Saturday, 23 May 2015

What is the meaning of TRUTH?

People say that what we are all seeking is the true meaning of life, so that our life experiences on the physical plane have a link of resonances within our own innermost world.
We are so engaged in doing things to achieve purposes that belong to the outer value that we forget that the inner value of each experience is what define us as being alive.
One of our problems today is that we are not well acquainted with the literature of Plato, Confucius, the Buddha, Goethe, and others who spoke of the eternal values that have to do with the true meaning of our lives.
The news of the day and the problems of the hour do not motivate enough attention to our inner world. We do not need to get older and make time to meditate in the eternal values that make us feel being alive.
With the loss of myths and biblical literature that use to be part of everyone's education, we have really lost something that supported the true meaning of human life, it helped to build civilizations, informed religions about the truth of our existence, it had to do with deep inner problems, inner mysteries, and if you do not know what the guidelines are along the way, then, you have to find the truth by yourself.
Once this subject catches you, there is such a profound feeling of life-vivifying sort that you do not want to give up.
The only way we have to describe a human being truly is by describing his imperfections. That thing is what makes us humans and not gods. This is the main reason why some people have a very hard time loving God, because He is perfect.
In the past, myths were told to reveal what human beings had in common. Myths tell stories of ancient humans searching for truth, for meaning, for significance. Today, we all need to understand death and to cope with death, also, we all need help in our passages from birth to life and then to death.
We need to signify, to visualize and touch the eternal, to understand the mysterious, to find out who and what we are, during the length of time we have to live a life in this world.

Tuesday, 19 May 2015

NATURE IS A RESOURCE ENTRUSTED TO US.

Global warming, Overpopulation, Acid rain, the Destruction of the Rain Forest, Hybridization and the endless consequences that we are experiencing, are part of the corruption processes that the earth is suffering from the hand of the ones in pursue for their own gain and lust.
The earth's resources do not exist just purely for people's pleasure, or to be used as they will, with little thought for long-term consequences.
The description of the apostle John of the end of times describes a lot of destruction from the hand of men devoted to the world's pleasure. But not all is to be consumed. A powerful entity fallen from heaven to the bottomless pit, to whom was given the key to unleash all the demonic powers from there to the earth, darkening the sun and the air,  joining forces with the scorpions of the earth, was given a command "not to harm the (spiritual) grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.
The command is an echo of Genesis 1: 29 - 30: "every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed." God is the owner of the resources of the earth.
He states in Revelation 7 : 2 -3 : "Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees." Likewise, the new heaven and earth include a pure (spiritual) River of Water of Life, clear as crystal, the Tree of Life.
When God created the World's Resources, He declared them to be "very good." He designed people to care for them, develop them, and use them for good. This management role is part of our calling as caregivers of the earth. He has made us to be more than mere consumers. Our work is a gift from God to develop and deliver the spiritual benefits of any kind of resources, treating it with respect not with lust, because it is a resource for which God has given you responsibility.
In the world in which live today we are witnessing the lack of respect towards Nature and the refusal of many men to listen to the Laws of their Maker, following instead their own way, and creating their destruction.

Friday, 15 May 2015

GOD' S RAGE and ANGER as messengers of death.

