On Tithing: A MESSAGE TO THE CHURCH

On Tithing  (6)

A MESSAGE TO THE CHURCH 
(TIME TO CHANGE)
Sunday, August 2
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

There's an interesting story in the Bible, in 1 Samuel 30. Ziklag, the town where David and his men resided, was attacked in their absence. The town was burned with fire; and their wives and children were captured. David inquired of the Lord, 'Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?' And He answered him, 'Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.' David and six hundred of his men set out to recover their families and property: but by the time they got to Brook Besor, two hundred of them were so tired that they couldn't continue in the chase. The other four hundred went with David, and as God had told David, they recovered all that was stolen from them.

Then there was a problem: after their victory, the two hundred men who were tired and stayed back at the Brook went forth to meet David and the people that were with him, and David saluted them. Quickly, some of the men who went to war said, "Because they went not with us, we will not give them ought of the spoil that we have recovered, save to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead them away, and depart." David said, "Ye shall not do so, my brethren, with that which the Lord hath given us, who hath preserved us, and delivered the company that came against us into our hand. For who will hearken unto you in this matter? but as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike." And it was so from that day forward, that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel unto this day.

The Bible called those who made the suggestion not to give anything to the two hundred men "wicked men and men of Belial". I dare say that some of us in the Church of Jesus Christ have been acting like those "wicked men and men of Belial" by denying certain members of their churches recommendations, privileges and positions because of what they give and do not give. It is so wrong, even though it has been done for quite a long time. Many ministers don't realize the damage we have done to the faith of a lot of people because of our greed and lust for money. The time for the reformation of the Church is now!

I've written and published articles on tithing in the past few days, and I encourage you to read them; let me conclude with these words,

Don't use tithes to determine a person's membership of a church

Don't use tithes to determine if a person qualifies for assistance by the church

Don't use tithes to determine if a person qualifies for leadership

Don't keep records of people's tithes for the wrong reasons.

Don't judge and condemn people who don't tithe.

Don't lie to people that they will go to hell if they don't tithe

Don't tell people that they will experience financial hardships if they don't tithe

Don't accord special privileges to people who pay tithes

Don't call God's children thieves.

Don't promise people miracles if they pay tithes. Jesus, the Apostles and even prophets in the Old Testament didn't do that. Miracles can never be bought or paid for. People in Bible days didn't pay tithes in order to receive miracles from God.

Stop praying special prayers for those who tithe. God is not partial.

Stop calling God's children cursed. Jesus has redeemed us from the curse of the Law!

Stop compelling people to give anything.

Stop manipulating people

Be loving.

Teach the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God.

Don't be ignorant of the truth.

Some people have no business opening churches but they have done so because of their desire to receive tithes, especially. May God have mercy on us all.

Amen!

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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