Giving and Tithing – Part 1/4

We are gonna dig right in, here’s part 1 of a study called, “Giving and Tithing.” I am hyper aware and I know very much how the topic has been abused in the world today and in times past. And so I’m going to be very sensitive in how this is shared, and I’m also going to give you a complete backdrop of what we do here as part of the ministry.

So often preachers have been accused of being self-serving in giving these messages. And I don’t want to be one that would be a stumbling block to prevent you from getting the Word of Yahweh on this and giving anybody an excuse to not follow what the Scriptures teach regarding giving and tithing. I like to say radical giving more so than tithing. I mean, tithing is like a bare minimum.

But okay. For us, I need to get this out of the way. Last twenty years or so I have been an administrator for what is called Open Treasury which is this ministry’s alms fund. We set this ministry up specifically to reach out to people who are in need of basic necessities such as food, shelter and clothing. Since that time somewhere north of a hundred thousand dollars has come in and out of that account. It’s been an extreme joyful thing to hear the excitement coming over people who are really in need, and being able to distribute those funds. And I’m not the only ministry out there that teaches Torah, I’m not the only ministry out there giving to the poor. There are a lot of Torah teachers out there but I don’t know of too many who are doing very much in regards to giving to the poor. I know there are some but not very many.

So, I just want you to know that before we even get started, yes, the more resources this ministry has to get Yahweh’s Word out to this lost and dying world, the more I can fulfill the vision Yahweh placed in my heart since I started this ministry in 1995. Yes, since 1995, EliYah homepage EliYah has been there teaching Torah and Messiah. And I have taken a hit compared to other ministries that, you know, they charge for the teachings. Some of the ministry teachings are behind a paywall. I will not do that and I refuse to do that, I am against that completely. That’s not what I’m about, and I’ve even written to other ministries and told them they should not do that. And that’s the truth. And they haven’t listened to me. But that’s what I’ve told them.

And so, this is something that’s close to my heart, not the money aspect of it, but seeing the Word of Yahweh go out unhindered, and seeing the needs of those who are in need both spiritually and physically of giving. And this is one of the things, the things I see out there today is what I call peddling the Word of Elohim. 2 Cor. 2:17 – For we are not, as so many, peddling – or making merchandise of – the word of Elohim; but as of sincerity, but as from Elohim, – Yahweh doesn’t charge us for us to hear the Holy Spirit – we speak in the sight of Elohim in Messiah.

And this Scripture I found long after I practice this, I mean we should know this already. Because if you start charging money for teachings then that means only the people who have money can hear it. And the people who are poor, you know, that’s no different than, “Hey, you sit in the back” or you know. I mean, I just don’t like it. And so the only way, yes, the only way this ministry, that we’re doing here, is able to get the Word out, is to listeners choosing to invest in the lost and deceived souls. I’m not gonna hide that, that’s true, there’s a lot to do. And people say, “Well, doesn’t Yahweh own the cattle on a thousand hills? You don’t have to worry about it.” Yes, He doesn’t even need me to teach, He doesn’t really need anybody to teach. But He wants to use people to teach. And that takes resources to do that, and He wants people to give to those who are teaching.

Now, the idea of money being involved in ministry seems repulsive to some people. But you know Yahushua had a money box, He didn’t hold a regular job for a living, neither did any of the disciples, so how did they live? They relied upon gifts from the community to pay their expenses. And so it’s not an evil thing. We see John 13:29 – For some thought, because Judas had the money box, that Yahushua had said to him, “Buy those things we need for the feast,” or that He should give something to the poor. – And so even though they had the money box, they weren’t hoarding it all for themselves. And sometimes they gave out of that money box money to the poor.

And I minister in the same way. Yes I’m in full-time ministry, I’m not going to hide it. And, but for the purposes of accountability I have a separate fund for individuals to contribute to the poor. This way no one can accuse me of misappropriating funds for the ministry and/or neglecting the poor. And sometimes I’ll assist the poor out of eliyah.com ministry funds, not very often. I’ve never used the poor fund to finance ministry expenses. I’ve never used the poor fund to support my own personal expenses. I, this is not me. Also I’ve given to elders full access to my bank accounts. I have nothing to hide. Especially with the alms fund I can actually get in legal trouble if I was using that for personal gain. So, there’s no payroll in any ministry I’m involved in. I don’t take a payroll. Everything that comes in for my family and I, is just donations that people feel that to give. That’s it. I don’t ask, I don’t say, “Hey, I need money.” If I have a need I’m not afraid to say I have a need, but I don’t ask for anything.

So, I say these things because I want everyone to know I have no desire to take advantage of anybody. I’m aware of how self-serving ministers fleece the sheep. And anyone that really knows me personally, also knows I don’t do that. I’m a minister of the Word, but with that comes a responsibility to teach exactly what the Scriptures say. And I can’t cower fearing accusation. That I’ll be accused of, you know, taking advantage of people. I really kind of avoid the topic, really. And I probably am to be faulted for that. Because I don’t want to be, you know, accused of trying to use funds. That’s so opposite what I am, using funds for my own personal gain.

