Christians That Do Not Tithe VS Muslims That Do Not Pay Zakat- Who is Robbing God

It is truly a sad and dishonorable respect for God in both religions.  Christians that do not tithe are robbing from God according to the Bible.  

Muslims who do not pay Zakat are disobeying their 5 pillars of Islam.There is a Warning for those who do not pay Zakāt  The Holy Quran also warns those who do not pay Zakāt that they shall be punished.

Both religions agree that it is the way of wealth increase in every area of life as a true believer in God.

Whether you grew up putting dollar bills into the collection plate at church every Sunday or the word tithing has got you scratching your head, it’s always a good idea to check your attitude toward giving. And that’s basically what tithing is—giving!

But that brings up a ton of questions: What exactly is tithing? How much should you give? Can you give while you’re in debt? If you’ve got questions around tithes and offerings, you’re not the only one. Let’s dig in so you can experience the joy of giving no matter your financial situation.

What Is a Tithe?
Why Tithe?

A tithe is 10% of your income given specifically to your local church. (Fun fact: The word tithe literally means tenth in Hebrew.) Because the custom of tithing is biblical, many Christians and Jews practice it as part of their faith. And while it’s important to give your time and your talents by doing things like serving at a local food bank or knitting a blanket for a homebound neighbor, the word tithing refers to giving money.

According to Leviticus 27:30 (TLB), “A tenth of the produce of the land, whether grain or fruit, is the Lord’s, and is holy.” And Proverbs 3:9 (NIV) says, “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops.” The gardening metaphors may have thrown you off, but these verses are essentially saying to give a portion, specifically a tenth, of whatever you make (aka your income) back to God. And firstfruits is just a biblical way of saying that you should give first—before you do anything else with your money.

Malachi 3:8-10 King James Version (KJV)

8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.

10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

So, Scripture explains that 1) tithing is an important part of faith for those who follow God and 2) your tithe should be money you set aside first. This is why “giving” is the first category in the EveryDollar budget—because when you tithe before making a plan with the rest of your money, you’re making it a priority rather than an afterthought.

What’s the Difference Between Tithes and Offerings?

Like llamas and alpacas, tithes and offerings are often grouped together, but they’re definitely not the same thing. A tithe is a specific amount (10% of your income) that you give first, and an offering is anything extra that you give beyond that.

After you’ve tithed and paid all your bills and necessary expenses for the month, you can then use any extra money in your budget to give even more! This can include giving a cash offering to your church above and beyond your normal tithe, giving money to a charity you support, giving to a friend in need, or giving your time and skills by volunteering.  

The Bible tells us that tithing is a way to show that we trust God with our lives and our finances. But the tithe wasn’t put in place for God’s benefit—He already owns everything. He doesn’t need our money. Instead, tithing is meant for our benefit because sacrificing a portion of our income helps us look outside our selfishness and makes us more aware of the needs of others.

In fact, one of the main purposes of tithing is to support the needs of pastors and the work of the local church. Tithes help pay the pastor’s salary, keep the church’s lights on, and meet the needs of the community.

Tithing is an act of faith that helps us keep our priorities straight. It reminds us that we don’t own anything in this life. God is in control, and we’re only managers of what He’s given us.

Ever notice how unselfish people tend to make better spouses, friends, relatives, employees and employers? Yeah, they usually have better finances too! That’s the beauty of tithing. We don’t give to get, but God often blesses us with more if we’re good managers of what we already have. Tithing recognizes that God is our provider and that we will prosper with more than just money if we rely on Him.

As one of the five pillars of Islam, zakat is mandatory giving; all Muslims eligible to pay it must donate at least 2.5% of their accumulated wealth for the benefit of the poor, destitute and others – classified as mustahik. It is one of the largest forms of wealth transfer to the poor in existence.

There is a Warning for those who do not pay Zakāt  The Holy Quran also warns those who do not pay Zakāt that they shall be punished. Zakāt is so important an injunction that its defaulter earns, without the least doubt, the displeasure of Allah Who has warned all in the Quran:

‘. .. And woe to idolators who do not pay the Zakāt, and they it is who deny the hereafter.’

Those who do not pay the Zakāt are called ‘idolators’ in the above verse and they have been warned in the following verse of the Holy Quran:

‘And let not those, who are niggardly with respect to what Allah has given them of His bounty, think that it is good for them; nay, it is evil for them. That with respect to which they were niggardly shall be put as a collar round their necks on the day of Resurrection.’ (3:181)

And in the Chapter Al-Tauba He says:

‘. .. And those who hoard up gold and silver and spend it not in the way of Allah — give to them the tidings of a painful punishment. On the day when it shall be made hot in the fire of Hell, and their foreheads and their sides and their backs shall be branded therewith and it shall be said to them: “This is what you treasured up for yourselves; so now taste what you used to treasure up.’ (9:34-35)

In the above verses a warning of punishment in the hereafter has been given. (For a detailed discussion on the state of man in the life hereafter see The Philosophy and Teachings of Islam by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad).

