CAN WE SPEND OUR TITHE AND OFFERINGS TO HELP THE POOR?

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“Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” John 12:5

Many of us have this question in our mind can we spend the tithe and offering that belongs to God for helping poor people? It seems very good idea, the church looks supplied in surplus and it doesn’t need this much.

Let us see what the scripture says about this, Malachi 3:10 says “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house…” Here God is telling bring the whole tithe to His house, not part of it. And we all know very well the statement Jesus gave “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s. (Mark 12:17)” and this scripture may also be understood as “Give to Poor what is Poor’s and to God what is God’s.”

Please be clear, I don’t mean not to help the poor. Bible says “He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done. (Prov.19:17)”. We must help the poor by all mean; at the same time we shouldn’t steal what is God’s.

If we look at John 12:5 Judas was rebuking Mary for spending the money on God for perfume which could have been used to help the poor. The verse 6 says he said this because he was a thief and money minded. We need to analyze ourselves are we acting like Judas Iscariot. May be, because we don’t want to spend our money on poor, so we spend God’s money on poor. Beware, this could be stealing my friend.

It is sure; God and His Church do not depend on us. Because earth and all it’s riches belongs to Him. But, it is for our blessings God commands us to give. There is a reward and blessing in multifold when we give to God, and there is a reward and blessing in multifold when we give to poor. (Lu. 6:38, Malachi 3:10, Prov. 3:9,10, Prov. 19:17).

Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s and to poor what is poor’s.

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