The Christian Letter, Volume One: Chapter 31
“‘And blessed be the Most High El who has delivered your enemies into your hand.’ And he gave him a tenth of all.” (Genesis 14:20).
The first recorded “tithe” is shown here; though, it is more than likely that many had tithed before this accounting. (Tithe is an old English word meaning tenth.) Is the tithe still required today? Mandatory or not, this ought be our desire: to care for family, widows, orphans, strangers, and the workers.
Even though I have known how I should tithe for some time, for many years I had no idea how to write this Letter. After doing my best, I sent this Letter to my subscribers, and received many verses and debates from my readers; I reworked this Letter and resent it so many times I dread to recall the number. Finally, I saw the answer that had always been there: This is a matter of the Spirit. Giving is of the Spirit, therefore, pray for the Gift of the Spirit, in humility and peace.
But be warned: Satan will try every trick he can use to deceive you, from thinking we don’t need to since there is not a allegedly not a temple, to that a dollar in the collection plate at church is enough. Yet, was there a temple in the day Abraham gave offering to Melchizedek, or did your dollar help anyone who is a temple? So, where do we place our treasure?
“For where your treasure is, there your heart shall be also. The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, all your body shall be enlightened. But if your eye is evil, all your body shall be darkened. If, then, the light that is within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” (Matthew 6:21-23). What is an evil eye? In Hebrew, to say he has an “evil eye,” is to say he is stingy, while proclaiming she has a “good eye,” means she is generous. Yahoshuah urges generosity, but opposes stinginess. (Please take a moment to read the rest of Matthew 6).
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you tithe the mint and the anise and the cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the Torah: the right-ruling and the compassion and the belief. These need to have been done, without neglecting the others.” (Matthew 23:23).
The Messiah warned about not showing right ruling (sometimes rendered as kindness or justice), compassion (sometimes rendered as truth or mercy), and belief (sometimes rendered as faithfulness). He was by no means against what they were doing in giving, so … do we give spices? We ought give mint, anise (sometimes recorded as dill), cumin (sometimes recorded as pomegranate), and, truthfully, any of the produce from our gardens, and while there is no excuses not to have a garden, perhaps your garden is a room blooming with homemade quilts. Do we lovingly give of what is in our garden? We should. However, the question is once again: To whom? I am not sure an average church would know what to do if you put a bushel of blessings from you garden, a Bible, and a winter quilt in the offering tray. Alas, I will never know, as the average church’s tray is far too small for such great wealth.
“Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double respect, especially those who labour in the word and teaching. For the Scripture says, ‘You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,’ and, ‘The labourer is worthy of his wages.’” (1 Timothy 5:17-18). The needs of the brothers tending the flock are there financially, and while we should give some in that manner, we should not be sparse in “giving our spices” as well. Next time your garden is ready, be sure to give, not just the extras, but also some of the first fruits, to those you fellowship with. The sheep dog (preacher) may not need them, but may be able to direct you to some who do.
“Ascribe to Yahoweh the esteem of His Name; bring an offering, and come into His courts.” (Psalms 96:8).
“Esteem Yahoweh with your goods, and with the first-fruits of all your increase; then your storehouses shall be filled with plenty, and your vats overflow with new wine.” (Proverbs 3:9-10).
I urge every one of you to give to Yahoweh, in love, what is His. Give to your family in need. (This does not always mean money. Sometimes a book or movie that shares His Word, or something as odd as a new hammer or a long hug is in order.) Give to those dear brothers tending the flock (preachers). (Perhaps your time is needed. In case you were unaware of this, caring for a congregation is three and a half jobs plus a couple of part time jobs piled on top of a family to raise, love, and support.) Give to the poor. (We always think of a man with his hand out, but I tell you there is a difference between beggars and the poor. I feel the poor are far too often missed. I know of, and myself have been, one of these people who have very little, but refuse to ask for help. They go out of their way to show they do not need any help.) There are also the poor in spirit. (You must go out of your way to find them! Do not forget them!) There are so many places to give. Missionaries, orphans, the elderly, they all need our help. Send a small box of medical supplies and clothing to Haiti. Pray for our dear brothers and sweet sisters who are persecuted, and support those who aid them. Aid them! Be them! We have that ability! When we give our fruits, money, prayer, and our work to people in need, then we give to Yahoweh. That is where our tithe needs to go! To Yahoweh!
