings God’s people give. It goes without saying that money from the offering always comes as a great blessing to the house of God. However, contrary to common belief, the main purpose for the
offering is not to bless God’s house. Its greatest purpose is to get fmances to God’s children, for as you know, God looks upon the offerings of His children as seeds they have planted for a harvest.
” . . . he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give …. “
– 2 Corinthians 9:6,7
” It is interesting that God considers it a personal robbery when one of His children refuses to tithe or give offerings. “Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.”
— Malachi 3:8
It is fairly obvious that when someone refuses to give Him the tithe, they have robbed God, for the Scripture tells us all the tithe belongs to God.
” …. all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed ofthe land, or of the fruit ofthe tree, is the Lord ’s: it is holy unto the Lord. “
—- Leviticus 27:30
However, it is more difficult to understandwhy God claims He has been robbed when someone fails to give Him a freewill offering. This question arises because the Word of God tells us that giving offerings is a discretionary action, wholly dependent on the free will of the donor.
“Every man . . . as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly or of necessity, for God loveth a cheerful given”
-— 2 Corinthians 9:7
To more fully understand this verse, look at it in one of the more modem translations.
“Every one must make up his own mind as us to how much he should give. Don ’t force anyone to give more than he really wants to, for cheerfid givers are the ones God prizes. “
– 2 Corinthians 9:7 (TLB)
From this verse we can see that God leaves it up to individual Christians whether they will even participate in an offering. He also leaves it up to them how much or how little they will give. Vlhth this understanding, it still remains somewhat of a mystery why God would feel that He has as been robbed when there is no offering. The reason for God’s concem is that when there is no seed planted, we rob God of one of the greatest personal pleasures He has set aside for Himself, the pleasure He gets from blessing His servants.
Filed under: Introduction
johnavanzini
