Leviticus 27:30
Leviticus 27:30
And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s; it is holy unto the Lord. (KJV)
A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord. (NIV)
I’ve been asked a few times about how much (or how little) I give to the church and why. Instead of giving money to the church, couldn’t I just gift it to charity instead? Well those are interesting questions and I hope to clear it up a little.
By definition a tithe is: one tenth of annual produce or earnings.
So a tithe is 10% and it is not a gift, it is returning to God what is His! It is not a freewill offering of excess it is a requirement. In being honest and loyal to tithe, the Lord will return it back in multiples. I’ve seen this effect personally in the manner that when we tithe our financial situation improves instead of getting worse. God rewards those who follow His laws.
A freewill offering is different, and that is a share of your excess that is freely given, and that can be given directly to the church or shared in other manners to charity or as direct gifts. It is in excess of your tithe. But remember that you cannot buy your way into Heaven no matter where or how much you give. God has no need for money, as all money originates from Him, and therefore you cannot buy His favour.
Give your tithes as required, and cheerfully give your offerings, and it should not be considered a burden. God wants you to be happy as your share the gifts that you have.
God Bless.
I’m now going to make a special appeal. If you or a family member suffers from mental health issues and you’d like to share your story (anonymously), please use the form below. All information will be kept confidential and will not be shared with anyone. My goal is to set up a resource for people who are reaching out for help. You can be part of the solution and maybe save a life.
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