Paying Tithes

Do we need to pay tithes?

There have been a lot of conflicting teachings about paying tithes over the last few decades.

On one extreme, there have been claims that the Father of Truth (YHVH aka God aka THE LORD) will do anything you command, if you just pay tithes and give offerings to certain “ministries”.

On the other extreme, there have been claims that believers do not need to pay tithes at all!

The basis of these claims vary, but here are three of the most popular ones:

1. Tithes were part of the Law of Truth (Torah aka The Law), but the Law of Truth has been done away with, so we do not need to pay tithes.

2. Tithes were only meant as payment to the Levites for their work in the Temple, but since there is no Temple standing, then we do not need to pay tithes.

3. Tithes were only paid by those who made their living in agriculture, and were paid with agriculture products.  Those of us who do not make our living in agriculture do not need to pay tithes.

There are also a variety of conflicting teachings between these two extremes.

Obviously, these conflicting teachings on paying tithes cannot all be right. So, we will examine what the Book of Truth (The Bible) says about paying tithes.

We will start with the first person to pay tithes.

Who began tithing?

Abraham (Abram) was the first person to pay tithes (Genesis 14:19-20).

Paying tithes did not begin with the Law of Truth, but with Abraham

Who did Abraham pay tithes to?

Abraham paid tithes to a minister of the Father of Truth (Genesis 14:18-20).  Abraham did not pay tithes to the Levites, who were his descendants (Hebrews 7:4-5).  He paid tithes to a different kind of minister of the Father of Truth (Hebrews 7:6-8).

Abraham paid tithes when there was no Temple, Levites, or Priests.

What did Abraham pay tithes on?

Abraham paid tithes on ALL sources of income (Genesis 14:20).

Abraham did not pay tithes only on agricultural products.

Who else paid tithes with Abraham?

The descendants of Abraham, including the Levites, paid tithes as well to this different kind of minister of the Father of Truth (Hebrews 7:9-10).

So, the Children of Abraham also paid tithes.

What about those among the Children of Truth (those who obey The Father of Truth because they love Him) who are not physical descendants of Abraham?

The Children of Abraham are those who do the same things that Abraham did (John 8:39).  The Children of Abraham are those who act in faith like Abraham (Galatians 3:7-8).  The only way to be blessed with faithful Abraham is by doing acts of faith like Abraham (Galatians 3:9).

So, we are only the Children of Abraham, if we demonstrate faith in the Father of Truth like Abraham.

We pay tithes, because we have faith in the Father of Truth. We pay tithes to another kind of minister, who is not part of the Levites.  We pay tithes, because it is part of the evidence that we are the Children of Abraham.

This alone should be enough reason for us to pay tithes.

We should consider the example of Jacob (Ya'acov aka Israel).

Israel paid tithes as well (Genesis 28:20-22).

The people of Israel should imitate Israel in paying tithes, like Israel imitated Abraham.

What about those among the Children of Truth, who are not physical descendants of Israel?

They have been made citizens of the commonwealth of Israel by the Messiah of Israel (Ephesians 2:11-13).

The Gentile Children of Truth should also pay tithes like all the citizens of Israel.

So, paying tithes is evidence that we are part of the people of Israel.

We should consider the pattern for paying tithes in the Law of Truth.

What were tithes paid on?

The tithe was on the harvest of the crops (Leviticus 27:30).  The tithe on the livestock was every tenth animal that passed under the rod, regardless of the condition of the animal (Leviticus 27:32).  The Father of Truth desires to share in both the good and the bad with His people (Leviticus 27:33).

So, tithes were paid on what the tither earns.

Who was paid tithes?

The Levites, who to took care of the meeting place of the congregation received tithes (Numbers 18:23-24).  They then paid tithes to the Priests, who taught the congregation and prayed on behalf of the people (Numbers 18:26-28).

So, tithes were paid to those who took care of the meeting place of the congregation and attended to the spiritual needs of the congregation.

How could the Levites pay tithes, since they grew no crops nor raised any livestock?

The Levites were to take the best part of the offerings that they had received, and pay them to the Priests (Numbers 18:29).  Their tithes were paid out of what they had been paid and counted as if they had done the actual farm work (Numbers 18:30).

So, the wages of the Levites were counted as agricultural products that they had raised themselves.

Where were tithes paid?

Tithes were brought to the meeting place of the congregation (Deuteronomy 12:5-6).

