Tithing
Did you know that the Creator has a financial law that is applicable to true Christians today, and that Almighty God will bless those who are willing to obey this law in faith?
An Economic Train Wreck?
What does the word “tithe” mean? Is the law of tithing in force today? Did Jesus Christ Himself indicate that we should tithe?
The answers to these and other related questions are important to understand, especially since the United States, Canada, Britain and Australia will soon be punished for carelessly disobeying the law of tithing—and many other laws of God. We have been physically blessed above all peoples on earth because of a promise God made to Abraham millennia ago. But now the British Empire is no more. Even its prestige in the Commonwealth is fading. And, as you will observe over the next several years, America’s national “pride” and prestige will plummet.
Although America is still the world’s most powerful nation, it is also the world’s greatest debtor. We owe other nations far more than any nation has ever owed in human history. And although its debt is smaller than ours in dollar amounts, Canada’s debt is bigger in proportion to its population!
The time will soon come for all of us to “pay the piper”! Many respected economists have been warning for years about this growing problem. As the San Diego Union-Tribune stated on November 22, 2000:
“Many private economists say the deficit may have reached a level that could pose a risk to the overall economy if foreigners, who have been eager to sell their products and hold dollar-denominated investments, suddenly decide to dump their U.S. holdings. That could send stock and bond prices plunging.
“The inevitable question raised by huge and growing trade deficits is whether this situation represents a train wreck waiting to happen,” said Ken Mayland, economist with Clear View Economics in Pepper Pike, Ohio.
An economic train wreck “waiting to happen”? Why?
Because our peoples—individually and collectively—have forsaken God and His laws, He is beginning to withdraw His blessings from us. That is the actual reason we are the world’s “greatest debtor.” That is the reason increasing millions of Americans and Canadians are seeking relief from mounting personal debts by declaring bankruptcy.
Yet even in the traumatic years preceding the Great Tribulation, God will protect and bless those who serve Him and truly obey His laws—including the law of tithing.
What is a tithe? The word “tithe” is simply an old English word meaning “tenth.” It refers to the giving of a “tenth” of one’s income to God or for other charitable purposes. And Almighty God directs that this tenth be given to Him—to His true ministers to do His Work—not just to be handed out anywhere.
The law of tithing simply means that the Great God who made us—who gave us our life, our talents, our minds, the strength with which we work and the very land and materials which we employ in our work—requires us to pay Him the first tenth of our increase or income.
As far as the direct matter of tithing is concerned, God does not consider that we are “giving” anything—but are paying our Creator a very nominal amount that He requires as our Maker, our Sustainer, our Landlord, our Protector and our God!
Nevertheless, the Almighty promises: “Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase; so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine” (Proverbs 3:9–10).
Yes, if you are faithful in obeying God and paying Him the first tenth—or “tithe”—of your income—He will bless your life in many physical and material ways. He has promised—and God never breaks His Word!
In Malachi 3, speaking to modern-day Jacob or Israel (v. 8), God declares: “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings.” God here indicts our modern English-speaking people for robbing our very Creator and His work today! No wonder there is so little true religion left on earth today! No wonder there is so much confusion and deceit going about in the name of Christianity!
God continues: “You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation” (v. 9).
Then God promises in His Word: “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try 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 such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it” (v. 10).
Here is a blistering challenge from Almighty God!
God says He will bless you if you begin tithing—as He commands—through faith in Him and in His Word. Literally hundreds of case histories may be cited to show that God certainly does bless the tither even in material ways. He may not always do so immediately. You may have to obey Him and exercise faith for a while. But as you serve Him, obey Him and trust Him, God will keep His part of the bargain.
The tithe (10%) is brought forward from the Old Testament. Basically the only ones that tithed were the sheepherders and farmers. From all the festivals they celebrated, they actually paid around 33%.
What does the New Testament say about tithing?
We can conclude from reviewing the New Testament scriptures that
although there is support for the sharing of material wealth with the
ministry, there is no conclusive proof in the New Testament to support
the inclusion of the Old Covenant tithing principle in Christian
teaching.
About the only thing I can find in the New Testament regarding tithing is, “Give unto the Lord with a good and cheerful heart”. What this means to me is if an individual only has a dollar, and he gives that dollar freely, he will be more blessed then the rich man that can give $500.00 but only gives $50.00
