Where’s your Tithe?
You’ve probably heard Malachi 3:10 on more than one occasion. The King James version states "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." That sounds pretty good to me! I don’t know anyone who would not want God Almighty to open up the windows of Heaven and pour out a blessing so great that they don’t have enough room for it. Do you?
I’ve heard this preached many times, (usually just before the offering plates are passed around) and many times it sounded like this. Bring the WHOLE tithe to the storehouse that there may be food in my house, test me in this says the Lord that I will not open the windows of Heaven and pour out a blessing so great that you can’t even contain it!, do you want God to open the windows of Heaven and pour out a blessing so great that you don’t even have enough room to receive it? If you do, you MUST pay the WHOLE tithe, ALL OF IT, If you owe back taxes, pay back taxes, if you owe money in tithes, pay what you owe, but bring the WHOLE TITHE and not only will God pour out so much blessing that you can’t contain it all but he will even bless you much, much more than that if you give an offering over and above the WHOLE tithe. See, the tithe belongs to the Lord and that’s not yours to mess around with, give it back to the Lord, but the Lord loves a cheerful giver so as we receive our tithes and offerings, remember that the tithe belongs to the Lord and that the lord loves a cheerful giver and the blessings will surely come your way. OK, here’s my view on all of this.
The first part of the verse says to bring ALL of the tithes, not just some of it. The tithe is a tenth or 10 percent. In my opinion the tithe is 10% of my GROSS income (not 10% of the amount of my paycheck after taxes were taken out). Many people disagree with this because "we never see the money taken out for taxes", yes you do, you see it on your w-2 form at the end of the year and most paychecks show your gross, federal withholding, Social Security and Medicare taxes withheld and then the amount of your paycheck which is your net pay. Your taxes are calculated on your gross pay. Don’t you think that your tithe should be calculated the same way? If not, then why not tithe on what’s left after you pay your electric bill? Or your rent? We all have to pay rent or a mortgage don’t we? Some companies withhold other things directly out of your check like 401k, insurance.. etc.. If your w-2 or 1099 form at the end of the year shows that your earned $100,000.00 you should have given $10,000.00 in tithes to your (storehouse) which I believe is the Church that you regularly attend. Tithes and offerings to a Church are tax deductible. That means that you will most likely be getting a tax refund because you would have paid taxes on your gross income which will be reduced by the amount of your deductions. (No tax lesson today!) OK. So we’ve gone over what the tithe is and where it belongs. The next part of the verse states "That there may be meat in mine house" This makes me think that the Tithe is somehow connected with or associated with FOOD. Are there hungry people in your Church? I have seen hungry people turned away from a Church and sent away with nothing to eat, "here’s a phone number to call, they might be able to help" "feeding people is not part of our mission or our vision here" NEWS FLASH…… IT’S IN THE BIBLE SO IT SHOULD BE PART OF YOUR MISSION AND VISION. Read James 2:15
Acts Chapter 2
And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.Acts 4
32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. 33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. 34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, 35 And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.As the money was laid at the apostles’ feet, It doesn’t say that the money was used to buy them each new luxury cars. Or that the money was then used to buy very large houses for the apostles. Or that the money was then used to buy Armani suits for the apostles. NO it states that the money was then distributed to the PEOPLE according to their needs.
Here’s how Malachi 3:10 is being put into practice by many churches(not all) it’s just not spoken this way.
Bring the WHOLE tithe to the storehouse ‘cause pastor needs a rolex, or a mercedes or a mansion or a closet full of $3,000.00 suits.