So, tithes were brought to the workplace of those who earned them.

When were tithes due?

Since those in agriculture were only paid when they harvested their crops and took their livestock to market, then they were to pay their tithes at that time each year (Deuteronomy 14:22-23).

So, tithes were due when the tither was paid.

How were tithes paid when agricultural products were impractical?

In those cases, they were to sell the agriculture products, and then pay tithes out of the money they made from the sale (Deuteronomy 14:24-25).

So, tithes did not have to be paid in agricultural products.

So, the pattern in the Law of Truth is, that everyone who is part of Israel is to pay tithes.

When people are paid, then they are to bring a tenth of what they were paid, to the place where they congregate.  Then they are to give their tithes to those who take care of the meeting place and instruct them in following the Father of Truth. 

So, paying tithes on what we are paid, when we are paid, is required by the Law of Truth.

We should consider what the righteous in Israel did about paying tithes.

Why did they pay tithes?

The commandment to pay tithes was given, so the priests and Levites could devote themselves to the work of encouraging people in the Law of Truth (2 Chronicles 31:4).  The tithes were used to provide for the physical needs of those who took care of the meeting place and taught them how to follow the Father of Truth (Nehemiah 10:37-39).

They paid tithes to take care of the physical needs of those who took care of their spiritual needs.

What did they pay tithes on?

The people brought in tithes of ALL things, not just agricultural products (2 Chronicles 31:5).  Their tithes were consecrated to the Father of Truth (2 Chronicles 31:6).

They paid tithes on all sources of income.

When did they pay tithes?

They brought tithes in continually, from when the barley harvest ended in the third month until the grape harvest ended in the seventh month (2 Chronicles 31:7).

Whenever they received a harvest, they brought in the tithe of that harvest.

Where did they bring their tithes to?

The righteous brought their tithes to the meeting place of their congregation (Nehemiah 10:37-38).

They did not send it to another congregation.

How did they handle the excess?

The ministers prepared storage chambers and stored all that was left over, after their immediate needs were taken care of (2 Chronicles 31:10-12).  Then they appointed wise stewards over what was stored to be distributed as needed (2 Chronicles 31:12-14).  The excess of the tithes were stored for later use as determined by wise and faithful ministers in charge of the finances (Nehemiah 12:44).

These ministers were the only ones in control of the finances.

In the place where the righteous congregate, they give their tithes to take care of those who take care of their meeting place and those who minister the Word of Truth to them.  Wise and faithful stewards are then put in charge of the finances to ensure that the excess money is saved for future needs as they arise.

So, the righteous bring tithes of everything that they earn, as soon as they are paid, to the place where they congregate, and their tithes are overseen by responsible stewards.

We should consider what the Prophets said about paying tithes.

What about those who transgress against the Father of Truth, but still pay their tithes?

Many of the people of Israel transgressed against the Father of Truth at Bethel and Gilgal, which had became centers of idolatry, but they still were diligent to pay their tithes (Amos 4:4).  That was like offering a sacrifice with leaven, which is not acceptable to the Father of Truth (Amos 4:5).  So, they still came under a curse for not keeping His commandments, because they did not return to walking in ALL of His ways (Amos 4:6).

Paying tithes does not excuse us from keeping His other commandments.

How can people return to walking in all of His ways?

The Father of Truth called for the people of Israel to repent and stop robbing Him (Malachi 3:7-8).  Those who do not pay their tithes and do not make offerings besides their tithes, are robbing the Father of Truth of what belongs to Him (Malachi 3:8).

If we say that we are keeping His commandments, but we are not paying tithes, then we are liars and thieves.

So not paying tithes is robbing the Father of Truth what is due Him.  This robbery has to stop for people to walk in all of His ways.

Who was cursed for robbing the Father of Truth by not paying their tithes?

It was not just those involved in agriculture who were cursed for this robbery, but the entire nation (Malachi 3:9).

People of every profession were cursed for robbing Him by not paying their tithes.

How can people get the curse for robbing the Father of Truth reversed?

They must repent by bringing in all of the tithes to the storehouse at the meeting place of the congregation, so that it has an abundance (Malachi 3:10).

The solution to reversing the curse for robbing the Father of Truth is to repent by paying all of the tithes due Him.

(All of the tithes means the tithes that each person owes the Father of Truth based on every source of income they have.)

What will happen when they repent by paying their tithes?

