The Year of Tithing
So
then, every third year is the year of tithing as we have been duly instructed
saying; "When you have finished laying aside all the tithe of your
increase in the third year --- the year of
tithing --- and have given it to the Levite, the stranger, the
fatherless, and the widow, so that they may eat within your gates and be
filled, then you shall say before the LORD your God: 'I have removed the holy
tithe from my house, and also have given them to the Levite, the stranger, the
fatherless, and the widow, according to all Your commandments which You have
commanded me; I have not transgressed Your commandments, nor have I forgotten
them.”
“I
have not eaten any of it when in mourning or have I removed any of it for an
unclean use, nor given any of it for the dead. I have obeyed the voice of the
LORD my God, and have done according to all that You have commanded me. Look
down from Your holy habitation, from heaven, and bless Your people Israel and
the land which You have given us, just as You swore to our fathers, "a
land flowing with milk and honey" (Deuteronomy 26: 12-15).
But
now, in our new dispensation, we are no longer under the Levitical priesthood
but under the priesthood of Melchizedek and with the priesthood being changed,
of necessity there is also a change of the law” (Hebrews 7: 12).
We
no longer serve in an earthly sanctuary or tabernacle and neither do we have
priests who do not have an inheritance, in
addition to this, it is stated categorically that, “We have an altar from which
those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat”. So the admonition on how
to support the ministry is, “But do not forget to do good and to share, for
with such sacrifices God is well pleased. Obey those who rule over you, and be
submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account.
Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for
you.” The beneficial thing to do is be generous and do good deeds: “Let him who
is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches” (Hebrews 13:16-17; Galatians 6:6).
But
since the tithe is the Lord`s and it is holy to the Lord, it should be used to
fulfill what the Lord originally ordained it to do that is, to eat before the
LORD our God, in the place where He chooses to make His name abide, so that we
may learn to fear the LORD our God always, and help the widows, the fatherless,
the strangers that are within our gates and share in all good things him who
teaches.
The
application of this principle in our new dispensation is synonymous to the
instructions given by the apostle Paul who wrote; “One person esteems one day
above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in
his own mind: He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does
not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it” (Romans 14:5-6).
No
one should be forced, coerced, manipulated or enticed to show and express their
love, gratitude and appreciation to the Lord for His blessings. However, to him
who knows to do what is good and does not do it, to him it is sin.
The principle of tithing is the system or
mechanism that the Lord has instituted to support one another and not for
ministers to exploit their supporters and live lavishly at the expense of the
poor congregation and promising them breakthroughs, the breakthrough come when
the instructions concerning the year of tithing is diligently followed. God has
overlooked these times of ignorance and now commands all men everywhere to
repent.
With
brotherly love
Lucius Joseph
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