Will a man rob God? Giving tithe and offering...

[reddogs]

It seems so many Adventist fuss and fight about giving God his tithe and offering, some say it doesnt matter, that 10% is too much. But are we just looking for excuses to rob God....?

Robbing God

6 "I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. 7 Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you," says the LORD Almighty.
"But you ask, 'How are we to return?'
8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me.
"But you ask, 'How do we rob you?'
"In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the LORD Almighty. 12 "Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land," says the LORD Almighty. Malachi 3:6-12

 

[Lebesgue]

It seems so many Adventist fuss and fight about giving God his tithe and offering, some say it doesnt matter, that 10% is too much. But are we just looking for excuses to rob God....?

Robbing God

6 "I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. 7 Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you," says the LORD Almighty.
"But you ask, 'How are we to return?'
8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me.
"But you ask, 'How do we rob you?'
"In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the LORD Almighty. 12 "Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land," says the LORD Almighty. Malachi 3:6-12

I agree with you on this Red. The tithe belongs to G-d. Period...

Shalom,

Lebesgue

 

[Crankitup]

I think even the Old Testament illustrates what believers are inclined to do when given a chance to give freely as opposed to what they do in response to being yoked under the bondage of the law.

When the Israelites started building the tabernacle at Mount Sinai, the people gave freely (Ex. 35:20-29). They gave so much, Moses had to tell them to stop giving (Ex. 36:3-7). Also, in the time of Joash, the high priest Jehoiada made a chest for freewill offerings for repairs on the temple, and they gave generously (2 Kings 12:9-10). Later in the time of Hezekiah, people gave freely for the reconstruction work required on the temple (2 Chr. 31:5-19).

Malachi gives an example of people failing to follow the law in their giving. Just as a side note, most of Malachi is directed to the priests; "And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you." - Mal 2:1. Maybe the priests weren't giving their tithe of the tithe (the heave offering). Or maybe the Levites weren't receiving their fair share because Eliashib opened the temple storerooms to Tobiah (the Molech-worshipping pagan).

 

[Man-ofGod]

I think even the Old Testament illustrates what believers are inclined to do when given a chance to give freely as opposed to what they do in response to being yoked under the bondage of the law.

When the Israelites started building the tabernacle at Mount Sinai, the people gave freely (Ex. 35:20-29). They gave so much, Moses had to tell them to stop giving (Ex. 36:3-7). Also, in the time of Joash, the high priest Jehoiada made a chest for freewill offerings for repairs on the temple, and they gave generously (2 Kings 12:9-10). Later in the time of Hezekiah, people gave freely for the reconstruction work required on the temple (2 Chr. 31:5-19).

Malachi gives an example of people failing to follow the law in their giving. Just as a side note, most of Malachi is directed to the priests; "And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you." - Mal 2:1. Maybe the priests weren't giving their tithe of the tithe (the heave offering). Or maybe the Levites weren't receiving their fair share because Eliashib opened the temple storerooms to Tobiah (the Molech-worshipping pagan).

I agree, tithing is a byproduct of loving God. What confuses people is, how is it God's money? They do not understand how everything belongs to God. But the answer is simple. God created the earth, therefore, everything in the earth really is His. So this one deed, in the great scheme of things, is not big request at all. Add into the mixture the fact that it is not for His benefit that he ask us to Tithe but for the benefit of mankind, really puts things in perspective IMHO.

 

[reddogs]

I agree, tithing is a byproduct of loving God. What confuses people is, how is it God's money? They do not understand how everything belongs to God. But the answer is simple. God created the earth, therefore, everything in the earth really is His. So this one deed, in the great scheme of things, is not big request at all. Add into the mixture the fact that it is not for His benefit that he ask us to Tithe but for the benefit of mankind, really puts things in perspective IMHO.

If God blinks and creates gold, silver and rubies, why do we try to hoard the little bit of silver we earn. Its all his creation and He wants believers to help each other especially when it comes to spreading his truth.