While I feel those who devote ample time to a ministry are worthy of some support, consider this: If a minister has on hundred people tithing 10% each, then the minister is receiving ten times the average wage of the people within the church. Do not rob yourself the joy of giving to widows, orphans, and strangers, by putting the minister into temptation. Even the most righteous of men can succumb to greed, lust, anger, and other follies. When we look at some of these mega churches, we can see why greed has swallowed almost every one of them. Support your church, or group, to be sure, but do not make it drunk with greed either. Each person should give their due percentage of the costs. Sure, a worker is worth his wage, but is a tithe meant to be a wage, or is it the gift of giving to the Messiah?
I feel that a box at the back of the church is a better method for receiving than that of passing around a plate, as this way the support is purely from the heart, and not tainted with greed or guilt, but there is even still a better way. “And it came to be, afterward, that He went through every city and village, proclaiming and bringing the Good News of the reign of Elohim, and the twelve were with Him, and certain women who were healed of wicked spirits and sicknesses: Miryam, called ‘from Magdala,’ out of whom had come seven demons, and Yohanah the wife of Kuza, manager of Herodes, and Shoshannah, and many others who provided for Him from their resources.” (Luke 8:1-3). Yahoshuah was supported by a small number of people, not from taking up offerings. It would be nice if churches or groups could do this, but they have to have people willing to support them first! Not make them wealthy or provide much spoil, but support them.
“For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves shall come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men shall arise, speaking distorted teachings, to draw away the taught ones after themselves. Therefore watch, remembering that for three years, night and day, I did not cease to warn each one with tears. And now, brothers, I commit you to Elohim and to the Word of His favour, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those having been set apart. I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or garments. And you yourselves know that these hands supplied my needs, and for those who were with me. All this I did show you, by labouring like this, that you ought to help the weak. And remember the words of the Master Yahoshuah, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (Acts 20:29-35). And if this is the case, then ministers should be more concerned about working and giving, than receiving a wage—and the only way this can happen is if the congregation picks up burdens the minister does not have time or ability to attend, and little to no more.
“For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone does not wish to work, neither let him eat.” (2 Thessalonians 3:10). “And in greed, with fabricated words, they shall use you for gain. From of old their judgment does not linger, and their destruction does not slumber.” (2 Peter 2:3). Seeking to do the Will of the Father is not a job—but it does take time away from being able to have one! Therefore, a worker, a true worker, is worthy of his wage. If a minister does little more than speak for an hour, he is not worth one coin. If he visits the sick, comforts the fatherless, helps those who cannot pay him, and toils mightily in the Word to present to you the path of Righteousness, then he is worth his wage—by double. And I’ll say it true: Even if he isn’t perfect, he is worth his wage.
“And He said to them, ‘Mind, and beware of greed, because one’s life does not consist in the excess of his possessions.’ He then spoke a parable to them, saying, ‘The land of a certain rich man yielded well. And he was reasoning within himself, saying, “What shall I do, because I have no room to store my crops?” And he said, “I am going to do this: pull down my storehouses and build greater, and store all my crops and my goods there, then say to myself, ‘Life, you have many goods laid up for many years, take your ease, eat, drink, rejoice.’” But Elohim said to him, “You mindless one! This night your life shall be demanded from you. And who shall own what you have prepared?” So is he who is storing up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward Elohim.’” (Luke 12:15-21).
The man laid up treasure in this earth, but how many spices are for him in the Kingdom of Yahoweh? “And answering He said to them, ‘Let him who has two undergarments share with him who has none, and let him who has food do likewise.’” (Luke 3:11). It is a simple thing to do. Bake bread. Grow some greens. Provide clothing, company, and room. Giving to those who need, accomplishes more than I can really write. Not only do you do what Yahoweh wants you to do, but, “Then the righteous shall answer Him, saying, ‘Master, when did we see You hungry and we fed You, or thirsty and gave You to drink? And when did we see You a stranger and took You in, or naked and clothed You? And when did we see You sick, or in prison, and we came to You?’ And the Sovereign shall answer and say to them, ‘Truly, I say to you, in so far as you did it to one of the least of these My brothers, you did it to Me.’” (Matthew 25:37-40).
Where do we find people in honest need? We should all start looking within our own family. “And if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the belief and is worse than an unbeliever.” (1 Timothy 5:8). Worse than an unbeliever! … Wow. Of course, if there is not a need in your family or among your close family members, then praise Yahoweh for blessing you so! And during your thankful worship, go and seek those in true need, for if you do not seek, you will not find.
The Messiah told of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37 and He asked, “‘Who, then, of these three, do you think, was neighbour to him who fell among the robbers?’ And he said, ‘He who showed compassion on him.’ Then Yahoshuah said to him, ‘Go and do likewise.’” The people you help do not have to be of the same faith, nationality, or country. The Iraqi and the Israelite, the African and the Chinese, all people have this is in common: They all need to eat, and they all need a Saviour. Why deny those who the Father has placed in your life the blessings of either?
