The Law of Tithing

Well, good afternoon, everyone. Certainly good to see all of you on this beautiful Sabbath day here. Very nice and mild for this time of the year. Hope that you're feeling good, that you've had a good week. I'd like to give two messages this afternoon, and both of them are very personal messages that you're going to be interested in. The first one has to do with your pocketbook. So I know that I have your attention on that one. I'd like to begin by reading an article that came out in the Ashboro newspaper a couple of weeks ago, January 27 of this year, the Courier Tribune.

And the title is, If Romney's Tithing Raises Profile of Issue in Churches. And the subtitle has the question, Does the Christian Bible Require Tithing? The article brings out that Mr. Romney, a Republican presidential candidate this year, does something that few and fewer Americans do these days. He tithes. And in the years 2009 and 2010, he and his wife gave 10% of their income, about $4.1 million. Their income reported was $43 million for those two years.

The latter-day church members must tithe to participate in temple rituals. Nearly 80% of Mormons tithe. But the article goes on to say that tithing is becoming less and less among ordinary Americans, and that the theology behind tithing is also being questioned, with many saying the mandate to contribute 10% is not biblical. In fact, 58% of evangelical leaders do not believe the Christian Bible requires tithing, according to a study. And Christians, on average, give about 2.38% of their income to churches, a figure that has dropped steadily in recent years.

In the first message, I'd like to have us to address the subject of tithing and to answer the question from the Bible, Does the Christian Bible Require Tithing? What does the Bible say about tithing? Is it biblical? Is it required of Christians? Or is that a part of the Old Covenant that's done away? Many people believe it was a part of the Old Covenant, and that it no longer is required of Christians, that Christians can just give whatever they want, if they want.

First of all, let's identify what we're talking about. Tithing, the very word tithe simply means tenth. So tithing is tithing. It is giving 10% wealth to God. And we know that, of course, the Scriptures reveal that... we're going to see that the Scriptures do reveal that tithing is something that belongs to God. Well, we can begin even that study right away. Let's go back to a few Old Testament verses. Leviticus chapter 27 and verse 30. Leviticus chapter 27 and verse 30. The Israelites had just come out of Egypt, and they were standing at the foot of Mount Sinai, and God was giving them His laws, including the Ten Commandments and the other laws and statutes.

And notice what we read here in Leviticus chapter 27 and verse 30. All the tithe of the land, whether the seed of the land or the fruit of the tree, is the Lord's. It is holy to the Lord. They were going to come into this land flowing with milk and honey, a very productive land, and all that they would receive then from the land, the trees would be, 10% of it would be holy to God.

It is the Lord's. It belongs to God, it says. This tithe, it is holy to the Lord. If a man wants to at all redeem any of his tithes, he shall add one fifth to it. And concerning the tithe of the herd of the flock, whatever passes under the rod, the tenth one shall be holy to the Lord. So there was tithing on the animals as well. We know that God went on to reveal to the Israelites that the tithe was to be given to the tribe of Levi.

Let's read that over in Numbers chapter 18 and beginning in verse 21. Numbers chapter 18 and verse 21. Behold, I have given the children of Levi. Now this is something new. Before this time, the tithe was handled differently as we'll see in just a moment.

But here at Mount Sinai, God assigned the tithe to go to the Levites. I've given the children of Levi all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work which they perform, the work of the tabernacle of meeting. Hereafter the children of Israel shall not come near to the tabernacle of meeting lest they sin and die, but the Levites shall perform the work of the tabernacle of meeting.

They would do the spiritual sacrificing and teaching of God's laws. And for their work, they would be given the tithe. Verse 24. For the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer up as a heave offering to the Lord, I've given to the Levites as an inheritance. Therefore I have said to them, among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.

And sure enough, we can read in the book of Joshua. When the Israelites came into the land, then the tribe of Levi did not receive a territory. All the other 11 tribes, in fact, to Joseph, Edma, and Nasser, and Ephraim, so 12 when you think of it that way, all of those were given territory. But the Levites were not. The Levites were given cities, and they were given a perimeter of land around the cities for their flocks and herds, but they were not given a territory like the other tribes. So God assigned the tithe, which whose was the tithe?

