The Mt Kenya Times 
Bible
Clearly, the abiding reality is that wealth presents substantial dangers for all, and especially for today’s increasingly prosperous Christian population. But what can we do to escape the power of materialism? Step out of the competitive world? Abandon Wall Street? Avoid the professions? Join a commune? Some think so, despite Christ’s firm admonitions against isolation. Actually, however, there is a better way, taught repeatedly in God’s Word. In fact, Scripture presents it as a grace — the grace of giving.
The most explicit teaching on this subject is 2 Corinthians 8, where the Apostle Paul deftly instructs the Corinthian church regarding giving by citing the beautiful example of the Macedonian church’s giving. He begins: “And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace [meaning the grace of giving] that God has given the Macedonian churches” (v. 1). For Paul, giving is so much a grace that he uses the Greek word five times in this short text: verse 1, “the grace” (charin); verse 4, “the privilege” (charas); verse 6, “this act of grace” (charin); verse 7, “this grace of giving” (chariti); and verse 9, “the grace” (charin). Giving is a matter of grace from beginning to end, as we shall see.
To adequately grasp Paul’s dynamic teaching of grace giving, we need to recall earlier Biblical instruction to Israel. There is some confusion today about what it was that God actually required from his people in the Old Testament. Most think it was something like 10 percent, which is a woeful misconception. Actually there were multiple mandatory giving requirements in Israel which came to considerably more. The foundational tithe was termed the Lord’s tithe (or the Levites’ tithe, Numbers 18:21-29, because it went to support their priestly ministry). Leviticus 27:30 says: “A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.” This meant that a tithe (10 percent) of all the people’s produce and animals was given to the Levites. No Israelite had any option about this. A man who did not pay it was robbing God. Malachi 3:8 refers to this, saying, “‘Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, “How do we rob you?” In tithes and offerings.’”
OH MY GOD, HELP US, DELIVER US! SELAH!
References:
The Living Bible
Discipline of a Godly Man( Book by Kent Hughes)
Evangelist Eric Musa:
(My message continuously: If you are not saved: Believe, accept, receive and confess Christ Jesus as your Lord and Saviour and be filled with the Holy Spirit, as it is written; “NOW is the acceptable time, TODAY is the day of SALVATION.- 2 Cor 6:2”. For prayers, devotion, and to support the ministry contact Evangelist on +254722157300 ( Email: EMEA.ericmusa@gmail.com). Remember, God Loves you and I unconditionally, perfectly and always: SHALOM
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