One of the secrets of prosperity is to give tithe, ten percent of yourself to God. There is no law that says you can’t give more than ten percent, but I think giving less is to deplete the seed. Giving a tenth is what is known as a tithe.
The world seeks financial security in all the wrong places. The only true financial security is found in the Father’s tithing system.
In the beginning of the world, when God created the Garden of Eden and the earth, He told Adam and Eve not to eat the fruit of the tree in the center of the Garden, the moment they ate it, a curse followed- But that is not the revelation.
The revelation is that tithe is like the last breathe in every man. In Linguistics, we learned that there is a constant air that must be in man’s lung, which when taken away brings death (That is why people say ‘Last breathe’).
In essence, Tithe is like the fruit in the Garden of Eden, and the air, it must not be touched for one to keep on enjoying blessing.
The concept of tithing has created great controversy inside and outside the church of God. Some people feel like tithing is a way for pastors and ministers to enrich themselves. Some want to know what the church uses the money for. However, both line of thought is not true. Tithing has nothing to do with the pastor or the church, tithing is between you and God.
Tithing is a way for us to show God that we believe and trust in him. If you believe that the church you attend is not spending the tithe correctly; then you are at the wrong church. If you think that your pastor is abusing his position with the tithe; then you are not in the right church. If your pastor or church is abusing God’s money; they will answer to God Almighty.
Abraham was the first account in the Bible of tithing that we have seen. Abraham met with Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of the most high God, after returning from the slaughter of the kings and they had communion. Melchizedek blessed Abraham; and Abraham paid him tithes of all (Genesis 14:18-20). Abraham paid him tithes of all because he loved God and was grateful that he delivered him and his nephew Lot out of the hands of their enemies. This was before the Law of Moses. This is our first glimpse that tithing is about gratitude, faith, and love.
The next account of tithing that we see was when Jacob, Abraham’s grandson, made a covenant with God and said, “IF you protect me, bless me, and bring me back to my father’s house in peace, you will be my God and I will pay you tithes of all”(Genesis 28:20-22). Jacob made a covenant with God to protect him and prosper him; In return for God’s provision and protection, he would pay him tithes of all that he made. For those of you with ears to hear and eyes to see; Tithing is a covenant between you and God.
Malachi 3:10-12
10. 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. 11. 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. 12. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.
Notice what God said, He wants us to bring Him our tithes into His storehouse, and He will bless us and open the windows of heaven and pour us out a blessing that we will not have room enough to receive. Look at the next verse when He said, “I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes.” This means He will keep different things from happening to your property. For example, He may protect you from making a bad stock investment and losing everything or being taken advantage of by a crooked salesman who is trying to sell you a lemon. He will also keep you from bearing fruit before time. For example, if you come into a lot of money and you don’t have the wisdom to invest it properly; you will lose it all. He will allow you to get the blessings once you have the wisdom to manage it. Now, look at the truth behind what you are doing if you don’t pay your tithes and offerings.
Malachi 3:8 says: 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.
When you don’t pay your tithes and offerings, you are robbing God. God gives us everything that we have and he asks us to pay him ten percent. If God is giving you 90% of his goods, do you steal the other 10%? I certainly hope not!
God said in Leviticus 27:32: “And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD.”
That’s right, God only ask for ten percent. If you make $100.00 your tithe becomes $10.00. Even though this is true, God does not want us to give grudgingly or out of necessity; “For God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7)
The Rich Man
Remember the rich man who wanted to build new barns to keep all his fruits and goods in!
This is what happened (Luke 12:16-21);
“And he spake a parable unto them, saying, the ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, what shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, this will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
See when you pay tithes and offerings, to help the kingdom of God, God creates a heavenly account for you. That’s right; he makes fruit abound to your account.
Look at what Paul says to the Philippians
“Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account” (Philippians 4:15-17).
Paul was letting the Philippians know that their church was the only church that operated with this type of love and faith. Paul also let them know that God was making note of their faithfulness and that he was going to bless them for it. Think of the story of the rich man according to money and a bank account. See most of us are not farmers so we may not fully understand this parable but if you compare it to having money and opening more bank accounts to store it all; you will understand. God doesn’t just store up wealth for us but he stores up all kinds of precious promises and blessings. This is a spiritual account. “Although, make sure you do your charitable deeds in secret and your Father who sees you in secret; will reward you openly” (Matthew 6:2-4).