In another Tradition of ‘Sahih Bukhari’ it is mentioned that the Holy Prophet, peace be on him, will refuse to intercede for those who do not pay the Zakāt (Bukhari).

But this also is a fact so often proved that whenever the assessable portion of Zakāt remains intact with one’s possessions, he has to suffer loss here in this world over and above the retribution in the hereafter: Hazrat ‘Ayesha, the Holy Prophet’s spouse, said, ‘I have heard the Holy Prophet, peace be on him, saying “If the Zakāt portion remains unpaid from anyone’s assets, that portion causes the ruin of the whole.”‘ (Mishkat: the Book of Zakāt)

An Ansar of Medina, named Th’alabah, once came to the Holy Prophet and entreated for supplication on his behalf that he may become rich. The Holy Prophet did as he was requested. The man had promised that he would always pay the due Zakāt. God Almighty accepted the supplications of the Holy Prophet on behalf of Th’alabah and made him affluent. He got so engrossed in tending his goats that he began to neglect his Prayers and gradually completely stopped coming to the mosque for Prayers. Once the Holy Prophet enquired from his companions about Th’alabah, what had happened to him and why he did not come for Prayers? Someone told him that he was busy looking after his flocks. The Holy Prophet sadly said, ‘How pitiable for Th’alabab’, and he repeated this three times.

When the command for Zakāt was revealed from Allah to the Holy Prophet he sent some men for collecting Zakāt from him. But Th’alabah refused, saying what is this penalty for? He asked them to come some other time. But when they went to him again, he refused again, complaining why he was being penalized for no reason at all. The men came back to the Holy Prophet and reported what Th’alabah had said. The Holy Prophet said, ‘How sad for Th’alabah’, and there and then the following verse was revealed to him:

‘And among them there are those who made a covenant with Allah, saying, “If He gives us of His bounty, we would most surely give alms and be of the virtuous.” But when He gave them of His bounty, they became niggardly of it, and they turned away in aversion. So He requited them with hypocrisy which shall last in their hearts until the day when they shall meet Him, because they broke their promise to Allah, and because they lied.’ (9:75-77)

Someone went to Th’a labah and told him that some verses had been received concerning him. Th’alabah at once came running to the Holy Prophet and offered to pay the Zakāt. But the Holy Prophet refused to accept from him anything and said, ‘Allah has commanded me not to accept any alms from you as you have been guilty of breaking your words.’

After the demise of the Holy Prophet, Th’alabah brought the due Zakāt portion to Abu Bakr, to Umar and to Othman every year. But each of these Caliphs refused to accept anything from him. The man died during the caliphate of Hazrat Othman.

Haritha bin Wahab reports that he heard the Holy Prophet, peace be on him, say: ‘Spend in the way of Allah because a time will come on you when man shall take his alms to give and we’ll find no one to give it to. Another will say: Had you brought it yesterday, I would have accepted but today I do not need it.’ (Bukhari)

Precisely according to these prophetic words, there came a time during the middle and later Khilafat when the Muslims had become so rich that no one accepted alms. That is the economic revolution that Zakāt weaves into our lives.

One can easily deduce from the above how important it is to pay the Zakāt and also how beneficially it is disbursed. The Reformer of this age, the Promised Messiah, has made it very clear to all his followers that:

‘O ye all, who consider themselves members of my Community, you shall be considered, in heaven, the members of my Community only when you will really and truly walk in the paths of righteousness. Observe, therefore, your five daily prayers with the fear of God in your hearts and with such an attention as if you are actually seeing Him with your own eyes. And also observe your fasts with all sincerity and everyone … from among you who is liable to pay the Zakāt must pay it and must go for the Hajj on whom it is due and for whom there are no impediments.’

Are You Enjoying God? Are You Receiving and Enjoying Gods Word?

Every believer should be enjoying God so much that praising God is like breathing. 

Every believer should enjoy reading Gods word so much that every day they can expect to receive blessings from God’s word.  

In fact you won’t be able to keep God’s goodness to yourself.  You will want others to  know about Gods love everyday when you are enjoying God.

The Bible proves that we should be enjoying God daily no matter what type of life experiences we are facing.

Psalm 22:6 states that “ For You make him to be blessed and a blessing forever...”

2^nd  Corinthians 9:11 states that “thus you will be enriched in all things and in every way, so that you can be generous......”

