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I ask you to read this post, I never wanted to comment over this issue which has been going on and attracted a lot of debates and views. I will be as brief as possible. Feel free to ask me after you read
“SHOULD WE TITHE AND GIVE OFFERING IN TIME OF FAMINE OR CRISIS LIKE THIS?”
before answering this question, one should know what tithe and offering mean and used for. Tithe and offering are means or ways of which churches generate money to support God’s work. No church can survive and make impact without financial muscle. So when should we give ? We should give always when ever we have an opportunity to do so. The bible says nothing will separate us from the love of God. Giving is the way we appreciate God’s love. If anything stops us from giving , it means it has separated us from the love of God. God showed us His love by giving us His only Son and we reciprocate by giving back what he has blessed us with. Hear this from Romans 8:35;
” Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”
What we should know is that true giving is when we give out of the little thing we have. It can also be called sacrificial giving. God honours ‘ sacrificial giving’ more because it shows our faith and trust in God. It also shows that we don’t serve mammon (god of money ). But if we only give when we have plenty, then our giving can not move the heart of God because it shows that our trust is in material things not in God. Let’s read Luke 21:1-4:
“And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. So He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had
Jesus recommended this poor widow than every one else. She had nothing but she gave the same thing she was depending on to survive. No one forced this poor widow to give, she did it willingly and cheerfully.
Brethren, the work of God needs to continue because Jesus said we should work while its a day because the night is at hand. However , I don’t think its biblical and morally good to ask tithe, seed or offering from a person who has nothing and also needs help. God will not ask us what we don’t have. He Only asks us what He has already blessed us with . You can’t give what you don’t have. So giving should be done out of free will and personal decision instead of manipulation and threats. God loves a cheerful giver. We need to teach people on giving so that they make their own choice instead of threatening or manipulating them to give.
Now let me also talk about giving through online. Remember, Jesus in Luke 16, said the children of this world ( darkness ) are more clever than the children of God. People and institutions are still using online systems to do business transactions and paying their bills while they tell you that you can’t give tithe or offering using online system. Wake up children of God! No one will fund the church if you don’t support it financially. Governments are receiving funds and support from United Nations and private donors during corona epidemic but have you ever heard that the church is being funded since it has stopped meeting?
As I end , let’s see another woman who gave out the last meal she had.
“As surely as the Lord your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.” Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. 14 For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.’”- 1 Kings 17:12-14.
God blessed this woman because she supported the man of God though she was also in poverty. Brethren, let continue supporting men of God and the work of God. Am only talking about true men of God not the false ones. Many people who are against giving during this period are not even believers but children of darkness. They are stopping you from giving to God but themselves are giving to the god of this world . wake up! Even the men of God who God has blessed financially should take this opportunity to help out those members in need.
God bless you for reading
your servant – Bro Lupupa
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