Note: The Good Samaritan did not offer a Bible, or a sermon, but he is in the Bible, and has his sermon preached even amongst non-believers. Often a gift of food, and a simple, “Shalom.” is better than the best spoken sermons.
Are we like the Good Samaritan, showing mercy even to those who are not commonly thought to deserve any? Maybe you think your cousin does not deserve your gift. Perhaps you feel your neighbor is not kind enough for you to be kind to. Yet, if we are not worthy to even untie Yahoweh’s sandals, then who are we to say that someone does not deserves a loaf of bread, or a even a simple card? Give more to that allegedly unworthy person if you feel this way, until you feel as the Messiah must have felt … washing His disciples’ feet. Humble beyond words. (If you keep your focus on things above, you will never recognize your own humility; in fact, it will be His humility working through you. This is key.)
“Only, there should be no poor among you. For Yahoweh does greatly bless you in the land which Yahoweh your Elohim is giving you to possess as an inheritance, only if you diligently obey the voice of Yahoweh your Elohim, to guard to do all these commands which I am commanding you today.” (Deuteronomy 15:4-5). Alas, we see the Messiah prophesied, “For you always have the poor with you, but Me you do not have always.” (Matthew 26:11). If believers stopped consuming flesh, there would be enough grain saved to end hunger, and if each loved one another as themselves then no one in the world would be in the turmoil of starvation, malnutrition, and poverty. In this age—we are indeed without excuse. Let us, therefore, repent by obeying Yahoweh out of love, and tending to those in need.
“When you have completed tithing all the tithe of your increase in the third year, which is the year of tithing, and have given it to the Lewite, to the stranger, to the fatherless, and to the widow, and they have eaten within your gates and have been satisfied, then you shall say before Yahoweh your Elohim, ‘I have put away the set-apart portion from my house, and also have given it to the Lewite, and to the stranger, and to the fatherless, and to the widow, according to all Your command which You have commanded me. I have not transgressed Your commands, nor have I forgotten. I have not eaten any of it when in mourning, nor have I removed any of it for any unclean use, nor given any of it for the dead. I have obeyed the voice of Yahoweh my Elohim, I have done according to all that You have commanded me.’” (Deuteronomy 26:12-14). (See also Deuteromny14:28-29).
The closest thing I have seen to this is a church pantry with generic cream corn. I cannot say, as I should be able, that I have succeeded in this. The tithe of your increase? The year of tithing? The foreigners, orphans, and widows, I know of many, but who, today, is the Levite? This tithe is food … they eat it in your gates—in my home! … Why have I not done this? Why did I never know to?
Today, a new quest has arisen before me. I am going to do this. This year I shall count as the third year, and I shall save back some of the food from our garden, and money as well to buy more food with, and then, rather than leave it with others as I have done before, I shall invite them, and we shall dine together. Fellowship. … We save back foods and valuables for the Feasts of Yahoweh, could Sabbath be the time to share these gifts? … Fellowship. How wonderful.
With a larger fund, one can sometimes offer a more permanent help, such as sponsoring an adoption, or getting a homeless family into a home and a place to work—but do not forget this warning: Satan, or your own greed for a worthless want, will tempt you with the growing fund. Be strong, be strong, and let us be strengthened.
Concerning who a Levite is: A Levite is a man, who, in essence, is someone who works for the good of others so much so he has no time for gaining his own needs through employment or tilling the soil. The people were to support the ones who supported them. Hence, ministers and missionaries are, in a matter of spirit, Levites. Those that do this noble labour, in love and without greed, certainly deserve to have meals fit, not for a king, but for a servant … and a home, not their own, to match.
This is why I view ministers as sheep dogs. Hearken: they are not as important as the Shepherd. They, too, are willing to fight the wolves to save the sheep—oh, but I fear it is true—we sheep have forgotten that we, too, are to watch out, and sound our own alarm when trouble is seen. Will we remain silent when a sheepdog is slowly growing greedy for sheep? Will we say nothing aloud if the sheepdog who is to protect us … cannot even protect himself?
Ministers are not special or apart from us; they deserve no special title. While the Shepherd also cares for his dogs, even they are to tithe: “Speak to the Lewites and say to them, ‘When you take from the children of Yisra’el the tithes which I have given you from them as your inheritance, then you shall present a contribution of it to Yahoweh, a tenth of the tithe.” (Numbers 18:26). Consider how the Saviour lived and you will know the folly in elevating a man who ministers. He, the King of kings, was a humble servant. How much lower, then, ought we be?
