By Blake HigginbothamIn times past, I have broadly written to this topic in hope that some of you would begin to hear what the Spirit is saying to the Ekklesia concerning these matters. It has now been several years since I last spoke to this issue and to be honest with you, not much has changed. The reason that very little has changed is because a few of you who are in communication with me about these matters, have in part embraced what I have said in the past; but you do not know how to move from where you are presently operating, into a Kingdom understanding concerning financing the ongoing work of the ministry. Some of you have assumed that you are already operating according to my proposed ideals.
Let me categorically go on record as saying, that neither position is entirely based in honesty and truth. Now, I am not calling you a liar; but I want you to understand, that I am going to clearly state my position once and for all, concerning these matters, and it is not my desire to offend or insult you in any way. I am communicating my heart to you from a broken and contrite spirit, and from a position of fear and trembling. I am not writing in behalf of myself alone as some of you have suggested, and there is no selfish ambition or self promotion involved in what I am saying.
You might want to rethink some to the things that I have written, in light of what I am writing today, and judge your own heart concerning how cold, calloused and uncaring it has become. That said if I never personally benefit from the truth that I am sharing with you, then let it be known to Heaven and Earth that Yahweh is my source, and He has and will provide my every need both now and forever. However, the time has now come for me to clearly state what I have come to understand as truth concerning financing the ongoing work of the ministry.
Firstly, I want to boldly proclaim, solely based on the authority of the Scripture, that tithing is not optional or limited to 10% of your increase, as some of you have been wrongly taught, or erroneously come to believe. And love offerings and giving should not be based on what is left over after you pay Uncle Sam and everything else. On the contrary, tithing and offering are a way of life for every believer who has come to understand their importance in the light of Scripture and the Everlasting Covenant of the Kingdom. Any religious leader that is teaching you that tithing and offering is not biblical, is a liar that has been seduced by propaganda and the doctrine of devils. In most cases, many of them do not even know what the scripture teaches on the subject, and in other cases they are simply willfully ignorant.
On a number of occasions, I have encountered their disciples, who for various reasons have stopped paying tithes and giving offerings altogether. Needless to say, their position is erroneous and flawed. In most cases, they were bankrupt, broke and penniless. Some of them were speaking out of anger, hurt and a stingy spirit. Others were operating out of a self centered heart of avarice, or the spirit of greed. A few of them had a better idea in part; but what they lacked in understanding they covered up with a half truth that was blocking Yahweh’s provision coming into their lives.
Now, if you are still reading, then let me clearly state that there were three tithes taught in the scripture; but for the most part we have traded tithing back unto ourselves for credit card and consumer spending. This nation and many of its people have all but been crushed under the weight of the curse of debt. The Bible has nothing good to say about debt or being a debtor; but it has a lot to say about giving and sharing. Revolving credit and consumer spending simply represents a way to purchase something that you cannot actually afford, and then paying an unrealistic amount for a product or service that you probably did not need in the first place.
That said if I am not talking to you, then this would be a good opportunity for you to act like it does not apply to you. However, if I am talking to you, this would be an awesome opportunity for you to repent and start progressively moving toward recovering from the addiction of deficit spending. My question to you is, what makes you think that Yahweh will ever bless you, your life or ministry, as long as you are entangled in the snare of debt, and with that, so much so, that you cannot breathe or live to give into His kingdom and work. The reason that all of us not debt free is because we wanted what we wanted and we were not going to be denied anymore.
It is a part of the entitlement mentality that our government and the Babylonian system has perpetrated in order to keep us a slave to the lender, and it plays to the irresponsibility and lack of discipline in all of us. Let’s face, it just seems easier, until the payment book comes in the mail. It is also a way to control the masses by giving them a piece of the American dream, while pulling them deeper and deeper into the black hole of debtor prison.
However, in light of what we are seeing take place in this nation right now with jobs, retirement funds and lifelong savings going away, I would think that this would be a great opportunity for us to turn in our hearts to Yahweh, and rethink what we have been doing with His money.
It is my sincere hope that you will make the trip with me, as we turn and shift our position on this matter. For years I have been trying to get out of debt having made the decision to do so long ago. I have been praying, liquidating, selling out, buying down, and doing all of the things that one is supposed to do in order to break the chains of bondage. However, there has been one small problem. It has taken almost everything that I have received and accumulated over the years to provide a basic and simple life for my family.
