Tithing in Malachi 3:6. Get it Right!!

All of the levitical laws were addressed by Christ in the fact that He died so we would no longer be bound by that law which no one could keep perfectly. This is when He established the New Covenant. This is the very thing that Paul talks about in so many of his letters. Take for example the second letter to the Corinthians:

"Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. But if the ministry of death, in letters engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, fading as it was, how will the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory? For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory. For indeed what had glory, in this case has no glory because of the glory that surpasses it."

-- 2 Corinthians 5-10

We are the servants of a New Covenant, through the blood of Christ. This passage even tells us that if we try to live under the old that we will only find death, but rather life is in the new.

We dont tithe as a Law thing. We tithe becos we've been so blessed by the Lord.

Tithing began even b4 the Law. Abraham tithed to Melchizedek, a type of Christ. Melchi first blessed Abraham. Abraham responded by tithing "all" to Melchi.

Tithing is also based on the principle of firstfruits. Give God the first 10% and the rest becomes holy, whether its your time, business profits, career, finances etc.

The ground is cursed (since Adam sinned). Trees grow from the ground. Paper comes from trees. Dollar notes are made of paper. So the money in your hands is cursed (you got it from the world anyway). Give God back only 10% (it belongs to him anyway) and the rest becomes holy. This firstfruits/if the root is holy principle works for everything else, like your time, ministry etc.

But if you still insist tithing is an OC thing, then u shld be giving more than 10%, since you are now under a better covenant based on better promises.

I wonder how many Christians who are against tithing give more than 10%. They come against those who tithe, yet dont give as much themselves.

You're argument doesn't make sense logically. Look at what you've said:

So the money in your hands is cursed

------------

Give God back only 10% (it belongs to him anyway) and the rest becomes holy

Click to expand...

So you're saying that something that is of God (money) - I don't see any scriptural basis for this argument anyway - is cursed. God is light, in Him there is no darkness. You're argument doesn't make sense. Maybe you meant something else. I guess if you could address this I'll better be able to cover the rest of you're post.

I didnt say that aggie. I said we basically get our salary from the world.

It's like when you buy a new house and move in. One of the things you'd want to do is thank God for it right? and even ask him to bless it right? Or if you've given birth to a baby boy, you'd thank God and ask him to bless your child right? So the principle/motivation is the same as when your boss gives you your paycheck. You thank God for it and ask him to bless it/your career/finances.. How? by giving a "firstfruits" amount back to him. And when the root is holy, the rest becomes holy. God touches the 10% and the rest becomes holy.

He allows you/gives you the strength/hearbeat/breath to work and get money from the world. But he tells you look this money is dirty becos its cursed since Adam's fall, but lemme purify it for you, give me back 10% and it'll be made holy.

see it another way: some Christians know that when they give and hour or two to the Lord before they begin their work day, everything seems to be more smooth sailing (despite the pressures) the rest of the day. Its the same thing here -- principle of firstfruits.

God is so good. He only asks for 10%, which is his anyway in the sense that if he didnt allow you to live, you wldnt even be able to work and get a paycheck.

Originally posted by Andrew
God touches the 10% and the rest becomes holy.

Click to expand...

I havemany questions/concerns about your last post - but I"ll begin with this one. How do come to the conclusion that God touches money? Where is that covered in the Scriptures?

aggie, I'm speaking figuratively.

But do give God the firstfruits of whatever you do, eg first profits from your new business, and he'll bless that business. Give him 10% of your time b4 you start your day, and he'll bless that day and make it smooth running, despite the hectic schedules. Do you get what I'm trying the say here? the principle of it all?

The people that have a problem with tithing are those that don't. Is someone holding a gun to your head saying "Tithe, or else!" I do not think so. Anyone that tithes should not feel as if they are above others because they tithe, just as those that do not tithe should not feel that they are below, or above, or whatever the case may be. God loves a cheerful giver. Get your eyes off of man and keep them on God. Amen?

"You can give without loving, but you can not love without giving!!"

Originally posted by prodigal The people that have a problem with tithing are those that don't.

Click to expand...

That's a pretty broad statement - do you really know everyone who claims that tithing is no longer commanded? Do you know how much they give with a cheerful heart? Then you can't say whether they tithe or not. The question that we're discussing here isn't whether or not we tithe, but whether or not tithing in commanded under the New Covenant.

Is someone holding a gun to your head saying "Tithe, or else!" I do not think so.

Click to expand...

No, no one is holding a gun to my head - something much much worse: my eternal salvation. We are given commands in under the New Covenant, and we are expected to follow them and not add to or take away from them. So wether or not we try to force tithing upon someone as a law is extremely important in that sense. There are many examples in the Bible of scripture telling us that we aren't to do things or force others to do things that aren't commanded (either through direct command, inference, or examples) under the New Covenant. Matthew 7:21 is a good example of such a text:

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. "

-- Matthew 7:21

Anyone that tithes should not feel as if they are above others because they tithe, just as those that do not tithe should not feel that they are below, or above, or whatever the case may be.

Click to expand...

I agree with you here - we are never to consider ourselves better than others. That's not part of the character we are to have as imitators of Christ:

"If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others."

-- Philippians 2:1-4

God loves a cheerful giver. Get your eyes off of man and keep them on God. Amen?

Click to expand...

Again, I agree - we are commanded to give as each is able with a cheerful heart. That is the key: what you can give with a cheerful heart. This is the command under the New Covenant. If you could give 80% of your income, still be out of want and do it cheerfully - that would be awesome. If you could only give 3%, yet do it cheerfully - that would be awesome, too.