The Godly Gazette (Tithing and Offerings)

Tithing and Offerings

Tithing

The word tithe means one tenth. God tells us that we need to give the first tenth of all we earn back to Him. Everything we earn is allowed by God, and belongs to God, and He wants us to honor Him by giving the first ten percent back to Him.

Malachi 3:10 - Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. NIV

The tithe goes to the storehouse, which is your home church, the place where you are spiritually fed. God wants you to be a faithful tither, because it breaks the love of money off your life, and shows God that He is more important to you than money.

Proverbs 3:9-10 - Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. NIV

God honors and blesses those who are faithful and cheerful tithers. Test Him on this, and see if you don't receive so many blessings that you can not contain them.

Offerings

An offering is a gift that you give over and above the tithe. Tithes always go to your home church, but an offering is something extra.

An offering could be in the form of money to a local charity, or it could be an offering of your time as a volunteer in a local ministry. God may put on your heart to give to a visiting pastor in your church, or you may feel the need to donate your old clothes to a homeless shelter.

Giving of your time, money, and other resources shows God your true intentions towards others. Jesus teaches that we should love our neighbors, and be willing to help others. Giving of offerings also helps break the love of materialism off your life.

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Mark 12:41-44 - Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.” NIV

Fasting

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