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Realizing the hardship of taking the slaughtered firstling animals, or driving them, to the Feast of
Tabernacles, God offered an alternative to the membership:
Deuteronomy14:22-26 “. . . If the journey is too long for you, so that you are unable to
carry the tithe, or if the place the LORD your God is too far from you when the LORD has
blessed you, then you shall exchange it for money . . . and you shall spend that money for
whatever your heart desires . . . and you shall rejoice, you and your household.”
Failure to pay God His tithe in all of these areas is an act of stealing and robbing God of that
which belongs to Him.
Self-Seeking Treasure Hunters
Stressing the need of the most important work of the Church of taking the Gospel to the world
that requires needed offerings in addition to the tithe, the counsel of Jesus is as follows:
Matthew 6:19-20 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust
destroy, and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in
heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
For where your treasure is, there your hearts will be also. . . .”
Deception/ Fraud from False Ministers
Deception is another form of fraud and theft, and they fall under the category of stealing. Satan
the devil is a master of deception using human instruments who wear the cloak of religion to try
and deceive the true people of God with the objective of destroying them for all time.
The Apostle Paul describes them in full and the one who uses them for his destructive purposes:
II Corinthians 11:13-15 “For such are false apostles, deceitful
workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And
no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself as an angel
of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also
transforms themselves into (
or as
) ministers of righteousness,
whose end will be according to their works.”
Jesus Christ forewarned His people of this ongoing practice of
deception which is an attempt to steal His flock:
Matthew
7:15-20
“Beware
of
false
prophets, who come to
you in sheep’s clothing,
but inwardly they are
ravenous wolves. . . . Therefore by their fruits you