I understand that it takes money to run a church and to pay the bills. I also agree and believe that ALL PASTORS who preach the word of God DESERVE a comfortable home, a reliable vehicle, food to eat, clothes to wear etc.. etc.. but I have never found any scripture in the Bible that affirms that the purpose of the tithes and offerings is to make the pastor of your church a wealthy man. I always thought that pastors were supposed to be humble and content. Jesus said in Matthew chapter 6
Matthew 6:19-20
19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal, 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.I don’t believe that any pastor who uses tithes and offerings to make himself personally wealthy is practicing what he probably preaches to others. I believe they are doing exactly what verses 19-21 say NOT TO DO. It appears that church has become big business and many pastors have become seekers of wealth, recognition and/or fame. It’s almost like a competition. They could make a TV show from it. "My pastor’s richer than yours"
I bet if Jesus were the Pastor of the largest church in America he would be living in a very modest home, driving a very modest car and wearing modest clothes. I don’t think that Jesus would command me to give him money so he could go buy a Rolex. I think if someone GAVE Jesus a Rolex he would sell it, take the money and feed and clothe homeless people.
Aren’t we supposed to be Christ Like?
Matthew Chapter 6 continued
24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.(I don’t care how hard you try or think that you can serve both, it CLEARLY states above that YOU CAN’T)
25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?(God has ALWAYS provided what I need and he will continue to do so)
27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment?(clothing) Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek ) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
(If your heavenly father knows what you need, why would you worry about it yourself?)
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
I used to say to myself. "It is MY responsibility to pay my tithe and if the pastor who receives it misuses it or spends it on his own riches and wealth that’s none of my business, that’s between him and God. I need to just be obedient and pay my tithe"
NOW, I believe that it IS my responsibility to be mindful of what my tithe is being used for. If my tithes are being used for something that is not biblically justified. I need to pay my tithe elsewhere.
If you give someone a ride to the bank, and you KNOW that they are going to rob that bank and yet you give them a ride anyway. You are an accessory to that bank robbery.
I believe that tithes are to be used to maintain the day to day operations of the church. Provide for the NEEDS of the people who run the church as well as the PEOPLE who attend the church and have need from time to time. Nowhere have I read that the tithes and offerings belong to the pastor. It belongs to The Lord.
I heard a pastor speak of how important it is to be a MEMBER of the church. And how having the backing of the church will help you in times of need "WE’RE NOT GOING TO PAY YOUR ELECTRIC BILL FOR YOU but we will be here to pray for you" Read James 2:15 again! Church is supposed to be more than a place that you can be taught the word of God. It is supposed to be your FAMILY. I heard another pastor speak of just that. "We are ALL part of the same family and this sanctuary is just a big family room". Yeah, and you’re the Rich uncle that doesn’t care whether I have any food!
This Church or that Church are NOT separate bodies but different members or parts of the SAME BODY OF CHRIST
(1Cor12:12). It seems that many Churches have developed an attitude that THEY, are THE body of Christ alone and that other Churches are not as important. Paul say’s otherwise (1cor12:25-26).Dr. Sherlock Bally said it best. "you better get right, before you get left"
If there were going to be no apostate church, It wouldn’t be in the bible.
Apostasy is defined in Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary as "renunciation of a religious faith - abandonment of a previous loyalty." It will be a church of people who call themselves Christians but have left the basic teachings taught by Christ in the four Gospels. The worldly pleasures overcame them, and they gave in to adultery, idol worship (mainly money), laziness, lukewarmness, lying and theft. This church exists today. And this is the church that is present during the Tribulation period. This is the church that is symbolized as "the great harlot (prostitute) who sits on many waters" (Revelation 17:1). "Many waters" is defined in verse 15, as "people, masses of people of every race and nation."
I would like to close in prayer.
Father, In Jesus name I ask that you lift up your church and your people. That you give us your wisdom and strength to repent of our sinful ways and begin to seek first your kingdom and your righteousness. Father, give us the faith to fear nothing of this earth. Father we need your guidance and strength to get us through each and every day. Father help us to inspect our own lives and reveal to us the areas of our lives that we need to cleanse with the blood of your son Jesus. Thank you Father that you have loved us so much and rescued us. Father I pray that you will lead us and guide us all the days of our lives. Father I thank you that you gave your only son to die in my place for the payment in full of my sins and that he rose again proving that even death has no power over him and that through Him I have eternal life with you. In Jesus Holy Name, Amen.