Wealth and plenty can be a wonderful blessing or a horrible curse; that depends on you. It is an absolute fact that God has promised to supply all your needs, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). It is even a covenant from God that any man or woman with a liberal heart in giving to the cause of His Kingdom will be overrun with return increases in their possessions. God will so bless a magnanimous heart that they will need to look for places to give from their blessings. It has been said that God is not a debtor to any man.
A man or woman that only pays their tithes will be blessed, but very limited. In fact, to only pay your tithes leaves you in the realm of the Pharisees who strictly obeyed the law, but only the required and never beyond. It is a very limited realm to live by; however, this is where most Christians have justified themselves. Abraham, Moses, and King David were men that proved God to be a supernatural partner even in their possessions. All were wealthy and blessed beyond measure but with the fellowship of God at the forefront. Abraham was called a friend of God. David was a man after God’s own heart. Moses talked to God mouth-to-mouth. They were magnanimous souls without a stingy cell in their person.
By the Spirit James cried out concerning corrupted riches, “Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth eaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter” (James 5:1-5) Riches can bless or riches can corrupt; you must decide. Years ago, I started giving 40-50% of my small salary and everything I had multiplied. My possessions are very limited, but they are blessed with a genuine feeling of being secure and satisfied.
Everything you own is “stored up self.” Whether you labored to earn it or inherited it, all you have that you have not sanctified by tithing and liberal giving is cursed and will not bring you any lasting satisfaction. God spoke by His Holy Spirit. “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts” (Malachi 3:8-12).
What powerful words – divine Words! The tithing principles that a Jewish person, who was living under the laws of Moses obeyed, was almost 30%. No one doubts that Jewish people have been among the wealthiest in the world even during nearly two thousand years of their dispersion. Why? It is because they have followed God’s principles in financial matters.
Do not wait to be wealthy so you can give and do not give to be wealthy. Tithe and give because you love God and love His Holy Word and because you want to live pleasing to Him. “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him” (II Chronicles 16:9a).
Quit using your income, whether it is small or large, just to live to yourself and buy what you want. Make the Kingdom of Jesus Christ the center of your life. Live for the work of missions, reaching the unsaved, sharing your possessions with others that are in need, and blessing your church so that it can touch the world. Forsake everything and everyone that stands between you and the perfect will of God. Surrender to the point of total devotion to His Holy Word and divine truth. Remember His words, “Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days” (Ecclesiastes 11:1).
it all belongs to god. if we trust our brothers in Christ, shouldn’t we all be satisfied even giving all to the church? I visited Menenites in Montana and they have no concept of mineThe concept is Gods which means ours.
Just some thoughts from life experience.
Rich
Dear D. Chambers,
How remarkable it is that when peoples hearts are bound up and looking for justification for not obeying the Word and will of God, that it appears that the tithe is almost offensive to them. In Matthew 23:23, Jesus was correcting the Pharisees about their obedience to the law, but their heart attitudes were wrong. They obeyed the tithe but neglected justice, mercy and faithfulness. Then Jesus said,”You should have practiced the latter without neglecting the former.” So here, Jesus himself they should do both.
You are so right about the jewish people knowing about tithing, but to tat ad they knew how to bless.The Father would bless his Children and wife in the morning and at meals, etc. That along with them being chosen of God has really blessed them, but they have also received their share of curses….anothe teaching?
It is amazing how incensed some people become when the subject of tithing and giving is presented. The cop-out is to say tithing is only a Mosiac law. 500 years before the law was given, Abraham gave a tenth of his spoils to the priest of God (Heb. 7:4), and Jacob gave a tenth of his income to the Lord. I do agree that limiting our giving to a tenth is Pharisaical. When a person is truly born-again the principal of giving is written on the heart by the Holy Ghost. A surrendered life to Christ will look for opportunities to give and not just of his “first-fruits.” It all belongs to God anyway and we are charged to be good stewards. “Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine” Proverbs 3:9-10. Oh, that’s Old Testament, we have to throw that out, right? Oh, but Jesus said, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets; I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.” The New Testament gospel does not contradict the Old Testament Law, but it is superior in ultimate fulfillment. The Law had become legalism among the Pharisees, Jesus takes the law beyond the outward to the very heart of man. Be a cheerful giver, for “he which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.” We must remember the Bible is a whole book, and tithing and giving are not just a part of the Ceremonial Law for the Jews.
