When it comes to money, everyone has an opinion on how to spend it—especially if it is the Lord’s money! When it comes to how the church spends the Lord’s tithes and offerings we ought to be concerned.
One thing that you should definitely keep in mind is that if you are tithing faithfully to the Lord, then, as far as your giving to God is concerned, you will be counted faithful.
Let me make one point clear, you just cannot stop giving tithe. The people who handle your tithes are under God’s conviction and in His hand.
Now with that being said, it is your duty, as a church member, to reproach other members in their sins within the church.
If you consider yourself a member and this church to be your family, you may want to stay there, and you have every right to do what you can to set things straight. Plus, out of love for all your fellow sheep in the church, you should desire honest Shepard for them too!
Let me get to one social media post by Frank Gashumba, CEO Mali Group and a civil rights activist of National Action for Awakening Uganda (Sisimuka Uganda).
On Monday, he posted an image of a posh car, whose personalized under-place read “Psalms 91”. To this image he wrote a caption that read “They rob in Jesus’s Name.”
Before the whole caption could sink in, my eyes crushed into a comment from renowned gospel singer Julie Mutesasira that read, “Mr Frank Gashumba with this am not happy with you. ‘Olimbye mu nyo’. This has shown what you think of other people prospering.”
Later on in her statement, Mutesasira explained that we have to know that it’s the lord that blesses, and that it is not necessarily the piles of tithe from which all preachers survive.
This she said, is not to defense her husband who is a pastor, but urged that it is fully scriptural to give tithe.
Elsewhere, one Prince John Paul stated that as a believer, he is entitled to pay tithe or offering because it’s biblical, it’s up to the Pastor to do what he thinks is right.
“We always pay taxes but we can’t direct government on how to use them but we do pay them because we have to pay them. Secondly someone having a Personalized number plate with a bible verse doesn’t mean that he is a pastor, even believers do have personalized cars with Bible verses,” John further noted, making reference to Malachi 3:8-12.
So how true was Gashumba and what exactly did he mean? Apparently, he later edited his caption on the image post from “They rob in Jesus’s Name” to “Copied. They rob in Jesus’s Name.”
The Bible does not mention anything about “stop” tithing when you suspect misappropriating of church funds. Neither does it say that we will go to Hell if we do not tithe.
Whatever you do, don’t stop tithing. If you don’t want to give to your own congregation, at least find another ministry in service to God that could also use the money.
The tithe, which is a scriptural mandate, was not instituted for God’s benefit because He already has all the money He needs. He does not need our money.
So why does He ask us to give 10% to Him? Tithing and giving were created for our benefit. It is to teach us how to keep God first in our lives and how to be unselfish people.
Unselfish people make better husbands, wives, friends, relatives, employees and employers. God is trying to teach us how to prosper over time.
Should all Pastors move around in tattered clothes, driving 1900 vehicles so as to prove to the congregation that they are managing the church finances faithfully. Can’t the Lord bless a Church leader to prosper and live in abundance?
If Church members have testimonies of God’s faithful in multiplying them financially, why shouldn’t the servants of God have the same?
Should my pastor be afraid of putting on good attire, for fear of being judged to be ‘eating’ the church’s offertory.
Many people have observed that after they stopped tithing, their finances seemed to get worse. In the Book of Malachi, God promises that if you do not rob Him of your tithing, He will rebuke your devourers and protect you.
Yes, we do have the wolves among the sheep. Does your church have a hierarchy, with someone above your leaders that you can talk to about your suspicions and ask them to investigate? If so, that would be the obvious course of action.
If not, or if it becomes clear that they don’t care or even support it, remember that Jesus’s strongest condemnations were not for unbelievers, but for hypocrites, especially hypocrites in a position of leadership!
Written By Evangelist Balaggadde Samuel.