How often his people rebelled against him in the (spiritual) desert; how many times they made him sad! Again and again they put God to the test and brought pain to the Holy God of Israel. They forgot his great power and the day when he saved them from their (spiritual) enemies and performed his mighty acts and miracles in the (spiritual) plain of Zoan in the (spiritual) land of Egypt.
He turned the (spiritual) rivers into blood, and the Egyptians had no (spiritual) water to drink. He sent (spiritual) flies among them, that tormented them, and (spiritual) frogs that ruined their (spiritual) land. He sent (spiritual) locusts to eat their (spiritual) crops and to destroy their (spiritual) fields. He killed their (spiritual) grapevines with (spiritual) hail and their (spiritual) fig trees with (spiritual) frost. He killed their (spiritual) cattle with (spiritual) hail and their (spiritual) flocks with (spiritual) lightning.
He caused them great distress by pouring out his anger and fierce rage, which came as messengers of death. He did not restrain his anger or spare their lives, but killed them with a (spiritual) plague. He killed the first-born sons of all the families of (spiritual) Egypt.
Then he led his (spiritual) people out like a shepherd and guided them through the desert. He led them safely, and they were not afraid; but the (spiritual) sea came rolling over their enemies. He brought them to his holy (spiritual) land, to the (spiritual) mountains which he himself conquered. He drove out the inhabitants as his (spiritual) people advanced; he divided their (spiritual) land among the (spiritual) tribes of Israel and gave their homes to his (spiritual) people.
But they rebelled against Almighty God and put him to the test. They did not obey his (spiritual) commandments, but were rebellious and disloyal like their fathers, unreliable as a crooked arrow. They angered him with their heathen (spiritual) places of worship, and with their idols they made him furious.
God was angry when he saw it, so he rejected his (spiritual) people completely.
He abandoned his (spiritual) tent in Shiloh, the (spiritual) home where he had lived among us. He allowed our (spiritual) enemies to capture the (spiritual) Covenant Box, the (spiritual) symbol of his power and glory.
He was angry with his own (spiritual) people and let them be killed by their (spiritual) enemies. Young men were killed in war, and young women had no one to marry. Priests died by (spiritual) violence, and their widows were not allowed to mourn.
At last the Lord woke up as though from sleep; he was like a strong man excited by (spiritual) wine.
He drove his enemies back in lasting and shameful defeat. But he rejected the descendants of Joseph; he did not select the tribe of Ephraim. Instead he chose the tribe of Judah and Mount Zion, which he dearly loves.
There he built his (spiritual) Temple like his home in heaven; he made it firm like the earth itself, secure for all time. He chose his servant David; he took him from the (spiritual) pastures, where he looked after his (spiritual) flocks, and made him king of (spiritual) Israel, the shepherd of the (spiritual) people of God.
David took care of them with unselfish devotion and led them with skill. (Psalm 78 : 40 - 72)
God presides in the heavenly council; in the assembly of the gods he gives his decision"You must stop judging unjustly; you must no longer be partial to the wicked! Defend the rights of the (spiritual) poor and the (spiritual) orphans; be fair to the (spiritual) needy and the (spiritual) helpless. Rescue them from the power of evil men." (Psalm 82 : 1 - 4)

The SOUTH and EAST WIND' s spirits, a symbolism of TRUTH.

Listen... to my teachings, and pay attention ... to the use of wise sayings an the explanation of mysteries from the past, things we have heard and known... we will tell the next generation about the Lord's power and his great deeds and the wonderful things  he has done.
He gave (spiritual) laws to his people (Israel) and commandments to the descendants of Jacob. He instructed our ancestors to teach his (spiritual) laws to their children, so that the next generation might learn them and in turn should tell their children. In this way they also will put their trust in God and not forget what he has done, but always obey his (spiritual) commandments.
They will not be like their ancestors, a rebellious and disobedient people, whose trust in God was never firm and who did not remain faithful to him.
The (spiritual) Ephraimites, armed with bows and arrows, ran away on the day of (spiritual) battle.They did not keep their (spiritual) covenant with God; they refused to obey his law. They forgot what he had done, the (spiritual) miracles they had seen him perform.
While their ancestors watched, God performed miracles in the (spiritual) plain of Zoan in the (spiritual) land of Egypt. He divided the (spiritual) sea and took them through it; he made the (spiritual) waters stand like walls. By day he led them with a (spiritual) cloud and all night long with the (spiritual) light of a fire. He split (spiritual) rocks open in the desert and gave them (spiritual) water from the depths.
He caused a (spiritual) stream to come out of the (spiritual) rock and made (spiritual) water flow like a river.
But they continued to sin against God, and in the (spiritual) desert they rebelled against the Most High. They deliberately put God to the test by demanding the (spiritual) food they wanted. They spoke against God and said, "Can God supply food in the (spiritual) desert? It is true that he struck the (spiritual) rock, and (spiritual) water flowed out in a torrent; but can he also provide us with (spiritual) bread and give his people (spiritual) meat?"
And so the Lord was angry when he heard them; he attacked his people with (spiritual) fire, and hia anger against them grew, because they had no faith in him and did not believe that he would save them.
But he spoke to the SKY above and commanded its doors to open; he gave them (spiritual) grain from heaven, by sending down manna for them to eat. So they eat the (spiritual) food of angels, and God gave them all they wanted. He also caused the EAST WIND to blow and by his power he stirred up the SOUTH WIND; and to his people he sent down (spirit of ) birds as many as the grains of sand on the shore; they fell in the middle of the (spiritual) camp all around the (spiritual) tents.
So the people ate and were satisfied; God gave them what they wanted. But they had not yet satisfied their craving and were still eating, when God became angry with them and killed their strongest men, the best young men of (spiritual) Israel.
In spite of all this the people kept sinning; in spite of his miracles they did not trust him. So he ended their days like a breath and their lives with sudden disaster. Whenever he killed some of them, the rest would turn to him; they would repent and pray earnestly to him. They remembered that God was their protector, that the Almighty came to their aid. But their words were all lies; nothing they said was sincere. They were not loyal to him; they were not faithful to their (spiritual) covenant with him.
But God was merciful to his people. He forgave their sin and did not destroy them. Many times he held back his anger and restrained his fury. He remembered that they were only mortal beings, like a WIND that blows by and is gone.   (Psalm 78: 1-39)

