Tithing #2
                                                                                       By Pastor F. M. Riley
                                                                                       November 7, 2018
     "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,"  Malachi 3:10
Introduction
Dear brother,
     Thank you for writing.  I apologize for not answering your email sooner, but I have been overloaded with problems needing my attention.  I can't handle things today as fast as I used to when I was younger.  I don't know why;  I am only 84 years old. But I am anticipating Job 33:23-26 to be fulfilled in my life before I reach 85.  Won't that be a glorious day for all of us who are true believers?  
     Enough of my rattling on.  You asked specifically if I could give you the truth about tithing?  By the grace of God, I sure can, and I will!  I do not know your position on the subject, but just remember that you asked, for by God's grace, I am going to give you the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but Scriptural truth on this subject.  I know that a lot of preachers, and perhaps others, won't like what I write, but my desire is to be true and faithful to my Lord.
     So here goes!  Just read on.......
     The Subject of Tithing
     I used this Scripture in Malachi 3:10 for a text for this study, because it is the favorite verse of most of those who seek to impose the practice of tithing on the Lord's New Testament Church, and New Covenant believers.  
     Early in the Lord's ministry, I learned the truth of 2 Timothy 2:15, and have sought to diligently follow it throughout my now 64 plus years in the Lord's ministry. So again.....
     By the grace of God I can read as well as anyone teaching tithing.  The very first Scripture in the Book of Malachi plainly says, "The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi," Malachi 1:1.  The entire Book of Malachi was written to Israel, written for Israel, and writen  about Israel.  Not a Scripture in this entire book applies to the Lord's Church [Gentile Bride].  So why do some preachers choose to lift this Scripture right out of context and try to make it apply to believers living in this present Dispensation of Grace?     Well...??
The Division of the Holy Land
     Let's go way back to when the Lord God first brought Israel into the "promised land."  Israel, as a nation and people, were the descendants of the twelve sons of Jacob. and the two sons of Joseph, Genesis 48:1-5.  This would make fourteen tribes in Israel, rather than the twelve tribes commonly thought of when speaking about Israel.  
     However, when the "promised land" was divided among the tribes, an adjustment was made.  The tribe of Levi was not given a portion of land as their inheritance, nor were they reckoned among the tribes.  Rather, they were set aside, for the Lord God Himself was to be their inheritance.  This then reduced the tribes to thirteen in number.
      However, there was one more adjustment.  Two of the other tribes
were allowed to intermarry, causing them to became as one tribe and people, thereby reducing the number of tribes to twelve as spoken of in God's Word, and as  we think of them today.  
     Then the land, divided among the tribes, was yet further divided by each family in a tribe receiving a piece of land as their own family inheritance.  Each family was expected to use the ground they had received to provide their living, by farming or by raising flocks of sheep or cattle. The Lord God purposely meant for Israel to be an "agrarian" people.  I suspect that from the people having to work their land in order to eat and survive, gave origin to Paul's statement in 2 Thessalonians 3:10, "that if any would not work, neither should he eat."   
      But the tribe of Levi was not given a square inch of the promised land as their inheritance.  The Lord God had selected the tribe of Levi as the tribe who would devote themselves to serving and representing Him among all of the Israelite people.  So how were the Levites and their families to survive, since they had no land from which to produce an income?  
      The Lord God already had the solution to that problem, and gave it to the nation and people of Israel.  
The Tithe was a TAX upon Israel
     There was nothing voluntary about the Israelites paying the tithe.  It was a part of the Law for Israel, and every head of a household was obligated by the Jewish Law to pay ten percent of any increase in their income.  PERIOD!  
     The Hebrew word translated as "tithe," literally means "a tenth."  The first time the word occurs in the Bible is in Genesis 14:20, where Abraham gave tithes [a tenth] of all the spoils that the Lord God had helped him and his men to lay hold on from their defeated enemies.  
     The words tithe, tithes, and tithing, occur exactly 40 times in the Bible.  "40" is the number in the Bible which signifies, "Test; a test or trial; testing."  The TAX of tithing was imposed upon the whole nation and people of Israel, to show how much they loved their own brethren, the Levites, and if they loved the Lord God enough to obey His Law of Tithing.  Our text Scripture for this study in Malachi 3, reveals how miserably the nation and people of Israel failed the test!  
     The Law of Tithing was first imposed upon the nation and people of Israel as recorded in Leviticus 27:30-34.  Our readers should notice that this chapter ends with this inspired statement, "These are the commandments, which the Lord commanded Moses for the children of Israel in mount Sinai," Leviticus 27:34.
      Could this be stated any plainer?  These commandments of tithing, were not given to the Lord's New Testament Church, but were given to "the children of Israel."  Hello!  
