Tithing: God’s instruction for the church – Part 2

God’s principle is that the sheep should care for the shepherd; the shepherd should not take advantage or abuse God’s principle for his selfish benefit. However, we do not follow that path. No genuine pastor, called by God will eat or spend your tithe. ‘“It is a holy thing unto God.” ‘If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather…? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ,”’ 1 Corinthians 9:12.

We will not use this right because we have the fear of God. Don’t allow selfish interest, greed and stinginess destroy your seed, and also your fruits and harvest. Hear Apostle Paul again: “Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? And they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.”

“But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void,” 1 Corinthians 9:13-15.

There are clear scriptures, but wisdom is profitable for direction. A genuine Pastor will preach voluntarily and will receive his reward as God gives to him, his reward is not from the wicked man who wishes his Pastor to live like a beggar or a slave.

“For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me. What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge that I abuse not my power in the gospel. For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more,” 1 Corinthians 9:16-19.

I had to digress as I have done to clear your conscience and make you be at liberty even though some believers sincerely care and meet the needs of their Pastor (am I writing like Apostle Paul? I dare not!)

The sheep, the congregation should not forsake the shepherd, their spiritual parents, they should be cared for willingly.

“Take heed to thyself that thou forsake not the Levite as long as thou livest upon the earth,” Deuteronomy 12:19.

“And the Levite that is within thy gates; thou shalt not forsake him; for he hath no part nor inheritance with thee,” Deuteronomy 14:27

The Old Testament, as it is a shadow of the New Testament, that is, the New Testament is a revelation. God’s instruction to the church then, as it is today, is to set the tithe apart (Deuteronomy 14:22).
They were at that time to store up the tithes and yearly they go to Shiloh where they pay the tithe or eat the tithe (this is a symbolism of death); that is sacrifice the tithe (Deuteronomy 14:28-29).

They were at that time to store up the tithes and yearly they go to Shiloh where they pay the tithe or eat the tithe (this is a symbolism of death); that is sacrifice the tithe (Deuteronomy 14:28-29). In those days they pay tithe in the raw form of their harvest or you convert it to its value in the monetary form.

“Then shalt thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which the Lord thy God shall choose,” Deuteronomy 14:25.

“Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings,” Malachi 3:8.
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It is very clear from the scriptures that tithe belongs to God. It is His portion of what He has given to us. Tithe does not belong to the Priest or Pastor (though he manages it and will give an account of it). It is God’s covenant portion of the blessings He has given to us. If tithe is for the Priest or Pastor, God would not have accused Israel of robbery or robbing Him. He would not have laid claim to it “… yet ye have robbed me…!” Tithes belong to God. Tithe is of so much importance in the old times that Jacob the grandson of Abraham said: “Jacob vowed a vow: “If God stands by me and protects me on this journey on which I’m setting out, keeps me in food and clothing, and brings me back in one piece to my father’s house, this God will be my God. This stone that I have set up as memorial pillar will mark this as a place where God lives. And everything you give me, I’ll return a tenth to you,” Genesis 28:20-22 (MSG).

• Apostle Lawrence Achudume, Victory Life Bible Church Intl. Km 9, Olabisi Onabanjo Way, Opp. OGTV, Ajebo, Abeokuta, Ogun State. P.O.Box 1537, Sapon, Abeokuta 110001, Ogun State, Nigeria,W/Africa. www.vl-bcinternational.Org.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