THE SPIRIT OF LAZINESS

If you are lazy, you will never get what you are after but if you work hard, you will get a fortune....
It is better to be an ordinary man working for a living than to play the part of a great man but go hungry.... Your reward depends on what you say and what you do; you will get what you deserve.... Hard work will give you power; being lazy will make you a slave.... A lazy man will never have money, but an aggressive man will get rich.... Being lazy will make you poor, but hard work will make you rich.... Never get a lazy man to do something for you; he will be as irritating as vinegar on your teeth or smoke in your eyes.
Intelligence wins respect, but those who can't be trusted are on the road of ruin.... How good it is to get what you want! .... A good man will have wealth to leave to his grandchildren, but the wealth of sinners will go to righteous men.... Intelligent people want to learn, but dumb people are satisfied with ignorance.... It is better -much better- to have wisdom and knowledge than gold and silver.... Intelligent people talk sense, but dumb people need to be punished.... People who listen when they are corrected will live, but those who will not admit they are wrong are in danger.... If you refuse to learn, you are hurting yourself. If you accept correction, you will become wiser.
If you don't punish your son, you don't love him. If you do love him, you will correct him.... Homes are made by the wisdom of women, but are destroyed by foolishness.... Why is a clever person wise? Because he knows what to do.... Your joy is your own; your bitterness is your own. No one can share them with you.
Sensible people are careful to stay out of trouble, but dumb people are careless and act too quickly.... You will earn the trust and respect of others if you work for good.... Work and you will earn a living; if you sit around talking you will be poor.... If you are lazy, you will meet difficulty everywhere, but if you are honest, you will have no trouble.
It is better to have a little, honestly earned, than to have a large income, dishonestly gained.... Those who are good travel a road that avoids evil; so watch where you are going -it may save your life.... Pride leads to destruction, and arrogance to downfall. ... People who are proud will soon be disgraced. It is wiser to be modest.... It is better to be humble and stay poor than to be one of the arrogant and get a share of their loot.... You may make your plans, but God directs your actions.
Solomon's Proverbs

