Tithes

Topic: Tithes.

Text: Genesis 14:17-24

The has become an issue in the body of Christ today, because it’s not been used for its purpose. Tithe is not of the law because it  has been existing before Moses was born.
In Matthew 23:23 Jesus said: 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, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Jesus did not condemn tithe, He said as you are paying your tithe, also do judgment, mercy and faith. Tithe is one tenth of your income, it is holy unto the Lord for it belongs unto Him. (Leviticus 27:30).

Genesis 14:17-24 says: And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king’s dale. And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all. And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself. And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the Lord, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich: Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.

Here we saw that when Abraham return from the slaughter, he gave Melchizedek tithes of all he got. This was before the law was given to Moses by God.
Also, in Genesis 28:22 Jacob said: And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that thou shall give me, I will surely give the tenth unto thee. This was also before the law. Proverbs 3:9-10 says: Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase.
So, shall they barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. Abraham and Jacob did honour God with their tithes but the believers of today, want the blessings of God without doing what Abraham and Jacob did.
In 1 Corinthians 16:2 Paul said: Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
Philippians 4:17 Paul says: Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
In Psalms 50:10 -15 God said: For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof. Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats? Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High: And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. God is not a beggar but He likes to prove our obedience to Him.
Nehemiah 13:12 says: Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries (storehouse)
Malachi 3:10 says: Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the window of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

Tithe is not for pastors to enrich themselves but to pay junior pastors, full time church workers, help the poor, needy, bills and maintain the house of God. But unfortunately, reverse is the case.

Prayer: Oh God, help me to be faithful in my tithe because I am not giving it to man but God.

Bible reading for the day. Nehemaiah 12:44, Deuteronomy 12:11.