May Day 31 Friday
IS TITHE OUT DATED?
MAIN TEXT: MALACHI 3:10
―Bring ye all the tithes into the store house, that they may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of host.
Genesis 14:20 – And blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand. And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
The Oxford advanced learners dictionary described tithe as a tenth of the goods that is produced or money that is earned which is paid as tax to support the church. God approved tithe to support the poor, the needy, the Levites among others. Some Christians condemn tithe and claim that it is irrelevant. They prefer giving of ‗offering‘ to tithe.
Indeed, tithe and offering are synonymous yet they differ greatly. Whereas offering is the choice of the individual, tithe should be at least 10% of your income as can be seen in both the old and New Testament which is a test of our love and obedience to God.
In Genesis 14:18-20, Melchizedek, king of Salem, the priest of the most high God congratulated and blessed Abraham for his victorious war and Abraham gave him a tenth (tithe) of his loot.
In Matt. 23:23, Jesus not only acknowledge tithe but also added that other laws like obedient to the teaching of the scriptures and showing mercy should be observed too. Obedience to tithe takes care of the 90% left after tithing has the blessing of God on it. Those who pay tithe and correctly too are challenging God practically for all his promises with regard to tithe.
God promised in Malachi 3:10 that he will, (1) Open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing on them. (2)That there shall be no rooms enough to contain his out pour of blessing.
TITHE IS PAID BY FAITH. AND ANYONE WHO GOES TO GOD WITH FAITH MUST RECEIVE FAVOUR FROM GOD
Prayer: Oh God, supply to me that I will have to pay my tithe and give me the love to obey your command even when it is not enough in Jesus name.
BY BISHOP NGOZI DURUEKE (HE REIGNS CHAPEL INTERNATIONAL) To send your testimony, write us: mylivingwaterdevotional@gmail.com.