Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore, let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. For we have no continuing city here, but we seek one to come.
Select a thought to read by choosing a collection, the month, and then the day:
If a brother errs from the faith and does not repent, then what do you think God will do when that brother offers Him a sacrifice of praise? Will God accept it? Of course not. The Bible says that it is sin for the ungodly to worship God, and that the prayer of the ungodly is an abomination to Him. There are many Scriptures that teach us that the praise of sinners is unacceptable to God.
Now, if God will not accept the praise or prayer of a sinful, backslidden person, then why would a man of God receive tithes from him? Is a man’s money acceptable to God when a man’s worship is not? To a faithful man of God, the tithes and offerings of the ungodly are as repugnant as His worship and prayer are to God. For a minister to receive the tithes of the ungodly is to lie to the person from whom he receives them; it is to leave the impression with that sinner that he is acceptable to God when he is not.
When a sinful man brings tithes and offerings to God, he is actually trying to disguise his sinfulness with an appearance of devotion. He is trying to buy forgiveness and fellowship. And when a servant of God accepts such polluted sacrifices, he is misrepresenting the mind and heart of God; he is an unfaithful witness of God. Through covetousness, he is serving the god of this world, not the true God. Jesus told his disciples that they could not serve God and money, but there are multitudes of ministers today who have been trained to serve money and call it God. I am persuaded that many of them would change their course if they were taught the truth.
Some obey God in the matter of tithes and offerings as if we were still under the Law. They bring their tithes and offerings to the Lord because they know they should; that is, they bring money to God because they have been taught that it is the will of God for them to do it. They do not bring their tithes and offerings to God because they have fellowship with the Father and the Son, or with the saints who are walking in the light of God.
Tithing is an expression of love and joy that springs from the heart when one’s love and joy are real. The only time when tithing is acceptable to God (and to His faithful ministers on earth) is when the tithing is an expression of faith in God and humility before Him.
Are you in the Spirit when you bring your tithes and offerings to God? If not, they are unacceptable, and you should repent for trying to deceive the man of God to whom you are bringing them. And if that servant of Christ accepted them from you when God was not accepting them, he should repent for his covetousness and stop lying to sinners in the name of the Lord.
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Hi John:
In connection with your TFM on “Receiving Tithes and Offerings”, I found these Scriptures:
“He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; he shall dwell on high. His place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks; bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.” (Isaiah 33:15-16)
“For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate from their right.” (Amos 5:12)
I never really thought about it till I read this TFM, but this puts a lot of responsibility on the man receiving tithes. “To whom much is given, much is required.” I suppose that receiving tithes from the unrighteous is merely “taking a bribe”, and turning aside everyone from what is right.
Gary
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That is right, Gary. God is my Helper, to guide me in making “righteous judgments.” I pray that God will continue to “give me my daily bread”, and to make my supply of “water sure”. He will judge me for every penny I receive in His name. That is why I have refused to receive the bribes disguised as tithes and offerings offered to me over the years. It is extremely important that I judge people’s motives rightly. Please pray for me to do that. I remember that Isaiah also told God’s people that there is a curse on anyone who calls good evil, or calls evil good.
jdc