Should you Tithe under the Law, or Give under grace?
Law vs grace:The law was given to show us that we are sinners, and it was a CURSE:
gal 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
Even back in the day of Jesus, men tried to put Christians back under A law:
Gal 1:7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
I want you to notice something. The "law" they were trying to bring back was circumcision, which Abraham received BEFORE the law of Moses.
2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
Paul included circumsision as part of the LAW, even though Abraham received it BEFORE the LAW.
Why? Because once the Blood of Jesus Christ is applied to your soul, you have complete liberty in Christ. A Christian is NOT subject to the Law:
1Co 6:12 ¶ All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
Col 2:14 KJV - Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
Col 2:20 KJV - Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
Col 2:21 KJV - (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
Col 2:22 KJV - Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
Col 2:23 KJV - Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
Paul pleaded with the Galations not to give up the liberty they have in Christ. He also pleaded with them not to use their liberty as an occasion to the flesh. But there is one thing that Paul understood that the average Baptist/Christian doesn't understand in these last days.
The law, ANY law, brings death, while liberty brings LIFE!!!
2Co 3:6 ¶ Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
Romans 6 and 7 teach that you DIED, and are no longer under the law, but under grace!
Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
...
Ro 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
The reason we have complete liberty In Christ is because we are no longer SLAVES to sin! We are a "New Creature" who can now CHOOSE what we allow our memebers to do!
Rom 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
Before you DIED, and rose into newless of life, you could NOT control your members, you were a slave to your flesh. But now you have the power to "overcome" fleshly temptations, IF YOU'RE SAVED...
Before I got saved I CUSSED, smoked, got drunk, lusted, listened to wicked music etc... I couldn't stop cussing to save my life! Once I got saved, IT JUST STOPPED! NOBODY had to put me under any Law to make me stop cussing, I stopped because the Holy Spirit was grieved and I was now ABLE to overcome this sin through the Spirit. My Old Man died, my spirit revived, and Jesus moved in! The NEW MAN, who I AM now, is no longer a slave to my flesh! Now I can say NOOO!!!
So why all that when this is a message about giving???
Turn to Malici 3:8:
Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
Does that sound like GRACE? Today, Paul admonishes us to "abound in this grace also", the GRACE of giving. This is NOT how God works today in this age of grace!
Jesus was cursed for us, and we are now called SONS OF GOD. Not even servants, but SONS:
Ga 4:7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Now would Jesus become a curse, redeem you from the curse of the Law, and then put you back under a law and a curse!? You have LIBERTY! ALL THINGS ARE LAWFUL!!! WE ARE FREE FROM THE LAW!
Paul said he would not be brought under the power of any!
A Christian will GROW in the grace of giving as his relatioship with the Lord grows.
Think about it. If you lead someone to the Lord and promise them liberty and freedom, how can you then HAMMER them right away for 10%??? How long do they have to grow in the grace of giving before they are "robbing from God" and going to be "cursed"? That is NOT New Testament Grace! That is Old Testament Law!
A newly saved "babe" In Christ will start by giving little, and as they grow in grace they will give more and more. SOOO, were they cursed when they first got saved and only gave a little until they grew?
The problem is that Christians want to FORCE new believers into their own scenario, and compare them with themselves. As scripture says, this is not wise. Every Babe in Christ does NOT have the same upbringing, past, drive, and personality. So maybe YOU started out giving 10% because you were raised in church with parents who taught you well, but can you force this on every new believer? You can, but you are WRONG!
"...or unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required..."
Perhaps you have been given much, but not everyone fits your profile. That is why we need GRACE, not another Law.
Let's see what Paul has to say about giving:
1 ¶ Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;
"We do you to wit == We want you to know...
Grace is an ability that God gives.
2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
They were going through a great trial, they were in DEEP poverty, and yet they had JOY that caused them to give LIBERALLY! NOT the LAW, but JOY!
Americans don't know much about "deep poverty!" Even the poorest american lives like a king compared with the rest of the world. We all have a car, and roof over out head, and as we can see, plenty of food!
