Dear Grant:
I really love the way you think. Your questions show a person that wishes to do what is right in the eyes of the Lord.
Right to the bible.
Deuteronomy 12:5-14 (English-NIV)
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But you are to seek the place the LORD your God will choose from among all your tribes to put his Name there for his dwelling. To that place you must go;
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there bring your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, what you have vowed to give and your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks.
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There, in the presence of the LORD your God, you and your families shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the LORD your God has blessed you.
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You are not to do as we do here today, everyone as he sees fit,
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since you have not yet reached the resting place and the inheritance the LORD your God is giving you.
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But you will cross the Jordan and settle in the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, and he will give you rest from all your enemies around you so that you will live in safety.
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Then to the place the LORD your God will choose as a dwelling for his Name--there you are to bring everything I command you: your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, and all the choice possessions you have vowed to the LORD.
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And there rejoice before the LORD your God, you, your sons and daughters, your menservants and maidservants, and the Levites from your towns, who have no allotment or inheritance of their own.
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Be careful not to sacrifice your burnt offerings anywhere you please.
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Offer them only at the place the LORD will choose in one of your tribes, and there observe everything I command you.
There is a definite order that God wants in our giving; but keep this in mind. The tithe is not yours; "it is separate and holy unto the Lord". You don't give the tithe, you return it to the Lord. It is already blessed, sanctified and holy and there is always a penalty for touching it.(keeping it )
The concept of first fruits is that fruit is at it's best when it is fresh. When you leave your money in a checking account , not drawing interest, your fruit is loosing it's freshness. Run, thumb,or send Fed Ex your first fruit and be the first one to submit your fruit to the Lord. Many times when the money reaches my hand I will drive to my local church with a check instead of mail or wait to the next Sunday.I'm not saying everyone should do that, but I wish to get a fresh picked apple to the Lord right off the tree.And then say to the Lord, the harvest was good Lord, try this apple, it was the first one picked!
Grant. It's all in the heart. God expects us to have an order , a plan to our giving. You give in the place He chooses to place His name. Where does He choose for you to place His name.I will not offer an opinion as to if the tithe should be given to one local church. However in vs. 7 above God mentions that it is a place where you and your families shall eat.Personally I love my local church and I love my family. By giving to my local church I benefit myself and I benefit my wife and little girl, not to mention my Christian friends and acquaintences. I'll admit, it is a little selfish but I want to make sure that my family is taken care of first before I start thinking of everyone else. If that is not in God's will then He will I am sure deal with me .
I am far from perfect, as all here know very well, sometimes I give more than 10% , sometimes less. I feel the 10% is a guideline. If a person is in bondage ( to the Law) (or someone else) and that person is set free, has the master set his slave free to gain the slaves love and adoration or was the slave set free to abuse the master and the laws that the slave formerly lived under ? Would the slave purposely spill coffee on his master? Of course not, and be punished severely if he did ! But what if the freed slave purposely spilled coffee on the master after he was set free, over and over again. The slave would be placed back in bondage and treated more severely than he was before.
So , Grant. Be free. Let the Lord guide you. Don't think I have this fruit, where should I give it. Think. I am getting a harvest, and I know exactly where the Lord wants me to place it, and He will guide you.
In all love and peace , brother in the Lord...gregor |