1^st Corinthians 1:4-5 states that “I thank my God at all times for you because of the grace (the favor and spiritual blessing)of God which was bestowed on you in Christ  Jesus.”  “ [So] that in him every respect you were enriched, in full power and readiness of speech [to speak your faith]....”

 1^st Corinthians 8-9 states that “ And he will establish you to the end [keep you steadfast, give you strength, and guarantee your vindication; He will be your warrant against all accusation or indictment so that  you will be]...”

“ God is faithful (reliable, trustworthy, and therefore ever true to his promise, and he can be depended on).......”

Luke 1:37 states that “ For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible fulfillment.”

How can God's word be boring when it is filled with so much hope.  

There are so many translations that make it easy to understand the bible.

Please ask yourself : 

"What Is Keeping Me From ENJOYING GOD?"

Can You Keep A Contract And Covenant With God ?

Are you allowing your challenges to break your contract and covenant with God?

In 2^ND CHRONICLES 15-12-15; all of Judah entered into a COVENANT of yearning for, serving and seeking God. Our covenant or contract with God is maintained and based solely on faith.  So inevitably keeping our contract with God is solely dependent on how tight we hold on to our faith declaration to God.

People diligently keep their service contracts with work or business. 

Challenges Are The Stepping Stones Of Champions In Christ.  

Our purpose in life should be to serve Gods interest as a delight in your work, at home, etc.  

It is true that champions must experience challenges to excel to the next level.  

However, Hebrews 10:23 tell us to hold fast to the profession of faith.  Hold fast means to secure tightly. To profess means to declare and announce.

In 1^st Corinth 1:5, and 2^nd Corinth 9:11 the bible repeatedly tell us that God enriches us in every way, in all things. So what would make us break this contract or covenant.

“….It takes a covenant with Almighty God to reach our wealthy place in life, to be free of sin and its effects, to be born again and have the very Anointing of God abiding within us…..

God’s plans, God’s paths, God’s WORD, only have one direction-our wealthy place in Him.  They are all headed to a place that is debt-free, sickness-free, worry-free, demon-free.  It’s the good life which God made ready for us to live….” 

(Jan 2016, Believer's Voice Of Victory Magazine, pg 26-27)

You can never regret being truly dedicated to Jesus and the work of the Gospel to the Glory of God.

For Her Hair Is Given To Her For A Covering

“…For her hair is given to her for a covering.” 1 Corinthians 11:15

As a Christian and believer of the Bible as being God’s word let us be mindful of disappointing God when we disgrace others with words and actions.  Hairdressers who are Christian believers should take this responsibility seriously.  Colossians 3:17 says “ And whatever you do [no matter what it is] in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus and in [dependence upon] His Person, giving praise to God the Father through Him.”

Professionally hairdressers are viewed as the experts of hairstyling and hair treatments.  Their opinions and advice are valued heavily with respect.  So when a hairdresser provides advice to a client, the client believes and trusts that they are getting professional guidance and sincere care for the highest good of their hair. 

For example, women with severely matted tangled hair are very embarrassed and self conscious about the condition of their hair. Some times they have been criticized and judged by the closest people to them.  So when they gather together the courage to visit a salon for a solution and advice, they are optimistic and hopeful.

Unfortunately their visits to salons end up being sad and depressing.  They are told by hairdressers who don’t even take the time to consider solutions outside their scope of education-that their hair condition is hopeless! 

Their final advice and sole solution is for the client to shave their hair off. Is that not disgraceful to a woman-who wants her long hair?

A Christian hairdresser who is shocked by the horrible mass of matted tangled hair should quietly pray to God and ask Jesus to guide them while speaking to the client. 

Philippians 4:13 (amp) says that ^“ I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency].“

Why would any professional who loves God and believes the Gospel of Jesus Christ want to put their client to shame?  Throughout the Bible many people like David prayed to God about the issue of shame.  Psalms 31:1 David says In You, O Lord, do I put my trust and seek refuge; let me never be put to shame or[have my hope in You] disappointed; deliver me in Your righteousness!God told us in Isaiah 54:4 ^“Fear not, for you shall not be ashamed; neither be confounded and depressed, for you shall not be put to shame….”Joel 2: 26-27(amp) And you shall eat in plenty and be satisfied and praise the name of the Lord, your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you. And My people shall never be put to shame.²⁷ And you shall know, understand, and realize that I am in the midst of Israel and that I the Lord am your God and there is none else. My people shall never be put to shame.

 A hairdresser should want to pray and ask God for a solution.  Wise people are wise because they know that they don’t know everything.

As a believer, is praying for help unprofessional?  Tell the client to give you a bit of time to respond with a good solution-then pray for guidance.

Clients sometimes have lost faith because of their hair and this is your opportunity to minister to them and restore hope.  

