BIBLE TEACHINGS MADE PLAIN part 21
HEAVEN’s DIVINE ECONOMY
In lesson 20 we have discussed the church which is described in the scriptures under different names, as congregation, assembly, church, the called out and also as the household or family of God. In any household or family are cost factors to deal with, the economy of income and expenses. Same is true for the household of God. In the secular world it is regulated by taxes. The public is charged with taxes the government spends it or budget the economy.
In the household of God we deal with God’s economy and it operates via the tithing system and freewill offerings. In the secular world the paying of taxes to the government has a flow back to the tax payer. We have a police force to look after the public, we have a health system, and we drive on roads etc.
In God’s economy when we return to God the tithe it also has a flow back to the person who returns God’s tithe. Some call it tithe paying, but it would be better to say to return or render tithe to God, as we will see later in this lesson. God’s tithing plan is based on a different principle than our secular tax system
But as we have done before let’s return again to the beginning, because as it was in the beginning so it should be. The first time we learn in the Bible about tithing is when it is reported what Abraham did when his goods increased. Read Gen.14:20.
Abraham had been in a war situation to rescue the family of Lot who been taken captive. As a result of this rescue effort he was left with increase of goods gained from this war effort. On the way back home he met a priest of God by the name of Melchizedek and Abraham gave this priest the tithe of the goods he had gained from this war effort, Gen.14:20. How did Abraham know about this tithing plan of God?
We do not know but what we do know about Abraham is that he knew the way of the Lord and that he taught his household about the statutes and commandments of God, Gen.18:19; 26:5. What Abraham did is later mentioned by the apostle Paul in Hebr.7:6-10.The Hebrew author recognised that Abraham was faithful in rendering to God the tithes. Spiritually we are Abraham’s children, Gal.3:29
The next person we meet in regard to tithing is the grandson of Abraham, Jacob. He was on the run away from home for what he had done to his brother Esau and his father Isaac. At that point in his life he had nothing, but promised that if he would be blessed he would give the tithe to God, Gen.28:22. After this report for a long time we do not hear anymore about tithing.
Israel is delivered from Egyptian bondage and going through their Exodus experiences and learning how to be a dedicated people to God. The Lord instructs them also about the tithing plan, read Lev.27:30. They are told the tithe of their goods is holy unto the Lord. One tenth of their goods holy to the Lord, and one seventh of their time also holy to the Lord, Ex.20:8-11.The same should apply to us today.
The church today is the continuation of Israel and what was holy to the Lord in their time is still holy to God to today. Nowhere in the scriptures have we found a change. God has not changed and He does not change His statutes and commandments, James 1:17; Mal.3:6; Hebr.13:8.
In Numb. 18:21-24 we read what the tithe was used for. It was used for the Levites the ones who were engaged in the sanctuary and temple services. But they also were subject to returning the tithe to God from their income, Numb.18:26. The tithe they received for their daily livelihood was income to them and subject to returning a tenth from it to God.
The basis for this tithing principle is that we recognise that God is owner of all, Ps.24:1; 50:12. We also give recognition to God that He it is who has provided us with the strength and health to get income and goods. We are admonished not to forget God, Deut.8:11-18. What we have and get, we must never boast about .that it is the result of our own effort and power, read Jer.9:23-24. Israel has not always been faithful in this respect when we read Mal.3:8-10. They were told by the prophet that they were robbing God by not returning tithe and freewill offerings to God. Not a nice saying to rob God. As we read here the economy of God is the best because when we are faithful, the Lord in return He will bless us. It is false economy to think you can do better with 100% than with 90%. We have experienced this and so many others as well. To render what belongs to God, that which is Holy to the Lord, the tithe of your income and increase, will receive heaven’s blessing and the 90% will do even better.
In Matthew 23:23 Jesus confirmed the rendering of tithe to God. The Pharisees did forget certain things, but Jesus said that one thing should be done and the others like tithing not to be neglected.
Now comes the question to where should the Lord’s tithes be taken? Mal.3:10 say it should be taken to the store house. In our understanding it is obvious that means the church, a central place from where it is distributed for what it is designed for. In OT times it was designed for those who were employed to do the work in the sanctuary and later in the temple. Today that means for those who are employed in church work, ministerial work for the church and its members, and outreach of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul writes in 1Cor.9:11-14 that those who preach the gospel should live of it. The church of today follows that same principle.
Next we have freewill offerings as mentioned in Mal.3:8-10. The people were not only robbing God from His tithe but also with holding their freewill offerings. We read in Ps.96:8 that we are encouraged to bring an offering to the Lord. Also read Deut.16:17. When the sanctuary in the desert during the Exodus out of Egypt had to be erected the people were asked to bring an offering, Ex.25:1-9; 35:4, 5. They were asked to give with a willing heart, Ps.110:3. We read the same in 2Chron.29:9 and confirmed in 2 Cor.9:6, 7.
In the economy of God’s household it is the best to budget for this at the time wages and other income is received. Other income means gain from investments and bank interests. In early NT times it was counselled to do this on the first day of the week, 1Cor.16:1, 2. Even today some people have weekly income, others fortnightly or monthly. Do it immediately and calculate your budget, to delay it is not good economy. Let God be first. In God’s eye we are stewards of His goods and it is expected from stewards to be faithful, 1Cor.4:2. God knows how to bless them. Read the parable about the talents and those who received them and what the outcome was for the ones who had been faithful in caring for the talents, Matth.25:14-30.
The tithing system which God from the beginning has instituted has proven to be a safe economical method to keep the church properly running and bless those who faithfully render to God what belongs to God. In the Seventh-day Adventist Church this has been applied from the bottom to the top of its administration and organisation
From the church member the tithe goes to the local treasury which forwards it to the Conference. A number of churches form a conference. A certain percentage from the tithe is send by the conference to the Union. A number of conferences form one Union. The Unions worldwide are the building blocks of what is called the General Conference But being a worldwide church the General Conference has divided it self into divisions, currently 13 division.. The unions do send a certain percentage to the General Conference via its divisions. The same happens to freewill offerings in harmony with their designated purpose. Local offerings stay in the local church other offerings are mentioned by name for which purpose they are used. Mission offerings in Sabbath School also go to a central place to support worldwide mission projects.
The Seventh-day Adventist church also has its standard organisations under direct church administration, like ADRA, Adventist World Radio, Hope TV, Health and Educational institutions. From time to time these institutions are supported by freewill offerings. We should be liberal with God and His saving work as He is liberal to us as He supports and sustains our life. Remember also Matt.6:33 and Luke 12:31-33 by giving to the Lord’s work we are laying up a treasure in heaven. Finally we must remember that when we were born we brought nothing into this world and we can take nothing out when our sojourning on earth comes to an end, 1Tim.6:7.
Commitment: Having committed myself to become a member of God’s church I now commit myself to support the church with God’s tithe and my freewill offerings.
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