This repentance puts an end to the curse of working in vain (Malachi 3:11). This repentance leads to a blessing that everyone can see (Malachi 3:12).

When we pay tithes under those conditions, then we come out from under the curse of working in vain.  Our work will be blessed, so that everyone else can see that we are blessed.

So, paying our tithes and giving offerings brings the blessing of having everything that we need, IF we are careful to walk in all of His ways for all of our days.

We should consider what the Man of Truth (Yeshua HaMashiach aka Jesus Christ) said about paying tithes.

What is the relative value of paying tithes?

Paying tithes is a lesser matter of the Law of Truth, so it is no substitute for judging rightly according to the Word of Truth, showing mercy to people, and having faith in the Father of Truth (Matthew 23:23).

The Father of Truth expects His people to do all four of these things.

When is paying tithes valuable to the Father of Truth?

We are to give alms to those who are reduced to begging out of what we have (Luke 11:41).  We cannot pay tithes, instead of judging things rightly according to the Word of Truth, and having real love for the Father of Truth (Luke 11:42).

Paying tithes is valuable when it is part of loving people and the Father of Truth.

Paying tithes, even out of all we have, does not make us righteous (Luke 18:9-14).  It is recognizing that we have sinned against the Father of Truth, and asking for mercy that makes us righteous (Luke 18:13-14).

Paying tithes is not valuable, if we are doing it to make ourselves righteous.

So, paying tithes is not valuable, if we do not we love the Father of Truth and love people.  Paying tithes is very valuable, if we do it because we love the Father of Truth and love people.

In like manner, paying tithes is worthless, if we are doing it to be made righteous.  However, paying tithes is very valuable, when we do it because we are humbling ourselves before the Father of Truth in repentance for transgressing the Law of Truth.

Paying tithes is part of loving the Father of Truth and loving people.

We should consider what else the Book of Truth says about paying tithes:

What motivates us to pay tithes?

We obey the commandment of the Father of Truth to pay tithes, because our hearts have been circumcised (Deuteronomy 30:6-8).  We pay tithes, because we believe His promise to bless our work for our obedience (Deuteronomy 30:8-9).  We have the faith to pay tithes, because we have turned to Him with all of our heart (Deuteronomy 30:10).

So, paying tithes is evidence of the faith that lives in a circumcised heart.

Why is it wise to pay tithes?

It is wise to pay tithes, because it shows honor to the Father of Truth (Proverbs 3:9).  It is wise to pay tithes, because He will cause our work to prosper (Proverbs 3:10).

If we do not honor the Father of Truth with our money, then we do not honor Him at all.  It is absolutely foolish to expect Him to prosper our work, if we do not pay our tithes as He commanded.

Why should we teach others to pay tithes?

Not one single commandment of the Law of Truth has been done away with (Matthew 5:17-18).

Even though paying tithes is one of the lesser commandments of the Law of Truth, if we teach people that they do not need to obey that commandment, then we will be least in His kingdom (Matthew 5:18-19).  If we want to be great in His kingdom, then we must teach people to obey the commandment to pay tithes (Matthew 5:19).

So, we should teach other people to pay tithes, because we want to be great, not least, in the kingdom of the Father of Truth.

Why are we blessed if we pay tithes?

The Father of Truth takes care of our needs, because we are seeking after His kingdom and righteousness over everything else when we pay tithes (Matthew 6:31-33).

It only makes sense that the Father of Truth would want to give us everything we need for success in expanding His kingdom and doing His will.

Why is it so important that we pay tithes?

It is being trustworthy with the temporary things that we are in charge of in this world, that trains us trustworthy to be in charge of eternal things in the world to come (Luke 16:10-12).

Paying tithes is training us to be faithful in this world, so we can be given positions of authority in the world to come.

What is the purpose of our tithes?

Those who take care of our spiritual needs deserve to have their physical needs taken care of by us (1 Corinthians 9:4-7).  We pay tithes to take care of those who take care of us (1 Corinthians 9:8-11).

So, paying tithes is not just a matter of loving the Father of Truth, but also a matter of loving people.

Whom do we pay our tithes to?

When the Temple stood, then tithes were the wages of those who took care of the Temple and taught the people how to obey His Commandments (1 Corinthians 9:12).  In the same way, our tithes are the wages of those who take care of the meeting place of our congregation and preach the Good News of His Kingdom (1 Corinthians 9:13).

