Should a Christian Tithe?

[veryberry]

 

[Obadiah]

veryberry, what are your thoughts on this?

 

[iLOVE]

6 “I am the Lord, and I don’t change. You are Jacob’s children, and you have not been completely destroyed. 7 But you never obeyed my laws. Even your ancestors stopped following me. Come back to me, and I will come back to you.” This is what the Lord All-Powerful said.
“You say, ‘How can we come back?’
8 “People should not steal things from God, but you stole things from me.
“You say, ‘What did we steal from you?’
“You should have given me one-tenth of your things. You should have given me special gifts. 9 In this way your whole nation has stolen things from me, so bad things are happening to you.”
10 The Lord All-Powerful says, “Try this test. Bring one-tenth of your things to me. Put them in the treasury. Bring food to my house. Test me! If you do these things, I will surely bless you. Good things will come to you like rain falling from the sky. You will have more than enough of everything. 11 I will not let pests destroy your crops. All your grapevines will produce grapes.” This is what the Lord All-Powerful said.
12 “People from other nations will be good to you. You will have a wonderful country.” This is what the Lord All-Powerful said. Malachi 3:6-12 ERV

 

[iLOVE]

The blessing is an empowerment to have results in every area of your life. It is a supernatural enablement. The curse, on the other hand, is an empowerment to fail and it always has a cause. While Believers are already blessed by God, they can block the blessing from flowing in their lives by not tithing. Tithing is not so much a New Testament law as it is an act of love for God. When we truly love Him, we willingly give 10% of our financial increase to Him.

1. The day you are born again God deposits His blessing within you (Ephesians 1:3).
   1. You already possess God's blessing.
      1. You can block the blessing from flowing in your life.
      2. A curse doesn't come without a cause (Proverbs 26:2).
2. Tithing releases the blessing in your life.
   1. Tithe means a tenth portion.
      1. Example: a tithe of $100 is $10.00.
   2. Tithing is a way to activate the blessing in your life.
   3. Abraham brought a tenth of his spoils from battle to the high priest, Melchizedek.
      1. In exchange for the tithe, Melchizedek released the blessing upon Abraham (Genesis 14:18-24).
      2. The tithing exchange allowed Abraham to receive Melchizedek's blessing and Abraham was empowered to prosper as a result.
         1. The blessing is the root to the fruit.
         2. When you have the blessing, you will see the manifestation of it as Abraham did.
   
   
   
3. Jesus is our High Priest just as Melchizedek was to Abraham (Hebrews 6:20).
   1. Jesus became our High Priest so that the seed of Abraham (Believers) could go through the same process Abraham did to release the blessing flow in his life through the tithe.
   2. Tithing is something you do out of your love for God.
      1. Abraham's motive for giving a tenth to the high priest was not because it was required by the law or a specific commandment to tithe. He tithed because He loved God (Hebrews 7:2-19).
   3. Jesus never commanded people to tithe in the New Testament but the commandment to love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength encompasses all the laws in the Old Testament, including tithing.
      1. When you operate in the law of love, you fulfill all the other commandments in the Bible.
      2. When you keep the commandment of love, you will want to tithe out of your love and appreciation for God.
      3. Your love for God should motivate you to give (Luke 10:27).
4. Tithing stops the enemy from devouring your life (Malachi 3:6-12).
   1. When you are a tither, you have an advantage over Satan and his schemes to destroy your life.
      1. God promises to rebuke the devourer for your sake.
      2. God will manifest Himself to you when you tithe.

 

[JLB]

Let's ask ourselves if we are to give as a member of the Covenant.

We know that Abraham gave as a Covenant member.

He gave 10%, Tithe to the priest that represented the Lord, in whom He was in Covenant with.

He gave this offering of 10% 400 years before the law of Moses.

32 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. 33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. 34 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, 35 and laid them at the apostles' feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need. Acts 4:32-35

This is the way that a family comes together.

The children of Israel were all one family.

Most all the children of Israel were given their own land to work and farm, as well as raise livestock, except one family who was given the responsibility to minister to and serve the Lord and the people.

They were the Levite's, the priest's.

The received Tithes from among the people.

They represented the Lord.

When a person gave a tithe to the priesthood, they were giving to the Lord himself.


... and laid them at the apostles' feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.

The Apostles were the new representatives of The Lord.

This is the way of Covenant people.

This is the way of the kingdom of God.

This is the Lord's way, and we are His children.