Wednesday, 13 May 2015

THE SPIRIT OF HONESTY

Proverbs 10, 11 (Solomon's Proverbs)
2) Wealth you get by dishonesty will do you no good, but honesty can save your life. 25) Honest people are always safe. 29) The Lord protects honest people, but destroys those who do wrong.
11, 1) The Lord hates people who use dishonest scales. He is happy with honest weights. 2) It is wiser to be modest. 3) If you are good, you are guided by honesty. People who can't be trusted are destroyed by their own dishonesty. 4) Riches will do you no good on the day you face death, but honesty can save your life. 5) Honesty makes a good man's life easier, but a wicked man will cause his own downfall. 7) Confidence placed in riches comes to nothing. 24) Some people spend their money freely and still grow richer. Others are cautious, and yet grow poorer. 25) Be generous (in a spiritual sense), and you will be prosperous. Help others, and you will be helped.
3) The Lord will not let good people go hungry, but he will keep the wicked from getting what they want. 4) A good man will receive blessings. 5) Good people will be remembered as a blessing, but the wicked will soon be forgotten. 8) Sensible people accept good advice. 9) Honest people are safe and secure, but the dishonest will be caught. 24) The righteous get what they want, but the wicked will get what they fear most. 28) The hopes of good men lead to joy.
11) A good man's words are a fountain of life...20) ... are like pure silver... 21) ... will benefit many people.  12) Hate stirs up trouble, but love forgives all offenses. 13) Intelligent people talk sense.
14) The wise get all the knowledge they can. 11, 12) It is foolish to speak scornfully of others. If you are smart, you will keep quiet. 13) No one who gossips can be trusted with a secret, but you can put confidence in someone who is trustworthy. 19) Anyone who is determined to do right will live, but anyone who insists on doing wrong will die.
30) Righteous people speak wisdom, but the tongue that speaks evil will be stopped. 30) Righteous people will always have security. 32) Righteous people know the kind thing to say, but the wicked are always saying things that hurt. 11, 6) Righteousness rescues the honest man, but someone who can't be trusted is trapped by his own greed. 8) The righteous are protected from trouble; it comes to the wicked instead. 9) The wisdom of the righteous can save you. 20) The Lord hates evil-minded people, but loves those who do right. 28) Those who depend on their wealth will fall like the leaves of autumn, but the righteous will prosper like the leaves of summer. 31) Those who are good are rewarded here on earth.

Friday, 8 May 2015

A VISION OF THE SEVEN PLAGUES

Then I saw ANOTHER SIGN in HEAVEN, great and marvelous: SEVEN ANGELS having the SEVEN last (spiritual) PLAGUES, for IN THEM the WRATH of GOD is COMPLETE.
And I saw something LIKE A SEA OF GLASS MINGLED with FIRE, and THOSE who HAVE the VICTORY OVER the BEAST, over HIS IMAGE and over HIS MARK and over THE NUMBER OF HIS NAME, STANDING on the sea of glass, HAVING HARPS of GOD.
They SING the SONG of MOSES, the servant of GOD, and the SONG of the LAMB, saying: "Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! JUST and TRUE are YOUR WAYS, O King of saints! Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For YOU ALONE ARE HOLY. For all (spiritual) nations shall come and worship before You, For Your judgments have been manifested.
After these things I looked, and behold, THE TEMPLE OF THE TABERNACLE OF THE TESTIMONY IN HEAVEN WAS OPENED. And OUT  of the temple CAME the SEVEN ANGELS HAVING THE SEVEN (spiritual) PLAGUES, CLOTHED IN PURE BRIGHT LINEN, and having THEIR CHEST GIRDED with GOLDEN BANDS.
Then ONE of the FOUR LIVING CREATURES gave to the SEVEN ANGELS SEVEN GOLDEN BOWLS FULL of the WRATH of GOD who lives forever and ever.
The temple was filled with SMOKE FROM THE GLORY of GOD and FROM HIS POWER, and no was able to enter the temple TILL the SEVEN PLAGUES of the SEVEN ANGELS were completed. Then I heard A LOUD VOICE from the temple saying TO the seven ANGELS, "Go and pour out the bowls of the wrath of God on the earth."
So the FIRST went and poured out his bowl upon the earth, and a foul and loathsome SORE came UPON the MEN who HAD the MARK of the BEAST and THOSE who WORSHIPED his IMAGE. Then the SECOND angel poured out his bowl ON the (spiritual) SEA, and it BECAME BLOOD as of a dead man; and EVERY LIVING CREATURE in the SEA DIED. Then the THIRD angel poured out his bowl ON the RIVERS and SPRINGS of water, and they BECAME BLOOD. And I heard the angel of the waters saying: "You are righteous, O Lord, The One who is and who was and who is to be, because You have judged these things. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink. For it is their just due."
And I heard another from the altar saying,  "Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments." Then the FOURTH angel poured out his bowl ON the SUN, and POWER WAS GIVEN to him TO SCORCH MEN WITH FIRE. And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the NAME of GOD who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory. Then the FIFTH angel poured out his bowl ON the THRONE of the BEAST, and his KINGDOM became FULL of DARKNESS; and they gnawed their tongues because of the pain. They                                        
blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds.
Then the SIXTH angel poured out his bowl on the great River Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the WAY of the KINGS FROM the EAST might be PREPARED. And I saw THREE UNCLEAN SPIRITS like FROGS coming OUT of the MOUTH of the DRAGON, OUT of the MOUTH of the BEAST, and OUT of the MOUTH of the FALSE PROPHET. For THEY ARE SPIRITS of DEMONS, PERFORMING SIGNS, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, TO GATHER THEM TO THE BATTLE OF THAT GREAT DAY OF GOD ALMIGHTY.           Revelation 16