We still pay tithes to those who take care of our meeting place and lead us in walking in all of His ways.  This is not money for nothing.

What should be our attitude about paying tithes?

We should never give offerings out of greed (2 Corinthians 9:5).  We should be giving offerings, because we believe that YHVH will take care of us in proportion to how we give to take care of others (2 Corinthians 9:6).  We should be glad to give as much as we can (2 Corinthians 9:7)  We should give out of faith that He will prosper our work as He promised (2 Corinthians 9:8).

It is the same with paying tithes.

We should never be giving to get.  We should be glad to pay tithes to take care of those who are working in His business.  We should be glad to pay tithes, because we have faith in His promise to take care of us.  We should be glad to pay tithes, because we are investing in His kingdom.

If this is not our attitude, then we cannot be a cheerful giver, who will be blessed.  The Father of Truth does not want us to be a fearful giver, or a tearful giver.

What does it hurt if we do not pay tithes?

Those who devote themselves to taking care of our meeting place and preaching the Gospel have the same need to be paid as everyone else (2 Corinthians 11:7).  Someone else will have to make up for their wages that we have stolen by not paying our tithes (2 Corinthians 11:8-9).

If we do not pay those who devote themselves to taking care of our meeting place and preaching the Gospel their wages, which is our tithes, then we are robbing them of their wages.  We are also robbing those people, who try to make up for our robbery, when we do not pay our tithes.

How much should those we pay tithes to be paid?

They are worthy of double wages (1 Timothy 5:17).  They deserve to be paid for the same reason as anyone else - because they worked hard to earn it (1 Timothy 5:18).

[The Greek word translated as "honor" can also mean “the amount paid”.]

(If you compare the number of Levites to everyone else in the census, you will find that there was a twenty to one ratio, which gave them twice the average salary.  This is especially true of those who labor in the Word and doctrine, like the Priests did.  Also, all of the Levites were paid the same thing, as were all the priests.)

This also precludes a minister from making an excessively high or low salary.  If the average wage of the congregation is $40,000 per year, then the minister deserves $80,000 per year.  The minister does not deserve $800,000 per year, nor does the minister deserve $8,000 per year.

If the congregation grows over the twenty to one ratio, then the excess tithes are to be put back for other needs, like providing health insurance, for example.  Once the congregation grows to being  able to support more ministers, then more ministers are added in proportion to the size of the congregation.  All ministers in the same congregation deserve to be paid the same wages. 

So, paying tithes is showing honor to the Father of Truth by giving His ministers what they have earned.

Conclusion:

If we are children of Abraham, then we will pay tithes!

If we are part of the true people of Israel, then we will pay tithes!

If we are obedient to the Law of Truth, then we will pay tithes!

If we are among the righteous, then we will pay tithes!

If we believe the Prophets, then we will pay tithes!

If we are obedient to the Man of Truth, then we will pay tithes!

If we want to advance His kingdom, then we will pay tithes!

If we want to pay people what they have earned, then we will pay tithes!

We say that we have been transformed by the Man of Truth.  We say that we fulfill the righteousness of the Law of Truth.  We say that we have faith in the Father of Truth.

It is time to put our money where our mouth is.

So, it really comes down to our hearts.  How we respond to the commandment to pay tithes reflects the condition of our hearts.

If our hearts are right with the Father of Truth, then we will pay tithes for the right reasons.  If our hearts are not right with the Father of Truth, then we might as well not pay tithes at all.

The only way for our hearts to be made right with the Father of Truth, is to come into the House of Truth.

Then the Spirit of Truth (Ruach HaQodesh aka The Holy Spirit aka The Holy Ghost) will enable us to fulfill the righteous commandment of the Law of Truth to pay tithes from our hearts (Romans 8:3-5).  There is no other way to obey the commandment to pay our tithes from our hearts (Romans 8:6-8).

The Spirit of Truth is given to all who come into the House of Truth (Romans 8:9-11).  The Children of Truth overcome everything that prevents them from paying tithes by following the Spirit of Truth (Romans 8:12-14).

So, surrender everything to the Man of Truth, including control of your money, because you believe that the Father of Truth raised him from the dead (Romans 10:9).

Come into the House of Truth!

Liars And Theives

What is the most common type of theft?

