신명기(Deu) 14장
2. 너는 네 하나님 여호와의 성민이라 여호와께서 지상 만민 중에서 너를 택하여 자기 기업의 백성으로 삼으셨느니라
2. for you are a people holy to the LORD your God. Out of all the peoples on the face of the earth, the LORD has chosen you to be his treasured possession.
22. 너는 마땅히 매 년 토지 소산의 십일조를 드릴 것이며
22. Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year.
23. 네 하나님 여호와 앞 곧 여호와께서 그의 이름을 두시려고 택하신 곳에서 네 곡식과 포도주와 기름의 십일조를 먹으며 또 네 소와 양의 처음 난 것을 먹고 네 하나님 여호와 경외하기를 항상 배울 것이니라
23. Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and olive oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the LORD your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the LORD your God always.
28. 매 삼 년 끝에 그 해 소산의 십분의 일을 다 내어 네 성읍에 저축하여
28. At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year’s produce and store it in your towns,
29. 너희 중에 분깃이나 기업이 없는 레위인과 네 성중에 거류하는 객과 및 고아와 과부들이 와서 먹고 배부르게 하라 그리하면 네 하나님 여호와께서 네 손으로 하는 범사에 네게 복을 주시리라
29. so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.
There seem many arguments among both believers and non believers about offering, in particular, about tithe which is setting aside a tenth of all produces in the fields or incomes that comes from work. The tithe is that we even Christians feel very burdensome and challenging the most, so we try to avoid as possible as we can, but it must be God's one of the greatest strategies toward His people.
Surely, it is not the problem of salvation, rather it is the problem of trusting Him and follwing His Word. It is also not only for supporting priests or pastors, rather it is for our eating and rejoicing in Him and it is a sure promise of Him who is generous and majestic. He would bless doers in all the work of their hands.
When I was called by Him, I have never known about it, and when I was poor, I couldn't do it, but I had a good relationship in the Holy Spirit. Nowadays, for 3 decades, I have joyfully given offerings to the churches and other institutions for the poor and for some missionaries in any circumstances, which is not done with any intention of getting blessings from Him.
As the result, I can surely tell that His promises has come true 100% throughout my lives and my husband's lives and even my children's lives, as He had said in the bible.
God says that we can not serve both God and money, which means money itself plays the role of stopping us from God, so I think that i should show my faith toward Him through using money well enough to do good according to His commands.
There are many reasons that we cannot do it, and many blame the wrong use of it in the churches where it has to be used well and carefully by His orders. It is completely not for the church leaders nor for the buildings or piling up for future use, it should be used for His glory. For His Kingdom and for His loved ones: orphans, the poor, the widows, foreigners, the fatherless and so on, until His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.