Look at what David did
“Then David praised the LORD in the presence of the whole assembly: “O LORD, the God of our ancestor Israel, may you be praised forever and ever! Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O LORD, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things. Riches and honor come from you alone, for you rule over everything. Power and might are in your hand, and it is at your discretion that people are made great and given strength. O our God, we thank you and praise your glorious name! But who am I, and who are my people, that we could give anything to you? Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you have already given us! We are here for only a moment, visitors and strangers in the land as our ancestors were before us. Our days on earth are like a shadow, gone so soon without a trace. O LORD our God, even these materials that we have gathered to build a Temple to honor your holy name come from you! It all belongs to you! I know, my God, that you examine our hearts and rejoice when you find integrity there. You know I have done all this with good motives, and I have watched your people offer their gifts willingly and joyously” (1 Chronicles 29:10-17).
LET’S ANSWER SOME FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- To whom does everything in the world belong to?
“The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” Psalm 24:1.
“I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds. For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fullness thereof.” Psalm 50:9-12.
“The earth is Lord’s and all its fullness.” 1 Corinthians 10:26, Psalm 24:1.
Answer: Our Father in heaven.
- To whom does the silver and the gold belong?
Here the Lord is speaking, “The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of Hosts.” Haggai 2:8.
Answer: Our Father.
- Who has given us the capacity to develop the resources of the earth?
“Thou shall remember the Lord thy Eloah: for it is He that gives thee power to get wealth.” Deuteronomy 8:18.
“For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.” Acts 17:28.
“Every man also to whom Elohim hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of Elohim.” Ecclesiastes 5:19.
Answer: Our Father.
- As a continual reminder of the Lord’s ownership and man’s stewardship, what did He require of His ancient people?
“All the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s: it is holy unto the Lord.” Leviticus 27:30.
Answer: Tithe is from a Hebrew word which means ‘tenth’. While all we have comes from the Lord; He only requests us to return 1/10 as a reminder that everything is His. When we pay our tithe, we are but returning to the Lord what is already His.
- To what object was the Lord’s tithe applied?
“Behold, I have given the children of Levi the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.” Numbers 18:21.
“And verily they that are of 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.
Answer: The Levites were the tribe especially set apart for ministry to the Lord. Today the tithe is to be used for the support of the Lord’s ministry throughout the world. 1 Corinthians 9:13, 14; Matthew 10:9, 10; Hebrews 7:6, 9.
- Should ministers and workers of the gospel pay tithe on their income that comes from tithe?
“Thus speak unto the Levites, and say unto them, When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave offering of it for the Lord, even a tenth part of the tithe.” Numbers 18:26.
Answer: Yes
- Did Yahushua recognize the principle of tithing?
“But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of the Lord: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.” Luke 11:42.
Answer: Yes, He did.
Tithe does little good for the giver when given for show or to earn favor with the Lord. Yahushua said the Pharisees did right in giving their tithe, but they did it from a wrong motive, and were neglecting essential virtues, such as love, mercy, and faith. They needed a change of heart. Matt. 23:23.
- What material blessings did the Lord also promise as a reward of faithfulness?
“Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all your increase: so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.” Proverbs 3:9,10.
A continual imparting of the Lord’s gifts wherever the cause of the Lord or the needs of humanity demand our aid, does not tend to poverty. “There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.” Proverbs 11:24. The sower multiplies his seed by casting it away. So it is with those who are faithful in distributing the Lord’s gifts. By imparting they increase their blessings. “Give, and it shall be given unto you,” the Lord has promised; “good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom.” Luke 6:38.
- What stewardship did Paul declare was given to believers in the gospel dispensation?
“Do you not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? And they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? Even so hath the Master ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.” 1 Corinthians 9:13, 14. See also verse 11.
Answer: The apostle here referred to the Lord’s plan for the maintenance of the priests who ministered in the temple. Those who were set apart to this holy office were supported by their brethren, to whom they ministered spiritual blessings. “Verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law.” Hebrews 7:5. The tribe of Levi was chosen by the Lord for the sacred offices pertaining to the temple and the priesthood. Of the priest it was said, ” the Lord thy Eloah hath chosen him . . . to stand to minister in the name of the Lord.” (Deuteronomy 18:5.) One tenth of all the increase was claimed by the Lord as His own.
- Who was tithe to be given to in the time of the Apostles?
“Mine answer to them that examine me is this…Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?…If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?…Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple?…Even so hath the Master ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.” 1 Corinthians 9:3, 7-8, 11, 13, 14.