But it’s very common for people, especially Torah observant believers who have been taken advantage of by the mainstream churches, to accuse a teacher of giving a self-serving message. I understand that. Because there are plenty of ministries out there doing it. But not only fleecing the sheep but they’re even shamelessly flaunting it now. And so, but it’s because of these like this, the ministers and elders who actually put in the work, end up having to be like muzzled oxen. People don’t see that their labor’s worthy of any wages.

Now, of course people will have no problem paying for psychologist, or social worker, a professional counselor, or a mental health so-called professional, who has learned their skills from college universities. But when it comes to people who’ve learned their skills from laboring in the Word of Yahweh, for some reason that’s repulsive in the minds of some people. I find that contradictory. As if being educated by a man has more value than being educated by Yahweh. Okay?

So, I understand. I understand the disgust over people who have abused their position, and that’s caused some people to balk at giving anything to the ones who educate others in the Word of Yahweh. And still yeah, they’ll go to colleges, universities, and paying exorbitant prices to be educated by men. It doesn’t make any sense. But that is what our culture has taught us, yes be selfish, value your career, value your personal advancement, over the spiritual well-being and spiritual advancement.

So don’t think I’m trying to take your money, please. If you think I’m trying to take your money, then don’t send me anything. I don’t want it. I really don’t want it. I’d rather you don’t give it to me. Because I’m not saying even to me, you’re not giving really to me. You’re giving to others. And you’re just supporting me being able to give to others. And you’re giving, so you’re giving to others, okay? And you don’t have to give to me and my family personally, if there is you just want to give to ministry you just want to give to the poor, Yahweh takes care of things. My personal view on this is that He will take care of it. But besides, if giving is not being done out of love, you’ve really missed the whole point. If it’s doing out of guilt, or compulsion, or someone making you feel bad, or whatever, then you’ve missed it, okay? 2 Corinthians 9:7 – So let each one give as He purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for Elohim loves a cheerful giver.

So, I’m getting this out of the way and I’m gonna prove to you from the Scriptures, that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel. And I’ll explain to you why Paul chose not to, at least in certain situations, okay? So again, I’m not choosing this topic so that I can take advantage of anybody. But I do want to (1 Pet. 4:11) – speak as the oracles of Elohim – that’s what I want to do. And as I minister I do with the ability He supplies, I can’t do it myself. So – that in all things Elohim may be glorified – and not myself – through Yahushua Messiah, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever.

So, I’m only saying these things because, listen I haven’t taken a family vacation in eleven years. I rarely buy anything that were older than ten years old as far as vehicles. In fact I haven’t for the last twenty-six years. So please understand, this is not a self-serving message. Yes, the Creflo Dollars and the Kenneth Copelands in the world disgust me beyond measure. But don’t let your concept of a televangelist, money-hungry preacher muddy the waters, you can’t see the clear truth here that I’m about ready to present. Please, it’s for your benefit.

And I’m telling you there’s some very salvational statements being made in Scripture. I’m just about ready to share them with you. But look, Joel Osteen, you know, he’ll say he does not take a salary, but then of course his position as pastor of the church is used as a platform to make money. And he’s a millionaire. He lives in a multi-million dollar house. And you know, so, what if what if all the money he put together in building his own personal kingdom and utopia here in his little world down there in Texas, instead of millions of dollars going to himself, what if it went to struggling widows, and single moms, and fatherless children, and drug rehab facilities, instead of mansions, private jets and fancy cars. What if these men, I best I imagine there are probably be more souls saved, right? O, perish the thought.

Pardon me for being sarcastic, but what price could you place on a human soul? What price can you put on the well-being of an afflicted and hungry child? What price can you put on the spiritual well-being of a child whose single mothers can’t homeschool them because they have to work, and now they’re being raised by daycare centers and indoctrinated by drug infested public schools, where they’re taught fornication, the homosexual agenda and other wicked concepts, rather than being home with their mama learning the word of Yahweh.

Put a price on their souls, if you can. You can’t. It’s a human soul. It’s worth far more than any material possession a man could own. One human soul is worth more than the entirety of Bill Gates’, Jeffrey Bezos’ and Warren Buffett’s assets and bank accounts combined. I don’t care. One precious human soul, created fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of our Father in heaven. So precious and so priceless, that Yahushua will give His own life for it. Yet in the minds of many money-hungry preachers and sometimes their followers, it’s more important they live in a mansion, than a soul that will inherit eternal mansions of Yahweh in the age to come. Shame on them. Creature comforts being more important than someone receiving the comfort that comes from our heavenly Father’s comforting Spirit.

Listen. I don’t ever want to be like them. I want to be a giver not a taker, a server not one demanding to be served. I’m not saying any of this to lift myself up, I’m trying to say this for the sake of those I do serve. So, those who do give will give in confidence. I’m investing in the souls of men. I have no retirement plan. I have no 401(k), okay? My retirement plan’s out of this world, I can tell you that. Literally.

So, now that’s out of the way, I want to take a moment and share with you. If you really take the time to let this sink in. What I’m about ready to tell you is probably gonna hit a lot of you right between the eyes. Have you ever heard the saying, “If you’re pointing a finger, remember there’s three fingers pointing back at you”? I mean, it’s so easy to criticize a televangelist who lines his pockets rather than helping the poor and the needy.

