RADICAL ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT


Rev,Michael Benson Ajayi 
Deut 14:28-29 TLB "Every third year you are to use your entire tithe for local welfare programs: Give it to the Levites who have no inheritance among you, or to foreigners, or to widows and orphans within your city, so that they can eat and be satisfied; and then Jehovah your God will bless you and your work."
       God instructed His people according to the old testament to give back to Him the first of or best of the tenth part of everything He gave them Deut 14:23 TLB ” Bring this tithe to eat before the Lord your God at the place he shall choose as his sanctuary; this applies to your tithes of grain, new wine, olive oil, and the firstborn of your flocks and herds. The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives”  the essence of this ceremonial offering of the tenth cannot be over emphasized , God does not want His people to be controlled by love for material things for that will make us easy prey for the enemy who often uses such as bait to ensnare us .
     Tithing was then and now an unequivocal way to demonstrate God’s preeminence in our dealings. It is a reminder that we are custodians of God’s resources and He reserves the right to give and retrieve as He so wishes, therefore, we count ourselves privileged to have been given His resources .The money in our possession is His, nobody came into the world with money and definitely at death nobody will leave with anything: naked we came and naked we shall leave.  Money is a manifestation of the reward of the time and potentials God has given therefore, for the New Testament believer driven by divine purpose, ceremonial tithing allows us to show our love,  gratitude and our faith in God’s providence. It is also a way of demonstrating accountability towards Him.We tithe as a demonstration of our blessedness as infered in 1cor. 16: 1- 3
       Under the New Testament we are expected to understand the purpose for which Moses instituted the law of tithing, though not under the law, we are expected to pursue the ideals behind the principle of tithing just as in partaking in the Holy communion 1 Tim 1:8 NIV says “ We know that the law is good if one uses it properly.” The law should not be used to threaten people with a curse if they do not give their tithes to a preacher (Gal.3:13,Rom.8:1-2) That is an improper use of the law of tithing.  Jesus has delivered us from the curse of breaking the laws of Moses including that of not tithing , if that was not the case then every Christian is cursed for not giving 10% from the gifts of wristwatches, popcorn, ice cream, phones, cars ,lunch, houses, internet   data, clothes, perfumes, etc.they have received.  Yes, it is good to give ceremonial tithes to our spiritual guides however, there are times that one could be led by the Holy Spirit to do otherwise.
         The New Testament seeks to uphold the ideals of the law but we are not bound by it as to warrant a curse and in this case tithing is God’s radical approach to eradicate poverty from the world. Usually, the tithe received was used to provide for God’s priests who used it as led by the lord to help the needy and every third year the money was given to the poor (Deut.14:28-29) .Giving to the poor is same as giving to the lord (Prov19:17) God could instruct that you give your ceremonial tithe to the poor occasionally . Under the New Testament giving is sacred and personal and should be guided by the Holy Spirit. Imagine what will happen if we imbibed a practical approach of seeking for families in our neighborhoods without means and being used of the lord to meet their needs without expected anything in return.  Poverty is man-made and can be cured in a day by following God’s principles on giving. God wants you to be the answer to somebody’s prayers.
           Prayer : Heavenly Father forgive me of my sins against you I believe Jesus Christ died and was raised again for my salvation I receive him as lord and saviour and receive grace to be a solution to the financial problems of many in Jesus name.
Free prayer /counseling +2348098536911,+2348035536911 email: michaelbensonajayi@gmail.com 
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