Doves,

 

I have noticed that people are passionate about their position about tithing.  Some believe it is an Old Testament rule and that now we are under a New Covenant and are not bound by the law of tithing.  Others believe that tithing no less than 10% off of their gross income would be robbing God.

 

First of all, we need to understand that for those who tithe their 10% do so in their worship to God.  Those who do not, but believe in cheerful giving also do so in their worship to God.

 

But somehow, we have missed the great message, because we have had the tithe redefined.  We no longer understand its biblical purpose nor its definition. 

 

Recently we have had a similar issue when people have tried to redefine the definition of MARRIAGE.  If successful, in 50 to 100 years if the Lord would tarry, a generation would grow up believing that marriage is nothing more than a legal sexual contract with government benefits.

 

If a church is going to preach about tithing, why is tithing about 10% of my gross paycheck being given to my local church and my offering is what I give over and above my tithe?  Do you want God to bless your gross paycheck or your net paycheck?  If I tithe off my net paycheck then I can use the difference as offerings, right?  HELLO?  How does an Old Testament “offering” that was given get changed from an “oxen, lamb, turtledoves, etc.” for the purpose of cleansing sin, leprosy, or uncleanliness, become redefined to mean what you give beyond 10% of your tithe?  Who changed the rules?

 

Jesus became the perfect offering for us.  He was the One to whom the offering was foreshadowing.  Read Hebrews.

 

Jacob when He encountered God said:

 

Gen 28:20  And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, 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,

Gen 28:21  So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God:

Gen 28:22  And this stone, which I have set [for] a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.

 

I noticed that in Jacob’s encounter with God, he said, “If… then…  “.  Jacob’s commitment was conditional upon God’s commitment to him.  I believe Jacob had to come to believe that God was committed to him no matter what, and upon that revelation, he would give a tenth of what God gave him.

 

Jacob didn’t understand the “spiritual law” of sowing and reaping the tithe.  It never occurred to him that God’s blessing upon him was conditional upon his “cheerful giving”, because it simply was not.  God’s blessing was unconditional upon anything Jacob had done.  His blessing was inherited.

 

I wonder why we have come to believe that God’s commitment to us is based upon our tithe to Him?  Yes, we do use Malachi as our proof text, “Should a man rob God?”

 

But I tell you, that even if you tithe off of your gross paycheck, would you not also robbing God if you misunderstand or misrepresent the nature and character of God?

 

You say Isaac sowed and reaped a hundredfold return.  Yes.  Great tithing scripture right?  Let’s see.

 

Gen 26:12 ¶ Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him.

 

When Isaac sowed in the land, from what land did the hundredfold return come?  You see, Isaac did not sow to be blessed.  He was already blessed.  The hundredfold return was not the blessing.  It was the evidence of the blessing.  The blessing was a relationship with the God of Heaven.

 

How much a greater blessing do we have as adopted children?

 

Rom 8:16  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

Rom 8:17  And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with [him], that we may be also glorified together.

 

Mat 17:25  He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?

Mat 17:26  Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.

 

Rev 5:10  And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

 

If we who are as children called kings and priests unto God, then by whom pays what to whom?

 

Hbr 7:9  And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.

Hbr 7:10  For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.

 

The Levitical tribe did not pay tithes, but received them.  However because Levi was in the loins of Abraham when Abraham tithed, the tithing of Abraham was counted also unto Levi.

 

Gal 3:29  And if ye [be] Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

 

Wait a minute!!!  Some of you, I am really messing up your theology right now by what I have just implied.  There are many ministries that have been built upon a foundation of tithing, and if you are built upon them, you will fall with them.   Their foundation is not built upon what Christ has done, but by what you give SO you will be blessed.   THAT IS WRONG.

 

JESUS IS THE BLESSING!!!   HAVING A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IS THE BLESSING!!!! 

 

If we are counted worthy to suffer with Him, shall we not also be blessed by the glory in Him?  Remember Romans 8:17?

 

Let’s go back and review a great tithing scripture that you will never hear preached in the majority of churches:

 

Deu 14:22 ¶ Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.

Deu 14:23  And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always.

Deu 14:24  And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it; [or] if the place be too far from thee, which the LORD thy God shall choose to set his name there, when the LORD thy God hath blessed thee:

Deu 14:25  Then shalt thou turn [it] into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose:

Deu 14:26  And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the LORD thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household,

Deu 14:27  And the Levite that [is] within thy gates; thou shalt not forsake him; for he hath no part nor inheritance with thee.

 

HELLO???

 

Under the LAW, I was to use my tithe to celebrate the LORD in whatever fashion my soul desired.  Not only me and my household, but also the Levite, and the widows and orphans were to be included.  Throw a big party.  Make a loud ruckus about how good God has been to you.  Let’s get that sacred cow and have a big barbecue, and let the world know how great God is!!!

 

If you cannot figure out who to invite, invite me!!!  I love to celebrate especially when food is involved.   Whooo hoooo!!!

 

There is a natural progression in which a person who is blessed, uses their abundance cheerfully for the Kingdom of God .

 

I have heard it said, “If you have a need, sow a seed.”  That is WRONG.  It implies that unless you “sow a seed”, you will have a need.  Whatever happened to, “THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD, I SHALL NOT WANT…” ???

 

You do not sow a seed because you have a need.  You have a Good Shepherd.  You sow a seed, because you ARE BLESSED by having ALL your needs met in Christ.

 

If you give 10% of your income, it isn’t because you need God’s blessing.  You already HAVE the blessing.  GOD is your exceeding great reward.  Your hundredfold return on your tithe is meaningless in comparison.

 

What you have in your bank account does NOT indicate whether or not you have the BLESSING.

 

The blessing is that no matter how little you have, nor how dire your circumstances are, GOD IS YOUR BLESSING.

 

You go walking in a desert, and water springs up for you.  Birds bring food for you to eat.  Fish jump in your net.  Valleys raise up and mountains bow low so you have a level path.   It’s coming people.

 

Blessings,

 

Wade Balzer

wbalzer@newjerusalem.org

 

PS.  I am serious…  You got food and a big celebration…  I am so there!!!   ;-)