08.04. Tithe and Offerings

4. TITHE AND OFFERINGS

"What is the difference between the tithe and offerings?"

The tithe is one-tenth of our earnings. The Scriptures have said, "The tithe is the Lord’s."

That leaves us nine-tenths. Our offerings come from that A person who pays only his tithe has never given anything to God.

Thousands of people feel that when they pay their tithes they are doing wonders. Neighbor, that is only giving what is due. That is only paying the rent. If you give anything to God, it must be from your nine-tenths.

Only the Tithe A man said to me, "When I go to the church on Sunday and place the tithe of my salary on the plate, I have fulfilled all my obligations to God."

I answered, "No! all you have done is to pay what you owe. ’The tithe is the Lord’ That belongs to God. You haven’t given anything to the Lord until you give above your tithe."

Illustration

The story is told of a father who was trying to teach his little girl the tithing system. He had ten dimes with which to illustrate. He told her of the goodness of God and how He had created us. He told the child of Jesus and how He had given His life on the cross that we might be saved.

Pushing one dime aside and leaving the nine stacked together, he said: "Now, Daughter, this belongs to God. These nine dimes belong to us. This is ours. This is His."

The little girl began to cry and her father was astonished and asked her, "Why are you crying?"

The little child replied in a broken voice, "Is that all God gets?"

Alas, from many Christians that is all He gets -- just a dime out of every dollar. From many others He does not get even that.

If you would have the blessing of God upon your heart in an unusual way, be generous. The Lord loves a cheerful giver, and until we have broken into our nine-tenths we have given nothing to Him who gave so much for us.