Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    The Privilege of Tithes and Offerings: Is Tithing a Choice or a Command for Present Day Christians
    The Privilege of Tithes and Offerings: Is Tithing a Choice or a Command for Present Day Christians
    The Privilege of Tithes and Offerings: Is Tithing a Choice or a Command for Present Day Christians
    Ebook152 pages2 hours

    The Privilege of Tithes and Offerings: Is Tithing a Choice or a Command for Present Day Christians

    By Martin Roberts

    5/5

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    Much debate continues within the Christian faith as to whether a person is instructed to tithe to the Church in the Modern Era. Both sides of the divide are equally convinced as to their belief. The Privilege of Tithes and Offerings offers the reader the opportunity to explore what is really meant when we tithe or offer one’s contributions to God. Do we do it begrudgingly or do we do it as a mark of our true heart condition in relation to all that God has given to us? The reader is left with that decision for themselves but the author challenges each and every one as to where their treasure is. God doesn’t need our money. He doesn’t sit on His throne with a ledger writing down what you have given him in your offerings. Perhaps many of us should be thankful that He does not. Ultimately, every Christian, whichever side of the divide they stand, should have a willing heart in offering to God their Time, Talent, Treasure and Touch. Tithes and offerings are truly a privilege from God, inviting us to step out in faith and put our trust in Him.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBookBaby
    Release dateAug 1, 2014
    ISBN9780990543015
    The Privilege of Tithes and Offerings: Is Tithing a Choice or a Command for Present Day Christians

    Related to The Privilege of Tithes and Offerings

    Related ebooks

    Christianity For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      God is Your Ultimate Employer

      Jun 24, 2019

      When we get to grips with the implications of the Gospel for our work, it is nothing short of revolutionary. Materialism and consumerism have had devastating effects on how we work. Often, as Christians, we have regarded work in the same way, bringin

      1 min read

    • Article

      Young Evangelists Are Answering The Call

      Jul 22, 2022

      Many years ago, Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke spoke of a vision that the Lord had given him of young people preaching the Gospel on the streets of Europe. That vision has taken another step forward with the introduction of Fire Camps – retreats for youn

      3 min read

    • Article

      Understanding The Spiritual Side Of Business

      Sep 4, 2020

      “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” – Ephesians 6:12 After many years of learning

      2 min read

    • Article

      8 Tips For Fresh Start In 2023

      Dec 30, 2022

      What a wonderful opportunity to have a new beginning every year, a fresh start. I am not talking about New Year’s resolutions – those good things that we should do, but that we all know that we never actually end up doing. Let us do something differe

      3 min read

    • Article

      Nigerian Pastor Spreads COVID-19 Conspiracies And Disinformation

      May 15, 2020

      Som Nigerian evangelical pastors act as purveyors of disinformation, half-truths and total falsehood about the coronavirus — with divine conviction.

      5 min read

    • Article

      WHO’S In The NEWS?

      Oct 28, 2022

      “Since I am banned from posting on my own Facebook pages from now on until further notice I will do my updates on YouTube and post it on Telegram!” “The world desperately needs Godly masculinity and Godly femininity to shine. Will you heed the call?

      3 min read

    • Article

      A Significant Life

      Oct 2, 2020

      I am done with mediocrity, and I am certain that God did not make me to be average: I want to live a significant life. I need to do significant things that will amount to a significant life. I live in and for God and He lives in and through me; there

      4 min read

    • Article

      3 Steps To Tackle Fear

      Aug 7, 2020

      3 Steps To Tackle Fear
      2 min read

    • Article

      Don’t Lose Your First Love

      Jun 15, 2020

      Lockdown has forced us all to become accepting of change. During lockdown, most Christians have been logging onto online church services on Sundays, and possibly also their home groups during the week. ‘Doing church’ remotely has become the new norm.

      2 min read

    • Article

      Faith Rests

      Nov 18, 2019

      According to Hebrews 12:2, the word is also the author and the finisher or the perfecter of our faith. Those who desire to perfect their faith and usher themselves into a place of rest must go to the word and allow Him to perfect their faith. The mos

      1 min read

    • Article

      True Generosity

      Nov 25, 2022

      It’s the gift-giving time of year! If we’re honest, everyone one of us looks forward to receiving a present, right? Giving gifts is a universal practice, isn’t it? Almost all cultures value generosity. But what exactly is generosity? Think about Jesu

      2 min read

    • Article

      A Spiritual Basis For Fatherhood

      Jul 1, 2021

      A longtime father shares how getting to know God as the divine Parent of everyone can empower one’s efforts to nurture, care for, and protect others, including one’s own children.

