Can Tithing Cause Blessings?

Bubbler, I bet you're going to a wide spectrum of answers on this one. Personally I don't believe the NT supports tithing per se, but stewardship - of our time, our talents, our finances as we commit ourselves to Christ and his calling. I don't recall Jesus rejoicing in the tithe but rejoicing in the sacrifice and surrender. He condemned the "teachers of the law and Pharisees" for their strict tithing while having "neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness." Without the latter, the former means nothing.

The NT boils it down to "Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." If you do that, give what you are led to give for the right reasons, God will bless you and the gift. But don't "give to get" - sometimes the blessing is just in knowing you've helped someone else. You can't buy that feeling for any amount of money.

Steve

Hi Steve thanks for your reply I look forwards to seeing the wide spectrum of answers that come in !

You know the Bible says you will reap what you sow. If you sow nothing, you get nothing. I do believe in the tithe. In the Old Testament it was stated to give a tenth of the spoils. You give to your Church or favorite ministry or mission, it is all to share what the Lord has blessed you with.

One can certainly give in the manner of their time for such things as teaching Sunday School, being involved in a Church ministry (some outreach), volunteering at a shelter or kitchen that feeds poor and homeless, doing some community service for an organization like Habitat for Humanity or delivering Meals on Wheels. So many ways to give our talents.

In the New Testament, Christ did have something's to say about tithing. In Matthew 23:23, He got after the scribes and their assorted hypocrites: "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgement, mercy, and faith:these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone."

In Luke 11:42, The Lord takes after the Pharisses again, chastizing them for tithing the mint and herbs, yet passing over the love of God. I could not find a specific verse or verses that state we are still instructed to tithe. When you read Hebrews 7 and how Christ was made, "after the power of endless life", does that mean the tithe was annulled? When you read verse 18, it could be seen that way. Reading further, when Christ overcame death, overcame the cross, Christ's blood on the cross became the ultimate tithe for us all (verse 27).

So debate that. I would like to hear other's thoughts on that one.

Hadn't really thought of it that way, but it is all the more reason to give sacrificially

And for all those that believe it does, our church does except pay pal, all major credit cards and even cash if you have proper ID

But do I believe in give and you will become rich, NO, I don't believe a single one of Jesus's 12 ended up retiring on a ocean front property, expect maybe Paul if his jail cell had a ocean view.
We often confuse our idea of riches, and God's idea of riches.

Steve,

You are so right! Very good. We are not under the law, therefore not under the tithe. I believe under Grace we should go beyond 10% if we can. But once again it is the motive that counts.

This is perhaps one of the most misunderstood concepts in Christianity today. The reason is is misunderstood is that it is taught only from the perspective of that passage in Malachi without looking at what tithing really achieved for the Israelites.

To tithe to God expecting a blessing is to be doing this with the wrong motive. There are many indications of wrong motive in the Bible and you can't expect blessing if you do things for the wrong motive.

Nowhere can you justify the modern day idea that 10% of all earnings must be given to your local church. This is a complete nonsense. Tithing was not required of Christians in the early Church and only reinstitued several centuries after the Church was founded. Look at the requirements set down at Antioch in the Book of Acts, tithing is not among them.

The passage in Malachi used to justify tithing is referring to the third year tithe, the only tithe required to be brought into the local storehouse. The purpose of this tithe was to provide for charitable works. The tithes in other years were used to finance the mandatory attendence at the Temple in Jerusalem for the festivals that all were required to participate in. In Malachi God is calling his people to be faithfull to the whole of the Law in order that he may bless them. The Law is not required of the Christian. Jesus cancelled the writen code replacing it with salvation by Faith in what he had achieved. Redemption through the blood.

The standard for the New Testament Christian is contained in 2 Corinthians 9
Generous giving and in that there is a promise of blessing but again it must be done with the right motive.

Thanks for your input I like the way you have looked past just the teachings and message of Malachi

Gotta get that plug in whenever you can, lol.