But I want to draw your attention to some very, very important words by John the Baptist. John the Baptist in the book of Luke chapter 3 in verse 8. He’s talking to scribes and Pharisees, but, who were, who were I guess very rich. He said – “Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our Father.’ For I say to you Elohim is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. – They were taking confidence in their heritage. He says –
⁹ “Even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. “– He is warning these men that they need to repent or they’re going to be thrown into the fire and –
¹⁰ So the people asked him, saying “What shall we do then?”
¹¹ He answered and said to them, “He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and He who has food, let him do likewise.”

Now, think about this. He is going on about judgment and the danger of hellfire. It seems to me that John here isn’t just preaching the importance of giving, he’s preaching the importance of a radical giving. In other words, if you even have one extra set of clothes, just one, give it to someone who has none. If you have any extra food in your possession, give it to the one who has none. And this is not just a suggestion on John’s part. He said they needed to repent of not doing this. He said the axe was laid to the root of the trees. He said the ones not bearing this kind of fruit, right here, where if you have one extra set of clothes, a little extra food in your house, give it to the one who has none, cut down and thrown in the fire. Basically hell bound, ouch. You can’t say, “Amein” you say, “Ouch”. Maybe some of us aren’t really all that different from the money-hungry preacher after all.

Because maybe, just maybe, it’s not just the money given to ministries that’s considered to be Yahweh’s, but maybe everything we own actually is Yahweh’s. And we’re acting like it’s ours. The preacher, the money-hungry preacher actually might be in a better place, because he’s at least preaching the word to some. And maybe someone listening to this message isn’t doing anything to advance the Kingdom. Maybe he saved a soul last year, maybe five souls, maybe ten, maybe thousand, with the basic message of the Gospel. The basic message of repentance and faith, and the One who died for us. Maybe he directed someone’s heart toward righteousness. And maybe someone listening to his message today didn’t even try. Nor did you give a dime to help anybody who was. Nor did you help anyone yourself.

Now, I know what John the Baptist was promoting here, is what I call “radical giving”—if you even have one extra garment, give it to the one who has none; any extra food, give it to the one who has none. So the vision laid out here is not that we’re here on earth to live, make money, and die. We’re here to live, to love, to help one another. We’re here to make this world a better place than how we found it. We are here to be instruments of our Heavenly Father’s love. We are not here to live the so-called American Dream as you see it in the lives of most people. We are here to show the self-sacrificing life of our dear Savior Yahushua. Who gave His whole life for others. He came to serve, that was His life mission, was to give. His life mission was to give, to serve.

Is that your life mission? Is that our life, is that our life mission, to give? Does our life mission line up with His life mission? We talk a lot about and the importance of, you know, keeping Yahweh’s Torah and following the commands, but there’s not just the Sabbath He kept, He poured out His whole life for others. Are we manifesting the life of our Savior by walking as He walked in every respect? Not just Sabbath and feasts. Do we really understand that it’s not we who live anymore? We’re supposed to walk as He walked. 1 John 2:6 – He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk, just as He walked. – Is this us?

Have we been crucified with Messiah? Is it really no longer we that live but Messiah that lives in us, is it? I’m asking you, personally, and only you can answer personally. (Gal. 2:20) – And the life which we now live are we living by faith in the Son of Elohim who loved us and gave Himself for us. – (Col. 3:2-3) Are we setting our minds on things above, or on things on the earth? – This is a command, don’t set your mind on things on the earth. –
³ You died, – Do you believe that? – and your life is hidden with Messiah in Elohim. – We have to embrace this. We have to understand that when it comes to giving we’re called being not just givers, but radical givers.

Look at in the Torah, Deuteronomy 15 verse 7. It says – “If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in your land which Yahweh your Mighty One is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother,
⁸ “but you shall open your hand wide to him and willingly lent him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs. – That’s not a suggestion, that’s not a helpful hint from Heloise, it’s not an option, it’s a command.

Leviticus 25:35 – ‘If one of your brethren becomes poor, and falls into poverty among you, then you shall help him, – It’s not an option, it’s a command. – like a stranger or a sojourner, that he may live with you. – It’s not an option, it’s a command. –
³⁶ ‘Take no usury or interest from him; but fear your Mighty One, that your brother may live with you.
³⁷ ‘You shall not lend him your money for usury, nor lend him your food at a profit. –

So, yes, even if it means sharing your own house with someone who is poor. I already know what you’re thinking: what if they take advantage? That’s next week, we’ll talk about it next week. People that are genuinely in need, we are commanded to do this, it’s not an option, it’s a command. If we aren’t keeping this command to open wide our hand, we are sinning, we are not Torah observant men and women, we’re not. I don’t care how many Sabbaths you’ve kept, how clean your food is. You are not a Torah keeper. You’re not Torah observant men, you are not keeping the law of Yahweh.

Scripture says Proverbs 19:17 – He who has pity on the poor lends to Yahweh, And He will pay back what he has given. – Much abused Scripture, but it’s true. We see there is a direct connection here between caring for the poor and giving to Yahweh. So, then if we neglect the poor we’re actually neglecting service to Yahweh Himself. And that’s why we see Yahweh speaking through the prophets so many times about the nation of Israel, and how they’re not caring for the poor, and the needy, and the fatherless, and the widow.