3 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;
4 Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
5 And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.
Before we can give to men, we must give ourselves to God. If we can't give to men, WE HAVE NOT given ourselves to God. If we have not given ourselves to the Lord, we will give for the wrong reasons.
Consider this. What good is it if a pastor can put put a bunch of people under the Law of Tithing and get them all to give 10%, when deep down inside they are resenting it? You've now got a building full of people who "know not the Lord Jesus Christ", but they are supporting your "work". USELESS!
6 Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.
7 ¶ Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.
Giving is a grace that is given to us by God. Giving in the NT is NOT a LAW, it's a grace! Go back to verse 5 and notice the context, it is about giving. Giving is a grace according to Paul, who is the apostle to the Gentiles!
8 I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.
9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
Notice he says "to prove the sincerity of your love". If a man loves Jesus Christ, he WILL give. But if a man is told that we are still under subjection to the OT Law, HE WILL NOT KNOW JUST HOW MUCH JESUS CHRIST DID FOR HIM! I give because I believe in the work of Christ and I love Him for FREEING ME from the OT Law! When a man tries to get me back under that Law in any way, I don't feel like giving as much! Why? Because I KNOW my Bible, and I know how hard Paul worked to MAKE SURE we had LIBERTY, not LAW! One read through Galations and anyone should be able to see this truth.
vserse 9, Now we have the chance to become poor for Him. I dont mean to sell all you have and give it all away! I mean, as you see a need, and you have the means to help, that you HELP. Sometimes helping others will drain you, but you will have JOY through it all when you do it out of LOVE, not LAW.
10 And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.
11 Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.
We must have a willingness to give that comes from the Joy of the Lord, NOT because we are threatened by Old Testament scripture (Malachi 3).
12 For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
Paul never asks us to give what we don't have, but to give of our INCREASE... Too many churches are PUSHING people to give and promising that God will out give them. God already OUT GAVE US! He gave His SON!!! YOU should never give to get back!!! That is NOT giving, that is investing!!! When I give, I DONT EXPECT ANYTHING IN RETURN!!! God gave at Calvary!
13 For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:
Too many churches are a BURDEN to their people these days! The pastor SPENDS and SPENDS like crazy, building a KINGDOM for himself, while he burdens his people every week for MORE MONEY!
14 But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:
I believe this is how it should be, but churches today are too concerned with building their physical kindom than helping the poor. Find a church without all the glitz and glamour and you stand a better chance of finding a pastor who is interested in spiritual things, not worldly things.
Imagine, a man gives faithfully to a church for 50 years, then when he is old and poor the church can't do a thing to help him!!! It's not right! Most churches are in so much DEBT that they can;t help their people! WICKED!
...
6 ¶ But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
ALAS, the most IGNORED verse in this apostate church age!!! They ignore this verse and preach Malici 3!!! They spy out your LIBERTY!
8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.
Under the law, the Jews never did right for very long. Under grace, we have the power to overcome our flesh and do right.
Again, you are not under any law to give. Paul never even mentioned the word "Tithe", never once in his letters to the church. I think the Holy Spirit kept it that way because He knew what was going to happen in these last days!
What I'm asking you to do is, when you open you wallets to give, DO NOT do it begrudgingly, or of nescessity, do it because you APPRECIATE what the LORD has done for you and because you believe in His work. Give because money and time is necessary for others to be reached with the gospel, just like you were reached. The more I understand the liberty and freedom I have in Christ, the more it makes me desire to give to His work.
When ever i get into a church where the emphasis is on MONEY and service constantly, the less I desire to give. When money and service are preached as a matter of the letter of the Law, it turns me off! But when I come into a church where JESUS is lifted up, and the emphasis is on HIM and His coming Kingdom and reign, I DESIRE to give of myself and of my money.
Why? Because grace brings life, while the letter of the law brings death...
Even when we give, we can be giving selfishly.
