Tithing was instituted to care for the Levites, widows, orphans and others that were in need. Not to build a family heirloom, supply private planes, luxury cars, RVs, helicopters and mansions, while some tithers and members struggle to keep their lights on. Jesus said that we must love our neighbors as ourselves if we desire to go to heaven. It means that whatever I desire for myself, I should desire for my neighbors (those who are not like me). This is where true giving is manifested. The rich young ruler could not comply. We are called Christians because we pattern our lives after Jesus Christ and not Moses, Elijah, David, Melchizedek, or Abraham. They lived according to how God had led them. We are to follow the teachings of Jesus and will be accountable to Him by the words He spoke ( Deut
18:15-19).
God destroyed Sodom because their pride, sexual sins, and lack of compassion for the poor. In other words, God could not find any righteous persons in Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot and his family were spared because of the plea and righteousness of Abraham. They were not doing what was right in the sight of God.
Ezekiel
16:48-50 (Jerusalem vs Sodom)
As
I live, says the Lord GOD, neither your sister Sodom nor her daughters have
done as you and your daughters have done. Look, this was the iniquity of your
sister Sodom: They had pride, fullness of food, abundance of idleness; neither
did they strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. They were haughty and
committed abomination before Me; therefore I took them away as I saw fit.
Luke
17:28-30
28
Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought,
they sold, they planted, they built; 29 but on the day that Lot went out of
Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. 30 Even
so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.
John 12:48
He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day
John 15:12
This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you
John
13:34
A
new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you,
that you also love one another.
Luke
6:46
But
why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?
James
1:26-27
26
If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but
deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. 27 Pure and undefiled
religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in
their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
Acts
4: 31-35
31
And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was
shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word
of God with boldness. 32 Now the multitude of those who believed
were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things
he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. 33 And with great
power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And
great grace was upon them all. 34 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked;
for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the
proceeds of the things that were sold, 35 and laid them at the apostles’ feet;
and they distributed to each as anyone had need.
Christianity is not about if and how much a person tithes; or bragging about how much a person is blessed and protected because he tithes. Malachi was written to address the Levites that were robbing God.
Christianity is about obeying God through the commands of Jesus Christ; sharing the gospel and bringing deliverance to all those in need of such.
Can we really handle this tpye of Christian giving and lifestyle? Hmmm
From: Kevin Mitchell <mrne...@yahoo.com>
To: ti...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Thursday,
February 23, 2012 8:17 AM