Both John the Baptist and Yahushua Himself were also very displeased. Did you know that it’s over two hundred times the word “poor” is found in Scripture? Yahweh speaks so much about it because it is one of the most neglected areas among people that claim to serve Him. Yet there are few things a person can do that will be a greater light than serving people in need. To serve the poor is an irrefutable example of love no one can argue with it.

Now it’s possible for someone to give and not love, if they’re doing it out of pride, or out of self glory, but this is, you see the world is not going to recognize us as Yahushua disciples because we got these strings hanging off of our shirt or our belt loops, they’re not going to understand that. What they are going to understand is this: Yahushua said (John 13:34) – “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. – He poured out His whole life for His disciples and for all of us, and He said –
³⁵ “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” – So when we begin to show the love that we’re supposed to have, that’s how we’re going the world’s gonna know, who we are.

Listen. I’ve been keeping Shabbat and the feasts, and eating clean for over a thirty years now. I’ve been wearing tassels for twenty-nine years, the tzit-tzit I’ve been wearing for twenty-nine years. None of those things have ever impressed the unbeliever. Never did impress them. But when I reached out my hand to show love, and help when they’re in need, that the souls were transformed from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light, it was only then they understood the love that Yahushua had and has. Now we don’t do that just because we want to be a witness, we do it because it’s the right thing to do. It’s the true way of love, that Yahushua taught us so plainly and so beautifully, by word and by example.

It’s okay to seek out the difference between the clean the unclean. Interesting though that Yahushua said (Luke 11:41) – “. . . give alms of such things as you have; and all things are indeed clean to you. – Now, He’s not saying that pork’s gonna be clean, He’s talking about, these people are so caught up in things that aren’t even not clean, they’re not even unclean, they say it’s unclean. And He’s saying you’re all caught up in this commandments of men. Start giving, start focusing on other people, and you won’t feel the need to put people’s focus on you and your commandments, and your ideas.

Now listen. I know there are some of you out there who are very clean. And I’m so thankful for the brothers and sisters who already are putting this teaching into practice. I love you, I really do. I’m not saying because you’re given to the ministry, I’m saying giving to a ministry, or giving to the poor, it doesn’t have to be through me. You’re doing that, I love to see it.

Listen. Someones I see with my own eyes, others I know are giving anonymously. But what I do it, listen. I know it’s a blessing to see the brothers come together on so many occasions, reach out to help others in need. One of the things that thrill my heart the most. So for those who are giving I’m not coming down, I’m thankful that you’re there, okay. But there are some listening to this broadcast today I know, you adjust your priorities. And change your habits, maybe even your lifestyle. There is some who have inherited a wrong mindset either from their families or the culture we live in, and that mindset, that whole paradigm the whole worldview needs to change. When Yahushua came on the scene He taught the value of radical giving. He said (Luke 6:35) – “. . . do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; – Have you ever done that? I want to let this person borrow that, I really hope I don’t get anything back. Have you ever done that? It’s not an option, it’s a command. Hoping for nothing in return – and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.”

So, how many of us have actually done that, you know. This is a command it’s not like this helpful hint of Heloise, I mean this is a commandment from the One who lives in us. This is, and I look at the context who are you lending to, look what He says (Luke 6:35) – “. . .love your enemies and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return” – So He’s not just talking about giving to someone that you like, or to your own family members, which there’s a large percentage of you out there, you’ll lend, but only to your family members. He’s saying ‘to your enemies’. Wait, an enemy, isn’t he more likely to take advantage of you? Is he more likely to mistreat you? And maybe mistreat what you’ve lended to them? And maybe you’ll never see it again, or it’ll be in worse shape than when you gave it to them? And probably won’t even lend you a thing. Perhaps, could be.

But think about the exchange. Maybe you’ll lose out on something earthly, but look at what you’ll gain, look what you’ll gain, look: sons of the Most High look at that, that word right there sons of the Most High, (back up here), you get to be sons of the Most High, that means you get to imitate Him. That’s pretty cool, I like that, that’s awesome. No greater privilege than to be one of Yahweh’s children. (Luke 6:35) – “. . . Sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and the evil.” Therefore if you’re kind to the unthankful and you’re kind to the evil, then you’re just being like him.

So look at the exchange. Maybe you lose something earthly, but you’ll be one of Yahweh’s children. There’s no kinder provider than He is. And there’s don’t, don’t even tell me you haven’t taken advantage of His grace. Don’t even tell me you haven’t taken advantage of His kindness. And yet you point to others. You see, when you practice radical giving, you actually get an opportunity to show the enemies of Yahweh and the enemies of yourself, what Yahweh our Father is truly like. You are taking an opportunity to manifest the life of Yahushua who gave to us while we were yet sinners. He didn’t just hand us a shovel, or let us borrow a donkey, or a car, He gave us His whole life. And we’re called to manifest and show forth Yahushua’s example. But if we’re not givers, how are we? He said (Matthew 5:42) – “Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.” – If we’re not embracing this mentality we do not have the mind of Messiah. We don’t. We’re not living out His example. Paradigm shift, right?

I know it, many of you’re already thinking, “What about people take advantage of us?” And what if Yahushua said, if someone come up to Yahushua and says, “Give me all the money in the money box, please?” I think He’s talking about people that actually do have a need, not people of tremendous greed, okay? But rather than giving to people who have genuine need, and give to them, I mean the point is to give them whether they’re gonna be thankful for it or not, okay?

