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 no one is living with anything. 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.
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. 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 and Levites 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). 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.
As you
receive Jesus Christ as lord and savior and read this now receive grace to be a
solution to the financial problems of many in Jesus name.
Free prayer /counseling +2348098536911,+2348035536911 email:
michaelbensonajayi@gmail.com
pics credit: pixabay
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