“Yahoshuah said to him, ‘If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven. And come, follow Me.’” (Matthew 19:21). This deals with the attachment we have to our wealth. It is sometimes easy for a poor person to leave their things behind, but it can be very difficult for a rich person to do the same. This was a test, but was it for everyone?
Yahoshuah wants us to look at everything differently, not cast what He provides away from us.Poverty is not the objective; rather the goal is for everything we do have to belong to Yahoweh, and for us to be attached to Him, not the world or possessions. It is a matter of the eye. Some look at what little they have in greed. “It’s mine!” they say, but the righteous knows full well: All is Yahoweh’s. Abraham and Job both knew they owned nothing, that everything they had was Yahoweh’s. “And he said, ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. Yahoweh has given, and Yahoweh has taken away. Blessed be the Name of Yahoweh.’” (Job 1:21). It is not my property, nor my ministry, but His.
Selling all we own and giving it away would leave us poorer than the people we gave all our possessions to. “The rich man’s wealth is his strong city; the ruin of the poor is their poverty.” (Proverbs 10:15). Everyone should get rid of his or her items, to make what little they have Yahoweh’s. If we gave all we had then we would no longer be able to give anything at all. Thus we must ask, not, “How many things do I own?” but, “How many things own me? Will I walk with the Messiah, or will I walk back to my stuff?” If one is called to give all to the poor—so be it—and let it be for the glory of His Kingdom.
“‘Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, and let there be food in My house. And please prove Me in this,’ said Yahoweh of hosts, ‘whether I do not open for you the windows of the heavens, and shall pour out for you boundless blessing!’” (Malachi 3:10).
If the wealth returned were monetary, then every get rich scheme would include tithing. Yahoweh loves a cheerful giver, not a greedy taker. If we, then, give for the sole reason of the prize, we are trying to buy what cannot be bought. If we don’t have our heart set on receiving, but on cheerfully giving—we will not even know we have received, as we will be too busy giving. One day, though, we will know (if we don’t already) that everything we’ve ever had was a gift, and everything we gave away is all we’ve ever kept.
We are to be priests, baptizing in the Name, and not withhold the gifts He has given. Are these gifts gold or silver or the Power of a Name denied for too long? Tithing, thus, isn’t an appropriate term. Giving is more suitable. If this gift of the Spirit is not within you, then pray for Him to be. The High Priest will not deny His children that gift. Nor should you; if you have a family, then you must provide for them. Provide is the key word here. I didn’t say spoil them, and waste resources. “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.” (Proverbs 13:22). Children’s children? How many of us do that? How many of us could when we spoil, rather than provide for, our current idols, err, I mean children? Yet, what are we providing? My grandmother did this well. No, I am not living off an inheritance; rather, I am blessed by the inheritance only a believing grandmother could produce. What will your lasting legacy be? Will it be books, music, memories, recipes, wisdom, land and the wisdom to grow upon it, or nothing more than prayers? My wife’s grandmother prays for each of her grandchildren daily, and I am a beholder of the power of prayer. What a wonderful inheritance. Money is not what one longs for when a loved one has passed, but rather love and a memory of the one they loved. This is a true inheritance.
“‘For I am Yahoweh, I shall not change, and you, O sons of Ya‘aqob, shall not come to an end. From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from My laws and did not guard them. Turn back to Me, and I shall turn back to you,’ said Yahoweh of hosts. ‘But you said, “In what shall we turn back?” Would a man rob Elohim? Yet you are robbing Me! But you said, “In what have we robbed You?” In the tithe and the offering! You have cursed Me with a curse, for you are robbing Me, this nation, all of it! Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, and let there be food in My house. And please prove Me in this,’ said Yahoweh of hosts, ‘whether I do not open for you the windows of the heavens, and shall pour out for you boundless blessing! And I shall rebuke the devourer for you, so that it does not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor does the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,’ said Yahoweh of hosts. ‘And all nations shall call you blessed, for you shall be a land of delight,’ said Yahoweh of hosts.” (Malachi 3:6-12).
Where then is this flood of blessing that we cannot contain? Could it be in our very hearts and souls? Or are we still be robbing Elohim? This flood of blessing has made men die painful deaths while praising the Name Yahoweh! My treasure is in His Kingdom, “But seek first the reign of Elohim, and His righteousness, and all these matters shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33). I hope your treasure is there as well.
