Lawrence DeMetrius

Lyrics

Lesson 54 of 77
Divine Giving
{See Lessons 19, 60, 61, 62, 69}
By Lawrence DeMetrius

The Holy Scriptures do offer instruction on monetary giving and the benefits thereof. The Elect of God are admonished to give whatever they are capable of giving, to support Ministries of Divine Iconoclasm. These services are inclusive of good works that support…

• Evangelism of the Divine Gospel
• Maturation of the true Ekklesia
• Aid to Yahweh Worshipers in their time of need

Giving according to divine directive invokes abundant return through monetary gifts from others. This is why Christ placed emphasis on giving per one’s ability. Not need, greed, or anxiety. Prior to the completion of Christ’s work at Calvary, the mandate of giving tithes or the tenth of one’s gross earnings, an extra 5% when paying that tithe late, and general offerings, were all purposed to support the priests who administered services within Yahweh’s temples. However, the divine principle of monetary giving was upgraded after Christ completed His mission at Calvary. The 10% became 100% of whatever the Holy Ghost leads one to give, when He tells them to give it. Whatever that amount is, it will always be what one can comfortably, willingly and cheerfully give. The Lord Jesus said,

Give and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
[Lk 6:38]

Apostle Paul writes,

For ye know that grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich.
For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack <because he did not foolishly give away everything, he had>.
[II Cor 8:9, 12, 15]
King Solomon writes,

Honor the LORD with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase:
So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
[Pro 3:9, 10]

Jesus Christ used the giving attitude of a poor widow to expound upon the value of one’s monetary gift. It was clearly based on what she was able to give, and did give willfully and cheerfully. Apostle Mark writes,

And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.
And there came a certain <likely denoting her as a true worshiper of God> poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
And He called unto Him His disciples, and saith unto them,
Verily I say unto you, that this <true worshiper who happened to be at this time in her life a…> poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:
For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want <or willingness> did cast in all that she had, even all her living <denoting her faith in God to provide for her needs>.
[Mk 12:41-44]

Apostle Mark notes that THE EYE OF THE LORD is at the money table, observing how and how much one gives. In this passage, Christ clearly points out that wealthier partitioners give out of their abundance, which is good, if they did so willingly and cheerfully in support of the work of THE LORD. However, the poor widow also gave out of her abundance, which happened to be, by social standards, of WANT or per ancient Greek #5304 HUSTERESIS (hoos-ter-ay-sis), which is a current financial condition, NOT A SPIRITUAL CONDITION, of extreme poverty, destitution, scarcity, inadequacy, and insufficiency. Although she was poor, she was indeed very rich, because she was a true worshiper of God. The two mites she willingly and cheerfully gave was more valuable in Yahweh’s perspective, than that which was given out of mere abundance.
This worshiper truly gave in worship and faith unto THE LORD, which HE fully acknowledged. Moses notes concerning the old system of monetary giving and its purposes. He writes,

When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of thine increase the third year, which is the year of tithing, and hast given it unto the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled;
Then thou shalt say before the LORD thy God, I have brought away the hallowed things out of mine house, and also have given them unto the Levite, and unto the stranger, to the fatherless, and to the widow, according to all THY commandments which THOU hast commanded me: I have not transgressed THY commandments, neither have I forgotten them:
[Deut 26:12, 13]

And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of thy tree, is the LORD’s: it is holy unto the LORD.
And if a man will at all redeem out of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof.
And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD.
He shall not search whether it be good or bad, neither shall he change it: and if he change it at all, then both it and the change thereof shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.
These are the commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses for the children of Israel in Mount Sinai.
[Lev 27:30-34]

Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed ME, But ye say, Wherein have we robbed THEE? In tithes and offerings.
Ye are cursed with a curse: <Why?> for ye have robbed ME, even this whole nation <Israel>.
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in MINE house, and prove ME now therewith, 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.
And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.
And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.
[Mal 3:8-12]
This expectation of giving was to be obeyed by Yahweh Worshippers, until its upgrade was initiated by Christ after His victory at Calvary. In His dialogue with unbelieving Hebrew leaders, He reiterated that while one should have given tithes to support the work of THE LORD in their communities, as it was still in order to do so at that time, no amount of monetary giving supersedes the practice of righteousness. He said,

Woe unto you, scribes, and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not leave the other undone.
[Mt 23:23]

In regard to taxes, the Lord Jesus instructs His brethren to pay them. In His perspective, it is good to pay proper dues to community government, that aid in the development and maintenance of the communities they reside in.

Tell us therefore, What thinkest Thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?
But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye Me, ye hypocrites?
Shew Me the tribute money. And they brought Him a penny.
And He saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
They say unto Him, Caesar’s. Then saith He unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.
When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him, and went their way.
[Mt 22:17-21]

In regard to tributes ordained for civil and community servants Apostle Paul writes,

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
For this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.
Owe no man anything, but to love one another <do righteously unto one another>: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
[Rm 13:1-8]

Divine Giving generates great praise and thanksgiving to Yahweh. Whenever funds are required to supply the need of HIS worshipers, THE LORD will provide wisdom and resources that will generate such funds easily and abundantly. In his day, Moses decreed to givers in Israel, what is appropriate for Yahweh worshipers of all generations. He said,

And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.
But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is HE that giveth thee power to get wealth, that HE may establish HIS covenant which HE sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.
[Deut 8:17, 18]

Yahweh desires HIS Elect to maintain honorable means of financial acquisition, especially to effectively administer HIS principles and assist HIS worshipers in their time of need. Based on the teaching of Jesus Christ, Apostle Paul writes,

But this I say, he which seweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly: and he which soweth bountifully shall reap bountifully.
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity <anxiety>: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
(As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad: he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth forever.
Now HE that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
Being enriched in everything to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;
[II Cor 9:6-12]

And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without and that ye may have lack of nothing.
[I Thes 4:11, 12]
Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the LORD;
[Rm 12:11]

In fact, Yahweh has provisioned enough for all upon earth to richly enjoy all things and to bless others. Apostle Paul writes,

Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, WHO giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
[I Tim 6:17-19]

Divine Giving empowers Yahweh worshipers to give continually, effectively, and in a manner that invokes tangible surplus for themselves during their mortal lifetime.

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