*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*
*TITHES AND OFFERING (6)*
*Scripture Treasure.*
Malachi 3:10 *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.*
*Insight and Highlight.*
God commands you to bring all the tithes into His storehouse because He knows you have it.
*Scripture Commentaries.*
Tithe has God's backing.
It is explained as one tenth of what you earn.
Tithes, as one tenth is explained in Exd 29:40, Numb 15:4, 18:26, 28:5,,Is 6:13, Heb 7:2.
Not only does God command you bring all the tithes into His storehouse, He also commands it because He knows people can be reluctant or refuse to give it or just hold on to it.
It is not a recommendation. It is an order and a command.
1 Cor 9:10 confirms that God knows you have this form of seed.
In 1 Cor 9:10, Paul tells the Corinthians that there is seed for the sower and there is provision for money for food. Both these are provided by God.
He tells us that if God has called us to sow and harvest, it is because He has given us the seed to sow.
Malachi tells that God has given you what you need to sow, therefore *.....bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house,....* Mal 3:10.
There is no way you will not eat from the meat you provide in your local church. There will be a way you benefit.
Giving affords you an account before God. Your tithes, offerings, firstfruit, and other givings are inclusive in the account as fruit. This is stated by Paul in Philippians 4:17 *Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.*
These givings not only come with earthly blessing but also eternal blessings. To this, Paul says in Phillipians 4:20 *Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.*
The Apostle Paul teaches us that how we give is as important as what we give. He said, *“Let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver”* (2 Cor 9:7).
Jesus is in our offering, and our offering is in Him. He first became an offering for our sins (Heb 9:28), before, He asked that we give Him our offering Heb 9:28.
He is in our tithes, and our tithes are in Him. He was in Mechizedek who received tithes and blessed tithers, Heb 7:1-10.
In firstfruit, we honor Him. He is our first fruit, Prov 3:9-10, 1 Cor 15:20-23.
All we give are obedience to God, but we can also add that given of all we give, the tithes stay with us, and the offering stays with us and we may say our firstfruit goes to God as honor to Him just as our praise goes to Him.
Do not be oblivious of your ability to give.
You pay tithes, you honor Him with *....with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:*
You do not have control over your tithes. It is one tenth and is not negotiable. Your firstfuit is all your increase. It is not negotiable.
You, however, have control over what you give to Him as offering
When He asks for offering, He says we should give according to what we have as long as we are cheerful to give it, it is acceptable to Him.
God is fair with these arrangements.
He is not asking for more than you can give.
Remember, God owns everything. We are only His managers
Pay your Tithes, give your offering.
*Remorse corner.*
Do not eat your seed.
*Call to Word action.*
Though we live to eat, and we eat to live. Let us remember your storehouse lives on what bring to it.
*The Christian clarion duty.*
Loving what we have above God equates to worshipping false gods
*Prayer.*
Lord, help me to love you above what l own in Jesus name.
Good morning all, and have a blessed day today.
God bless you.