Tithing, Whats the Big Deal?

Found this thought provoking quiz concerning tithing. my score was 25. What is your score? 5 points per correct answer

The Tithing Test

 

Another site that brings out the Scriptural truths of tithing:

Tithing Is Unscriptural Under The New Covenant

 

So many misquote Malachi 3:10 and its mention of tithes to say God demands a tenth of our money, But that is not what Malachi preached at all. Look at the verse:

Malachi 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

"Windows of heaven" is only found 3 times in the Word of God. here and then in Genesis Chapters 7 and 8. Was money poured out when the 'windows of heaven' opened? No, it was rain. Malachi was clearly showing that when one brought tithes (produce from the land) into the storehouse (a place set to store the produce) God would cause the windows of heaven to open and the rain to fall on the fields to bring more crops. Crops in abundance that would be so plentious that the storage facility woul d be full.

It was not in reference to money at all.

 

This is my biggest problem with those who use the "Church Age" argument with everything from tithing to worship and staff. We have the Old Testament for a reason. Jesus did not come to say, "all right, all that that you've heard before? scratch that... Matthew, write this down..."

 

Nor did He say, "You must tithe your money" since money was not used for tithe in the OT

 

Correct. I tithe of time, talents, money, and try to give all my first fruits to Him. But the "Church Age" argument seems to shut out all of the Old Testament, and this cannot be further from the Lord's intent.

 

You don't tithe of money, you give money. Nowhere was money included as tithe in the OT.

And is your tithing Biblical in other areas? Do you give the tithes to the widows and orphans every 3rd and 6th year? instead of to the Church? Do you eat part of that tithe as the OT clearly shows was to be done? Every 7th year, do you not tithe at all as the OT tithe showed?

Tithes every 3rd and 6th year were to be kept within a person's own gates... on his own property. Not taken off the property. And were to be given to orphans and widows and Levites living on that tither's property.

 

Malachi 3:10 shows what Solomon was speaking of in Proverbs 3:9,10 when he wrote:

Proverbs 3:9-10 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

The increase was not speaking of money at all. It was speaking about that which was harvested from the fields and the vineyards.

 

The tither was to eat of the tithe that he or she gave to the Levitical priest.

Deuteronomy 14:23 And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always.

Tithe could not have been money. If it is, then do you eat the money you give? What a waste of money that would be.:laugh:

 

Exactly! One must take care of family first. If one is taking money to the Church and letting his family go hungry, or bills unpaid, Paul declares that one to be worse than an infidel.

That again shows the firstfruits the Lord requires is not one's money.

 

Now this was interesting reading.

I will also add that I see tithe as a 10th of what was given to you via your labor(s). It can't be just produce for not everyone was a tiller of the ground. Some raised animals which they also gave 10% (Lev 27:32). Are you implying the shop keeper or someone who was not a famer or didn't have a flock had no obligation to return a portion. God forbid, even the Levites tithed of the tithes given (Ne 10:38).

Also, read Mt 23:23 where we see they tithed of mint, anise and all manner of herbs. Are you implying everyone was an erb farmer or did they receive these herbs as compensation of some sort?

Tithing is returning a portion to God of that which he has blessed you with. Even in the analogy you used regarding Mal 3, God is faithful to bless those who give tithe and offering with an increase.

Lk 6:38 (KJV) Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

 

I think the principle is to trust God to supply your needs to include your families needs. It takes a short sighted Christian who needs not a God if he can get by on his bank account. I give my tithe to the Church and trust to God for my needs.

 

Why don't you quit whatever business you are in and spend your days knocking on doors telling about the gospel, since all your needs will be supplied and you need no regular income? Or do you not trust him THAT much?

 

My mother gave the so-called tithe to the churh for the 48 years I have been alive. If money were the firstfruits Solomon spoke of in Proverbs 3:9, then God's Word lied because my mother has never owned a house, has been living in her sister's home for last several years, and struggles to get by on her monthly Social Security.

Now, I know God's Word does not lie, so the firstfruits and increase spoken of by Solomon is not money, it is grain, herbs. The produce of the field.

And the money you give to the Church, you can call it tithes until the Lord comes home, but that does not make it so. Tithes were never money.

 

Um, this seems a little extreme to me. The Bible also says a man should work, or he won't eat. I think you should cut LeBuick some slack.

 

isn't knocking on doors work?:laugh::wavey:

 

Yeah I guess so.

 

Excellent post! God has a vocation for each of His children. Sometimes people say things that you were thinking and cannot put into words.