It belongs to the Lord. The Lord's tithe was given to the tribe of Levi for their spiritual service to the nation. But it's important to realize that tithing is, this is not a new thing. This is not the first time that tithing is mentioned in the Bible. We have to go back 400 years earlier to see the first time that it's mentioned.

Let's turn back to the time of Abraham in Genesis 14. 400 years before the Old Covenant, we read about tithing. Abraham was aware of it. So in Genesis 14 and verse 18, after Abraham was victorious in recovering Lot, who had been taken by the kings of Mesopotamia, then, and he had all these spoils or goods from the victory. In verse 18, Genesis 14 and verse 18, then Melchizedek, king of Salem. Who is this Melchizedek, king of Salem? We'll read more about him and identify him a little bit later. Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine.

He was the priest of God Most High. We're going to see, actually, that it was none other than Jesus Christ who was performing priestly duties during the time of the patriarchs. He brought out bread and wine. He blessed Abraham and said, blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand. And notice he, that is Abraham, gave him a tithe of all. This is very important for us to understand. Abraham, the father of the nation of Israel, gave 10% to this Melchizedek.

There's another mention of tithing here in the book of Genesis in chapter 28.

Genesis chapter 28. And this is the occasion when Jacob was on his way to find a wife. And he had this dream and he saw these angels ascending up and down from the earth toward heaven. And when he woke up, he named the place Bethel, which means house of God, in verse 19. Genesis 28 and verse 19. He called the name of the place Bethel, which means house of God. In verse 20, Jacob made a vow saying, If God will be with me and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, in other words, take care of all his physical needs, so that I come back to my father's house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God. And this stone which I have set up as a pillar. It's been thought that Jacob, this could even be Jacob's pillar stone that is in Edinburgh Castle in Edinburgh, Scotland. This may be that very pillar. There's a tradition along that line, anyway. This stone which I have set up as a pillar shall be God's house, and of all that you give me, I will surely give a tenth to you. How did Jacob know about a tenth? See, both of these, Abraham and Jacob knew about tithing. I'll give you a tenth. Did Jacob learn it from his father Isaac? We have no reference to Isaac tithing, but Isaac saw, no doubt, his father tithing. So we would believe that the patriarchs were very much aware of tithing and that they knew the amount that belonged to God.

There are many other verses in the Old Testament. We're going to get to some of them in a few minutes, but what about the New Testament? That's what we want to really dwell on and prove. Does the Christian Bible require tithing? We want to see that it actually does, and we want to see how important tithing is for us in our relationship with God. But what about New Testament Christians? Where's the proof? Let's go to Matthew 23. By carefully reading this verse, we will see that Jesus certainly supported tithing. Even careful tithing, that is, if we make a dollar, then 10 cents belonged to God. Even on small matters, we should be careful to tithe.

In Matthew 23 and verse 23, "...woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites." Jesus really rakes the scribes and Pharisees over the coals in this chapter, and He came straight from the shoulder at them. "...woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites. For you pay tithe of men and annas and coming." These were just small herbs. They didn't amount to a lot of money, but they still paid tithe on them. But Jesus went on to say, "...you've neglected the weightier matters of the law, justice, and mercy, and faith." They had left out some of the more important aspects of God's way of life, justice, and mercy, and faith. Notice He went on to say, "...these..." That is the justice, mercy, and faith. "...these you ought to have done without leaving the others undone." So when you read that carefully, you see Jesus said, we should carefully tithe. If we make a dollar, then 10% of that belongs to God. We should carefully tithe on the smallest income we have, but we should not leave out the weightier matters of the law in doing so. So this is support from Jesus Christ on tithing.

