Shepherd’s Light Ministries Belief's on Giving

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There is a blessing you receive when you are a cheerful giver.  (2 Corinthians 9:7) “ Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. “ (ESV)  Malachi 3:8-10 also speaks of a blessing that comes with giving and tithing.  It mentions what happens when we do not tithe, that you can read for yourself. Malachi 3:8: “Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. 9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. 10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.” Tithing is the most known way to give, but there are other types of giving that the Bible teaches on listed below.  

 

Tithe

Your tithe should go to the ministry you are learning from and is spiritually nurturing you and/or your family. Galatians 6:6: “The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him.”  The tithe is known as 10 percent and 10 percent is the literal meaning of the word tithe.  This 10 percent is holy unto the Lord according to Leviticus 27:30: It “belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord” (NIV). God gave us something of His that is holy, so that we can be good stewards of His belongings. When we handle His belongings properly, we are blessed.  

Luke 6:38: “Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”  Malachi also teaches on this,  Malachi 3:10: “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” 

 

Offering

God was the first person to give and offer in the Book of Genesis in the Bible.  He sacrificed an animal and offered Adam and Eve clothes after they ate of the forbidden apple tree.  This was done out of love and care for His children, and the act of love and care is the same way we are to give our offerings to the Lord.  It is a sacrifice because it is above our 10%, and we are to give it in a loving and caring way. 2 Corinthians 9:6: “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” You will be blessed above measure when you sacrifice an offering and every need will be met with extra to share with others. 

First Fruits

God expected the Israelites to honor Him by giving the first fruits of what He gave to them in Leviticus. This is when we get a raise, a promotion, bonus, or monetary gift and we give a portion to a minister with joy.  This is a one time amount to thank the Lord for His provisions that are to come knowing we are opening the floodgates for additional increases.  

Deuteronomy 26:1: “When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you as a special possession and you have conquered it and settled there, 2 put some of the first produce from each crop you harvest into a basket and bring it to the designated place of worship—the place the Lord your God chooses for his name to be honored.3 Go to the priest in charge at that time and say to him, ‘With this gift I acknowledge to the Lord your God that I have entered the land he swore to our ancestors he would give us.’ 4 The priest will then take the basket from your hand and set it before the altar of the Lord your God.”5 “You must then say in the presence of the Lord your God, ‘My ancestor Jacob was a wandering Aramean who went to live as a foreigner in Egypt. His family arrived few in number, but in Egypt they became a large and mighty nation.”

 

Honoring a Man of God

This gives a blessing that money can not buy and one that God will honor.  We are to give honor to those who preach and teach while supporting them. 1 Timothy 5:17 “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.” 1 Corinthians 9:14 “ In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.” 

 

Evangelist/ Traveling Ministers

We should support those who are traveling and ministering. They are reaping a harvest of souls, and we are part of that harvest blessing when we give to them.   We should bless them the way they bless us, when they minister to us, just like they did with the disciples in the Book of Acts.  Those who do provide offerings to evangelists and traveling ministers will be blessed in their personal and business matters.  

 Luke 8:1: “Soon afterward Jesus began a tour of the nearby towns and villages, preaching and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom of God. He took his twelve disciples with him, 2 along with some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases. Among them were Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons; 3 Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s business manager; Susanna; and many others who were contributing from their own resources to support Jesus and his disciples.” 

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Giving to the Poor

We should give to those in need as the Holy Spirit directs us to give.  When we do this, we will lack nothing in return.   Proverbs 28:27: “Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to poverty will be cursed.” 

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