In many Christian churches, if you are not rich and successful, you are simply not investing in Elohim enough, or not praying enough.This prosperity view of Christianity is in direct conflict with the teachings of Scripture. Where, for example, was the prosperity blessing upon John the Baptist?The apostles seemed to miss out on prosperity, living poor, and being tortured and killed for following and promoting the Torah and the Name Yahoshuah. “And indeed, all those wishing to live reverently in Messiah Yahoshuah, shall be persecuted.” (2 Timothy 3:12). Searching the Scriptures with this understanding, we see proof that catastrophes are a basic part of a follower’s life. So, do not be shocked when bad things happen. Just keep your focus on the One worthy of focus. While some people in the Bible were very rich, let us make use of our wealth and help the least of these.
The anxiety over money we see today is way out of hand. I have heard it said that, “There are many payers but few prayers. When people put their money in the hat, the church is taken. But when the first century disciples prayed, the world was shaken.” People are robbed by misunderstanding Malachi 3:10, not only of their money, but sometimes of their very salvation. Beware of merchant preachers, mere hirelings who do not care for the sheep. Find one that will fight bears to protect the sheep of his Father by standing for His Word, and never asks for more than a meal. This is much more likely a man of Yahoweh.
Most of your giving may be comforting others in need, requiring very little money but a great deal of time. The Israelites all brought different gifts, as they were able, laboured in different departments, and gave of their various talents to complete the Tabernacle. “There are different kinds of services, but the same Master.” (1 Corinthians 12:5. See all of chapter 12).
When you are helping out, or giving to those in need, do not take on too many. By giving just a little, it creates more paperwork and mess than the gift was worth. Find just enough places that will allow your gift to do something, and not just look like it is doing something. Also, make sure your gift is helping them, and not just being a temporary jab, or even harming them. The gift of the knowledge on how to make clothes, along with clothes, will always be better than just clothes. Aid to grow food will always be better than just food. Yet, many people give foreign animals to lands where their herding their economy of land, and causes the extinction of native wildlife and plants, literally dooming these people. Be careful. Sometimes what seems to be legitimate help, is nothing shy of murder.
What would have happened if there was no Moses? He was the most humble, and so he was used. What if there was no one as brave as EliYahu, or as obedient as Noah? What if, right now, Yahoweh Elohim has a plan, but there is no one who is able to fulfill it because they are too arrogant, cowardly, and disobedient to accomplish that plan? What if His plan was for our gifts to help people, but there was no one who was willing to commit? The gravest problem with tithing, is that it is too easy to put money in a tray only, and laziness becomes a habit.
We don’t ask! We may ask what they need—but we fail to ask why they need it!
“What do you need?”
“Water.”
So you send them water, and do nothing … because you know nothing.
“Why do you need water?”
“Because the gangs took over the well the missionaries built, and the government’s military takes all the shipments of bottled water.”
“How can we help you help yourselves?’
“Easy. Stop trying to help the traditional way—it has only made it worse! Instead: pray for, and petition our government to allow supplies to be delivered, as well as to deal with the growing gang problem.”
“Easy? That is not easy.”
“Try living without water.”
Dear brothers and sweet sisters, we must do better than we have done, because there are so many believers out there, that if we did our part right, then we would have to search for ways to help. The challenge would be in finding need … as opposed to fulfilling it.
Nobody becomes self-sufficient through handouts. That is obvious; yet, how many of us just give money as our act of tithing? If someone is thirsty, she needs water. Missions often give water, and that is very important to do, but the next day the woman is thirsty again. We have addressed the symptom, but not the problems. There are two problems. She is once more without, and, more damaging, it has become her state of mind that she cannot get water for herself.
Poverty, seen by those who have, is only seen as a lack of material items. Those who are poor, though, describe their poverty, not as an inability to purchase food, but as, “Being less than human, a worthless pile of trash who isn’t even man enough to provide for his family.” Giving to this person, hurts this person, as you have once more shown him you are great, but he is not. When we give to them, all they perceive is that we are helping the least of these, and that is not how we should leave them.
To truly help, first, give water, then, ask why they do not have it. The swift answer, if you answer yourself, is not the right one. “Let’s build them a well,” sounds good, but then gangs take control of the well, thereby making the situation worse than before. The well breaks, and no one knows how to fix it. The well dries up, and the people are at a loss. Every home will be different, every need special. The person may have a water supply, but needs a filter. Sure, you could give him one, but then what worth does he have? In that case, it might be best to give him water, give him a filter, and then, not in a way that could be seen as coddling or exploitation, make an arrangement with him, such as trading water filters for something he does. I would not tell them they have to read the Bible to get water. Bribing is just sick. Nor should you ask for twenty days of hard labour. Yet, if the man would be willing to walk half the clean water to a local hospital, or could send you some woodwork, or would agree that he will receive one water filter every month, if, each time, he plants a fruit tree, picks up five gallons of trash, and, for your collection, gets you one empty glass bottle. This man is now providing you with a collection of foreign glass bottles, or even local ones, is cleaning his environment, and is planting himself food. He has to work for what he has, and so feels as we all should: able. (This could seem demeaning to the man, unless you are a man who plants trees, and cleans up for a living. Remember, each situation, and each person, is different.) (Fruit trees can often be found as saplings, thus costing nothing, and you should provide the shipping so he can mail you back a letter and a bottle.)