The Purpose of the Tithe
     There was one purpose for the tithe, and only one purpose.  This TAX was imposed upon the children of Israel, in order to provide for the Levites, who had received no possession of land in Israel.  The Bible goes into some detail about what the children of Israel were to tithe to support the people of Levi.  I leave it up to our readers to study the details for themselves.  There are only forty Scriptures in the Bible which refer to tithing, so there is no good reason why any true believer should be in ignorance of the subject.  
      The children of Israel were to tithe of their "increase."  This meant the firstborn of their flocks of sheep and cattle, the firstfruits of their harvest, and of anything else the Lord God brought to them as an "increase."  The fact that the inspired Word specifies their "increase," is evidence that the Lord God intended to bless and prosper the children of Israel, as they obeyed His Law.  
The Storehouse
     In order to receive and store the tithes that the children of Israel paid in obedience to the Law of Tithing, they built storehouses [warehouses or large barns] in various locations in the land of Israel.  Then the Levites could go to those storehouses to procure food for their families.  This is what is meant in Malachi 3:10, where the inspired Word says, "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse....."  
     Dear readers, the Lord's Church is not a storehouse.   We New Covenant believers are explicitly commanded, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
     But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
     For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also," Matthew 6:19-21.  
     Rather than storing up goods and money, the Lord's churches are to be a source of help for their own poor and needy, and for others who are standing in need, and most certainly a source of financial help to missionaries who are willing to leave their home, their country, and their people, to carry the gospel of Christ to the lost in heathen lands.     This is not to be accomplished by the Law of Tithing, which was given only to the Jewish people.  Rather, this is to be accomplished by New Testament churches and believers sacrifically giving to help spread the
"good news" of the gospel of Christ to all nations, Acts 1:8. It is accomplished by the sacrificial giving of true believers who have themselves received "the gift" of salvation through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Romans 6:23.    
The Law versus Faith
     That tithing was a part of the Law given to Israel is glaringly obvious to any true believer who is willing to seriously study the subject, and be honest with God's Word.  Over the many years I have been in the Lord's ministry, I have had several honest preachers tell me, "I used to preach tithing until I seriously studied the subject in God's Word, and I studied myself right out of it."  Glory to God!  
     Tithing today is usually preached for no other reason than to raise money by putting God's people under an obligation to "pay their tithes" and make them feel guilty if they don't.  And of course to give the preacher or pastor a guaranteed income.   These same hypocritical preachers and pastors will then stand in their pulpits and bellow about  "living by faith," Romans 1:16-17; Galatians 3:8-14.  Why doesn't the preacher or pastor practice what he preaches?   Hello!  
     Folks, "faith" has been well illustrated for God's people in the Word of God by the inspired account of the poor widow in Mark 12:41-44 and Luke 21:1-4.  The Lord Himself said that the poor widow had cast all she had into the Temple offering; one hundred percent.  She obviously loved the Lord God, and trusted that He would provide for her.  How many readers have that kind of faith in our Lord?  Well...??   By the grace of God, I have financially been right where that poor widow was a number of times across the years.  On my bedroom wall right now, where I can see it every morning when I wake up, is a large poster board with Psalm 37:25 spelled out on it in block letters.  Praise the Lord!  Those readers who want to know what that Scripture says, look it up and read it!   
     Those who "profess" Christ, and don't have the kind of love for and faith in Christ, that poor widow had,  better ask the Lord for the grace to develop such love and faith real quick.  For such terrible economic conditions are about to come upon America, that will make the Great Depression look like a picnic!  Every reader has been warned, Isaiah 58:1; 2 Timothy 3:1-7.  
New Testament Giving
     Certainly the Lord God expects New Covenant believers to give of their income, in order to support the ministry of the Gospel of Christ, both locally, nationally, and on foreign mission fields.  
     The inspired Word in the New Testament makes it quite clear that the Lord is highly pleased when His people give of their means to support the proclamation of the Gospel of Christ.  
     But the difference in Old Testament Tithing and New Testament giving, is that Tithing was an obligation imposed upon the Jewish people by Law.  New Covenant giving is voluntary, because true believers who give, do so by their own choice, motivated only by the love of God in their hearts, "But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.  
     Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver," 2 Corinthians 9:6-7.   
     These inspired Scriptures set forth God's plan of giving for believers living in this present Dispensation of Grace.  Notice carefully that there is no set amount which we New Covenant believers are told or required to give.  None!  The amount we give is strictly up to those who choose to give.  Anything we give to the Lord's work is not to be given "grudgingly."  In other words, if  one's attitude is, "I really cannot afford this, and I don't want to give this, but to appear good before the church body I will give."  Folks, if this is your attitude and purpose for giving, then just keep your money in your pocket.  The Lord doesn't need nor want money given by those with such an attitude of heart.  
