The video for this post
is available at the URL:
https://youtu.be/WGau-Wa4c0s
Hello, I'm Pastor Amós and this is the study: Once we know the Bible
Truth about the Tithe… What do we do Next?
For years, my studies have guided many of you to see God's truth
about the tithe through His Word the Bible. Now some of you might have come to the point
in which you might be asking; What do we do with this information? The answer depends on where you are with our
Lord.
If you are just starting out (a newborn in Christ) your job is to
get to know the Lord and grow. “So
you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do,
for they do not practice what they preach.” [Matthew 23:3] This means that, if you're in a church that
demands 10% of your income, you should keep in mind that money is only
money. It will perish. Your salvation is worth infinitely more.
So, for the time being, stay where you are, learn and grow. Kick off your spiritual growth. “Like newborn infants, long for the pure
spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation.” [1 Peter 2:2]
Then, just like a child goes from milk to solid food, you too must
do the same. Keep in mind the dangers
spoken of in Hebrews chapter 5 regarding those that do not move on to solid
food. “Everyone who lives on milk is
unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child.” [Hebrews 5:13]
When we were
children, we spoke as children, we understood as children, we thought as
children: but when we became adults, we put away childish things. [1
Corinthians 13:11] This means that
sooner or later, we have to stop speaking, understanding and thinking like
children.
A Christian that does not put away the milk of childhood in exchange
for the solid food of adulthood is not growing.
The only way for you to stay spiritually healthy is to grow. And this is something you must do through the
study of God’s Word the Bible. The only
one that can give you growth is God, because “only God makes things grow.”
[1 Corinthians 3:7b]
Therefore, “if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who
gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”
[James 1:5]
Finally, for those that have reached the stage of spiritual
maturity, the time has come for you to “come out from them and be separate,
says the Lord.” [2 Corinthians 6:17]
For “you have no need for anyone to teach you, because His
anointing teaches you about all things.” [1 John 2:27] Don't be afraid to be on your own. “For God has not given us a spirit of
fear.” [2 Timothy 1:7b] Don't be
like the folks in John chapter 12 that were afraid of being kicked out of a
synagogue.
Walking alone with Jesus is joyful, pleasant, uplifting, fulfilling,
it truly is beyond words. And your
church-walk with Jesus is as simple as getting together with one other
believer. That's all you need to have a
church and to worship God and to have communion. Although, there is some truth to the saying,
“the more the merrier,” a more spiritual truth is that all you need to have a
church is one other believer because “where two or three are gathered
together in His name, He is there in the midst of them.”
[Matthew 18:20] “You also are complete through your union
with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.” [Colossians 2:10]
So, the idea is not so much a matter of finding a new church to
attend. This is not an argument about
what others should do for us so that we can have a church to
attend. We are the church. Although, if you do find a congregation that
teaches the truth about the tithe, it might be a good idea to stay with
them. These studies, on the other hand,
are more a matter of getting closer to the Man that died for you and getting to
know Him better. God wants you to have
knowledge of Him. [Hosea 6:6] Even more,
He wants you to “know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge.”
[Ephesians 3:19a] Understand this, a
love that requires your continual payments is NOT a love that surpasses
knowledge.
Just because someone uses the word love doesn't mean that
what they're doing is good. Not all love
is good. The love of money, for example,
is a root of all kinds of evil. And the cash-tithe is one of those evil roots
created by money-lovers. And because the
cash-tithe is a root of evil, it prevents believers from knowing and
experiencing the fullness of God's love.
The cash-tithe also makes accomplices of all those that, while knowing
better, play along with the scheme just to prevent from getting thrown out of
their churches.
I'll leave you with this thought.
What is a church that teaches lies?
“Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?”
[James 3:11]
Until next time. May your
walk with our Lord be free of those “who think that godliness is a means to
financial gain.” [1 Timothy 6:5b]
God
bless you.
