Tithing
Tithing goes as far back as Abraham and Jacob. The next time someone tells you, "Tithing was only under the law" they are partly right:, the Levites had to keep the custom of tithing, however the principle of giving God the tenth was understood before Levi was born.
And verily they that are the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham: (Hebrews 7:5-6)
As a baby Christian, I had no idea what tithing was. Every Sunday the offering plate would be passed around, yet I had no idea why. Just a few years ago, it was Pastor Randall from Elmwood Baptist Church preaching from Malachi 3 that made me think more about tithing.
As I continue in the Word, I realize that tithing is not an obligation, but a way to show honor and faith toward God. If we can trust him with our money, we can trust him with everything else.
I tithe to the Church because it is the Holy Spirit's gathering of the members of Christ. I tithe because God promised to open the windows of heaven and rebuke the devourer. Most of all, I tithe to the Church because God has blessed me more than I deserve.
To the earthly mind, tithing seems foolish. "But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise." (1 Corinthians 1:27)
Jacob's Vision Genesis 28
[Genesis 28:12] "And he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven; and behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.""
After Jacob saw this, the Lord spoke to Jacob and promised him..."the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;
And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south; and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed."
Jacob felt the presence of the Lord and he was afraid. He knew that the Lord was in this place, and he named the place Bethel. And Jacob vowed a vow.
"If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,
So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the Lord be my God:
And this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me, I will surely give the tenth unto thee."
Understanding the promises of God
"Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." (2 Peter 1:4)
The Holy Bible is a book of promises. Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness. The greatest promise of all is the promise of eternal life through Jesus Christ.
Will a Man Rob God?
"Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation."
"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."
And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts."
I have seen God open the windows of heaven for me. God has blessed me even when I haven't tithed. But knowing that God is faithful to his promises, I choose to tithe as an act of worship and trust. I trust God with my money. He doesn't need my money, but I need to trust him. With God all things are possible.
When Abraham returned from the slaughter of the kings, he was blessed by Melchizedek, a priest of the Most High God.
"And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine, and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all." (Genesis 14:18-20)