JLB

 

[Jethro Bodine]

I bet the Israelites had no problem with this part of the tithe:

22 “22 “You shall surely tithe all the produce from what you sow, which comes out of the field every year.23 You shall eat in the presence of the Lord your God, at the place where He chooses to establish His name, the tithe of your grain, your new wine, your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and your flock, so that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always." (Deuteronomy 14:22-23 NASB)

Apparently it was this part of the tithe they neglected:

"28 At the end of every third year you shall bring out all the tithe of your produce in that year, and shall deposit it in your town.29 The Levite, orphan and the widow who are in your town, shall come and eat and be satisfied, in order that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do." (Deuteronomy 14:28-29 NASB)

 

[Willie T]

The Bible simply says for us to "give what you have purposed" to give. That's all it says to Christians. But if you have "purposed" to make it a required tithe... then that seems to me to be what you are to do. But it's an individual, personal thing. Don't lay it on a congregation as a law.

 

[Deborah13]

The blessing is an empowerment to have results in every area of your life. It is a supernatural enablement. The curse, on the other hand, is an empowerment to fail and it always has a cause. While Believers are already blessed by God, they can block the blessing from flowing in their lives by not tithing. Tithing is not so much a New Testament law as it is an act of love for God. When we truly love Him, we willingly give 10% of our financial increase to Him.

1. The day you are born again God deposits His blessing within you (Ephesians 1:3).
   1. You already possess God's blessing.
      1. You can block the blessing from flowing in your life.
      2. A curse doesn't come without a cause (Proverbs 26:2).
2. Tithing releases the blessing in your life.
   1. Tithe means a tenth portion.
      1. Example: a tithe of $100 is $10.00.
   2. Tithing is a way to activate the blessing in your life.
   3. Abraham brought a tenth of his spoils from battle to the high priest, Melchizedek.
      1. In exchange for the tithe, Melchizedek released the blessing upon Abraham (Genesis 14:18-24).
      2. The tithing exchange allowed Abraham to receive Melchizedek's blessing and Abraham was empowered to prosper as a result.
         1. The blessing is the root to the fruit.
         2. When you have the blessing, you will see the manifestation of it as Abraham did.
   
   
   
3. Jesus is our High Priest just as Melchizedek was to Abraham (Hebrews 6:20).
   1. Jesus became our High Priest so that the seed of Abraham (Believers) could go through the same process Abraham did to release the blessing flow in his life through the tithe.
   2. Tithing is something you do out of your love for God.
      1. Abraham's motive for giving a tenth to the high priest was not because it was required by the law or a specific commandment to tithe. He tithed because He loved God (Hebrews 7:2-19).
   3. Jesus never commanded people to tithe in the New Testament but the commandment to love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength encompasses all the laws in the Old Testament, including tithing.
      1. When you operate in the law of love, you fulfill all the other commandments in the Bible.
      2. When you keep the commandment of love, you will want to tithe out of your love and appreciation for God.
      3. Your love for God should motivate you to give (Luke 10:27).
4. Tithing stops the enemy from devouring your life (Malachi 3:6-12).
   1. When you are a tither, you have an advantage over Satan and his schemes to destroy your life.
      1. God promises to rebuke the devourer for your sake.
      2. God will manifest Himself to you when you tithe.

Please notice in Genesis 14 that Melchizedek blessed Abram with bread and wine and said that God had already blessed Abram with victory against his enemy. It was After this the Abram gave Melchizedek the gift of the 1/10. Also notice that Abram did not keep Anything for himself. This was not a tithe of Abram's increase.
If this is an example of tithing the increase than what it says is that we should give the rest back to wherever we got it from.
Gen 14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem hath brought out bread and wine, and he is priest of God Most High;
Gen 14:19 and he blesseth him, and saith, `Blessed is Abram to God Most High, possessing heaven and earth;
Gen 14:20 and blessed is God Most High, who hath delivered thine adversaries into thy hand;' and he giveth to him a tenth of all.
Gen 14:23 from a thread even unto a shoe-latchet I take not of anything which thou hast, that thou say not, I--I have made Abram rich;
Gen 14:24 save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men who have gone with me--Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre--they take their portion.'

I believe we give to the Lord because He has already blessed us, not in order to get blessed.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

The Bible simply says for us to "give what you have purposed" to give. That's all it says to Christians.

Agreed.

But if you have "purposed" to make it a required tithe... then that seems to me to be what you are to do.

And do it the way the law says to do it. For some reason pastors leave the part about eating your own tithe out, lol.

But it's an individual, personal thing. Don't lay it on a congregation as a law.

But how else are we to keep the 'business' of the church going?

