“BRING THE WHOLE TITHE into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the LORD of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.” (Mal. 3:10).
Tithing is not a very popular subject nowadays! Of course, it has never really been a popular subject. We work very hard to make a living and it’s often difficult to give up 10% on a regular basis. According to American Donor Trends (A Barna Group), “Only 5% of adult Americans donate 10% of their income to charity–any charity. 30% donate nothing, 50% give 0-2%, and an additional 15% give 3-9%. We don’t know what percentage of that 5% are from religious people.”
Many say they do not tithe because the New Testament does not support tithing!
“But woe to you Pharisees! For you pay tithe of mint and rue and every kind of garden herb, and yet disregard justice and the love of God; but THESE ARE THE THINGS YOU SHOULD HAVE DONE without neglecting the others.” (Luke 11:42)
Jesus taught that paying tithes is something we should do! God’s promise to us is that he will “…test Me now (says the Lord) …if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing…”
The writer of Hebrews taught us that Abraham, who was before the Law “..the one (Melchizedek) whose genealogy is not traced from them collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises… And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes…” (Heb. 7:6, 9)
When the 12 tribes of Israel were given their land only 11 portions of land were designated by the Lord. The tribe of Levi was not given a portion because God told them that they were to live around the temple, maintain it and take care of ministering and they would be supported by the tithe. Today we are in desperate need of full time, dedicated ministers who do not have to worry about how they will feed their families. Remember this plea from the Lord…
“Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, ‘How have we robbed You?’ IN TITHES AND OFFERINGS.” (Mal. 3:8)
Let’s be faithful to God and support our ministry…Bill Stockham