We could be giving to people who we enjoy to be around and love very much, but what about that brother or sister who is "less desirable" to us? Sometimes we give selectively and that is selfish giving. We give to people because it brings joy to US... Remember, Jesus gave His life for the people who spat in His face, as well as the people who loved Him...
gal 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
Even back in the day of Jesus, men tried to put Christians back under A law:
Gal 1:7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
I want you to notice something. The "law" they were trying to bring back was circumcision, which Abraham received BEFORE the law of Moses.
2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
Paul included circumsision as part of the LAW, even though Abraham received it BEFORE the LAW.
Why? Because once the Blood of Jesus Christ is applied to your soul, you have complete liberty in Christ. A Christian is NOT subject to the Law:
1Co 6:12 ¶ All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
Col 2:14 KJV - Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
Col 2:20 KJV - Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
Col 2:21 KJV - (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
Col 2:22 KJV - Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
Col 2:23 KJV - Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
Paul pleaded with the Galations not to give up the liberty they have in Christ. He also pleaded with them not to use their liberty as an occasion to the flesh. But there is one thing that Paul understood that the average Baptist/Christian doesn't understand in these last days.
The law, ANY law, brings death, while liberty brings LIFE!!!
2Co 3:6 ¶ Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
Romans 6 and 7 teach that you DIED, and are no longer under the law, but under grace!
Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
...
Ro 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
The reason we have complete liberty In Christ is because we are no longer SLAVES to sin! We are a "New Creature" who can now CHOOSE what we allow our memebers to do!
Rom 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
Before you DIED, and rose into newless of life, you could NOT control your members, you were a slave to your flesh. But now you have the power to "overcome" fleshly temptations, IF YOU'RE SAVED...
Before I got saved I CUSSED, smoked, got drunk, lusted, listened to wicked music etc... I couldn't stop cussing to save my life! Once I got saved, IT JUST STOPPED! NOBODY had to put me under any Law to make me stop cussing, I stopped because the Holy Spirit was grieved and I was now ABLE to overcome this sin through the Spirit. My Old Man died, my spirit revived, and Jesus moved in! The NEW MAN, who I AM now, is no longer a slave to my flesh! Now I can say NOOO!!!
So why all that when this is a message about giving???
Turn to Malici 3:8:
Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
Does that sound like GRACE? Today, Paul admonishes us to "abound in this grace also", the GRACE of giving. This is NOT how God works today in this age of grace!
Jesus was cursed for us, and we are now called SONS OF GOD. Not even servants, but SONS:
Ga 4:7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Now would Jesus become a curse, redeem you from the curse of the Law, and then put you back under a law and a curse!? You have LIBERTY! ALL THINGS ARE LAWFUL!!! WE ARE FREE FROM THE LAW!
Paul said he would not be brought under the power of any!
A Christian will GROW in the grace of giving as his relatioship with the Lord grows.
Think about it. If you lead someone to the Lord and promise them liberty and freedom, how can you then HAMMER them right away for 10%??? How long do they have to grow in the grace of giving before they are "robbing from God" and going to be "cursed"? That is NOT New Testament Grace! That is Old Testament Law!
A newly saved "babe" In Christ will start by giving little, and as they grow in grace they will give more and more. SOOO, were they cursed when they first got saved and only gave a little until they grew?
The problem is that Christians want to FORCE new believers into their own scenario, and compare them with themselves. As scripture says, this is not wise. Every Babe in Christ does NOT have the same upbringing, past, drive, and personality. So maybe YOU started out giving 10% because you were raised in church with parents who taught you well, but can you force this on every new believer? You can, but you are WRONG!
"...or unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required..."
Perhaps you have been given much, but not everyone fits your profile. That is why we need GRACE, not another Law.
Let's see what Paul has to say about giving:
1 ¶ Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;
"We do you to wit == We want you to know...
Grace is an ability that God gives.
2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
They were going through a great trial, they were in DEEP poverty, and yet they had JOY that caused them to give LIBERALLY! NOT the LAW, but JOY!
Americans don't know much about "deep poverty!" Even the poorest american lives like a king compared with the rest of the world. We all have a car, and roof over out head, and as we can see, plenty of food!