I suppose the fear that leaving giving up to the will of the person as they are blessed by a ministry is that the ministry might starve. How ironic it is that many who teach faith don't have the faith to let God bless their ministries without making tithing a matter of law.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

I believe we give to the Lord because He has already blessed us, not in order to get blessed.

I agree. And to maintain the blessing.

To not consume, and share what you have been blessed with is to risk losing what you have been blessed with. Consume and share what you have been blessed with and it will increase.

 

[iLOVE]

The People Don’t Respect God
6 The Lord All-Powerful said, “Children honor their fathers. Servants honor their masters. I am your Father, so why don’t you honor me? I am your master, so why don’t you respect me? You priests don’t respect my name.
“But you say, ‘What have we done that shows we don’t respect your name?’

7 “You bring unclean bread to my altar.
“But you ask, ‘What makes that bread unclean?’
“It is unclean because you show no respect for the altar of the Lord. 8 You bring blind animals as sacrifices, and that is wrong. You bring sick and crippled animals for sacrifices, and that is wrong. Try giving those sick animals as a gift to your governor. Would he accept those sick animals? No, he would not accept them.” This is what the Lord All-Powerful said.

9 “Now try asking God to be good to you. But he will not listen to you, and it is all your fault.” This is what the Lord All-Powerful said.
10 “I wish one of you would close the Temple doors to stop the lighting of useless fires on my altar. I am not pleased with you. I will not accept your gifts.” This is what the Lord All-Powerful said.
11 “People all around the world respect my name. All around the world they bring good gifts to me and burn good incense as a gift to me, because my name is important to all of them.” This is what the Lord All-Powerful said.

12 “But you people show that you don’t respect my name. You say that the Lord’s altar is unclean. And you don’t like the food from that altar. 13 You smell the food and refuse to eat it. You say it is bad. Then you bring sick, crippled, and hurt animals to me. You try to give sick animals to me as sacrifices, but I will not accept them.” This is what the Lord All-Powerful said. 14 “Some people have good, male animals that they could give as sacrifices, but don’t. Some people bring good animals and promise to give those healthy animals to me. But then they secretly exchange those good animals and give me sick animals instead. Bad things will happen to those people. I am the Great King and people all around the world respect me!” This is what the Lord All-Powerful said. Malachi 1 Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

Giving God your leftovers and not making Him FIRST will disconnect you from the Cross. Followers of Jesus Christ can not have one foot in the kingdom and one foot in the world. What is the greatest commandment?

As you have read in Malachi 1 God has said give your Governor your junk and your leftovers. I am a great King!

 

[jasonc]

a tithe literally in context is the tenth of what the land has given you, to include, livestock and grain. I don't own any of these? do you?

 

[evenifigoalone]

I haven't watched the video in the OP, but I tithe. If nothing else, because I know my church puts the money to good use. Things I want my money to support.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

I haven't watched the video in the OP, but I tithe. If nothing else, because I know my church puts the money to good use. Things I want my money to support.

Tithing is a good benchmark for the Christian to base his/her giving on, IMO.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

a tithe literally in context is the tenth of what the land has given you, to include, livestock and grain. I don't own any of these? do you?

Agricultural wealth converted to silver and gold was accepted as tithe. With it they bought food and drink to consume in the presence of the Lord, and share with the alien, the Levite, the orphan, and the widow.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

I haven't watched the video in the OP, but I tithe. If nothing else, because I know my church puts the money to good use. Things I want my money to support.

Which is the principle of giving taught in the NT.

You support that which you have been blessed with and want others to be blessed by. Paul goes so far as to say you owe it to them who bless you for that reason.

 

[jasonc]

Agricultural wealth converted to silver and gold was accepted as tithe. With it they bought food and drink to consume in the presence of the Lord, and share with the alien, the Levite, the orphan, and the widow.

I don't know much isreal had in gold and silver, surely not all could have that. the poor were to give, but the other part this is overlooked is that the tithe was for the priests and their needs not the poor. the landowners and farmers were to help with not gleaning the corners of their lands for the widows, the fatherless and poor.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

Giving God your leftovers and not making Him FIRST will disconnect you from the Cross.!

"Seek ye first the kingdom of God..."

 

[Jethro Bodine]

I don't know much isreal had in gold and silver, surely not all could have that.

But all surely had something. If you have nothing, then you owe nothing. Ten percent of nothing is still nothing. But ten percent of something is still ten percent of something.

...the poor were to give, but the other part this is overlooked is that the tithe was for the priests and their needs not the poor.

You sure about that?

 

[iLOVE]

"Seek ye first the kingdom of God..."

Matthew 6:33 is the key to life!