     Rather, these Scriptures make it quite plain that New Testament giving is to be done voluntarily and cheerfully.  The Greek word translated as "cheerful," literally means "hilarious."  In other words, giving with such love and joy, that the giver just wishes they had more to give.  This is New Testament giving!  Anything less is a hypocritical fraud, for which the giver shall one day soon have to give account to the Lord God, 2 Corinthians 5:10.  
The Blessing of Giving
     Notice that in Malachi 3:10, the Lord God told the Israelite people that if they would bring their tithes to the storehouse, He would open the windows of Heaven, and pour them out a blessing so abundant they would not have room to receive it.  The Lord God wanted to bless His Israelite people, and would bless them as they obeyed His Law of Tithing.  
     In like manner, there is a blessing for New Covenant believers who voluntarily choose in their hearts to give to support the Lord's work in this present dispensation.  The inspired Scripture explicitly states that in our Christian giving,  if we sow sparingly, we shall reap sparingly, but if we sow bountifully we shall reap bountifully.  And the Lord God keeps His promises.......
My Personal Testimony
     I know He does!  For many years ago, as a young 17 year old boy just entering the work force, I was poor as the proverbial "Job's Turkey."  Nevertheless, I looked at my paychecks, and I purposed in my heart to set aside two percent [yes, I did say two percent] to put into the offering plate at church on Sundays.  Oh, how the Lord did bless that decision!  Soon I was enabled to raise the amount to three percent, then five percent, and so on.  I have no idea today what the percentage is that I give or invest in the Lord's work, for I stopped figuring percentage long ago, and just give from my heart what I want to give to support any part of  the Lord's work.  And how the Lord has blessed!    
     Dear readers, I was blessed with the funds I needed to write and mail out a monthly newsletter for 45 years.  I only stopped sending it out after my beloved wife was called home to be with the Lord.  I just could no longer handle all the details of writing, printing, stapling, folding, addressing, and stamping without her help, and I couldn't afford to hire help.  But the Lord still had a ministry for me to replace the monthly newsletter.  You are reading part of it right now.  
     For the past ten years I have been writing out the great truths of God's Word in Bible Studies, and sending them out via email.  They now go all over the world through the kindness of Brother John Tng and his Five Doves website.       
     When my wife died in 2006, for the first and only time,  I did ask for help for her burial expenses, for we had no insurance and very little money. And God's people graciously responded to that need.   Thank you!   
      When I need funds for the Bible Study ministry, instead of burdening God's people, I raise those funds on my knees, crying out to our gracious God in prayer. I just pray and ask the Lord for His help, and He always touches the hearts of those of His people whom He wants to use to meet the need.  I don't have to beg, whine, cry, and threaten anyone in order to raise the funds I need, like some of these tithing preachers do.  I just love and trust the Lord, and support His ministry as I am able.  He does all the rest!  
     And I might add that in my now 64 years in the Lord's ministry I have never preached the Law of Tithing for New Testament believers living under the marvelous Grace of God.  Hallelujah!  Praise the Lord!  
Conclusion               
      If any reader has the idea that God will bless you for your faithful tithing, you are sadly mistaken.  Tithing was part of the Law given to Israel to observe, by Moses, Leviticus 27:1; 27:34.  Now look at Romans 3:20, "Therefore by the deeds of the Law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin."  The Lord God is not going to violate His own Word, and bless any New Covenant believer just because they tithe.  Read also 1 Timothy 1:5-10.   
      Now dear readers, understand this truth; the Lord has no objection to any true believer giving ten percent of their income back into the Lord's work and ministry, if that is what they have purposed in their heart to do.  But any gift of any amount that is given grudgingly, or because one feels compelled to tithe, is a waste of time, if one is expecting the Lord to bless them for giving it.  The Lord looks upon the heart, and knows the true motive for one's giving.  Unless the gift is voluntarily given through a true love for the Lord, and a true burden for His work to be supported, then the giving is in vain.  The Lord doesn't need it or want it, and those who give grudgingly, or because they believe the Law of Tithing compells them to do so are going to have to give account one day real soon for their failure to "rightly divide the Word of truth," 2 Timothy 2:15.
     Now, dear reader, what is your real motive for giving?  Is it because you truly love the Lord, and have a desire to support the furtherance of the Gospel of Christ, or are there other hidden motives?    
     Read 1 Timothy 1:5-7 and 2 Corinthians 5:10.  
     Any may God bless the truth of His Word to the heart of every reader!  
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     Yes, I do grant permission to any true believer, or Bible believing Christian ministry to reproduce this study to share with others, or to quote from it in context exactly as I have written.  
     My personal contact information:
POSTAL........Pastor F. M. Riley, 14275 Co. Rd. 8120, Rolla, MO 65401
EMAIL...........francismriley34@gmail.com
PHONE.........573-202-6493  
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