Most people think of a thief as someone who takes something that belongs from someone else by stealth.  They perhaps think of a burglar who breaks into a house to steal things from the house.  They perhaps think of a shoplifter who goes through a store and hides small items in their clothing to avoid paying for them.  They perhaps think of a mugger who beats up an unsuspecting victim to get their wallet.  They perhaps think of someone like a bank robber, who holds a bank teller at gunpoint while demanding that their bag be filled with cash.  They perhaps think of a jewel thief who skillfully takes carefully guarded jewels from a museum.

While all of these are indeed forms of theft, they are no where the most common type of theft.  The frequency and damage of this kind of theft is minuscule compared to the frequency and damage of the most common kind of theft.

The most common type of theft is not performed by people that have a charge of theft on their criminal records.   The most common type of theft is not performed by people that most people would think of as criminals.  The most common type of theft is not performed by people with extraordinary dexterity.

The most common type of theft is performed countless times every day by what would appear to be law abiding citizens.  The most common type of theft is even performed by people who say that they are part of the Children of Truth (those who obey The Father of Truth because they love Him).  The most common type of theft is performed so effortlessly, that those who perform it do not even sometimes realize, that they are thieves.  The most common type of theft is performed by lying in order to not give someone else what is due to them, or to get something from someone else that they do not owe.

When someone robs someone else of what they promised to give them, when they are able to give it - no matter how costly it will be to do so - then they are defrauding them.  When someone promises to give something that they know that they will not be able to give, in order to get something from someone else, they are defrauding them.  When people misrepresent their ability to do what they promised to do, in order to get people to take less than what was promised, then they are defrauding them.  When people lie about what someone else owes them, then they are defrauding someone else.  Fraud is lying to someone to not give them what is due them, or to get from them what they do not owe.  Those who so defraud people are liars and thieves.

Those who lie about anything, in order to hold back what is due to someone else, are liars and thieves (Leviticus 19:11-13).

So what are some of the ways that people defraud other people, and become liars and thieves?

Perhaps the most common way that people defraud other people, is in their marriages.

Those who are in a right partnership for love, must do what they promised when it is the right time for love.   Otherwise, they are liars and thieves.

Husbands and wives owe sex to each other (1 Corinthians 7:2-3).  It is not alright for a husband to neglect having sex with his wife, because he is too busy traveling for his job.  It is not alright for a wife to neglect having sex with her husband, because she is not in the mood.  They both agreed to meet each others need for sex when they got married (1 Corinthians 7:4). 

They need to make whatever adjustments are necessary to keep their agreement.  Spouses, who neglect having sex with their spouses, are not doing what they agreed to do, and they are not giving to their spouses what is due to them (1 Corinthians 7:5).

They must continue to have sex together at the right time, unless there are circumstances beyond their control, that makes it physically impossible to do so.

One of these circumstances is being physically unable to have sex.  A man and his wife might be unable to physically have sex when they become old (Genesis 18:11-13).  Their ability to have sex may have died when they become old (Romans 4:16-19).  Their bodies might have become too weak to have sex (Hebrews 11:11).

One of these circumstances is a disaster.  A man may have to focus on making preparations to protect his wife from a disaster (Genesis 32:6-8).  A man may have to separate from his wife to protect her from a disaster (Genesis 32:22-24).  A man may have go away from his wife to get relief from a disaster in order to save her (Genesis 42:3-5).  A man may go away from his wife in order to save his own life from a disaster, once she is safe (1 Samuel 19:10-12).

One of these circumstances is war.  A man is not go to war if he is engaged to get married, because war could keep him from fulfilling his duty of sex that he owes his wife (Deuteronomy 20:7).  A man is not go to war until a year after he has married, because war could keep him from fulfilling his duty of sex that he owes his wife (Deuteronomy 24:5).  A man has to be physically separated from his wife during war to keep her safe (Numbers 32:25-27).  A man needs to be with his fellow soldiers during war (2 Samuel 11:11).

One of these circumstances is captivity.  David could not have sex with his wives as long as they were in captivity (1 Samuel 30:3-5).  He had to rescue his wives before he could resume having sex with them (1 Samuel 30:18).  The men in the days of King Hezekiah (Chez'qiah) could not have sex with their wives as long as their wives were held in captivity (2 Chronicles 29:6-9).

One of these circumstances is prison.  Peter the Jew (Cephas aka Sh'mon aka Simeon aka The Apostle Peter) had a wife (Matthew 8:14).  He could not have sex with his wife during the week when he was in prison (Acts 12:3-6).  He was still married to his wife many years later (1 Corinthians 9:5).  Despite not being able to have sex with his wife when he was in prison, he was a pillar among the Children of Truth, and was the chief Apostle of Truth to the Jews (Galatians 2:7-9).