But fearing someone will take advantage of us is sometimes just an excuse to not give it all. Yet we ourselves take advantage of the fact Yahushua is gonna forgive us of our sins, and any future sins we commit, and not give it a second thought, right? But somewhere in the depths of our hearts we gotta be problem, we gotta be aware of this. The problem actually could be we don’t have the mind of Messiah, and we don’t really want to do this because we don’t want to give up our possessions. And maybe the real problem is that there’s not many radical givers in the world because there’s more people interested in living out the American Dream, than living out the life of Yahushua and His disciples. And maybe the problem is, there are more people interested in chasing the glittery gold, than chasing Yahushua in His example for our lives.

Matthew 8:19 – Then a certain scribe came to Him and said, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.”
²⁰ And Yahushua said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” – So you know, follow Him, you’re gonna be homeless, sorry you’re gonna be homeless, you’re gonna be a homeless men.

If I may, I’d like to ask a probing question. And yes, I mean, this is a hard message. This is a hard, hard, message. But listen. It’s an important message, it’s a salvational message. I’ll share more on that. But would you be willing to forsake everything, everything you own, everything you own, and follow Yahushua even if it meant being homeless?

If Yahushua came to you in a dream and told you to get out of your bed, take your family with you, whatever, walk down the road, don’t even look back at the house, don’t even look back at your car, don’t look back at anything, don’t even think about it. And go to wherever He tells you to go. Would you be willing to do it?

Well, some of us may say, “Yes”, easy to say. But listen. If there this world’s riches have any hold on you, I’d say it’s better if you lived under a bridge in a cardboard box. Now, He did not command everybody to be homeless. Some He said stay home. But at least one young man, who put too much value in his possessions, He said (Mark 10:21-23) – Then Yahushua, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the stake, and follow Me.”
²² But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
²³ Then Yahushua looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of Elohim” – He wasn’t willing to give it up. Are we? Then let’s show Him, let’s give it up. But I’m not saying, “Give to me.” I’m saying, “Give to whomever Yahweh leads you.”

But much of the United States, listen, and the world are living out the highest standard of living ever known to man. Probably a whole lot better than that rich young ruler. We really are filthy rich. I mean, come on think about it. We get up in the morning our nice, cozy, warm beds, and our automatically climate-controlled houses at just the right temperature. We turn on a little shiny faucet, almost zero effort pour us a glass of water, take a nice warm bath, shower, again just turn the faucet, almost zero effort. We sit in our easy chair, we read the news, open our Scripture books or reading on smartphones, we have the greatest variety of foods ever known to man, every taste, every texture, every piece of delicious fruit, vegetables, seasoned meat, nuts, juices, teas, and at most any time of the year. We eat like kings. Hmmm, I wonder what the weather will be today, and the rest of the week. A few touches of our little smartphone device. “O it looks like rain, the radar showing rain’s gonna be here in about two hours.” We get in our cars, climate-controlled cab of course, two hundred horses worth of power at our disposal, just by merely gently pushing on a pedal with our foot, sitting in a comfy chair, paved roads, smooth driving, cruising down a highway fifty-five, sixty-five miles an hour.

Come on now. This is the lifestyles of the wealthy compared to former generations, where you had to heat, haul the water, had to start a fire, heat the wood in the stove, pour the water in tub, to even take a warm bath. We are wealthy, wealthy. Are we willing to give it up if Yahushua told us to? And live that less comfortable life of sleeping out in the open air, like He did. Sometimes have to pick raw kernels of barley out of the corners of a barley field, just to find something to eat.

You know, the days are coming maybe this generation, maybe just three years or so I don’t know, we may have to make that very choice. I mean, I say three years because Yahushua, if He returns in a two thousand year anniversary of His death and resurrection, the Great Tribulation is only about three years away. I don’t know if that will happen, I’m not making predictions but, you know, I know we tend to want the best of both worlds. We want comfort and ease, and comfort and ease in the age to come. Yeah, that would be nice wouldn’t it. I know, the heart wants what it wants, but we also know that Scripture says our hearts left unchecked are desperately wicked.

And we need to be willing to give up everything. Maybe, just maybe, if we’re already in the habit of living simply, radical giving isn’t is what we’re already practicing, we’re being intentional in pursuing people we can serve and provide for, then we won’t be so affected when the day is coming we have to give up anything, everything anyway; we’re all so used to living that way, to giving up things. Where I’ll see you always used to live in that way of giving up things. But if we’re not used to it, and a time come you’re not gonna buy or sell, or can’t do anything, unless this beast gives you approval. You don’t know how to live, know how to live simply, you’re so in the temptation for yourself, and not just yourself, and maybe your family will be so great, that you may not do so well. And deception can come.

