Offerings Supply More Than Need
2 Corinthians 9:12-14 (KJV)
For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.
I try hard never to take for granted the generosity of the people of the Lord. Though I am convinced that the tithe belongs to God and to keep it for ourselves is to rob God, still, I know that every offering is giving freely and willingly and cannot be coerced. I am so amazed at the generosity of the people of God I am blessed to pastor. Notice Paul says those offerings do more than supply need:
They generate thanksgiving
More important than the things the money buys is the thanksgiving it brings to the heart.
They create glory toward God
Did you see that they glorify God not because their needs are met but because such generosity reveals our subjection to God? Giving demonstrates obedience.
They lead to prayer
Our gifts to the work of God lead others to pray for us. We need to be in prayer for the people of God. When we give generously we may expect that they, in kind, pray for us.
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2 Corinthians 9:12-14 (KJV) Offerings Supply More Than Need
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I know we are to give to the workers of those teaching and preaching God's word but where at in the New Testament does it actually say we must tithe? Tithing and giving an offering are two different things. Seems to me that in the New Testament we are encouraged to be cheerful givers, from what I can find the only time we see a tithe mentioned is when Jesus says woe to the Pharisees in Matthew 23:@3 and Luke 11:42.
Abraham, who was before the Mosaic Law, gave tithes to a priest altogether different than the levitical priesthood. The tithe was therefore not Mosaic but transcends. And since those who have accepted Christ as Saviour are the children of Abraham by faith, we may infer that what was right of Abraham is right of us.
As for your Gospel references consider, Matthew 23:23 (KJV)
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Jesus said in John 8:39 - They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham.
What did Abraham do?
Genesis 26:5 - because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.”
Here God is saying that Abraham did all of those things and that is the reason why he is going to bless Isaac, because He kept them. Isaac was before Moses, indicating that God had commandments, statutes and laws before Moses and since God himself said He doesn't change then they must be the same commandments and laws. How did Cain and Able know how to give offerings? How did Noah know which animals were clean and unclean. (Genesis 7:2 - You shall take with you seven each of every clean animal, a male and his female; two each of animals that are unclean, a male and his female)
They were not Moses' laws but God used him to write them down for us all to have so we will know how our Great and Almighty God wants to be worshiped!
That is not how I understand the Word. Abraham is the father of faith. Through his seed, Jesus, all nations are blessed. The point of the Mosaic law is not so we would know how God wants to be worshipped but as a school master to bring us to Christ. We are to worship God the Father today through submission the Christ.
Blessings