So anyone who cannot have sex with their spouse due to circumstances beyond their control, which makes it physically impossible to do so, is not robbing their spouse of what is due to them.

However, anyone who neglects having sex with their spouse for any other reason, is not doing what they vowed to do when they married, and is robbing their spouse of what is due to them.  They are liars and thieves.

Perhaps the next most common way that people defraud other people, is in their workplace.

Employers are not to change the wages that they agreed to give their employees, after they have performed the work (Genesis 31:7).  Employers are not to give their employees anything less than what was promised (Genesis 31:41-42).  Employers are to pay their employees at the time that they promised (Leviticus 19:13).  Employers are not to withhold the wages of their employees, so that can increase their own wealth (Jeremiah 22:13-16).  Employers are to give to their employees wages equal to what they have justly earned (Colossians 4:1).  Employers are not to give to their employees less than what they have earned, so the employer can live in luxury (James 5:1-5).  Employers who do not pay everything that was promised to their employees, are liars and thieves. 

Employers are to give their employees all of the time off that is due them (Exodus 20:8-10). Employers are to give their employees time off to observe holidays (Leviticus 23:7-36).  Employers are to give their employees off at least one day a week (Deuteronomy 5:12-14).  Employers who do not give all of the time off that is due to their employees, are liars and thieves.

Employers are not to demand more from the disadvantaged than others (Exodus 22:21-24).  Employers are not to take advantage of any foreigner who works for them (Exodus 23:9).  Employers are to treat foreigners the same way as everyone else (Leviticus 19:33-34).  Employers are treat the disadvantaged fairly (Deuteronomy 10:18-19).  Employers are not to take advantage of the poor and needy who works for them (Deuteronomy 24:14-15).   Employers are not to rob the disadvantaged of what is due them (Ezekiel 22:29).  Employers are not to oppress the disadvantaged by paying them less wages than others for the same work (Malachi 3:5).  Employers are do good to their employees without threatening them (Ephesians 6:8-9).  Employers who exact more work for less pay from the disadvantaged, are liars and thieves.

Employees are to serve their employer with all of their ability (Genesis 31:6).  Employees should perform their work with all of their might (Ecclesiastes 9:10).  Employees should perform work that is worth what they are being paid (Luke 10:7).  Employees are to work hard all of the time, and not just when their employers are watching (Ephesians 6:5-8).  Employees should never do nothing when they are being paid to do something (2 Thessalonians 3:7-9).  Employees who do less work than they agreed to provide to their employers, are liars and thieves. 

Employees should not seek to get more wages than what they agreed to work for (Matthew 20:8-14). Employees are to be content with the wages that they have earned (Luke 3:12-14).  Employees are to provide honest labor so that they may help others, instead of stealing (Ephesians 4:28).  Employees who look for ways to get more from their employers than the wages they agreed upon, are liars and thieves. 

Employees are to follow the rules of their employer at all times, so they can provide what their employer expects (Colossians 3:22-24).  Employees owe respect to their employers (1 Timothy 6:1-2).  Employees are to follow the rules of their employers without bickering, and show their employers that they are trustworthy (Titus 2:9-10).  Employees are to follow the rules of their employers, even if their employers do not treat them well (1 Peter 2:18-20).  Employees who do not provide the respect that is due to their employers by obeying the rules of their employer, as they agreed to do when they became employed, are liars and thieves.

Employers should not promote employees who do not deserve promotion, for it robs a deserving employee of the promotion that they deserve (Psalm 73:3-16).  The employee that has wisely developed the gift that was given by the Father of Truth (YHVH aka God aka THE LORD) to benefit the employer should be promoted, instead of the employer just believing whatever story another employee told them (Proverbs 18:15-17).  Employees who do not work hard to carry out the orders of their employer should be fired, not promoted (Jeremiah 12:1-3).  Employees who make false claims to get promoted by employers. who do not investigate those claims, are liars and thieves.

The employee who is diligent in carrying out the orders of their employer should be promoted (Proverbs 10:4).  The employee that is seeking after the good of their employer should be promoted (Proverbs 11:27).  The employee that is diligent in their work should be promoted over those who are not (Proverbs 12:24).  Faithful and gifted employees should be set over other employees by their employer (Daniel 6:1-4).  Employees who are honest in everything they do should be promoted (3 John 1:2-4).  Employers, who do not promote those employees who they know deserve promotion, so they can promote someone else instead, are liars and thieves.