Some people send goats, not understanding that the goat’s fecal matter and other habits destroy native soil bacteria. Those who receive these intrusive mammals will tear down forests or destroy other productive ground to have the goat, who then destroys the soil, so that the herder now has to move on and destroy more native land. Americans live off their land, and so too do those in other countries. This must be considered.
We should be quite, while listening. If the family says, “We would like to farm.” do not send them goats, or foreign seeds, or tell them how to do it, or come do it for them your way. Instead, simply ask, “You know how to farm there, I don’t, but I sure would like to give a friendly hand. What is it that is stopping you from farming?” This family may tell you about all the neat foods you have never even heard of, and how they could grow enough for their family, and enough to sell for all the other things they would need, but not really answer your question. Respectfully, after you talk about all the exciting elements of this project, ask again: “This just sounds better and better. I’d sure love I could be a part of it, because I love dried papaya, and sure would like to try some of those other things. Is there anything I can help you with in exchange for some produce?” It may turn out they need a nice fence to keep the animals out of their large garden. That is your part, and their part is to return the favour, in time, with dried fruit. Both people feel important, as both people are. With all my knowledge of gardening, I would not tell them how. I would listen to how they do it. It would not just be a trade, but an everlasting journey in friendship and fellowship. They may not even have the same faith, but you can share your faith without ever attacking their faith. In the fullness of time, it may be you who is healed the most, when you hear the words, “I was hungry, and you gave Me food to eat.”
There is no such thing as short-term missions trips, only injustices. Long-term missions trip: Every church in this world should lay claim to one or more areas, permanently. This tribe, and these miles, will be the land of your grandchildren. When that place you laid claim to becomes self-sufficient and thrives in faith, they will follow suit, and lay claim to another place. This is spiritual gardening, fishing for men, the great call of discipleship as the only true ministry.
Often, mission trips are treated as if they were trips to a zoo. Young kids photograph all the lesser people, and stage silly performances, and play made up on the fly games. Sure, they built five new pews for the church, and gave out gift baskets to all the school kids, but nothing really changed. The missionaries leave feeling great about themselves, and the people now feel like less, and nothing has improved. What can your mission’s team do, not to give, but to build a friendship of mutual respect and reciprocation? Again, every church in the world should find one area, and lay an everlasting claim to it in the name of Yahoweh. This church will befriend all the people, from now until His return, to better, not just the people there, but themselves as well. Too many go to a different place each year, rather than the same place year after year, or even more often than that. If you are helping a village, you must accept help from them, too. Can they make banners for your church, or music, or stories, or the furniture? That village needs water, yes, but they also need to feel worth. A truly depressed person often does not eat or drink, because they do not feel worthy. Let’s start by giving both.
I want to walk into a church where the whole place looks like it was made in a different land … because it was. In that church, I want to meet people who speak another language, so they can talk with their friends. The walls are covered with photos of people in that village, and the people of that church, not dressed in brightly colored team shirts, but in native garb, smiling together as equals. And then, when it becomes too much, and I go to that village, I see the same photos, and I see people who feel worthy of their basic needs.
I want to go to a church where the whole thing was made by local people. I want to see artwork, and hear music, that is in this church only. When I am invited to the fellowship dinner afterwards, I want to need to sit down due to my shock, that it is not just the forty people at church eating dinner in their own even smaller groups, no, they have it outside where anyone can come and eat. Oh, but I know what’s next, and so do you. They are going to give a quick message of salvation, aren’t they? I want to fall off that chair, when the minister sits beside me, and says, “Message? My dear brother, that we opened our doors and welcome the sinners and offered of ourselves is the message.” And then, when I come back next week, and I see all the new people there, I know I’m not going to hear a salvation message, because I know those people are already saved, and are ready to follow Him. For Yahoweh is a gift—but He still asks of us to love! … To reciprocate.
