FIRST, HONOR GOD WITH YOUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS

Deuteronomy 14, God gave prosperity or economic laws that would be taught to the people so that God could prosper them in the land. These same laws have been applied to American economy. God's laws was meant to balance the economy and also to meet the needs of the poor and immigrants who lived in their land as well as for welfare programs. God also instructed the people to give a tithe ( a tenth of their income) to God so that the Levites (priests or ministers) could dedicate their lives and work full-time for God. The purpose of the tithe to teach us to put God first in our lives. God said “You must tithe all of your crops every year. Bring this tithe to eat before the Lord your God at the place he shall choose as his sanctuary; this applies to your tithes of grain, new wine, olive oil, and the firstborn of your flocks and herds. THE PURPOSE OF TITHING IS TO TEACH YOU ALWAYS TO PUT GOD FIRST IN YOUR LIVES. If the place the Lord chooses for his sanctuary is so far away that it isn’t convenient to carry your tithes to that place, then you may sell the tithe portion of your crops and herds and take the money to the Lord’s sanctuary. “Every third year you are to use your entire tithe for local welfare programs: Give it to the Levites who have no inheritance among you, or to foreigners, or to widows and orphans within your city, so that they can eat and be satisfied; and then Jehovah your God will bless you and your work. FRIENDS, I HAVE FOUND THAT WHEN I PUT GOD FIRST, HE ALWAYS BLESSES ME MORE THAN I CAN THINK OR IMAGINE AND KEEP THE ENEMY FROM ROBBING US FROM OUR BLESSINGS. 1 Corinthians 16:2 On every Lord’s Day each of you should put aside something from what you have earned during the week, and use it for this offering. The amount depends on how much the Lord has helped you earn.