When you think of a thief, what comes to your mind? We might visualize a bank robber or shop lifter. But it’s hard to imagine a “Christian” as a robber. Yet, that is God’s accusation against His own people who had withheld the tithe from Him. It seems impossible, yet the scripture below clearly states that all those who do NOT bring their tithes have ROBBED GOD!
Malachi 3:8-11 “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, In what way have we robbed You? In tithes and offerings. (9) You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation. (10) Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this, Says the LORD of hosts, If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it. (11) And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field, Says the LORD of hosts;”
By definition, robbery is taking something that does not belong to you. God specifically used the term “robbery” in the passage above to show that the tithe (which means a tenth) belongs to Him, not us.
Unfortunately, many Christians misunderstand the idea of tithing. They believe it as giving a tenth of THEIR OWN property to God. However, in reality, it is God who has done the giving to us (that is, everything we possess actually belongs to God in the first place) and He claims the return of only 10% of His own property. Tithing is not giving a tenth of our income to God, but it is RETURNING a tenth of WHAT IS HIS to begin with!
Tithing is a TEST of stewardship to manage something that belongs to God. It is a test of HONESTY to return what is rightfully His. It is a test of OBEDIENCE to do what He has commanded. It is a DEMONSTRATION that we believe in God and acknowledge His authority over our lives.
Most of us realize that robbery is a serious offense in society, and those convicted of theft are sentenced to jail. But what happens to a person who is guilty of robbing GOD? The scripture says that he will be CURSED WITH A CURSE (Malachi 3:9). What kind of curse is this? The NON-tither is cursed by having no protection from the devourer (Satan) from destroying their prosperity, and having the windows of heaven closed so that God will not shower them with His blessings. That INDEED is a CURSE!
Some people claim they can’t afford to bring their tithes. But let me ask you, “Can you AFFORD to BE CURSED?” Can you afford to not have God’s blessings and protection over your finances? Can you afford to be considered a thief & robber BY GOD HIMSELF? Can you afford to be a person who does not obey the Word of God? The fact is, you can’t afford to NOT BRING your tithes, because this is the principle that God has chosen to bless you!
Malachi 3:8-11 “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, In what way have we robbed You? In tithes and offerings. (9) You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation. (10) Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this, Says the LORD of hosts, If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it. (11) And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field, Says the LORD of hosts;”
By definition, robbery is taking something that does not belong to you. God specifically used the term “robbery” in the passage above to show that the tithe (which means a tenth) belongs to Him, not us.
Unfortunately, many Christians misunderstand the idea of tithing. They believe it as giving a tenth of THEIR OWN property to God. However, in reality, it is God who has done the giving to us (that is, everything we possess actually belongs to God in the first place) and He claims the return of only 10% of His own property. Tithing is not giving a tenth of our income to God, but it is RETURNING a tenth of WHAT IS HIS to begin with!
Tithing is a TEST of stewardship to manage something that belongs to God. It is a test of HONESTY to return what is rightfully His. It is a test of OBEDIENCE to do what He has commanded. It is a DEMONSTRATION that we believe in God and acknowledge His authority over our lives.
Most of us realize that robbery is a serious offense in society, and those convicted of theft are sentenced to jail. But what happens to a person who is guilty of robbing GOD? The scripture says that he will be CURSED WITH A CURSE (Malachi 3:9). What kind of curse is this? The NON-tither is cursed by having no protection from the devourer (Satan) from destroying their prosperity, and having the windows of heaven closed so that God will not shower them with His blessings. That INDEED is a CURSE!
Some people claim they can’t afford to bring their tithes. But let me ask you, “Can you AFFORD to BE CURSED?” Can you afford to not have God’s blessings and protection over your finances? Can you afford to be considered a thief & robber BY GOD HIMSELF? Can you afford to be a person who does not obey the Word of God? The fact is, you can’t afford to NOT BRING your tithes, because this is the principle that God has chosen to bless you!
4 comments:
Russell,
You cannot overturn six thousand years of Bible history by your thesis – no matter how smart you think you are. You called my blog garbage? Your comments sounded desperate to me…. like the last gasp of a dying man. As much as you try, you are not a theologian.
It’s also obvious that you are not a pastor because if you were you would not have said what you did. Get a life. If you don’t like what you read here, don’t come back. Please talk to yourself in the mirror.
Russell,
You are a self-appointed crusader for a lost cause. You have an orbit about the size of a Cheerio (very small) and no one wants to listen to you. Therefore, you log on here forcing your views and trying to start a debate. Not interested. I've got better things to do than spend my time with uninvited malcontents like you.
In spite of your lofty claim to a Ph.D. you sound middle-schoolish when you use inflammatory & childish words.
You are not welcome here. I told you so yesterday. Your continual drip-drip-drip diatribe is wearisome. Go away.
PS - Russell, my ministry is none of your business. Lead your own.
I was going to leave a comment to ask if you are to tithe 10% of your original income or if you are supposed to tithe 10% of what is left over (because I have heard this from a few people). It sounds like to me that it should be the original 10% because why would God want our leftovers? While posting, I couldn't help but notice that poor Russell has an orbit the size of a cheerio, because your orbit is getting to be about 500 people wide on any given Sunday! I guess not everyone has your ministering gifts!
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