The word of God in Mark 12:13-17 NKJV, highlights this very interesting passage about giving. Jesus was approached by the Pharisees and the Herodians as they sought to catch Him in His words. They wanted to trick him into saying something that might just cause a huge revolt. So, eloquently and equally deceitfully they approached him with this question, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and care about no one; for you do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Shall we pay, or shall we not pay?”
Yahushuah knew their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why do you test Me? Bring Me a denarius that I may see it. So they brought it. And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” And Jesus answered and said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
As it was in the days of Caesar, it remains today that we pay taxes, some of us between twenty five to thirty five percent of our earned income. Taxes are very frustrating, especially when we are poorly represented by our leaders. Partly was the reason for the Boston Tea Party of December 16th 1778, as frustration grew in the face of taxation, absence of meaningful representation. Also, it is believed that their revolt could have also had to do with being forced to pay taxes for expenses incurred during the french and Indian war.
Today, we continue to live under Human Government, where paying taxes has become essential and the lack of such gestures would be truly devastating. Likewise, giving in the body of Christ is essential and the lack of giving is devastating. Through these few words, I hope that I might be able to shed a bit of light on the proper way to give within the body of Jesus Christ. This type of giving is not through tithing or any kind of forceful giving but through the generous kindness of a sparkling and bubbly heart.
Tithing, which is also known as a “tenth part”, is literally a tenth of one’s yearly earnings. In the past this was done as a tenth of one’s cattles or a tenth of one tenth of one’s agricultural produce. Today, rather than on a yearly basis, tithing is done ad lib, as it pleases the church either weekly, bi-weekly or on a monthly basis. Scripture tells us that tithes were exclusively set aside for the high priest, as they were not allowed to own land or hold on to earthly possessions and were tasked with the responsibility to serve as mediators between Yahweh and the children of Israel.
Today, not only are we not under the law, we no longer have high priests as the Israelite had Aaron and Eleazar. Rather we have the savior of the world Jesus Christ who came to give rather than to take away. Yahushuah did away with the high priest, the middleman and has set us truly apart as unbound children of God. After the order of Melchizedek, he became our high priest, serving as the only mediator between God our Elohim and man giving us his absolute righteousness, the fullness of his grace and His ultimate redemption for our mortal and sinful flesh.
Today, undergrace, the creator is not asking for tithes, rather He asks for something that's a bit more pure. He’s asking us to give up self, ourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to Him which is our reasonable worship (Romans 12:1 NKJV). Likewise, as we give, He’s asking us to give according to what He has given us, without any limitation to how much or how little. If you’ve been blessed enough and are able to assist in building the church, schools or send hundreds of children to school in third world countries, do it and as you do break a smile. If you can only give a few dollars to any righteous cause, give it with gladness within your heart.
God’s children are asked to give out of a cheerful heart, to be cheerful givers. As seen in 2nd Corinthians 9:7, “So let each one give as he wishes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver”. As seen in Acts 20:35, “I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive”. As seen in Galatians 4:15 Paul says, “...For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me”.
Under grace, God calls unto us to be cheerful givers; for, a grudging giver while still a giver does not please God. As we donate for a righteous cause, we are to give with joy, gladness with an upbeat spirit. Let your blessing overflow onto the weak, the hopeless and the broken hearted. This season we are asking you to please join us as we recommit our effort to positively impact many of Haiti’s most disenfranchised children through the gift of an education via the child sponsorship program.
We know that Haiti is in the dark, she is in turmoil going through a period of trial and tribulation. This is all the reason for us to not give up now, rather to dig even deeper into our pockets. Once the children are finally allowed to return to the classroom, they will need so much more help than we can actually offer for they have fallen significantly behind. This generation of Haitian students has suffered bouts of terrible blows, from massive earthquakes to devastating political turmoils, they need our support. For, Haiti’s children remain Her only source of a hopeful future. Don’t you forget this saying of Benjamin Franklin that “an investment in knowledge pays the best interest”, it pays the greatest dividends. Thus, an investment in children's education will yield the greatest success for the foreseeable future of any society.
By the grace of God, I implore you to please reach out to us at the Grace Bible Ministry’s Hand of God Foundation and help make an impact in our world. Please choose to sponsor a child, encourage your friends and loved ones to do the same. If you cannot sponsor a child today, please open your heart and commit to a cheerful donation of love.
May you experience the fullness of God’s amazing grace and His overflowing blessings on this Thanksgiving!