So anyone who does not treat employees or employers fairly, by not keeping the work agreement that they made to provide honest wages for honest work, or by participating in an undeserved promotion, are liars and thieves.

Another common way that people defraud other people, is in their loans.

Whenever someone defaults on a loan, without first selling everything they can to raise money to repay the loan, then they are lying about their ability to repay the loan (Psalm 15:4).  They simply are not willing to part with their stuff in order to repay the loan (Psalm 37:21).  They are keeping the money that is due to the lender, while claiming that they cannot get the money to repay the lender (Proverbs 3:27-28).  If they are not giving what is due to the lender, when they have the means to get it, then they are liars and thieves.

The borrower is to pay back the loan that they made an oath to pay back (Numbers 30:2).  They are do whatever they promised to do, even if they did not make an oath (Matthew 5:33-37).  They do not need an oath to do what they promised (James 5:12).  If they do not pay back what they promised, when they have the ability to do so, then they are liars and thieves.

So those who do not repay a loan, by claiming that they do not have the means to do so, when they actually have the means to repay the loan, are liars and thieves.

Another common way that people defraud others, is in their taxes.

The government has a right to collect taxes from people to prepare for disaster (Genesis 41:34-36).  The government has a right to collect taxes from people since it owns the land that they live on (Genesis 47:23-26).

The government has a right to force people into military and civilian service (1 Samuel 8:11-13).  The government has a right to tax people and take their land for the needs of the government (1 Samuel 8:14-15).  The government has a right to tax people and force them into its service because the government rules over them (1 Samuel 8:16-17).  People gave these rights to the government when they consented to be governed (1 Samuel 8:18-22).

The government has a right to tax the people that it governs (Luke 2:1-5).  Tax money belongs to the government since it created the money (Luke 20:22-25).  Taxes are the wages that are owed to the government for providing things like law and order (Romans 13:3-7).

People owe taxes to pay the wages of those who govern them.  People owe taxes to help pay the expenses of the country where they are living.  Whenever someone cheats on their taxes, they are really just lying about their finances to the government, so they can keep money that belongs to the government.  They are liars and thieves.

One last common way that people defraud others, is in tithes and offerings.

The Children of Abraham are those who do what Abraham (Abram) did (John 8:39).  The Children of Truth are the children of Abraham by demonstrating the same faith that Abraham had before he was circumcised (Romans 4:11-13).  Abraham is the father of everyone who lives in the same faith that he lived in (Galatians 3:7-9).  Those who have the faith of Abraham will do the works of Abraham (James 2:21-24).

Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek (Maleki-tzedek aka Melchisedec) of everything he had, because Melchizedek was a priest of the Father of Truth (Genesis 14:18-20).  When Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek, it was the same as paying tithes to the Man of Truth (Yeshua HaMashiach aka Jesus Christ) (Hebrews 7:1-3).  Abraham paid tithes to someone who was greater than himself or the Levites (Hebrews 7:4-7).  In fact, the Levites themselves paid tithes to the Man of Truth, when Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek (Hebrews 7:8-10).  The Levites paid tithes to someone, who was not part of those who received tithes in the Law of Truth (Torah aka The Law), because he represented the Man of Truth (Hebrews 7:11-14).

Jacob (Yah'akob aka Israel) promised to give ten percent of everything to the Father of Truth as a sign that they were in covenant together (Genesis 28:20-22).  Tithes belong to the Father of Truth (Leviticus 27:30-32).  Tithes go to religious professionals, like the Levites, so they can carry out the purposes of the Father of Truth without distraction (Numbers 18:21-24).  Even religious professionals, like the Levites, are to pay tithes (Numbers 18:25-26).  Religious professionals are to also pay tithes, even though they do not have a secular job, because it is a sign that they are in covenant with the Father of Truth (Numbers 18:27-30).

In like manner, the Ministers of Truth today, have a right to be supported by the Children of Truth, so they can carry out the purposes of the Father of Truth without distraction (1 Corinthians 9:4-7).  Tithes belong to these religious professionals as their wages for the services that they provide, because they represent the Man of Truth (1 Corinthians 9:8-11).  The Father of Truth has ordained that the Ministers of Truth be given wages by collecting tithes, just like the Levites (1 Corinthians 9:12-14).