We have to live the self-sacrificing life. Because really, we didn’t sign up for a self-improvement program, we signed up for a self-death program which is the only pathway to self-improvement. Because in us nothing good dwells, really. Unless Yahushua is taking residence in our hearts. – When He called the people unto Him – Mark 8:34 – with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his stake and follow Me.
³⁵ “For whoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for My sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. – Think about that for a minute. Two things you can lose your life for: His sake and the sake of the Good News. In order to properly distribute the Good News to the people around us, we have to give up our resources. In order to lose our life for Yahushua’s sake, that means that we’re choosing to live His life, that means we’re willing to stand for Him and stand with Him, and follow Him by living a life of radical giving. –
³⁶ “For what shall it profit a man, if he gains the whole world, and lose his own soul? – You notice, so many of what He, so much of what He says regarding giving to others, giving to the poor, has to do with whether you’re saved or unsaved. The axe was laid to the root of the trees. One thing, He said, you lack, rich young ruler, and I’m gonna expose what it is. He went away sorrowful not wanting to give up his possessions. So much of what He says about giving, has to do with our salvation. –
³⁷ “What shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” – He says.

I’ve noticed young men will sign up for the military, knowing they’re in boot camp, they’re gonna have to die themselves to the extreme, and be at a complete subjection to the military commander. And that is considered to be honorable. They give up everything, rely upon men for everything. And it’s like, will we yield ourselves to the Supreme Commander that way? The King of kings? Is He important enough to us? Do we really love Him the way He demands and He deserves? With all of our heart, all of our soul, all of our mind, all of our strength? He wants that kind of love because it’s the way He loves us. So it’s the way He loves us, it’s the way He deserves to be loved too. Yahushua gave everything He had for us, just to show the love that our Father has for us.

In the Torah, the Law of Yahweh, Genesis to Deuteronomy, Yahweh created a culture of giving. Look very closely. In Deuteronomy chapter 24 verse 19 – “When you reap your harvest in your field, and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow, – “O I forgot a sheaf”. It’s a command you shall not go back to get it. – that Yahweh your Mighty One may bless you in all the work of your hands.
²⁰ “When you beat your olive trees you should not go over the boughs again; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow.
²¹ “When you gather the grapes of your vineyard you shall not glean it afterward; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow.”

Ah, isn’t this lovely? I think it’s awesome! I mean, the precept here is you know, this is above and beyond the tithe. The principle here is: don’t be so uptight with saving every little bit of income for yourself. In addition to the tithes, Yahweh is wanting to legislate really an attitude of giving. You can’t really legislate attitudes, but do you see our Fathers heart here? Those who have the eyes to see and the ears to hear, ears and eyes of love will see, will understand, and relate to what He’s putting in at practice here. Don’t be so stingy.

Leviticus 19 verse 9. He’s saying – ‘When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field, nor shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest.
¹⁰ ‘And you shall not glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather every grape from your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger: I am Yahweh your Mighty One.’ – So it really wasn’t just a ten percent tithe. And that’s, that’s so counter to what’s commonly thought to be good business practice today. But Yahweh doesn’t want His people to be stingy, He wants us to have an attitude of giving. After all, isn’t He really the One that gave us everything we have? Really, I mean, shouldn’t we also have an attitude of giving to others? Yes, I hope so, I mean if you want to be His son or His daughter, I hope so.

And I’ll say this—Yahweh isn’t just talking about having an attitude of giving our material possessions to those in need. Every single one of these principles I would also apply to share the things that Yahweh has given to us spiritually. A spiritual food, a spiritual fruit. We have the most valuable treasure there is: a relationship with Yahweh. A saving relationship, reconciliation in eternal life. And there is nothing we could possibly share from anything that we have, that could even compare to that. I know that Yahweh has given me much. And because of that He requires much of me. And I pray I can measure up. But I know He’s not just giving me understanding for my sake, Yahweh knows I’m going to share it. I’ll share it here, I’ll share it in person when I speak to person, to other people, and I’ll share it everywhere. So I know it’s not for just my sake, He’s given me what I have. I don’t deserve any of it.

But brothers and sisters, we cannot hide our light under a bowl, we can’t keep our faith to ourselves, we got to share it. That’s what love does. If someone is spiritually poor, share it, that’s what love does.

If you see someone who has a bomb underneath their car you’re gonna go, “O isn’t that special?” No, you’re gonna go try to save them. Right? And there are a lot of people with bombs underneath their cars. At any moment they could die, and they’re on their way to hell. And it’s far worse than the bomb underneath your car, you might blow up and die physically. What’s worse, is to die without Yahushua in your life.

2 Corinthians 9:6 – But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
⁷ So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for Elohim loves a cheerful giver. – So we need to give, when we when we hear we need to share, and when we receive we need to give.

(Acts 20:35) – “I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Master Yahushua, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” – It truly is more blessed to give than to receive, both spiritually, and with our funds and our resources, because really to know that we are being used by Yahweh to help others, really gives us a sense of purpose. And that’s a blessing we can’t forget.

So we need to embrace as you, do you live this self-sacrificing life, you know? The life that says, “I would rather see someone have what they need, then for me to have the things I just want.” Then we truly will be blessed when we live more with less. So I’m calling all of us to be radical givers. Yahushua was and is, and yet in our future again, will be a radical giver to us.

In Luke 12:32 it says – “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. – Notice He’s talking to a very small flock, little. –
³³ “Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags – money bags – which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys.
³⁴ “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” – Yahushua is speaking here to those who are on the narrow path, the little flock, the ones who are willing to practice this life of radical giving. He says don’t fear, Yahweh is gonna give you the kingdom.