SPIRITUAL JUDGMENT OF ALL NATIONS

When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His Glory. All the (spiritual) nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a SHEPHERD DIVIDES HIS SHEEP FROM THE GOATS. And He will SET the SHEEP on HIS RIGHT HAND, but the GOATS ON THE LEFT.
Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, YOU BLESSED OF MY FATHER, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world : for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.
Then the RIGHTEOUS will answer HIM, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?
And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, INASMUCH AS YOU DID IT TO ONE OF THE LEAST of these My brethren, YOU DID IT TO ME.'
Then He will also say to those on the left hand, "DEPART FROM ME, you cursed, INTO THE EVERLASTING FIRE prepared FOR the DEVIL and HIS ANGELS: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.
Then they also will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You? Then He will answer them, saying, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.'
And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.



TERRIBLE TIMES TO COME

Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There!' do not believe it. For false (spiritual) christ(s) and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the ELECT.  See, I have told you beforehand. Therefore if they say to you, 'Look, He is in the (spiirtual) desert!' do not go out!; or 'Look, He is in the inner (spiritual) rooms!' do not believe it.  FOR AS THE LIGHTNING COMES FROM THE EAST AND FLASHES TO THE WEST, SO ALSO WILL THE COMING OF THE SON OF MAN BE. For wherever the carcass is, there eagles will be gathered together. Immediately AFTER the TRIBULATION of those DAYS the (spirit of) sun will be darkened, and the (spirit of) moon will not give its light; the (spirit of ) stars will fall from heaven, and the POWERS OF THE HEAVENS WILL BE SHAKEN. Then the SIGN OF the SON of MAN will APPEAR IN HEAVEN, and then ALL the (spiritual) TRIBES of the EARTH WILL MOURN, and they WILL SEE the SON of MAN COMING on the CLOUDS OF HEAVEN WITH POWER AND GREAT GLORY. And HE will SEND His ANGELS WITH A GREAT SOUND of a TRUMPET, and THEY will GATHER together HIS ELECT FROM THE FOUR WINDS, from one end of heaven to the other.
Now learn this PARABLE FROM the FIG TREE: "When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near - at the (spiritual) doors! Assuredly, I say to you, THIS GENERATION WILL by no means PASS AWAY TILL ALL these things TAKE PLACE. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My Words will by no means pass away.
But OF THAT DAY and HOUR NO ONE KNOWS, not even the angels of heaven, but MY FATHER ONLY. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
For as IN THE DAYS BEFORE THE FLOOD, they were eating and drinking (spiritually speaking), marrying and giving in marriage, UNTIL THE DAY THAT NOAH ENTERED THE ARK, and DID NOT KNOW UNTIL THE FLOOD CAME and TOOK THEM ALL AWAY, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
Then two men will be in the (spiritual) field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. WATCH therefore, for YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT HOUR YOUR LORD IS COMING. 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. Therefore you also be ready, for the SON of MAN is COMING AT AN HOUR YOU DONOT EXPECT.
Matthew 24

