Honor and Tribute | The Institute for Creation Research

 
Honor and Tribute
 

Every culture in the world understands their civil responsibility to those in higher authority. What has escaped most people—even many Christians, is that the HIGHEST authority is the Creator and Owner of all things. That is why Jesus Christ told us to do both: give to "Caesar" what belonged to him and to God what belonged to Him.

God deserves, and we are responsible to give HONOR to Him.

Several forms of "honor" are spoken of in the Scriptures: trust, love, obedience, etc., but we must not neglect to "honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase" (Proverbs 3:9). It is this PERSONAL "rendering" that seems to bring the most challenging pain—both to those who only render "taxes" to the government and to those who should render "tribute" to God.

God is clear about "rendering" a portion of our wealth to Him.

The New Testament is very specific that "every one of" us (I Corinthians 16:2), indeed, "every man according as he purposeth in his heart" (II Corinthians 9:7) is to give of his resources to our Lord. We are further told that it is to be "as God hath prospered him" (I Corinthians 16:2) and that it be "out of that which ye have" (II Corinthians 8:11). In more modern terms, we are to give proportionately (a percentage) of what we earn or possess. The only percentage tribute ever taught in Scripture is the tithe—10% of our "increase."

What's the Christian to do?

While not specifically demanded of the Christian, many view the tithe as a starting place for our thinking. We have both the obligation to give and the opportunity to give more. We are to give cheerfully (Acts 20:35; II Cor-inthians 9:7), lovingly (John 3:16; II Corinthians 8:8-9), expectantly (Luke 6:38 and II Corinthians 9:10-11), and sacrificially (Mark 12:41-44 and Mark 14:3-9). Our gifts should be directed to God-glorifying and Bible-honoring churches and ministries.

Can ICR help?

If we can help in your financial planning and thinking, please contact us.

Cite this article: Henry M. Morris III, D.Min. 2002. Honor and Tribute. Acts & Facts. 31 (5).

The Latest
NEWS
Breaking News: Ancient Mollusks Were Complex
Mollusks consist of a wide range of invertebrates that include the intelligent octopus, pulmonated snails (gastropods), and bivalves (clams). They appear...

NEWS
Dino Trackway Leads Straight to a Young Earth
Uncovering animal tracks and trackways in sedimentary rocks is a testament to the Genesis Flood.1–4 Fascinating discoveries continue...

NEWS
February 2025 ICR Wallpaper
"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8 NKJV) ICR's...

CREATION.LIVE PODCAST
Fascinating Dino Fossil Finds! | Creation.Live Podcast: Episode...
Dinosaurs are fascinating creatures and the fossils they've left behind inspire awe and wonder. Many scientists claim that the existence of...

NEWS
New Antarctic Ice Core: Good News for Creationists
Scientists have successfully drilled a fourth long ice core in East Antarctica.1 This new core, which reached to bedrock, has bottom ice...

CREATION PODCAST
Towers, Buttes, and Gardens of Stone - Exploring America's National...
America is home to stunning forests, mountains, monuments, and other wondrous features. The unique beauty of many of these locations has prompted...

NEWS
Oldest Dinosaurs in North America Explained by the Flood
A team of conventional paleontologists claims to have found the oldest dinosaur in North America, rivaling the oldest dinosaur remains found anywhere.1...

NEWS
Leaf and Stick Insect Variation
The phylum Arthropoda suddenly appears in the fossil record in a most un-Darwinian way.1 The largest group within the arthropods is the class...

NEWS
Snowflakes: A Symphony of Intricacy and Beauty
Snowflakes are among the most exquisite forms that nature has to offer, and no two flakes are alike. Several evolutionists have attempted to use the...

NEWS
Molecular Machines Twist Evolution
We read in the first chapter of Romans that God loves us so much that He has given us a general revelation of what He has created. Verse 19 states,...