TITHE, ALMS AND OFFERING

The Acts 20: 35, 36

I have shown you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the LORD JESUS; how He said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." And when he had thus spoken, he knelt down, and prayed with them all.

The Apostle Paul was saying "good-by" to the Ephesian elders. He wanted to leave them with words of strength and direction, so that they would keep the Way of the LORD.  He stressed "support the weak" and that it was "more blessed to give than to receive". He wanted the Ephesian Christians to do the work of the LORD and be blessed, so he gave them keys for that blessing.

The tithe is what was expected for the work of the LORD, it is a pledge for the continuation of the spreading of the Word of GOD. The offering is the giving of an extra amount of time, talent or treasure for the strengthening of the Church in its ministry. Alms is a sign of our thankful hearts for the goodness of GOD to us, the reaching out to the poor in the Name of the LORD, and it carries with it the blessing of GOD.

In The Acts 10: 4 we have the words of an Angel who appeared to Cornelius in a night vision and said to him, "Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before GOD." GOD is well pleased when a Christian, out of the goodness of the heart, blesses others with their alms. I don't know about you, but I want to please GOD.

LET US BLESS THE LORD WITH OUR SERVICE WITH THE POOR; PRAY FOR THEM AND SERVE THEM IN THE NAME OF THE LORD