By Olusegun Ibikunle
WHAT THE APOSTLE PAUL SAYS ABOUT TITHE AND TRUE BIBLICAL GIVING IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
We shall continue from (6) where we stopped last week.
Let us look at another Scripture concerning the true Biblical giving in the New Testament whereby every cheerful giver from the heart with measure of much love for God will be abundantly blessed: 1 Peter 5:2 KJV “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind.” This Scripture explained clearly on how to give in the New Testament. We are not to give by constraint.
But the dispensation of system of tithing and sin offering in the Old Testament under the Law of Moses was by constraint. This means that many pastors go to the dispensation of the Old Testament under the Law of Moses and put people under this system of tithing by constraint of ten percent (10%) payment of tithe. This is not what the Bible teaches about the true Biblical giving under the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ in the New Testament with love for God – it (Biblical giving) is never by constraint! By enforcing ten percent (10%) giving of tithe in the New Testament in this dispensation of grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is to enslave the church members with the system of tithing under the Law of Moses in the Old Testament. It is all about giving God from your heart cheerfully with measure of much love of what you have – not you must have to give under compulsion, of necessity and constraint which is always grudgingly. Giving grudgingly to God brings no divine reward (deserved blessing) to the giver!
The message of grace is that oh! This is how God has prospered me, blessed me and because of this measure of much love I have in my heart, I will give cheerfully and bountifully to God which may be far more than ten percent without compulsion, not of necessity and not by constraint. I give more because I love what the Lord Jesus Christ did for me and I love Him from the bottom of my heart.
The message of grace is that I will give bountifully and cheerfully because there is always grace for me to give more from my heart as my God is able to do immeasurably, exceedingly, abundantly above all that I ask or think – Ephesians 3:20 KJV “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.”
The message of grace preaches and teaches grace (how good God is), love and truth of God – and people love God so much that they are ready with the ready mind to bountifully and cheerfully give to God from the bottom of heart with measure of much love for God.
I am NOT writing to condemn the tithe payment in the church today but it is good to know and understand what exactly the Bible teaches correctly on tithing and everyone will be blessed and appreciate with much love what the Lord Jesus Christ did for us on the Cross of Calvary.
Next week, we shall continue to advance the further study on what the Apostle Paul says about tithe and true Biblical giving in the New Testament. The essence of this publication is to make us appreciate what the Lord Jesus Christ did for us on the Cross of Calvary.
For more details on this article that will bless you more and give you a deeper and better understanding of this subject by ONE TRUTH (OLUSEGUN IBIKUNLE), feel free to click and read for free this site: onetruth.com.ng
