the tithe

A couple of weeks ago a gentleman wanted to engage in a dialogue about tithing and how tithing is an Old Testament concept and not for the New Testament Church. And in many ways that is true. Tithing is not required of a New Testament Christian. Giving it all is!

The truth is that God owns everything. Throughout scripture we are told that God is responsible for our daily lives, our jobs are because of him, our families belong to him, our homes are his, everything. Whether I give 10% or more is not my issue, because realistically I owe it all to him anyway. How can I be angry over someone calling it a tithe. I give an offering not out of obligation but because I owe it all to him anyway. The old hymn had it right, “Jesus paid it all, All to him I owe.” I never see in scripture where God said, “Give me 10 and I’ll return a 1000.” If that is your motive for giving then stop giving you are not giving from the right attitude. God doesn’t owe you anything!

When a person comes from where I came from and have been blessed by God to be where I am I don’t think that a tithe is enough honestly. But, the offering or tithe comes from the increase God gives to me. A person should never be guilted to give. If you are not working, where is the increase? I don’t expect you to give.

Now here’s the kicker. Oprah a few years ago had a show entitled how to get rich. The number 1 strategy, TITHE. So who you gonna believe Oprah or God? Give cheerfully! :)

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One Person has left comments on this post



» C Lane said: { May 22, 2008 - 05:05:58 }

Funny how people do not want to tithe, yet want the church to do it all … be contemporary, look nice, feed the poor, help needy pay bills … do they ever wonder where the finances for “ALL” comes from. Sure God could just rain it down from the sky, or cause it to grow on trees, but that is not the method God has chosen. We, His children, are blessed to be a blessing … goes all the way back to the Abrahamic covenant. If people could just grab hold of this, the church would be able to do so much that welfare programs would not need to exist. This is one area that God even allows us to test Him on … now this is not a get rich scheme, one must give with the right heart. When you do … wow!

“Malachi 3:10 - Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.”

Interesting article on a church that has a “Money Back Guarantee”

http://www.christianitytoday.com/tc/2007/004/7.14.html

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