      2 min read

    • Article

      Stepping Into The Book Of Romans

      Oct 2, 2020

      The New Testament book of Romans is a copy of a letter written by the Apostle Paul to the church in Rome, sometime around the end of 58AD while he was in Corinth. He had never been to the Roman church before, although he had desired to do so for a lo

      2 min read

    • Article

      Commentary on Psalm 37:4

      Apr 22, 2022

      Commentary on Psalm 37:4
      2 min read

    • Article

      Introduction

      Jan 16, 2021

      Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. HEBREWS 12:2 NIV I’VE ALWAYS THOUGHT of Lent as a new beginning—

      1 min read

    • Article

      A Scriptural Study Of Isaiah 6 Isaiah’s Calling To Be A Prophet Part L

      Oct 21, 2019

      So many times, we pray for an Isaiah 6 experience. A scripture well known to all of us. The experience where the train of the robe of Abba Father filled the temple, in a vision that Isaiah saw. The posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cri

      3 min read

    • Article

      How God Is Using A Devoted Pastor To Further His Kingdom In This World

      Aug 7, 2020

      As Christians, we are called to be salt and light in society. We are called to be history-makers and world changers. We are called to be fruitful in our lives, to achieve much for the Kingdom of God. Our mandate on this earth is to go out into all na

      4 min read

    • Article

      Praying in Different Tongues

      Jun 24, 2019

      Praying in Different Tongues
      2 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for The Privilege of Tithes and Offerings

    5/5

    1 rating0 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

      Book preview

      The Privilege of Tithes and Offerings - Martin Roberts

      (1483-1546)

      1

      What is Mine is Mine.

      The society in which we live today certainly shows a lack of love for one's fellow man. Many are caught up in a life devoid of even caring for family members. Certainly a father who is working away from home three or four days a week may in fact believe that he is providing for his family which, in a financial sense, he may well be. But what is lost during the time he isn't with his children or spouse?

      It may surprise you to learn that in 19th century England the rich had no interest in helping their fellow man on the other end of the social scale, i.e. the poor. In fact, not only would the greater majority not help them, they believed that one who was poor was deserving of their circumstances in life. This wasn't due to any religious or Christian way of thinking because in 19th century England Christianity was at one of its lowest levels in history. It wasn't cool and it wasn't hip to even be associated with a Christian, let alone profess to be one. In his excellent book Amazing Grace, William Wilberforce and the Heroic Campaign to End Slavery, Eric Metaxas tells of a nation far removed from what is actually present today. England was quickly advancing towards their own French Revolution. Not only did Wilberforce work tirelessly to end slavery, but he was indeed one of, if not the most, significant social reformers in world history. More remarkable is the fact that, despite the open hostility toward Christianity [which Wilberforce did not directly challenge], he decided to follow God after inviting an old friend, Isaac Milner, to accompany him on a European vacation. However, the dilemma Wilberforce now faced was due to the fact that he was a leading force in English politics. Political circles were made up of many facets that included gentlemen's clubs and endless parties etc. Wilberforce was a member of no fewer than five such male establishments. Upon his return from Europe one of the first things he did was to submit his resignation to all five of them. Still, he was not yet ready to immediately broadcast to the world his new found faith which, it must be said, had originally been nurtured at a young age by John Newton. Upon Wilberforce's father dying while William was at a young age, his mother and grandfather sent him to his uncle and aunt who, unbeknown to his mother and grandfather, were practicing Methodists. Once they learned of this, his mother returned him home to her charge refusing to allow him to continue his walk in faith. Alone and without any church nearby, Wilberforce eventually found his faith wane to the point that he no longer had any interest. As a result of his mother's and grandfather's influence, Wilberforce became a skeptic.

      But all that had changed due to Isaac Milner. Remembering John Newton, Wilberforce sought his advice in secret as to what he should now do. To his surprise, Newton actually encouraged Wilberforce to remain in politics. To understand the hostile nature Wilberforce was willing to enter, that of being a Christian and a politician in 19th century England, one needs to read the historical accounts of his day. One of the better choices, if one is interested in these specific events, is indeed Eric Metaxas' book Amazing Grace, William Wilberforce and the Heroic Campaign to End Slavery.