3 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;
4 Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
5 And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.
Before we can give to men, we must give ourselves to God. If we can't give to men, WE HAVE NOT given ourselves to God. If we have not given ourselves to the Lord, we will give for the wrong reasons.
Consider this. What good is it if a pastor can put put a bunch of people under the Law of Tithing and get them all to give 10%, when deep down inside they are resenting it? You've now got a building full of people who "know not the Lord Jesus Christ", but they are supporting your "work". USELESS!
6 Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.
7 ¶ Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.
Giving is a grace that is given to us by God. Giving in the NT is NOT a LAW, it's a grace! Go back to verse 5 and notice the context, it is about giving. Giving is a grace according to Paul, who is the apostle to the Gentiles!
8 I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.
9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
Notice he says "to prove the sincerity of your love". If a man loves Jesus Christ, he WILL give. But if a man is told that we are still under subjection to the OT Law, HE WILL NOT KNOW JUST HOW MUCH JESUS CHRIST DID FOR HIM! I give because I believe in the work of Christ and I love Him for FREEING ME from the OT Law! When a man tries to get me back under that Law in any way, I don't feel like giving as much! Why? Because I KNOW my Bible, and I know how hard Paul worked to MAKE SURE we had LIBERTY, not LAW! One read through Galations and anyone should be able to see this truth.
vserse 9, Now we have the chance to become poor for Him. I dont mean to sell all you have and give it all away! I mean, as you see a need, and you have the means to help, that you HELP. Sometimes helping others will drain you, but you will have JOY through it all when you do it out of LOVE, not LAW.
10 And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.
11 Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.
We must have a willingness to give that comes from the Joy of the Lord, NOT because we are threatened by Old Testament scripture (Malachi 3).
12 For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
Paul never asks us to give what we don't have, but to give of our INCREASE... Too many churches are PUSHING people to give and promising that God will out give them. God already OUT GAVE US! He gave His SON!!! YOU should never give to get back!!! That is NOT giving, that is investing!!! When I give, I DONT EXPECT ANYTHING IN RETURN!!! God gave at Calvary!
13 For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:
Too many churches are a BURDEN to their people these days! The pastor SPENDS and SPENDS like crazy, building a KINGDOM for himself, while he burdens his people every week for MORE MONEY!
14 But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:
I believe this is how it should be, but churches today are too concerned with building their physical kindom than helping the poor. Find a church without all the glitz and glamour and you stand a better chance of finding a pastor who is interested in spiritual things, not worldly things.
Imagine, a man gives faithfully to a church for 50 years, then when he is old and poor the church can't do a thing to help him!!! It's not right! Most churches are in so much DEBT that they can;t help their people! WICKED!
...
6 ¶ But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
ALAS, the most IGNORED verse in this apostate church age!!! They ignore this verse and preach Malici 3!!! They spy out your LIBERTY!
8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.
Under the law, the Jews never did right for very long. Under grace, we have the power to overcome our flesh and do right.
Again, you are not under any law to give. Paul never even mentioned the word "Tithe", never once in his letters to the church. I think the Holy Spirit kept it that way because He knew what was going to happen in these last days!
What I'm asking you to do is, when you open you wallets to give, DO NOT do it begrudgingly, or of nescessity, do it because you APPRECIATE what the LORD has done for you and because you believe in His work. Give because money and time is necessary for others to be reached with the gospel, just like you were reached. The more I understand the liberty and freedom I have in Christ, the more it makes me desire to give to His work.
When ever i get into a church where the emphasis is on MONEY and service constantly, the less I desire to give. When money and service are preached as a matter of the letter of the Law, it turns me off! But when I come into a church where JESUS is lifted up, and the emphasis is on HIM and His coming Kingdom and reign, I DESIRE to give of myself and of my money.
Why? Because grace brings life, while the letter of the law brings death...
Even when we give, we can be giving selfishly.
We could be giving to people who we enjoy to be around and love very much, but what about that brother or sister who is "less desirable" to us? Sometimes we give selectively and that is selfish giving. We give to people because it brings joy to US... Remember, Jesus gave His life for the people who spat in His face, as well as the people who loved Him...