Herald of maranatha:Daily Devotional
Topic: Tithe /giving in the early church (Apostolic Revival)
Acts 4:32-34 KJV
And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. [33] And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. [34] Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,
I was dazed at the kind of reaction that came up the last time tithe was mentioned in this series.
We have discussed many other things, just examining the Apostolic Revival phase by phase according to the book of Acts. Then there was need to consider giving attitudes in the early church and the present (Apostolic Revival remains our goal and desire).
We have discussed many other things, just examining the Apostolic Revival phase by phase according to the book of Acts. Then there was need to consider giving attitudes in the early church and the present (Apostolic Revival remains our goal and desire).
We don't have to contend with the fact that tithing was an old testament ordinance, Jesus called tithing a less weightier matter(Matt 23:23).
So don't make it weighty, we only need to study how they did in the New testament.
It's not easy to convince a made-up mind of his opinion, anyway, I pray God help us.
People were grieved at the way some preachers fly on people's offering and tithe, living large and all that, so they had to free themselves from giving. I think that's not an excuse, we can divide our income among the needy brethren, if we feel the pastor isn't doing it. The problem is increase in materialism in the midst of Believers.
So don't make it weighty, we only need to study how they did in the New testament.
It's not easy to convince a made-up mind of his opinion, anyway, I pray God help us.
People were grieved at the way some preachers fly on people's offering and tithe, living large and all that, so they had to free themselves from giving. I think that's not an excuse, we can divide our income among the needy brethren, if we feel the pastor isn't doing it. The problem is increase in materialism in the midst of Believers.
I observed and realized that our prayers in most churches in this dispensation have not been spiritual, people pray for breakthrough, elevation, sudden miracles (not miracles like salvation, but like unsolicited contract). These, in like manner is what testimonies have turned into. Then I wondered if these were not the prayers of the early church, how were they surviving?
They followed Jesus' teachings in Matthew 6
"Matthew 6:32-33 KJV
(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. [33] But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
"Acts 2:47 KJV
Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved."
Then everyone's need was met by the other. There was no record of the early church paying tithes, but our text says;
"neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common."
We can see that, they gave out of a free will but they didn't give what doesn't matter to them.
From here we see that no one claimed ownership of his money, but they made it available to meet everyone's need (this is deeper than giving to the poor or needy, it's more than tithing, it is "working for the poor and needy" in the Christian community). That means no one has a right to change his car when a Christian brother has no bicycle, or build a second house when a brother hasn't paid his house rent, you can't take a second plate of food when a brother hasn't taken the first, though you worked for the money, but he doesn't have.
Are we not all guilty of this?
We can't actually see the desired revival if our love for material possessions is still very high. We will just remain like that young rich man who met Jesus.
This is what the modern Christians lack;
"Mark 10:21 KJV
Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me."
Let's all come to one unity of the spirit and seek God genuinely with our whole heart.
They followed Jesus' teachings in Matthew 6
"Matthew 6:32-33 KJV
(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. [33] But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
"Acts 2:47 KJV
Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved."
Then everyone's need was met by the other. There was no record of the early church paying tithes, but our text says;
"neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common."
We can see that, they gave out of a free will but they didn't give what doesn't matter to them.
From here we see that no one claimed ownership of his money, but they made it available to meet everyone's need (this is deeper than giving to the poor or needy, it's more than tithing, it is "working for the poor and needy" in the Christian community). That means no one has a right to change his car when a Christian brother has no bicycle, or build a second house when a brother hasn't paid his house rent, you can't take a second plate of food when a brother hasn't taken the first, though you worked for the money, but he doesn't have.
Are we not all guilty of this?
We can't actually see the desired revival if our love for material possessions is still very high. We will just remain like that young rich man who met Jesus.
This is what the modern Christians lack;
"Mark 10:21 KJV
Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me."
Let's all come to one unity of the spirit and seek God genuinely with our whole heart.
Prayers: Oh Lord Jesus, please correct my perspective of giving, equip and fortify me, for the mighty revival.
Remain blessed
"The early christians didn't give just a tithe, they gave all they had" (Omoloye A A)
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