So where is our hearts? Where is our real treasure? Are our hearts treasuring the earthly goods or the heavenly riches? You must ask Yahweh this question personally. Ask Him and be open to hear from Him, and fully emptying yourself of your own will. That’s the only way you’re gonna hear Yahweh’s will.

I would suggest, where your time is spent that’s also probably where your heart is too. Well, how are we spending our time? Is it so that you can gain money bags that will grow old? I’m not saying we don’t need to work for a living, provide for our needs and needs of our family, but once our needs are met, then what? Yahushua wants us to provide for ourselves money bags that don’t grow old, sell what we have, sell the extra and give alms. That’s what He is saying. Treasure in heaven that does not fail.

And then He says (Luke 12:35-37) – “Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning;
³⁶ “and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when He will return from the wedding, that when He comes and knocks they may open to him immediately.
³⁷ “Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them set down to eat, and will come and serve them. – Who will come and serve? Yahushua will come. When we meet Yahushua, what’s He coming to do? Just watch everybody bow before Him and do everything they can for Him? No, He’s coming to serve us. Yahushua is coming and if you could only imagine what He’s gonna do, He’s gonna serve you, yeah.

If we are in this final generation before Yahushua returns, He’s speaking directly actually to you and me. Notice what He said here: He will come, He will sit down and serve us because serving is loving and loving is serving. Serving is just a manifestation of loving, and so if you’re singing that song I can only imagine He’s gonna serve you. That’s what He’s gonna do. Isn’t He just awesome? I love it, I think it’s awesome. I mean, if Yahushua the King of the universe serves us in this way, shouldn’t we also serve others in that way? I mean, if He’s in us then He’s going to. It’s like He’s waiting to use us that way. He’s waiting it to show forth what He’s like through us.

Yahushua’s life was consumed with serving Yahweh and serving his fellow man. And if He’s in us we will walk as He walked. Let’s continue to read (Luke 12:38-44) – “And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.
³⁹ “But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.
⁴⁰ “Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” – He’s talking to people, the last generation on the earth, that maybe us. –
⁴¹ Then Peter said to Him, “Master, do You speak this parable only to us, or to all the people?” ⁴² And the Master said, “Who is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season?
⁴³ “Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.
⁴⁴ “Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all he has.”

You know, a steward in biblical times were those responsible for setting food on table, doing other household duties. And so we are actually stewards of the food and possessions that Yahweh has given us. And we cannot look at our possessions as anything other than Yahweh’s possessions, of which we are stewards. And the truth is, there are people that work a lot harder than you and I do, and barely have enough food to survive. Especially people in third-world countries. So we get it pretty easy, all right? And so He needs to find us so doing as He does. Giving food, spiritual food to those in need, physical food to those in need. He’s talking about that last generation before He comes back. He must have known we’re gonna be filthy rich, right? Must have known that.

Are we minded this way? That’s my question. We have to, we have to understand the mind of Yahushua. And we have to have the mind of Yahushua. And here’s I think one of the problems, is pride. There are people who think, “Well, I worked hard, I’ve earned every dime I got, and I deserve to live the life I’m living. And other people, they haven’t worked hard and so they don’t have what they need, they’re just lazy.”

There are people listening this broadcast today, I know for sure have that attitude, and listen to me. Again, there are people who worked a lot harder than you and I have, especially people in other countries and barely have enough to live on. And sometimes don’t have enough to live on. And so we really need to think about the reality of our situation, be humble and admit we didn’t gain our possessions by our own smarts and savviness, but by the hand of Yahweh who not only provide the things we have, but also supplied us with the brains and the health we needed to do it. The upbringing from our parents to even instill in us the work ethic that we do have and the protection from calamities and accidents, so that we’re able to labor.

There are people who are smarter than we are, who have more up have worse upbringings than you’ve had, and are harder workers than you are, and they can’t labor because of health problems, car accidents, cancers, other issues in life that you know and I don’t have. We need to be humbling ourselves and be thankful for every little thing that our Heavenly Father’s provided for us, because we didn’t deserve it. And we’re being prideful if we think we did. Because they’re harder working and smarter people than you are, who their life went differently. Someone pulled out in front of them and they’re disabled now. And that could happen just as easily to you and I. Yeah, if it wasn’t for Yahweh’s protection you wouldn’t be living the life you think you deserve. I don’t care how hard you work.

So it’s not just hard work, it’s Yahweh’s provision, Yahweh’s protection that’s given us the life we have if we’re living well. And so out of thankfulness allow Him to use us to help others who’ve not had that life experience we’ve had, that’s love! That’s what Yahushua did!

It’s so easy for a person to having all their needs met to being a poor person, right here in America. Suppose you’re working a good job, you’re healthy, happy, everything’s going fine. One day driving down the road someone runs a stop sign, rams inside of your car, you’re in a hospital for a week. Now you’re laid up, you’re not you able to work for six months until you heal. Or some cases permanently disabled, but let’s say six months, okay. Well you can’t get to work, they didn’t offer disability insurance, you lose your nice paying job, all of a sudden you’re on a fixed income, receiving food stamps or some paltry disability or SSI payments from the government. I mean, you come to a place where you get access to these payments, but you have to wait six months for your case to go through the red tape and the paperwork needed for you to be approved. Now you’ve had no income, you lost your house, you lost your car, you lost almost everything you have, you’re waiting for approval and many people lose everything from situations like that. And that can happen to anybody. Humble yourself.