According to The Head Covering Movement, 

A Special Gift.  In 1 Cor 11:6 Paul says that it’s disgraceful for women to have their hair cut short or shaven. I don’t think he’s speaking of natural limitations here but rather the voluntary cutting short of a woman’s hair. We know this because the words he uses (cut short/shaven) require an action. It’s not something that happens to you, but something you do yourself. To cut off your long hair is to reject the special glory that God has given to you.

Everyone has prayers that they need answered, so when God sends people to you for assistance-you could be the solution to their prayers.  After all God answers prayers in many ways.   

Don’t disappoint God by disgracing someone else!  

Matthew 10: 30"But the very hairs of your head are all numbered."

 “the hairs of your head are all numbered“ (Luke 12:7).

SIGNS AND WONDERS ARE NOT FOR CHRISTIANS....

Jesus Christ and his disciples went about performing signs and wonders among non-believers of God. 

Believers walk by faith, believers walk in the word of God.  Their faith is manifesting Gods word in their lives daily.  By faith believers are healed, protected, supernaturally strengthened and supplied with every need and desire.  They don’t need proof, or signs and wonders to believe in God’s power.  They already got it by faith!

                                                This is "The Other Side of Signs and Wonders"

Are You A Winner?

I watched a little 2-3 year old girl running up and down a hallway alone.  When she would get to the end of the hall way, she would jump up and down with tremendous joy shouting “I win…I win.”

As I watched her, I thought to myself “that’s cute, she isn't even racing against anybody.  She doesn't even understand life yet! You have to race against someone and actually win to call your self a winner.”

 But is that really true?

Astonishingly, she was already calling herself a winner.  She was doing this without the validation of having another human being racing by her side.  At least as far as I could see!

In my few years on this earth, I have been in some of life’s most serious races and battles that have been so invisible to the outside world.  Even if someone close to me looked at my life they would not have had a clue about what I was going through.  Sadly enough I did not always come out at the end saying “I win…I win”

But being a winner really starts from the inside. We do not need a stamp from another human being.  God has already programmed us with a winning spirit.  You might get knocked down or up a bit, but just know that Jesus Christ is not Dead!  With God we can still WIN!

Just believe you are a winner, and consistently say this-no matter what you look like to the outside world.  According to Mark 11:23 (Amplified Bible)

 “Truly I tell you, whoever says to this mountain, be lifted up and thrown into the sea! And does not doubt at all in his heart but believes that what he says will take place, it will be done for him”

No one can take that from you.  All that matters is what happens at the end of the hallway.  Are shouting “I win….I made it out…..I win”

Reading The Bible Is Like Flossing Your Teeth Daily

 If its not done you can’t get the bad, hidden, slowly destroying junk out of your teeth or mind.

 

Dentist recommend that flossing is crucial for healthy teeth, gums, and breath.  If you do not-eventually,bacteria will slowly grow and DESTROY your teeth, gums, and breath. It can even travel down to your heart!

 

Some may say that they brush their teeth daily, even several times through the day.  That is very good, but the Dentist will still reiterate that nothing can take the place of daily flossing.

 

Some people may feel that isn't it sufficient enough that we go to church every Sunday, assist with mid-week Bible study, watch/listen to Pastors on TV/Internet and attend various church conventions.  It’s a blessing to do all of these things.  However, only spending time studying and  reading your Bible daily will annihilate the hidden bacteria in our minds, body and souls.

You can’t just floss one tooth or the side of your mouth you mostly chew on; you have got to floss all of your teeth to get effective results.  Many Christians just like to read their favorite Bible versus, instead of  going through the whole Bible.  We can't pick and choose what we think is best from God's word.   

There are many countries all over the world where  people do not know about importance of flossing-much less can afford to go to a Dentist.  There are global dental organizations and charities that spread this message through partnerships and dental care programs.  And we have many Christian organizations that spread the message of the Gospel through international partnerships and evangelism.  

Many of us are born again, but our souls, which is made up of our mind, will and emotions can not change if we do not commit PERSONAL time studying Gods word.  Our souls do not transform instantly, it’s a process that takes place over time as our minds are strengthened from the word of God.

We can never attain and enjoy on this earth all the benefits of the blessings that BELONG to us as believers if we do not allow the word to seep through the cracks of our souls.  We can have heaven on earth!

 

“So GET RID of all uncleanness and the rampant outgrowth of wickedness, and in a humble (gentle, modest) spirit receive and welcome the Word which implanted and rooted [in your hearts] contains the power to save your souls”(James 1.21, Amplified Bible).

Flossing your teeth is an act that needs motivation.  It can be so boring and monotonous.  But your teeth do feel better after it’s done.  Your dental visits are short and sweet;

 and most importantly your teeth remain strong and healthy.