The Children of Truth are to give offerings to build and maintain the place where they meet as well (Exodus 25:1-8).   They are to give offerings to send out Ministers of Truth to tell people outside of their congregation and their community the Good News (Romans 10:13-15).  They are to continually give offerings to support Ministers of Truth in other places so they can grow new congregations there (Philippians 4:14-16).

The Children of Truth are to give offerings to take care of the poor, because the Father of Truth has promised to repay them for doing so (Proverbs 19:17).  They are to give offerings to help the poor among them (alms) (Matthew 6:1-4).  They are to give generously, because the Man of Truth has promised that others will give to them generously for doing so (Luke 6:38).

The Children of Truth are to give offerings to take care of the Jewish Children of Truth in Israel, who face daily persecution from other Jews who have not came into the House of Truth (Romans 15:25-27).  They are to give offerings to show their love for the Father of Truth and to show love for other people like the Man of Truth did (2 Corinthians 8:5-9).  Those Children of Truth, who have not been reduced to begging, are to give offerings to share what they have with the Children of Truth who are in extreme need (2 Corinthians 8:13-15). 

The Children of Truth are to give offerings willingly from their heart because these offerings belong to the Father of Truth (Exodus 25:2).  Not only are the rich among the Children of Truth are to be generous in giving offerings, but also the poor (2 Corinthians 8:1-4).  They are to give offerings in accordance to what they have been given by the Father of Truth (2 Corinthians 8:10-12).

The Children of Truth are to give these offerings cheerfully because they know that the Father of Truth loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:5-7).  They are to give these offerings because it will cause others to give glory to the Father of Truth, when they see the generosity of people who have come into the House of Truth (2 Corinthians 9:11-13).

The Children of Truth are to give these offerings, because the Father of Truth has promised to cause them to have everything that they will need, to carry out His will for their lives (2 Corinthians 9:8-10).  They are to give these offerings sacrificially, because they trust that the Father of Truth will give them everything that they need (Philippians 4:17-19).

So those who do not give tithes and offerings, are not keeping the covenant that they made with the Father of Truth, which makes them liars and thieves (Malachi 3:7-8).  They are liars and thieves because they do not trust the Father of Truth to do what He promised (Malachi 3:9-12).  Those who claim to have faith in the Father of Truth, but do not trust the Father of Truth enough to give Him the tithes and offerings that are due to Him, are liars and thieves (James 2:14-20).

So it should be apparent that the most common type of theft is that done by lying, which is called fraud.  People commit fraud in their marriages, by withholding sex that they promised to their spouse.  People commit fraud in their workplaces, by not giving their employer, or employee, what they are due.  People commit fraud in their loans, by not doing everything in their power to pay back what they promised.  People commit fraud in their taxes, by giving inaccurate information, so they can pay less taxes than they owe.  People even commit fraud against the Father of Truth, by not giving the tithes and offerings that they owe Him.

The Man of Truth warned, that those who want to gain eternal life should never defraud others, for that makes them liars and thieves (Mark 10:17-19).  Those who become liars and thieves, by defrauding others, will have no part in the kingdom of his Father (1 Corinthians 6:8-10).  The Father of Truth will takes vengeance on all who become liars and thieves, by defrauding others, because those who do such things despise Him (1 Thessalonians 4:6-8).  Liars and thieves will have their part in the Lake of Fire (Revelation 21:8).

However, the Father of Truth does not treat ignorance in the same way as He treats rebellion.  Some people may not have realized that they owed some of these things before now.  They might have been told that they were not obligated to pay some of these obligations.  However, now that they know better, the Father of Truth is demanding that they no longer be liars and thieves, since He has raised the Man of Truth from the dead as proof that he will judge liars and thieves (Acts 17:30-31).

The Good News is that people can repent from being liars and thieves.  Those who are really the Children of Truth, completely abandon defrauding others, because they are no longer liars and thieves (1 Corinthians 6:8-11).  The Apostles of Truth never became liars and thieves, by defrauding others (2 Corinthians 7:2).

Anyone can come into the House of Truth, by surrendering control of their life to the Man of Truth, because they believed that his Father raised him from the dead (Romans 10:9-11).  The Father of Truth will cause those who come into the House of Truth, to both desire and be able to do what they promised, so that they are no longer liars and thieves (Philippians 2:13).

Come into the House of Truth!