I want to walk into a church like the one I went to in Haiti. There, the children sat on laps upon those crowded pews, the open windows were crowed by men and women, and the few who made it to old age sat side-by-side. No perfume. No speaker system. Nothing fancy, save for a few light bulbs. That preacher, who depended on the gifts from those in America, spoke to the second poorest people in the word about the riches of His Kingdom, and the people sang. I do not mean that they sort of sang—they sang! The generator gave out, and the whole building instantly went pitch black, and there was not a single person there who stuttered. They kept singing so loud that I don’t care how far away Heaven may be—the angels heard it! … Me? I tried to sing. I did. But I couldn’t. I was too busy crying. I had gone to church buildings every week for over twenty years, but this was the first time I had gone to church.
I didn’t minister to Haiti.
Haiti ministered to me.
While in Haiti, my wife, Jasmine, helped the ladies in the kitchen. We brought food and clothes to leave there, and we came to work, but the ladies, though poor, gave my wife gifts of woodwork. One of the pieces, a little pot, is sitting right beside me. They had so little, but, when face to face, they had to give. Yet, who did they give to, and freely? Not those who stood behind a pulpit. Not those who handed out the clothes and food. Not those who had come year after year. Not those who made pews. But the one who was seldom seen by the group, Jasmine, because she was too busy working with the women … as an equal.
I know people who have so much money that they would never need to work again, yet they do. Why? Work produces worth—and that is what we need to tithe the most.
If you truly care about a cause, then go do what needs to be done. Yahoweh Elohim loves a cheerful giver, yet, how can we be cheerful if we are self-righteous, and the recipients feel less than human?
Let us look to our Messiah. “And looking up He saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, and He saw a certain poor widow putting in two mites. And He said, ‘Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all. For all these out of their excess have put in offerings for Elohim, but she out of her poverty has put in all that she had to live on.’” (Luke 21:1-4). He pointed out the woman who gave, though poor, not as an insult, but as nothing shy of building her self-worth up, while tearing down the self-righteousness of those who gave out of their wealth. We, too, need to be taken down a few notches. We parade around riding our high horse, when the King of kings rode into Jerusalem on a donkey and her colt. It is right for the widow who has little to give … to give.
It is right for the poorest of people to reciprocate, and for the richest of people to respect.
To proclaim you have compassion is to proclaim they are needy. To sing that the Almighty blesses America is to sing that He does not bless others. We need to be more aware of what our words convey. Simply because we feel loving or patriotic, does not mean we are behaving that way.
When going to a location to minister, they may need instant relief, and so that should be given as fast as you can; afterwards, help in a different way. The people there are already great. There are people who want to host classes on math or reading, or want to care for the sick or for the roads. Find the leaders, rather than attempting to be the leader, and then ask them how you could be a part of their work. There is a big difference in offering help, and offering to be a part of it, and that difference affects every heart involved.
People in need, first need, not food, or Bibles, or clothing—they need respect. Listen to them, and find out how they want to better themselves, and then help them, as needed, nothing more. Handouts harm more people than hard times. Respect others, and allow them to be respectable. It time, rather than helping those in need, you will then find a community helping each other.
Brokenness is in all places, except His Kingdom. The Messiah spoke so much on His Kingdom; we, therefore, should be working harder toward making this place look more like His Kingdom. What better gift could we ever give, than the one we have received? Heaven is a long-term solution. If we are walking with Him (emulating Him in love) then there is no such thing as short-term missions, only forever friendships.
It is only what we give away that we keep, the rest we lose at death. If we use simple math and take .1 times total money and items grown or made, after the government takes half, it will equal our tithe of 1/10. Or we could use variances like .143 times total money and items grown or made after taxes, equaling close to 1/7, or other methods.
Note: The government robs you in an act of thievery, and they use the majority of it for unrighteous acts. At present, they take around 50% of your wage by various means at various times, therefore, it never gets to be your gain in which you are to tithe from.
Some divide the tithe in thirds, with one portion given to a widow in need, another to a stranger, and the other to an orphanage. Bear in mind, though, that finding legitimate needs can be a challenge, especially if they are far away. You may want to find a place close by unless you have very good contact information so you can be sure your gift is doing good and not evil. The only way to have contact information is to be there yourselves.
“Clean and undefiled religion before the Elohim and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” (James 1:27).
“Let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not of grief or of necessity, for Elohim loves a joyous giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7).
Love offering: A love offering can be helping those in need, be they in Israel, or China, or someone across town. What makes this a love offering is that it is not measured, and the amount not recorded, for love keeps no records of right … or wrong.
