Years ago a young man began a small cheese business in Chicago. He failed. He was deeply in debt. “You didn’t take God into your business. You have not worked with Him,” said a Christian friend to him. Then the young man thought, “If God wants to run the cheese bu … More
Tithing
In this passage we find that Israel was robbing God by not bringing their tithes and offerings and the result was famine due to the pests taking the vegetation and vines without grapes (Duet 28:28-40). The tithe was part of the Mosaic Law (Lev. 27:28-40) which required that a tenth be given to the Levites. In addition a tenth of the remaining nine-tenths was to be set apart and consumed in a sacred meal in Jerusalem (Duet. 12:5-6, 11, 18). Then every third year another tithe was taken for strangers, the fatherless and widows (Duet 14:28-29). Thus the portion was clearly specified and every Israelite was obligated to bring to the Lord approximately 22 percent of his yearly income.
In contrast the New Testament teaches proportionate giving “as God hath prospered him” (1Cor. 16:2).It teaches that every believer owes 100 percent of what he is and what he has to God. The question then, is not only how much we give, but how much of God’s money will we keep for ourselves. We give because He gave, not because He commanded; we give because we want to, not because we have to. The storehouse mentioned in verse 10 refers to a special room or rooms built on the side of the temple for keeping the tithed grain. In I Corinthians 16:2 we are told “Upon the first day of the week to lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him”. Bible scholars suggest that the phrase “lay by him in store” means that each person is to have a private fund set aside and available to give as the Spirit directs, both regularly and occasionally.
Application
II Corinthians 9:6 says that those who sow sparingly reap sparingly and those who sow bountifully reap also bountifully. God will hold me accountable for what I keep as well as what I give.
Malachi 3:7-18 (English Standard Version)
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Do Not Rob God
Malachi 3:7–18
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)
Years ago a young man began a small cheese business in Chicago. He failed. He was deeply in debt. “You didn’t take God into your business. You have not worked with Him,” said a Christian friend to him. Then the young man thought, “If God wants to run the cheese bu … More
In this passage we find that Israel was robbing God by not bringing their tithes and offerings and the result was famine due to the pests taking the vegetation and vines without grapes (Duet 28:28-40). The tithe was part of the Mosaic Law (Lev. 27:28-40) which required that a tenth be given to the Levites. In addition a tenth of the remaining nine-tenths was to be set apart and consumed in a sacred meal in Jerusalem (Duet. 12:5-6, 11, 18). Then every third year another tithe was taken for strangers, the fatherless and widows (Duet 14:28-29). Thus the portion was clearly specified and every Israelite was obligated to bring to the Lord approximately 22 percent of his yearly income.
In contrast the New Testament teaches proportionate giving “as God hath prospered him” (1Cor. 16:2).It teaches that every believer owes 100 percent of what he is and what he has to God. The question then, is not only how much we give, but how much of God’s money will we keep for ourselves. We give because He gave, not because He commanded; we give because we want to, not because we have to. The storehouse mentioned in verse 10 refers to a special room or rooms built on the side of the temple for keeping the tithed grain. In I Corinthians 16:2 we are told “Upon the first day of the week to lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him”. Bible scholars suggest that the phrase “lay by him in store” means that each person is to have a private fund set aside and available to give as the Spirit directs, both regularly and occasionally.
Application
II Corinthians 9:6 says that those who sow sparingly reap sparingly and those who sow bountifully reap also bountifully. God will hold me accountable for what I keep as well as what I give.
Malachi 3:7-18 (English Standard Version)
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View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway) »