WEATHERING THE FINANCIAL SHAKEUP (3)
Dr. Norman Vincent Peale was a young minister during the Great Depression. His salary had been cut twice. He says: “Everyone was frightened and depressed. Businesses were failing. Nobody could borrow money. The pressure got worse, and for the first time I was terrified. I said to my wife, ‘We’re in a desperate situation. We can’t pay the bills. What are we going to do?’ Her answer startled me: ‘We’re going to start tithing!’ I said, ‘With what? It’s impossible.’ ‘Not impossible,’ she replied, ‘essential.’ We’re going to get by on 90 percent of your salary. Tithing is an act of faith and if we have faith as a grain of mustard seed, nothing will be impossible.’ She was right, we did get by. Money didn’t pour in, but there was always enough. Furthermore, the act of tithing seemed to calm my fears and stimulate my mind. There’s an invisible reservoir of abundance that’s tapped when you obey God’s law.” The Bible says, “The blessing of the Lord makes…rich…and…and adds no sorrow” (Pr 10:22 NLT). God’s ability to bless you doesn’t depend on what’s happening in the economy. When you honor Him with your tithes and offerings, He will ‘open …the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing…there will not be room enough to receive…And…{He} will rebuke the devourer for your sakes”(Mal 3:10-11 NKJV). In the Old Testament when God’s people “began bringing their gifts to the…temple” there was “enough…and plenty to spare.” Why? Because the Lord had “blessed His people.” Would you rather depend on man’s economy or on God’s blessing? The choice is yours!
wayneaugden 
Really good post Wayne! Much needed, we don’t hear a lot of preaching on tithing and offering…but it is indeed a command of God in the Bible. Thanks for the info! God bless you!
Thank you,sister. 🙂
I’d like to know exactly which scriptures in the Bible you follow when you tithe.
THE FIRST TITHE
Leviticus 27:30-33 defines this tithe as a tenth of crops and animals in herds and flocks.
Numbers 18 gives the ordinances, or instructions, for this tithe, and commands this tithe be taken to the Levites.
Purpose of this tithe: to support the Levitical Priesthood.
SECOND TITHE
Deuteronomy 14:22-27: aka The Festival Tithe – a tenth of crops, plus add to that the firstborn animals, and take to the yearly feasts.
Purpose of this tithe: “that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always”
THIRD TITHE
Deuteronomy 14:28-29: aka The Three-Year Tithe aka The Poor Tithe – a tenth of crops, kept at home, and invite the Levites, widows, orphans, stranger to eat.
Purpose of this tithe: to feed the poor.
The Biblical tithes always came from God’s increase of crops and/or animals. Not money. Not from anyone’s income.
When God gave the Israelites the promised land, He RESERVED, for Himself, a tenth of the crops and every tenth animal. They NEVER did belong to the Israelites. In other words, the tithe was from God’s increase of FOOD, not from man’s income. It was a way to distribute FOOD to the Levites and priests who did NOT inherit any land.
No one, not even the farmers, tithed on their income.
The farmers made their income by SELLING and/or barter-exchanging their crops and animals but did NOT tithe on that income.
Today, ALL born-again believers are priests. ALL of us are called to be deciples of the Lord. No one of us is greater than another. Our bodies are the Temple where the Spirit dwells. According to the scriptures, priests do not tithe.
Where am I wrong?
Gary,
This is a post that I copied from a devotional book from a pastor. I agree with his views otherwise I would not post them. I do not argue or try to prove or interpret what the Holy Scriptures say for others. Thank You for your comment.
My mother’s pastor visited her in the hospital. He said only 3% of Christians still tithe! I could not believe it!! Thank you for a needed and timely post! This needs to turn around!
You are welcome. When people truly understand and embrace our Lord and Savior then it will. We can’t truly give until we understand what we’ve been given.