      Wilberforce vowed that he would take his Christian faith into politics and serve God in his capacity of politician where he believed he could do more good. Two years later Wilberforce wrote in his diary that God Almighty has set before me two great objects, the suppression of the Slave Trade and the Reformation of Manners. [1]

      So what does all this have to do with tithing you might well ask?

      Nothing, you may conclude on face value, until one realizes the bigger picture that faced England with regard to social reform. This, in turn, would make Christianity an acceptable form of worship that had been clearly lacking in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

      Social reform included the rich helping the poor through the love of their fellow man and, by default, would eventually lead to offerings at church services.

      When one looks at society back then it was self-evident that selfish desires of every kind strangled any thoughts or initial attempts to help each other. While the social stigma is not as self-evident [although it can exist] within our own era, we still see a wide variance of assistance in helping our fellow man.

      You may cry foul to the fact that when times of natural disasters occur, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, floods or earthquakes, many people give and give generously to assist the victims of such tragedies.

      But what about everyday occurrences where finances are required just to take care of daily essentials? Should they not also receive the same level of support, but on an ongoing basis?

      I am of course talking about a person's giving to their church or sometimes more commonly described as tithing. Giving is probably the more modern term, but I would suggest that is due in part to a person's dislike of any reference to parting with a tenth of their earnings to the church. Tithes or tithing immediately invokes in many people's minds a mandatory figure that one must adhere to.

      Many reading this book will perhaps disagree, some strongly, with regard to tithing as I have already pointed out. That is only to be expected and I am not shocked to admit that. I personally never tithed in my entire life until I listened and studied scripture that several pastors have shared in their sermons on the subject. Even when I began to tithe I realized the figure only amounted to 5% and not 10%. I know as soon as you read those percentages some of you will be whispering Here we go, the 10% figure. That isn't mentioned in the New Testament.

      Are you sure about that?

      Later in this book I will not only answer that question, but I'll show from scripture that 10% is indeed referenced in the New Testament.

      But before we delve into what is the correct figure [if indeed figures should come into play at all] we need to build the evidence of why many of us have a hard time deciding what we should give to the church.

      If you're a parent, you have no doubt encountered a time when you hear your child screaming that something belonging to them is Mine, mine, mine. When you investigate, it may be another sibling or playmate that is attempting to play with the child's toy. The screaming child [even though he/she may have been playing happily with something else] upon seeing one their toys being held by another, immediately centers their attention on the object that was of no consequence a few moments ago.

      You see the same actions occur in a class of kindergarten children when a certain color pencil is wanted.

      But why do I mention this scenario? It isn't to suggest our children are bad. Rather, it is to illustrate a point that if we are not careful, this same type of display can become evident in our lives as adults. That is when it is revealed as selfishness.

      Selfishness is derived as placing oneself or one's own interests above the wellbeing of others. It is the opposite of altruism or selflessness [the principle or practice of concern for the welfare of others].

      Many people have made comments regarding selfishness such as Aristotle, Seneca, Francis Bacon, Adam Smith, John Locke, and many more. Some even dared say that selfishness could be a virtue in society!

      In Philippians 2:3-4 Paul wrote, Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others (NASB).

      Here the scripture tells the Christian to have nothing to do with selfishness, but instead to show humility of mind, not looking for one's own interests.

      Notice Paul also uses the phrase, empty conceit. What did he mean by that?

      , which see), means vain-glory, groundless self-esteem, empty pride.

      Identifying several works of the flesh Paul writes in Galatians 5:19-21, The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God (NIV) [underline in scripture mine].

      Likewise, James warned in James 3:16 saying, For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind (NLT).

      We see in scripture that, despite all of what God did in taking care of the Israelites when He brought them out of Egypt, they still displayed an attitude of Selfishness. Psalm 78:18 says that, They stubbornly tested God in their hearts, demanding the foods they craved (NLT). Later on the scriptures say how willful their sin was, even saying that God could strike a rock to give them water but could not give them the food they wanted. How selfish and disrespectful after all that God had done for them!

      In the story of the Rich man in Matthew 19:16-26 we see how selfish desire prevented the rich man from following Jesus. After asking Jesus what he needed to do to follow Him, Jesus instructed him to sell everything and give to the poor and then follow Him. I want to read to you the result of this conversation in Matthew 19:22 from the Message Bible translation because I think it really encapsulates our discussion here. The scripture says, That was the last thing the young man expected to hear. And so, crestfallen, he walked away. He was holding on tight to a lot of things, and he couldn't bear to let go

      Enjoying the preview?
      Page 1 of 1