Tithing

According to Their Ability

January 17, 2020 By Marji "Mike" Kruger

According to their ability they gave to the treasury for this work 61,000 drachmas of gold, 5,000 minas of silver and 100 priestly garments. (NIV) Ezra 2:69

God has gifted each one of us with talents, spiritual gifts, and material goods. He has blessed us because He loves us. But, He also expects us to use those blessings for His Kingdom. Throughout the Bible, God clearly instructs us to give in proportion to how much He has given His people.

** They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything– all she had to live on.” (NIV) Mark 12:44
** The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea. (NIV) Acts 11:29
** We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. (NIV) Romans 12:6- 8
** For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have. (NIV) 2 Corinthians 8:12
** Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (NIV) 2 Corinthians 9:6-7

Are you giving in proportion to how much God has given you materially?

Written by Marji “Mike” Kruger

When You Give

March 27, 2012 By Marji "Mike" Kruger

So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (NIV) Matthew 6:2-4

When we give there are at least 3 possibilities for our motives: 1) We want others to praise our actions, 2) We attempt to be anonymous in our giving, but secretly we’re quite pleased with ourselves, 3) We desire for God alone to receive the congratulations.

When you give who gets the attention? Do you like to see your name on the list of givers? How many other people know what you give and who you give it to? Do you enjoy the attention that fundraisers give you? Do you feel that you “control” some organizations or churches because of what you give? How do you pride yourself with where you give and how much? Do you compare what you give to what others give? and do you think you’re doing pretty fine? And lastly, how much would you give if it was guaranteed that only God would know? After all, in the scheme of things, He’s the only One who matters!

Written by Marji “Mike” Kruger

10 Percent?

February 27, 2012 By Marji "Mike" Kruger

A tenth of the produce of the land, whether grain or fruit, is the Lord’s and is holy. (The Book) Leviticus 27:30

God’s word clearly sets up a system for giving back to the church. The Lord decreed to Moses that ten percent (a tithe) of everything that He blesses His people with, in the way of money or produce, should go back to Him.

Recently, some friends of mine have given me cause to challenge this principle. Last week, on two separate occasions, two different friends called me to offer help (I have not been feeling well lately) by providing meals, groceries, and to help tidy up my house (including changing my kitty litter!). Their reason for offering went beyond friendship and fellowship; both had been blessed recently and wanted to return the blessing to someone else. One had just sold a house and received some unexpected profits; another just got word that her husband had been awarded a big promotion. Both of these ladies give their tithe to the church, they wanted to give beyond the tithe; they wanted to give back a portion of the time, love and help that God had given them in the past week.

What would Christianity look like if we all agreed to give back one tenth of ALL the blessings God gives us? God has totally forgiven us for every wrong – what if we forgave just a tenth of those who had wronged us? God loved us enough to send His son to die for us, before we even knew Him or loved Him – what if we gave a tenth of that love back to strangers who don’t know us, much less love us? God blesses many of us with good health every day – what if we gave back a tenth of that health and helped others who were less healthy by giving blood or volunteering for a health organization? God hears all of our prayers – what if gave back a tenth of those prayers and prayed for or with others? God gives us 24 hours every day to use as we choose – what if we gave Him back 2.4 hours every day?

Take inventory today of the ways God has blessed you and ask Him to show you how to bless others in return.

Written by Sheree Motola used with permission

Heart Prompted Giving

February 9, 2011 By Marji "Mike" Kruger

The LORD said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from each man whose heart prompts him to give. . . .”Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them.” (NIV)
Exodus 25:1-2, 8

Then the whole Israelite community withdrew from Moses’ presence, and everyone who was willing and whose heart moved him came and brought an offering to the LORD for the work on the Tent of Meeting, for all its service, and for the sacred garments. All who were willing, men and women alike, . . . presented their gold as a wave offering to the LORD. (NIV) Exodus 35:20-21, 22

Then Moses summoned Bezalel and Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the LORD had given ability and who was willing to come and do the work. They received from Moses all the offerings the Israelites had brought to carry out the work of constructing the sanctuary. And the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning. Exodus 36:2-3

So all the skilled craftsmen . . .said to Moses, “The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the LORD commanded to be done.” Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: “No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.” And so the people were restrained from bringing more, because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work. (NIV) Exodus 36:4-7

Can you imagine it? The people were restrained from giving more of their resources to God’s work! Why? Because when the hearts of God’s people are right, there is never a shortage to do God’s work! How’s your heart condition? Is it right with God? How do you rate your willingness to give?

The Israelites knew “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin” (Exodus 34:6-7) – their response was to give to God’s work. Do you know “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin”? Is your heart response to give to God’s work?

Tithing

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