Are You Robbing God?
Let me tell you something that might go against what you’ve been taught:
God doesn’t need your money.
Malachi 3:8 says, “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ In tithes and offerings.” And, people interpret that the wrong way.
The scripture goes on to say that what God really wants is to bless us. So, the people were really robbing God of His ability to bless them. He can’t bless us when we cut Him off. It says that we put ourselves under a curse when we’re not walking by His covenant and in His ways. He wants us away from the curse and walking in His blessings.
He says, “Test me in this!” Do you hear His heart in that? He’s saying, “Let me show you how much I love you! Let me show you how I want to bless you!”
In Luke 15, Jesus teaches about this with the story of the prodigal son. You know the story. The younger son left father’s house by his own free will and found himself bankrupt and hungry. He hired himself out to survive. That’s the key. In his father’s house, he had access to all his father had. Outside of his father’s house, he didn’t.
Any parallels? That’s how we approach God. We work to survive. And, we wait for Friday night.
So the son went home. He planned to go home and be a hired hand for his father, but when he got there, that’s not what happened. His father ran to him and hugged and kissed him! That made the father unclean. Do you understand? Do you see the comparison to God there? He placed a robe on him. He gave him his signet ring and restored his status as his son.
He gave the son a blessing he didn’t deserve.
It was the father’s pleasure to give him those things despite his hireling mentality. And, that’s how we were all trained. We think like the son thought. Because the earth curse has us trained to work harder and longer. So we don’t know how to live in the blessings. We think things “aren’t fair” if they aren’t worked, and sweated, and slaved for.
But God wants us to work with Him, not for Him. He wants to display you to people for his splendor, for His glory. He wants us to be known as His people because we’re blessed.
The father didn’t send the prodigal son back out to the streets, wearing torn up clothing, and lacking food and shelter. His son bore his name! He bore his image! If your son walked out in a blizzard with torn clothes and no coat, people would say you’re a bad parent. The same is true of God. Where you go, you bear His name. He wants to bless you so that others will see His goodness and come to Him. What are people saying about Him because of you?
God wants you blessed and prosperous. There is a purpose behind money. You are to be generous on every occasion. You’re it! When you meet the needs of people, they will see Him and recognize Him, and THANK Him!
Stop robbing God! Start talking about the blessing of God. Better yet, start demonstrating the blessing of God. Try it!
Tithing and money
In this thread we have the reference that Abraham gave a tithe of all; without question this included money so there is no further need to question whether tithing had to do with money; it did. Firstfruits although mentioning fruits is clearly indicitave of the increase of all our possesions so again it speaks inclusive of money. Tithing was of your possesions and of your income and of your increase and these all refere to all that one recieves and is inclusive of money. The issue however is really about ones attitude toward generosity and the principle of having an eye of light. The Hebrew understanding of this is that a stingy person has an eye of darkness and that if that is the case it negatively influences the whole of ones life. Generosity identifies and eye of light which also influences the whole of one's life.
If you have a problem giveing to your local church to which everyone should belong then i would suggest you consider whather you have an eye of darkness or light.
If you live in the "Western world" you are probably in the top 10% of wealthy poeple and if you withold from the poor consider what Jesus Says about sheep an goats. I hope this helps!
the tithe
Hi Brother Gary Keesee
Thank you for that. I feel so alone on this subject because EVERY and i mean EVERY church and Pastor preaches on the Tithe saying Ye are cursed with a curse etc. I give to different people and ministries as i feel led but if i have to always give tiths and offerings at one church, then i cant give elsewhere.Anyways its hard finding a church without having to every week give tiths and offerings.
