One of the most controversial topics among cultural Christians is the giving of the tithe. The cultural Christians are after two things: personal peace and affluence. Personal peace means that all is well in my own household without regard to anyone else. Affluence is in regard to being personally blessed and having all that I want while others go without. Both aspects are tied to a “selfish” orientation.
Many believe that tithing was established under the Law and that since we are no longer under the Law we are not required to tithe. Those people are missing the point. In Hebrews chapter 7 it is written by THE SPIRIT:
1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,
2 to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “king of peace,”
3 without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually.
4 Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils.
5 And indeed those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to receive tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren, though they have come from the loins of Abraham;
6 but he whose genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.
7 Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better.
8 Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives.
The tithe is an important aspect of the flow of blessings. “The lesser is blessed by the greater” suggests that those who have been set apart in the ministry Holy unto FATHER are the greater. Those who bless the priesthood will in turn be blessed by FATHER. FATHER blesses us according to our intent. If we give with a pure heart we will be blessed by HIM and our blessing will take the form based on our particular needs. The use and deployment by the recipient is none of our concern. We are not the “tithing” policemen.
The moment we argue or debate the issue of tithing, we have missed the point. What it reveals is that we really don’t believe that FATHER is in the “blessing business” and we believe in scarcity more than we believe in FATHER’S supernatural ability to bless us and orchestrate resources on our behalf. Whether we want to admit it or not the love of money is an issue in our hearts. Some people may read these words and remove this site from their reading list but it does not and will not change the reality of what FATHER’S Divine Intent is. In Heaven there is no lack.
Abraham was before the Law of Moses and in all the earth were the blessings of Abraham to be realized. If being called by FATHER to be the father of many nations, don’t you think Abraham understood the blessing of tithing? If tithing were not a true benefit then why is it even brought up by THE SPIRIT in the book of Hebrews? Giving is perhaps one of the greatest stumbling blocks to full maturity as a Son. The reluctance to give will cause resistance to growth in the Kingdom.
By THE SPIRIT Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians chapter 9:
6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
9 As it is written:
“He has dispersed abroad,
He has given to the poor;
His righteousness endures forever.
When we look in the mirror we must ask ourselves if we are truly cheerful givers or do we sow sparingly. Are we constantly in lack or unfulfilled? If we are constantly rationalizing why we should not or cannot give then we have not yet taken on FATHER’S Character. We cannot out give FATHER and the test of our giving can be accomplished with a tenth.
PS: The recipient has as much responsibility for the tithe as the recipient and FATHER will deal with both in HIS own manner. It’s all about the heart. The same tithe can be a blessing to one and a judgment to another.