What about the early church? We do have indication of many people supporting the early church, and how would that be that they would have given money for the preaching of the gospel in the early church? 2 Corinthians 11. Let's read a few verses, and then we're going to get to some verses in the book of Hebrews that really do show that the tithe, God's tithe, should be now given to where God is doing His work, and that is the work of His church. In 2 Corinthians chapter 11 and verses 7 through 9, Did I commit sin in the basing myself that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge? Paul did not receive money from the Corinthians. Why? Because they actually had been taken advantage of by others. Others had come in for their money, and Paul was just very careful mentioning anything about money, and so he came in not asking for anything at all as far as their support for what he was doing. I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge. Verse 8, where do you get the money from then? I robbed other churches. I used what other churches gave me, taking wages from them to minister to you.

And when I was present with you and in need, even had a need, he was low on money, I was a burden to no one for what was lacking to me the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied. And in everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so I will keep myself, since they were so suspicious of Paul's motives and they thought he was after something to get something from them, then he was very careful in regard to money. I want to read some other verses to the Corinthians in just a few minutes, but first of all, let's read those verses in the book of Hebrews, Hebrews 7.

Beginning in verse 1. Hebrews 7 and verse 1. And we're going to read verse by verse all the way through verse 12. And these verses are talking about the change of the recipient of the tithe.

Let me just preface this, first of all, by saying obviously there's already been a change in the Old Testament. The tithe, first of all, was given to Melchizedek in the days of the patriarchs.

Abraham gave the tithe to Melchizedek. Then when the Levitical priesthood was established, then God had the tithe, which is his, he had the tithe assigned and given to be given to the Levites for their spiritual service for the nation. Now, not long after the book of Hebrews was written, maybe about a decade later, the temple would be destroyed, 69, 70 A.D. The Levitical priesthood would no longer be functioning. What about the tithe, then? Would it make sense that the tithe would go to a priesthood that is no longer functioning and not doing anything? There's no temple for offering sacrifices like they had been doing? Or would it make sense for the tithe, God's tithe, to now be assigned to the church? Let's say that Jesus Christ is head of. That would make sense, and that is really what is being talked about here. Chapter 7, verse 1. Let's read it. For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, priest of God the Father, actually, who a minister then representing God the Father and who God had commissioned to serve in that manner, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him. We read that earlier in Genesis 14. To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, being first translated king of righteousness. That's what Melchizedek means, king of righteousness. And then also king of Salem, meaning king of peace. Verse 3. We see this is not talking about any human priest. It's talking about Jesus Christ in the role of a priest in the days of the patriarchs. Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the son of man, this Melchizedek became flesh. And he died, and he was resurrected as the firstborn son of God. Made like the son of God, remains a priest. He's a priest once again in the same sense as he was in the days of the patriarchs after the order of Melchizedek. Remains a priest continually. Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham, Abraham was like the George Washington of the Jewish people. He was the father of the nation. Even then the patriarch, the great patriarch Abraham, gave a tenth of the spoils to Melchizedek.

Indeed, those, and he now gets into the Levitical priesthood, indeed those of the sons of Levi who received the priesthood, have a commandment. A commandment to receive tithes from the people according to the law. There's a law of tithing, a commandment that commands tithing. That is, from their brethren, though they come from the loins of Abraham. But he whose genealogy is not derived from them. Jesus Christ did not come from the tribe of Levi. He whose genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. Now beyond all contradiction, the lesser is blessed by the better. Abraham was the lesser, blessed by the better, Melchizedek. Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives. Even Levi who receives tithes paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak. For he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him. So it's talking about tithing and how the tithe first of all went to Melchizedek, then it was changed over to the Levites.

And now verses 11 and 12 show a change in who it should go to in the New Testament church.

Verse 11, therefore if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood, it wasn't. For under it the people received the law. What further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek and not be called according to the order of Aaron? Jesus wasn't from the order of Aaron. Aaron was from the tribe of Levi. Jesus was from the tribe of Judah.

And so verse 12, for the priesthood being changed of necessity, there's also a change of the law. What law would that be? It was talking about tithing and how the tithe would now go to Melchizedek once again. Melchizedek is the same as who became the Son of God, who is the head of the church. So you know when we tithe, we're actually giving our tithe to Jesus Christ, who is the head of the church. And he uses that money to preach the gospel and to prepare a people.