RE: TITHES
Genesis 14:20 is Abraham tithing the spoils of war. This is a one time tithe that he gave, and he tithed nothing from his personal belongings. He also had no increase because he gave the other 90% back. This is also the one and only time it is recorded that he did so. The tithe of the old testament was much like a tax system. Very much contrary to popular opinion there were many people who worked for money "shekels" instead of as a farmer, or raising animals. Jesus himself had an occupation that was paid in money. Why is it not recorded of him making his trip to go pay his tithe? There were other taxes for those people as well, but it was not the common 10% tithe that is taught today. The tithe the church teaches today is not anywhere close to the biblical tithe. Giving is the principle, not tithing. You should give, and do so in obedience to God as he directs you to give. Not out of compulsion to some Mosaic Law.
first fruits and tithes
There are 3 tithes, unfortunately our translations do not differentiate between them. This is how the Jews did money - 1/40th of the gross income ie.2.5% went to the man of God in their life this was the first fruit offering. Then 10% was calculated on the remainder, this was given to the church, this is the first tithe. Then taxes were paid to the government. Then on the remaining amount 10% again was calculated and this tithe [the second tithe] was saved for the inheritance of their childrens children. Then every third time they were supposed to tithe to themselves they gave to the poor, this was the third tithe. Offerings were over and above this. There is no room to give all the scriptures for this but a man called Shane Willard has a complete teaching on it called teruma [which is first fruit] and seed.
Tithes
In ge 14.20 said he gave tithes of all, which I presume that it would also include money. Most people now have jobs and do not even have a garden, nor do they raise animals, how else would they give tithes?
God is faithful
I took the leap of faith and started tithing to my ministry and asked God to bless me and put him to the test. My income qudrupled from the time I was in an accident in 2005. God is a good God. I know tithe on a monthly basis. God blesses us to be a blessing. I know am the lender.
Opened my heart eyes...
Thank you for a wonderful article and thanks forthwith ministry to the saints.
I just still dont understand this passage
I am a tither and I just still don't undrstand this passage even after reading it and being taught it over and over again by my pastor.
God and money
Because we have lived so long with the wrong attitude of serving god with our money, I pray God the Holy Spirit will direct me on this journey. Thank you for all your help and I know that 2012 is going to be a loving and prosperous year in Jesus name. God Bless you and your family AMEN.
Tithing Question
Where in the bible does it say that tithing is about money? Or that it has now somehow switched to money? I can only find that tithing was about animals and grain (Lev. 27:30-31) and not at all about money. They had money in those days and they did not tithe their money. The only time that money was involved was when God told them to take their tithe to a far away place and it was too much for them to carry, so they sold the tithe (animals) and when they arrived they took the money and bought new animals, grain, wine and other fermented drink and it sounds like they had a party (Enjoyed themselves) and ate it also. Deut. 14:24-26 (I also hear we are not to eat our tithe?)
Also, Malachi 3:8 is directed to the Priests (read Mal. 2:1-2 and Mal. 1:6-8) so God is talking to the Priest because they were not giving God their best, but giving Him the lame and sick animals.
I know we are to honor the Lord with our weatlh, but I am confused about how the tithe became money? I really do want to know.
I know we are to give and help support the church, but that is giving and offerings.
There is so much the Bible says about the tithe and how it was done, that I cannot understand how it could possibly be done today. The Pharisees tithed because they were under the Law, but they did not tithe money. Tithing was not done every week, but every 3 years and then it was given to the needy (Deut. 26: 12-13), or every 7th year - no one tithed, they were to keep their tithe (Lev. 25:2-7). When Paul mentions giving an offering at the first of the week it was so it would all be taken care of before he came there and that was to help some poor folks, and that was the only time he did that for them. The gentiles did not even tithe, only the jews did and the jews tithed to the tribe - the Levites because they did not have an inheritance (that's helping people and not giving to the church, right? , and the Levites tithed to the Priests, and the Priests were the ones who were to tithe to God and they were not doing it correctly and were robbing God.
First fruits was only done seasonal (Neh. 10:35)
The purpose of the tithe was to support the Levites Deut. 26:12-14, Numbers 18: 21, 23-24.
The tithe was a blood offering- animal, seed fruit.
(Like maybe Christ sacrificed as the perfect lamb?)
Money was not accepted.
They had money and it was not required by the Lord.
I can not find how it is scripture that tithing is now somehow money?
Please let me know if you find a scripture.
Ginger