Study: Few Born Agains Tithe to Churches

hankster »

Thu Apr 24, 2008 8:37 am Agree: 1   Disagree: 0

It is interesting that God tells us that the tithe was established prior to 2,000 BC, because we read in Genesis 14:20 that Abram gave Melchizidek, King of Salem, a tithe of all he had recovered from Cherdolaomer. Since this was nearly 800 years before the Law was given to Moses, it seems that Abram was not being legalistic when offering a tithe to Melchizidek.

Abram's offering of a tithe in Genesis 14:20 was his heart's response to what God had done for him. God gave Abram and his 'army of 318' (Genesis 14:14-16) the defeat of the combined armies of four kings.

God allows us the privilege of making our choices in response to believing or not believing Him. He provides ample references in scripture to show that people have a choice of trusting in themselves or trusting in Him. Every day He finds a new way to ask each Christian: "Do you trust me?"

He also makes it clear that He does not want His people to give out of obligation. Read 2 Corinthians 9:5-15 (in which Psalm 112:9 is quoted. Psalm 112 is about the results and benefits of trusting Him). We clearly see that once a believer purposes in his heart to trust God to give, God supplies the ability to give it, and can trust the believer with more and more, as he/she gives in response.

Having seen in my own life for several decades the privilege and results of tithing, I am compelled to witness that God has been faithful in lean times and good times, always honoring my family's stewardship.

He is the One Who provides us the ability to earn money (Deuteronomy 8:18), and all of it belongs to Him (Psalm 50:10). He established the law of the harvest (2 Cor. 9:6, Luke 6:38, Galatians 6:7-8) to point out that what we sow, we reap.

All of the sowing into His kingdom is about trusting Him to be faithful to provide. We have the privilege as Christians to be part of His program for taking care of what he has given us stewardship over. Praise God for His faithfulness!