The tithe that we give turns right around to do the work God's called us to do and also to serve us.

That's how the needs of the church are met. And so that's how God uses the tithe for our good and for our benefit and to do his work. So we see then that tithe, there's a lot of support for tithing in the New Testament. Other verses like, let's read these verses in 1 Corinthians 9. Again, to the Corinthians who were so, well, so suspicious of Paul and his motives.

And so, you know, Paul had to be careful with them and he had to prove himself that he was not after their things, their money, but he was a minister of God that was after them. He even put it that way. After you, not your things, not your money. 1 Corinthians 9 in verse 3.

My defense to those who examine me is this. Here's a man that's having to stand up and defend himself to people that were in God's church yet to defend himself. They were examining Paul.

He says, my defense to those who examine me is this. Do we have no right to eat and drink?

Do we have no right to take along a believing wife as also do the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working? What's he talking about? Getting financial support for his ministry in the form of tithing. Whoever goes to war at his own expense, who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock? Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also? As it is written in the law of Moses, you shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain. Is it oxen God is concerned about?

Or does he say it all together for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope.

If we have shown spiritual things for you, if we've preached the gospel, if we've served you and helped you and ministered to you in a greater way than the Levites ever did in the Old Testament Levitical priesthood, if we've shown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? He's talking about the tithe, no doubt. If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more? Nevertheless, we have not used this right, but endure all things, lest we hinder the gospel of Christ. In verses 13 and 14, do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple? And of course those things would be the tithe that had been brought in by the people. And those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar. Even so, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.

So we believe in the Church of God that there is plenty of evidence in the Bible for tithing.

Does the Christian Bible require tithing? We believe it does. We see evidence of it all the way from Abraham and the patriarchs and all the way through right on to Hebrews chapter 7 that we read.

We have a booklet, What Does the Bible Teach About Tithing, which brings out all of these things in more detail. Hope everyone will have a copy of it. If you can send for a copy, if you don't have one, we'll be glad to send a printed copy to you if you would like. But I would like in the remaining time of this first message to just show how important tithing really is. It is important as a part of our relationship with Almighty God. I'd like to first of all just say a comment or two about how we calculate the tithe. How do you then determine income that is titheable?

Is social security and pensions and food stamps and money things of that type things that we should tithe on? Well, the Scriptures say in several places that the tithe is calculated on the increase, that is on the earnings, that is on the profit that you realize in your pocket. A farmer may make many, many, much, much money. He may make $100,000, but half of that may be involved in fertilizer, seed, equipment, expense, and labor. So he certainly then would not realize $100 increase. He would have to take out his expenses. What about the gross versus the net income? This enters into the picture taxation. United Church of God has published a statement on that, and let me just read briefly from it. Our modern system of economics is quite different than that of biblical times. Furthermore, our system of taxation has a greater impact on wages and salaries than in previous ages. If we take into account the various forms of taxation, such as income tax, sales tax, value-added tax, property tax, social security tax, the burden is often oppressive. The Church recognizes the confiscatory nature of such taxation. I mean, you have it taken out, you know, whether you, before you see it, if you receive a paycheck, you, you know, that money is taken out before your paycheck is given to you. So the Council of Elders has adopted the following proposal. While the Church acknowledges the validity of God's law of tithing, it also recognizes the excessive levels of taxation and their impact on individual incomes. The Church believes that the appropriate definition of increase is net income after income tax. Therefore, the Church teaches that the tithe may be calculated on the net income after income tax has been deducted. Of course, members are free to tithe on the gross income before income taxes are deducted, if they so choose, and they are free to make contributions above their tithes as an expression of God's way of give. So that is our statement on tithing on the gross versus the net. What about social security, pensions, welfare, food stamps, public assistance? We teach that these are not forms of income that come from productive work and effort and therefore are not considered increase and therefore not titheable. Again, a person in the final analysis, you the individual, are the one to sit down and say, what is my increase? And so therefore, you in good conscience and faith toward God figure that. The Church doesn't come to you and figure what your increase is. We have given you guidelines here, but you must figure that for yourself. What is your increase? That is what is titheable. And so it's your responsibility to determine your titheable increase and to then tithe. What about interest for a savings account? Well, that's money that you put there to earn income. It's increased. So if you put, you know, $1,000 in and you make $50, then that $50 would be increased and it would be titheable.