We own a modest home and drive two used cars, neither of which is all that special. We certainly do not live in our dream home, and I still do not own a motorcycle. The problem that most of us face is, we just do not have enough income to do what we would want to do, and at the end of the day, we will not tolerate the limitations that restraint and lack puts on our lives. What if I told you that I know a way that you will never experience lack again! Do I have your attention yet?
The Scripture says; Matthew 6:33-34 But seek first the kingdom of Yahweh and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Psalms 34:10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger; but those who seek Yahweh shall not lack any good thing.
Acts 2:40–45 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.”41Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.
Now, before I address this passage of Scripture in light of where we are today, let me say that the Scripture does not teach that all of your tithes and offerings should be paid in one direction and limited to the stewardship of one man and ministry. If you are joined to a man or a local work, then your tithe should be paid to that man or local work. Your tithe should be paid to the man who represents a Melchizedek in your life, and should be paid in honor and respect for the work and ministry that he represents in the Earth. However, even in that scenario, the tithe is supposed to be used in support of the ministry. The tithe is not supposed to be used to pay the bills or finance the work. The tithe has supported the ministry from the beginning, from Melchizedek to the Levitical Priesthood, all the way to now. The tithe is how the ministry was and is supported and sustained. The tithe is a holy thing, and it is not supposed to be used for unholy purposes. If you are a part of a work or ministry that is receiving the entire tithe and offering unto itself; but is not sharing and distributing it in a way that represents established biblical order, then you are treating your tithe in an unholy manner, and it is being sown into an unrighteous work. It is no wonder that Yahweh’s people are lacking wanting and coming behind in so many areas. It is a testimony to our shame and disgrace that so many people within our ranks are bankrupt, divorcing and whose lives are being destroyed while sitting on padded pews that were provided by their hard earned money and sweat equity.
In a time when we should be working together to bear the burden of another, we are using Yahweh’s money to fund and finance our lifestyles and programs. The truth is we have allowed all other ministry gifts and anointings to go unpaid and lacking so that pastors and their ministries can thrive in the work. These things ought not to be so brethren!
Now, I am not saying that all pastors feel or operate the same way, and many of them do not understand what it means to itinerate, travel or serve Yahweh’s people in any other capacity than that of a under shepherd. Some of them have tried their hand at one or more that these functions, and have found that there is not enough consistent income or stability in it for them. It is one thing to get paid to scratch the preachers itch on Sunday, and another thing to be empowered to go where you are sent. I assure you that they are vastly different, and you and your family have to be willing to sacrifice your life in this world, in order to fulfill the purpose for which you are called. That said, I am speaking from a position of having operated in multiple functions and various operations, and have seen the abuses from both the pulpit and ministry.
2 Corinthians 8:1-15 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of Yahweh bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: 2that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. 3For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, 4imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 5And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to Yahshua, and then to us by the will of Yahweh. 6So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well. 7But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see that you abound in this grace also. 8I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others. 9For you know the grace of our Sovereign Yahshua the Messiah that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. 10And in this I give advice: It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago; 11but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have. 12For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have. 13For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; 14but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality. 15As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”
Acts 4:33-35 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Sovereign Yahshua. And great grace was upon them all. 34Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, 35and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.
Lastly, I will address this passage of scripture as it applies to where we are right now in the way. Instead of hunkering down, storing up and hoarding, my house has now been on the market for a year. We are selling our house again, and will be relocating to the land of our fathers, and looking for the people of our tribe. We are also selling everything that do not need, and putting that into the Kingdom. What we cannot sell, we are going to find a brother of sister within the household of faith to bless and help. Also, we are going reduce our lifestyle even further, so that we can go where we are sent, and stay where we are embraced. We are once again going to get out of debt and simplify our lives to the place that we will be able to live within our means without compromise. We are believing Yahweh will make a way where there seems to be no way, and that He will provide for us all along the way. Our future is uncertain, and our journey perilous; but we will be together in our going, and we will fulfill the practical will and purpose of Yahweh for our lives.
Proverbs 28:27 He who gives to the poor will not lack, but he who hides his eyes will have many curses.
Note: If you know someone who is in need of something, it is our hope that you let them know that we are desiring to bless and help our brothers and sisters. If we have something that they can use, I will do everything in my power to get it to them, or arrange to have it picked up.
Call me and let me know what you need!
Galatians 6:10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
(To Be Continued) – For more on this subject: First-fruits – The Apostles Portion