And why are we as believers acting like the government is supposed to take care of all that? Because the truth is, the government can only provide physical needs, they can’t provide for someone’s spiritual needs. Yahushua wants us to use our ability to provide the physical needs, to introduce the spiritual. And we’re letting the government do that for us. And I mean, wonder why everyone wants to be a socialist. They want daddy to be their government.

We need to see people like that as if they were Yahushua himself. And I deal with the situation all the time. This week a man, he got shot. He was in a hospital he wasn’t doing anything, he’s got robbed, he got shot, he’s had a good paying job, he got shot and he couldn’t work, he lost everything, he have been homeless for six months. He just got cleared to work. And we’ve been feeding him every day.

Listen. Things happen where people lose job, a car breaks down, you can’t afford to fix it, how are you gonna get to work? You understand that people need help, right here in America. But instead everyone is piling up riches, focusing on their own needs, ignoring the needs of the people around them, and some listening need to step down off of their high horse, and realize it can happen to anybody. And if it were not for Yahweh’s blessing in our life, so go we.

And for that reason we have a responsibility to look after each other. It’s supposed to be a normal part of being a believer. When Paul met up with James and Kepha and John in Jerusalem, he said they (Gal. 2:9-10) seemed to be pillars, they perceive the grace that was given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we should go to Gentiles and they to the circumcised.
¹⁰ Desiring only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do. – Are we eager to do that? Your bank account will show whether you are whether you’re not. You can’t hide it.

There’s some listening the broadcast today who need to repent. And I’m giving you an opportunity: take this moment today right now. Go before our Heavenly Father Yahweh with an attitude of gratitude for what He has chosen to give you. An attitude of love for those hurting people around us. And be willing to live that radically giving, self-sacrificing life that Yahushua so clearly, clearly, demonstrated how we’re supposed to be living. He wasn’t being carried around on a bed popping grapes in His mouth. He got down there with the homeless people of the earth, and lived like they did. Just to show one thing—we’re loved, He cares about us, He loves us, He’s willing to live that life just to show I care about you.

And that’s where all your giving needs to come from. You don’t give to get, that prosperity doctrine is an abomination, you don’t give to get. You give because you love, you give because you care, you give because the needs of other people being met is important to you. And you don’t want to live the self-centered lifestyle that most people are living in this world. If you even have one extra set of clothes give it to the one that has none.

Give to those who ask. As we’re going to see in the future segments, we’re supposed to even seek out the cause that we don’t even know. Yeah, we are. So, in future segments, here are the topics I want to discuss:

• We’re going to show some examples of otherwise righteous men being warned of judgment. Torah-keeping men otherwise, Torah-keeping men for not attending to the poor.
• We’re gonna address the question about freeloaders.
• What if we are poor?
• Is it wrong to be wealthy?
• Are there really needy people in United States?
• Should we tithe?
• Is it scriptural to tithe of money? Does it have to be something that comes up out of the ground?
• Is there a second tithe?

Honestly, after seeing the Scriptures on that we’ve read so far, it’s like the tithe, puff, it’s like nothing. But we’ll talk about the tithe. You should be doing far more than a tithe. Especially if you are not poor, okay? So, there are some of us who have not been showing love. Through giving spiritually, giving to those in need and physically giving to those in need. And I don’t know who you are, I don’t think about any particular individuals when I’m giving this study, it’s not my job to judge individuals, its Yahweh’s job to judge each one of us, and for us to hear that judgment from on high. You have to compare your own personal walk to our Father in Heaven, His will for your life. That’s what we have to do.

Let’s take a minute and pray. Heavenly Father Yahweh, great and mighty Elohim, the One who has given us everything that we have. The One who has sent Yahushua to demonstrate what a self-sacrificing life is truly like. The One who gave everything He had, even His own life, for us. Father we call upon You, almighty Yahweh, Elohim of Abraham, Yitshaq and Ya’aqob; Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Father, send forth your truth into the hearts of those who are lacking it. Break down the barriers, break down the walls that are hindering people from receiving Your word. Cause people to understand how we’re truly supposed to live. Get their eyes off of people on the earth and put their eyes on the Messiah Yahushua. That they might do what You’ve called them to do. To be examples of Yahushua in their communities. To be example of Yahushua’s self-sacrificing and giving life to the people all around us on this world, father. Open up their eyes to see it. Break down the self-centeredness, that they might see the truth of Your word, and the danger of not living it.

And bring people to repentance, whomever it might be. And Father for any who are lacking repentance in this area, open up their eyes. We seek after Your truth, not just in Sabbath and these other things, we want to be the full picture of Yahushua. Not just one part. Convict us Father, open our eyes to see, I know the only eyes that will see are eyes willing to love. And the only ears that are willing to hear are ears that are willing to love.

Father we want to love You the way You loved us. We want to love You, we want to love the people of this world the way You love the people of this world. We want to love our fellow brothers and sisters the way You have shown love. Passionately, truly, and we want to join You in eternity. Forgive us in any areas Father we’re falling short in love. And deliver us from deceptions of the enemy and keep our eyes focused on You.

For truly Yours is the Kingdom and power, and glory, and Majesty, for ever and ever, in Yahushua’s great name we pray these things, Amein.