So, you know, we provide some of those principles, but you are the one to, in the end, determine your true increase and to pay your tithe. You know, there are a couple of other tithes in the Bible, and it's not just we in the Church of God that recognize this, but in Deuteronomy chapter 14, there is mention of a tithe that is to be eaten by the people when they go to worship at the place that God sets aside for them to worship. I'll not turn to these verses, but you can read them beginning in verse 22 through verse 27. Deuteronomy 14, 22-27.

And this tithe is a tithe that the individual sets aside to worship God at the holy days.

He has increased then, whatever his increase is, there is a tithe, 10% of that increase that is set aside in a savings account, in your bank account. And then when the, well, the spring holy days are coming up, gasoline money, and food, any expenses revolving around the spring holy days, Pentecost, the same. When God's holy days come up during the year, you can use that festival money for your expenses in keeping God's holy days. Of course, we encourage everyone to make sure you have plenty for the fall holy days so that you can observe those eight days at the end of the year. There's also a tithe two years out of seven that goes to the needy and the poor.

And what about that today? How is that carried out? Let me mention to you that we do have a statement on that which I would like to read just a little bit of it to you that the church recognizes that there are government programs that help the needy. There are food stamps and welfare, other programs.

And in view of this third tithe, what it is to cover, being covered in our taxation system, here's the statement on third tithe by the Council of Elders. The Council of Elders has resolved that where governments provide programs, the intent and purpose of which is to provide for the needs of those that the biblical third tithe was designed to assist, that where such programs are funded by an annual rate of taxation greater than the biblical third tithe, members are not obligated to pay what amounts to an additional third tithe to the church. The Council of Elders further resolves that since there will always be members of the church whose needs are not adequately provided for by national government social programs, and since the clear example in Scripture is that the church should care for its members in need, that those members of the church who are able are encouraged to contribute to the church assistance fund so that the biblical injunction to care for the needy within the church can be fulfilled. So we do have a church assistance fund. There is a need on top of social welfare programs and I can attest to you in my ministry, you know, that there are times that people need help with paying a bill. There are some people on income where they need some regular help, and so the church does strive to do that. We do strive to take advantage fully as much as we can of food stamps and welfare programs because after all of us, our tax money, that's our tax money, and and it has been designated part of it for that very purpose. We should certainly then strive to be faithful in tithing matters. Let's turn to one verse over in Deuteronomy, chapter 26, when we have been faithful in tithing, then there are promises that we can claim and we can know that God is going to fulfill his promise to watch over and bless us. When we are faithful in tithing, we can even claim a promise that is given here. I'll let you read this chapter. The whole thing is basically talking about bringing to God's house the first fruits. Verse 10, for example, Now, behold, I have brought the first fruits of the land which you, O Lord, have given to me.

Verse 12, When you have finished laying aside all the tithe of your increase in the third year, which is the year of tithing, from the standpoint that all three tithes would be applicable that year, and have given to the Levite the stranger fatherless, then you can say, Before God, in verse 13, I have removed the holy tithe from my house and given them to the Levite the stranger the fatherless. According to your commandments, which you commanded me, I have not transgressed your commandments, nor have I forgotten them. I have not eaten any of it in my morning. That means you've not dipped into it when maybe in a little financial bind you've been faithful in tithing matters even when it's not easy. I've not eaten any of it when in morning, nor have I removed any of it for any unclean use, nor given any of it for the dead. I have obeyed the voice of the Lord my God, and have done according to all that you have commanded me.

