THE RIVER'S EDGE
GIVING
WE BELIEVE...
That the believer should give to where he/she is spiritually fed. That is, where you are regularly attending church and receiving sound teaching that builds you up as a believer and strengthens you in your walk with the Lord. The tithe is biblically defined as 10% of your income.
We believe that all giving (whether tithe or freewill offering outside of the tithe) should be led of the Lord, and should be presented to Him in reverence as a willing act of worship, love, and obedience.
We believe that the Lord honors, blesses, and protects the giver, according to what the Scriptures say.
We believe that tithing is an intentional practice through which God intends to teach His children about His sovereign ownership of everything. Instead of being only consumers of our blessings, giving empowers us to be agents of establishing God's Kingdom and thus His blessing, here on the earth.
WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS...
PROVERBS 3 : 9-10 (WISDOM FOR THE GIVER)
Honor the LORD with your substance, and with the first fruits of all your increase: So shall your barns be filled with plenty, and your presses shall burst out with new wine.
MARK 12:41–44 (JESUS HONORS THE WILLING GIVER)
And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”
MATTHEW 6:1–4 (JESUS TEACHES THE RIGHT WAY TO GIVE)
Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
MALICHI 3:10–12 (GOD ASKS US TO TEST HIM WITH OUR GIVING)
Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts. Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.