When the three wise men came to Jesus they worshiped Him with their life and then their substance (Matt 2:11). They loved Jesus and fulfilled the Kingdom mandate by giving to Jesus what enabled Him to fulfil His ministry. All they gave to Jesus supported Him in every way. The principle of giving a tenth starts with a life of worship. Please we should not tithe if you are not born again! Although doing this can save a person in the long run just like Cornelius(Acts 10). God requires obedience much more than sacrifice.
When we struggle with the notion of giving to God the question one may need to ask is how deep is my love for Jesus. Acts of love should not be a thing we struggle to do and also, love should not be something that we expect a return from. Many of us do not need anything from our children but for them to receive our love by being appreciative and relational.
The History and Timeline of Tithing
- Abraham tithes to Melchizedek well before Moses introduces the law Gen 14:17-20
- Jacob tithes Gen 26:20-22
- The law reinforces tithing Leviticus 27:30-33
- The prophets rebuke non tithers Malachi 3:8-10
- God calls non tithers thieves Malachi 3:8-10
- Jesus states that we must tithe and do other things Mat 23:23
- Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek a form of Christ(Theophany) Hebrews 7:1-4
- The mystery of tithes revealed in Hebrews 7:11 Our children pay tithes in us when we pay as Levi paid in Abraham
The power of your tithe
3 John 5-6
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
5 Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you.
6 They have told the church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. 3 John
Deuteronomy 14
22 Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year.
23 Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the LORD your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the LORD your God always.
24 But if that place is too distant and you have been blessed by the LORD your God and cannot carry your tithe (because the place where the LORD will choose to put his Name is so far away),
25 then exchange your tithe for silver, and take the silver with you and go to the place the LORD your God will choose.
26 Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice.
27And do not neglect the Levite’s living in your towns, for they have no allotment or inheritance of their own.
28 At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year’s produce and store it in your towns,
29so that the Levite’s (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the aliens, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands
The power of the Tithe
From Gen 14 we can see that Tithes were given after a victory in war anytime we earn a salary, win a contract, get an increase, it should be celebrated as a great victory, because our adversary the enemy planned to steal kill loot and destroy. So, we must do what Abraham did- He gave a tenth of all. If God were to open our eyes to see how the devil planned to destroy our source of income, our business, our livelihoods. We will dance a victory dance and give a tenth of all without blinking an eye. The tithe helps us to enforce that victory, seals it s it. It also becomes a seed for future harvest. As Abraham did this; not only was he blessed but his children (spiritual and biological ) seed are blessed forever. Secondly, God answered Abraham’s greatest prayer and yearning need- the gift of a heir in Isaac. When we tithe more victory will come and our greatest need will be answered.
The tithe is very powerful and it sustains your victory. Abraham our example, was never defeated, never stunted in growth and never without a fruit, etc.
When we tithe we need to believe that all will be well and God will count it as righteousness.
Foolishness and non tithing
Jesus defined fools as people who did not do the right things, they lacked good judgement. All verses describing fools; talk about doing the wrong things and justifying their actions. This was the case of the rich fool. He had a harvest but planned it for Himself. God was not in His plans. Non tithing demonstrates that God is not in a persons plans; lets say the truth. Yes, the money is not enough so kingdom commitment is excluded.Jesus said a man must be rich towards God, having a relationship with God involves giving sacrificially. The fool died losing all. Anything devoid of obedience to Gods word is foolishness and the end is certain. Luke 12:13.
Yes, some churches have abused the use of the tithe, this does not justify non tithing. You can speak out against it or pray to God so for guidance and direction about the matter.
One may ask; what about those who tithe but end up with all sorts of hardships?
Well there are many reasons for this and one must do some should searching to find out how to take corrective measures.Remember the bible tells us that God is not a man that He should lie.Also God is a merciful God and in all our financial mistakes and blunders he can give us the victory.
Some of the reasons while some tithers lack are: Proverbs 31
- Impatience and covetousness
- A lack of financial savviness- they do not know how to manage and invest their income
- Laziness or indolent mindset and behaviour
- A lack of faith and persistence
- Short term thinking and mismanagement
- Not having an expectation
If non tithers measure themselves with tithers over a period of time they will observe that God is never lies and His word will always be fulfilled. Apart from that the quality of life a tither will have knowing that they gave to the work of God on earth. Secondly when we get to heaven more award awaits tithers. When someone is willing to sow ten percent of their income to God they have really death a blow to selfishness, greed, and the evil spirit of mammon.
Those who don’t tithe loose the a lot of victories, God bless us as we obey
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