And we can ask God for this promise that He will look out upon us and His people. Verse 15, Look down from your holy habitation from heaven and bless your people, Israel, and the land which you have given us, just as you swore to our fathers a land flowing with milk and honey. So we can't ask God to pour out His richest blessing upon us and His people. You know, God does that. He promises to. Jesus said in Matthew 6, 33, Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and these things will be added to you. And I've had so many people down through the years to tell me that you cannot outgive God. They have been faithful in tithing matters, and God has seen to it. They have been richly blessed. Of course, they've managed properly and wisely. They have worked hard. They've done their part. But God just opens up, well, He calls it the Windows of Heaven. Let's read about it in Malachi chapter 3. God just comes through with blessing after blessing when we obey Him. Let's read from Malachi chapter 3 beginning in verse 8. Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed me. But you say, in what way have we robbed you? In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse. That is what happens when we rob God of His tithe. You're cursed with a curse, for you have robbed me, even this whole nation. No wonder we have so many financial problems in our country. What if our nation as a whole were tithing? We would not have these problems, I can assure you. But we are under a curse because we have not obeyed the law of tithing. Verse 10, bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house and prove me. God even challenges us to test Him. Prove me now in this, says the Lord, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such a blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. I'll 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. And all nations will call you blessed, and you'll be a delightful land, says the Lord of hosts. So we have seen this to happen in many, many lives of God's people down through the years. Because you know God wants us, He wants to provide for us. He wants to even bless us, and even more than our needs, many, many times. Many of God's people have even have been wealthy like Abraham. Abraham was a very wealthy man. So, you know, God wants us to prosper. He wants us to be in good health. He's going to share the universe, the riches of the universe with us one day. He wants us to learn how to handle wealth and riches today. He wants us to prosper and be able to handle blessings. He's the source of everything. All the wealth and all the riches, all the silver and all the gold He made. All of it. And He wants us, He wants to share it all with us. Let's turn to Proverbs chapter 3 and verses 9 and 10. Proverbs chapter 3 verses 9 and 10. So let us honor God by faithful tithing. It is biblical. It is a part of our worship of God.

Proverbs chapter 3 and verse 9. Proverbs 3 and verse 9. Honor the Lord with your possessions and with the first fruits of all your increase. We do honor God when we give Him His tithe and offering. And in verse 10, He promises to open the windows of heaven so your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will overflow with new wine. I want to read from the latter part of the first chapter of our booklet on what does the Bible teach about tithing. And we'll end the sermon with just reading from this for about the next two or three minutes. When you tithe, you are aligning your attitude and actions with universal principles originating with God, the great giver. Tithing reflects the unselfish giving nature of our Creator and provider.

He wants us to share His same mind of willing and cheerful giving. God is a very willing and cheerful giver. He wants us to be that way. Although God equates with holding tithes with robbing Him, He does not force anyone to tithe. So, you know, this sermon is not intended to do that. It's something we have to choose. We don't tithe out of compliance. We tithe with a willing heart because the heart of worship and thanksgiving for all that God has given to us. He does not force anyone to tithe. As with all obedience to God's laws, whether we tithe or not will always be based on our own decision. Our faith to tithe is founded in the realization that God owns everything, including ourselves. In giving back to God a tenth of our increase, we enter into a special relationship with our Creator and owner. We dedicate ourselves to serving Him and financially supporting Christ's commission to preach the gospel and nourish the church. In return, God promises to bless us. Tithing, then, is an intensely personal matter between you and God. I like that sentence.

Tithing is an intensely personal matter between each of us and God. Just one-on-one.

Again, no one's there looking over your shoulder. It's just between you and God, God, your heart, and Almighty God. It's an intensely personal matter between you and God, a way of demonstrating the depth of your commitment to and relationship with Him. By tithing, we express appreciation to God in a small but tangible way for the abundance of His possessions that He allows us to use for our material benefit. We see tithing, then, as the opposite of a selfish approach to life.

God stands prepared to support this generous approach by, in turn, blessing us in a variety of ways. He invites all to take Him up on His promise. We'll read it one more time.

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.