Peace offering: Giving, even just a little, each day, brings happiness that far exceeds keeping it or spending it on yourself. What has brought us more peace than His Word? As a peace offering, we can give away “The Scriptures,” or we can send money for Bibles in another language. Imagine giving a Complete Bible, every month, to someone who will treasure it, and not someone who already has a ton of them or does not really care. Yahoweh will provide! Both people in need, and the need supplied. Let Him count on you as a servant, a giver of peace.
Fellowship offering: When I find a book or video that is worth the purchase (I always see it first to make sure it is worth the purchase) and I can afford it, then I get it and share it with as many people as I can. One of the last things I bought, upon writing this, was a video showing the real Mount Sinai. To be honest, it has been on loan to various people ever since I bought it six months ago. We also use these for Sabbath fellowship. What can you do to bless a fellowship? Perhaps fruit, or a place to come to, or maybe even other people—ask what He can do through you.
Group offering: Some Sabbath groups put their coins aside each month, and then use them to buy food for the starving, or for getting little girls out of prostitution. Some people use this money to pay missionary surgeons, ones who perform cleft surgeries, or ones that perform deliveries. Others collect cans, or take part of their produce, or use some other means to help out, such as taking one to two days a quarter to hire all their employees to clean a park. Together … together we can do amazing things!
Teamwork and tithing is a powerful tool that the assemblies have not been doing on a personal level. Church members regularly put monies in the tray, but seldom form groups to raise money, or pool their tithe to achieve monumental life changes. Find a few people, even if you start with just two people, to pool your resources together for a dedicated goal. In time, you could find a new family by doing so. Keep meetings or banks out of it. Each of you would have their own monies until the set time to pool the sources in a way that no one would know who gave how much. Then the widow, the fatherless, the foreigner, will know you by your love. This is as it should be.
Wildlife offering: Some people use funds to protect rainforests, stop animal testing, care for the wolves, and recycle and reduce their waste as a means of appreciation for this gift, this world, we have been given. Many begin this by reusing rags rather than paper towels, unbleached toilet paper, natural homemade cleaners, non-toxic laundry soaps, and so forth. Each are happy to find a new way to have a less harmful and more healing affect on the Earth that Yahoweh gave us, and told us to care for. In five years, my wife and I have reduced our waste by 90%. This, to me, is an offering of thanks, and I hope our thanks will never stop growing.
Work offering: We ought make sure our gains we tithe from are not of the wicked one, wherefore, if it were, then indeed we would be giving the devil 90% and Elohim 10%. Who is our Elohim, O believer?
Purchases: My wife buys blankets made by women who were bought out of prostitution, and now these women, and very often little girls, are paid a good wage and are given a safe life, a chance at marriage, and a hope in faith. We never buy or sell things that are made from a slave shop. Indeed, our garments were made so that they cause no pain for the earth or any upon it. In these clothes, and as we sleep at night, I’m not sure I can explain it, but I feel, I feel warm.
I urge you, though, to start by giving just 10% to what Yahoweh has guided you to. Even if someone says not to give to a church or a group like the Red Cross or Peace Corps, if that is where you feel led—then give there, so long as your tithe is doing what the Scriptures show. If so, then the chances are good that Voice is the right Voice.
The Creator gave us a body and the ability to use it. We worked, but without Him, we worked in vain. “As each one has received a gift, serve one another, as good trustees of the manifold favour of Elohim.” (1 Peter 4:10). Paying our tithe does not represent our giving gifts to Yahoweh; it simply represents loving obedience. I, therefore, urge you to walk that extra mile and give abundantly! “And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.” (Matthew 5:41). Do you feel compelled to give? Then give a coin to be sure, but also tithe what our Rabbi tithed. Give more than money. Share an everlasting hope, as well as a meal, even with—no—even especially with a thief, a whore, a tax collector, a sinner like me.
… I was about to close, but then I recalled the passage we read earlier. Are we tithing our spice, yet forgetting the weightier matters of Torah? What of this justice, mercy, and faithfulness the Messiah said is found in the very place that many say there is none: … The Torah?
“And now belief, expectation, and love remain—these three. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13).
Let us show love by giving respect.
Let us be known by love, by reciprocating.
Be Blessed and be a Blessing
Shalom
-Valentine Thalken Billingsley
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Additional Scripture References:
Genesis 28:22, Exodus 35:21, Isaiah 60:3-10, 13, Deuteronomy 14 and 26:12-13, Galatians 6:10, Acts 2-5, 2 Corinthians 11:7-9, Proverbs 22:9, Luke 19:1-10, 14:12-14, Psalms 146:9, 1 John 3:16-18, Isaiah 1:17, Job 29:1-17