Answer: The laborer is worthy of his reward. 1 Timothy 5:18.
- Today, how is the Lord’s tithe to be used in His true ekklesia?
Answer: It is to be especially devoted to the support of those who are bearing the Lord’s message to the world, and it should not be diverted from this purpose.
The Lord’s ministers are His shepherds, appointed by Him to feed His flock. The tithe is His provision for their maintenance, and He designs that it shall be held sacred for this purpose.
- How is tithe and offerings to be kept in a home ekklesia settings? Can the ekklesia trust one of the members from among themselves to be a treasurer to keep the records of the money?
“Look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the work.” Acts 6:3.
For new, small ekklesia, we are given this extremely practical counsel in regards to choosing a leader for an ekklesia. “Such arrangements should be made for the little companies accepting the truth as shall secure the prosperity of the [ekklesia]. One man may be appointed to lead for a week or a month, then another for a few weeks; and thus different persons may be enlisted in the work, and after a suitable trial someone should be selected by the voice of the [ekklesia] to be the acknowledged leader, never, however, to be chosen for more than one year. Then another may be selected, or the same one may be re-elected, if his service has proved a blessing to the [ekklesia].…Many fail to exercise proper discernment in these important matters where eternal interests are involved.” Testimonies for the Church, Volume 5, page 619,
Answer: Yes.
- Are there other areas that the Lord has specified His sacred reserve could be used for other than gospel ministers?
Answer: Yes, there are other areas such as publishing houses and medical missionaries.
- We can support the ministry by publishing and distributing printed truth.
- A minister of the gospel who is also a medical missionary, who can cure physical ailments, is a much more efficient worker than one who cannot do this. His work as a minister of the gospel is much more complete.
NOTE: Institutions that are the Lord’s instruments to carry forward His work on the earth must be sustained. Publishing houses furnished with facilities for doing a great work in the publication of the truth to be sent to all parts of the world. These institutions are ordained of the Lord and should be sustained by tithes and liberal offerings. In other words those agencies who are active in getting the Lord’s precious present truths out to others–are the only ones to be supported with Lord’s sacred tithe, then it becomes easy to discern all the other areas that are not to be supported with the Lord’s tithe.
- Are unfaithful ministers or fallen churches to be supported with tithe?
Answer: No, If we give money to churches in apostasy and corruption, or to those who are teaching error, or to those who are involved in fanaticism, or to other areas of Satan, then we are held guilty before the Lord of furthering and advancing apostasy.
It would be poor policy to support from the treasury of the Lord those who really mar and injure His work, and who are constantly lowering the standard of Christianity.
The Jewish leaders were masters at getting their church membership to believe that it was not their individual duty to carry out their own convictions regarding the Lord’s money. But, as a rule, they were to pay their tithes, offerings, and gifts into the church system, and then let their leaders control where this money should go.
“The Jewish rulers recognized the obligation of tithing, and this was right; but they did not leave the people to carry out their own convictions of duty. Arbitrary rules were laid down…” The Desire of Ages, page 617.
The Lord has made each one of us His trusted stewards. Hence we are held individually responsible for where we give the Lord’s sacred money and to whom it goes to support. And no one–not even the ekklesia–has the authority to tell us differently. The money belongs to the Lord, and not to the ekklesia or its leadership!
Lastly, let’s take a look at giving and tithing at its best.
Look at Luke 21:1-4; “And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. And he said, of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.”
Jesus allows us to see that giving and tithing has nothing to do with how much it is. It has to do with your heart motive. Jesus said that the poor widow gave more than them all because she gave out of poverty in faith. Faith pleases God. It is impossible to please God without faith. “For whatsoever is not of faith is sin” (Romans 14:23b).
The poor widow gave out of faith and love. See it is easy to give out of abundance but it takes faith to give out of lack. Imagine if you had only $100.00 left to your name and God told you to bless someone with it; would you be able to do it? If you have faith in God you will, but if you don’t love God or trust him; you will not.
Tithing and giving has nothing to do with anyone but you and God. Just like Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of the most-high God, we must pay our tithes to the King of kings and Priest forever; the Lord Jesus Christ. Give God your tithes and offerings in faith. If you do, He will bless you beyond measure. Please try it out and write us and let us know how the Lord Jesus Christ blessed you!
REFERENCE
- Tithing – The Secret Of Prosperity
- Prosperity Secret: Give Ten Percent of Yourself to God
- The Truth Behind Tithing
- The Secret About Tithing You Should Know
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