Doctor Joe,
Thank you for your weekly messages, I read them all…you’re my favorite Pentecostal preacher…I take the liberty to forward the best of the lot to family in Texas and Colorado. Even folks that live in heathen states need to hear the Word of God. Looking forward to seeing you again at Pre-Trib…you know me a Phillip’s driver…yours too when you visit us in Tulsa.
pete
Dear Pastor Joseph Chambers,
I found this is very useful article on the matter of accountability of God’s divine possession and our giving tithe as God directs us.I will join Diocese of Peshawar, Church of Pakistan with effect from 1st January 2009. I want to be very effective instrument of our Lord of Israel and Church. I personally hate Anti-Semitic Theories which are common in today’s Episcopal Church Systems. Please do remember me in your personal and devotional prayers for His prophetic preaching with the power of the Gospel Message. We already aware of this fact that Christ’s return is at hand! And our goals and aims are same. We therefore continue our End-Time teaching and preaching with the power of the Gospel Message.
Please kindly note that Moderator Church of Pakistan is my uncle. He is a husband of my late Father’s real sister. At present he is also serving as Bishop in the Episcopal Church. His attitude is very strange and hurting with me. I am greatly indebted of you if you protect and uplift me before His heavenly throne. So that I can continue my service as God’s Servant among these men. They always use emotional and verbal abuse. Thank and Praise God Almighty for His Wisdom he has given you and uplift His Servants while forces of darkness are trying to discourage us. But we are called to preach His Gospel without any compromise.
Thanks for your godly counseling and prayer support in Jesus Name.
Yours In risen Lord Jesus Christ,
Rev.Anil Jasper
ssover.
Concerning your question on tithing, what you have been told is a good example of what happens when people pull certain verses out of context and then misapply what they have pulled out of context.
First of all, the actual Mosaic tithe was not 10 percent but 22-23 percent. That is because there were two annual tithes of 10 percent each and a third tithe every third year. The total averages out to 22-23 percent.
Second, the tithing itself was aimed strictly at the farming community, which most Jews were a member of at that time. They had to tithe from what was grown and what was raised such as flocks. Anyone else outside the field of farming would simply pay the annual half shekel at Pa
Third, tithing was part of the Mosaic Law and therefore was only in force as long as the Mosaic Law was in force. The Mosaic Law came to an end when Messiah died on the cross.
Fourth, the biblical principle for today’s giving is not based upon tithing but based upon giving as the Lord has prospered. From week to week the percentile might be different depending on the obligations we might have.
Fifth, the Bible nowhere says we are to give our entire offering (not tithe) to the local church. On the contrary, we are told that we should lay it in private deposit and strictly distribute our giving as necessary. The certain things we are required to support would include the local church, but that does not mean they get the entire amount of our offering. There are other ministries we are obligated to support such as whom we learn the Word from (Galatians 6), Jewish ministries (Romans 15:25-27), and others we give to as we are led to give. There is no need to feel guilty if somebody tries to get on your case for not tithing specifically to the church. The verses they use are verses that deal with the Mosaic Law. The storehouse was in the Temple Compound where the food was stored and not the church treasury.
Chambers: It is an absolute fact that God has promised to supply all your needs, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).
Kelly: Philippians 4:19 is a conditional promise to those in Philippi who had met Paul’s needs.
Chambers: It is even a covenant from God that any man or woman with a liberal heart in giving to the cause of His Kingdom will be overrun with return increases in their possessions.
Kelly: The “covenant” is the Old Covenant which God only made with national Israel. God is now operating under New Covenant principles. Heb 8:8-13.
Chambers: A man or woman that only pays their tithes will be blessed, but very limited.
Kelly: Although money was common even in Genesis, true biblical tithes were always only food from only food producers who lived inside Israel.
Chambers: Malachi 3:8-10
Kelly: Tithing is a small part of the whole law of over 600 commands which was only given to national Israel. The only way to be blessed by tithing was to keep the whole law per Neh 10:29. Galatians 3:10-13 removes the law and the curse.
NOTE: We sure disagree, but I’m glad to let him share his opinion. I guess he forgot about Abraham that paid tithes long before the law was given. Joseph Chambers
I appreciate you and your ministry.
I Thank you for the messages. They are a blessing.
Bro. French
The Reverend Vernal French and his wife are two of
the greatest missionaries. There life has been given to Mexico
where he leads app. 40 churches. I truly respect this dear couple.
Pastor Joseph Chambers