Tithes, Offerings and Sacrifice: An Attitude Problem
By: Art Javier
First, we will
define the unique characteristics of each of these forms of giving to enlighten
ourselves when we perform the act. Some of us have the tendency to interpret a certain
act of giving as a tithe, when in fact it is an offering. By the same token, we
misinterpret an offering to be a sacrifice when in fact it is an offering.
So let me try to clarify this confusion. At
the end of the day, our point of interest in this exercise is that after we have
clarified and differentiate these three terms, we will have a strong conviction
of what the gospel of our Lord Jesus wants on the kind and quality of giving He
expects from us.
What is tithing? By definition, the word
“tithe” means “tenth.” In the old testament tithing is giving God the first
tenth of all your increase. In those days, most tithes are given from the
produce or from the herd but in modern times we tithe with money since most of
our increase is financial. Tithes were required in the Mosaic Law while
offerings were voluntary. While tithing is found in the law, it did not
originate in the law.
Many refer to Abraham as the first one to
give a tithe in Genesis 14:17-20. This may not necessarily be true since long
before Abraham came, in Genesis 4:2-7, God rebukes Cain for not giving rightly
(since he was giving bloodless offerings, i.e., fruits and vegetables from the
ground, which God had cursed in the Fall), while his brother Abel was favored by
God for giving the best gift (slaughtered and bloody animals that commemorates
life). This eventually led Cain to killing
his brother out of jealousy and envy.
II. Offering.
An offering is something that you
search your heart and decide to give beyond the tithe but not in place of your
tithe. Tithes go to the local church but offerings are free for you to decide
what to do with it. You can use your offerings to support mission organizations
or to support the ministries of your local church.
III. Sacrifice
A very simple explanation of a
sacrifice when it is given is, “I’ll go without, so you can have.” It is never
“I have something that I would like to share with you.”
However, even if we adhere to this simplistic
perception of what a sacrifice is all about, we still need to qualify such act
as we have learned from our past lesson. This noble act of giving is not a
sacrifice if it is done from our comfort zone, rooted from our own selfish
motives or for our own purposes and not a genuine or sincere act. That such act
can only be qualified as a sacrifice if it is done for the glory of God, an act
of obedience regardless of the cost and in the process of fulfilling the act we
have put our trust in Christ Jesus, by faith and not by sight.
IV. Conclusions:
Tithes, offerings and sacrifices which nowadays
ultimately come in the
form
of a check or cash that we give to the church on Sundays, are so minute
and mundane, that they stand pale compared to what God wants from us.
The
fact
is, God is not interested in the monetary offerings or resources that we
give
but our Lord is more particular on our submission and obedience to Him.
In
reality, these monetary givings, that can be identified at any particular
instance as either tithe, offering or sacrifice, more often than not, become
an
impetus
for vanity and pride among some members of the Church. A case in
point, try googling or check out the You Tube of ‘the 10 richest pastors in the
world,
or the 15 richest pastors in America.”
The old testament commanded the Israelites to give 10% tithes as well
as
sacrifices. When the Lord Jesus offered Himself and died on the cross, He
had
fulfilled the requirements of the Law and made these mandatory tithes,
offerings
and sacrifices obsolete. (In Matthew 5:17-20. “Think not that I have
come to destroy the law but to fulfill the law. For whosoever break one
of these
commands and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the
kingdom of
heaven. But whosoever shall do and teach them shall be called great in
the
kingdom of heaven).”
To insist that these laws are still in effect is tantamount to saying
that
the
death of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross is useless. Such position will
return
us to justification by works and keeping and defending the Mosaic law.
The posture of the new testament is exhorting
us to offer our bodies as
living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. (Romans 12:1 “I appeal to
you
therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercy of God, to present your
bodies as a
living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God).” What St. Paul is saying
here is
that we must give and offer an act of a complete and total surrender to
the will
of
God.
Why do we offer our bodies to our Lord?
Because we are the Christians
who
have accepted our Lord Jesus Christ, born again from death to life who will
be
His instruments of righteousness.
(Romans 6:13 “Do not present your
members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness but present yourselves
to God
as
those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as
instruments for righteousness).”
The “members” being referred to here are the
“parts of our body.”
God doesn’t need our financial resources
to accomplish His plans and
purposes.
After all everything in this world belongs to Him.
What the Lord wants is the humble
heart that overflows with love, gratitude
and thanksgiving.
That kind of heart, that has an attitude of giving generously,
willingly
and cheerfully. That humble heart that responds accordingly to the
grace,
blessings and mercy that we receive, fresh each and every morning of our
lives,
that abounds only in Christ Jesus.
(We quote from 2 Corinthians 9:6-8. “The
point is this: Whoever sows
sparingly
will also reap sparingly and whoever sows bountifully will sow
bountifully.
Each one must give as he has decided in his heart not reluctantly or
under
compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver).”
Amen.
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