THE END OF THE AGE

Matthew 24 : Now as Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your Coming, and of THE END OF THE AGE?" And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that NO ONE DECEIVES YOU. For many will come IN MY NAME, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. And you will hear of (spiritual) wars and rumors of wars. See that YOU ARE NOT TROUBLED; for all these things must have to come, but THE END IS NOT YET.  For (spiritual) nation will rise against nation, and (spiritual) kingdom against kingdom. And there will be (spiritual) FAMINES, (spiritual)PESTILENCES, and (spiirtual) EARTHQUAKES in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then THEY WILL DELIVER YOU UP TO (spiritual)TRIBULATION and KILL YOU, and YOU WILL BE HATED by all (spiritual) nations for MY NAME's sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many FALSE PROPHETS will rise up (in spirit) and DECEIVE MANY. And because lawlessness will abound, the LOVE OF MANY WILL GROW COLD. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And THIS GOSPEL OF THE (spiritual) KINGDOM WILL BE PREACHED IN ALL THE WORLD as a (spiritual) WITNESS to all the (spiritual) NATIONS, and then the END WILL COME. Therefore when you see  the 'ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, STANDING IN THE HOLY PLACE" (whoever reads, let him understand), then LET THOSE who are in (spiritual) JUDEA FLEE TO the MOUNTAINS. LET HIM who is ON the (spiritual) HOUSETOP NOT GO DOWN TO TAKE ANYTHING OUT OF HIS HOUSE. And LET HIM who is IN the (spiritual) FIELD NOT GO BACK TO GET HIS CLOTHES. But WOE to THOSE who are (spiritual) PREGNANT and to THOSE who are NURSING (spiritual) BABIES IN THOSE DAYS! And PRAY that YOUR (spiritual) FLIGHT may not be IN (spiritual) WINTER OR ON the (spiritual) SABBATH. For then there will be GREAT TRIBULATION, such as has NOT BEEN SINCE the BEGINNING of the WORLD UNTIL THIS (spiritual) TIME, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, NO FLESH would BE SAVED; but for the ELECT' s SAKE those DAYS will be SHORTENED. Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There!' do not
believe it. For false (spiritual) Christ(s) and false (spiritual) prophets will rise and show great (spiritual) signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand. Matt. 24....

TITHING

For what matter is TITHE? The word means "a tenth part." In the Old Testament, God commanded the spiritual Israelites to give one tenth of their spiritual produce or income for one of these three reasons:
1) To support the spiritual Levites, who were responsible for the spiritual tabernacle and worship.
2) To support various spiritual feasts and sacrifices, some of which lasted more than one or two days and were times of joyous celebration and thanksgiving.
3) To establish a pool of spiritual resources to help the poor of spirit, orphans and widows, and the spiritual strangers in the land.
In the New Testament, neither Christ nor the apostles gave any explicit instructions about tithing. Jesus clearly endorsed it, as He did all the Spiritual Law. He denounced the hypocritical way that the Pharisees ignored the "spiritual weightier matters" of the Law - Justice, Mercy, and Faith. But those "spiritual heavy duty" issues by no way negated such "lightweight matters" as tithing.
So what is the place of tithing in out time? Well, as Christians, our spiritual allegiance is to Christ. He is our Spiritual Law. Our giving needs spring from "a sincere LOVE of Christ," not a slavish obedience to a percentage standard given by human perspective to God.
When Abraham gave the first tithe to God and it is recorded in the Bible, he did it as a sincere expression of gratitude for the spiritual deliverance that God did of him in the spiritual battles that he encounter. Throughout the Scripture our sincere Love for Christ is the manifestation of our spiritual tithing that our hearts do to Him in our daily worshipping. All that comes from Him is written and kept in our hearts as a manifestation of His Spirit in us, not just what we give away with an empty heart.
Jesus Christ has total claim on 100 percent of our spiritual income, not just 10 percent.
No matter how much we give in material things or to whom, Matthew, the apostle, indicates that our first priority should be to ensure that JUSTICE IS CARRIED OUT AROUND US, THAT WE SHOW MERCY TO OUR "NEIGHBORS," AND THAT WE PRACTICE OUR FAITH AND NOT JUST TALK ABOUT IT." In the end, it is through our obedience that Jesus increases our faith.