I want to write about tithe. But i am not interested to spend my time totally on it. So i thought of starting it now and edit, add little by little later and shuffle it to put it in order...
1. Tithe means 1/10 of something. (hmm i started to write :)) It also can be called a 10% of something. Same way "fifth" part means it is 1/5 of something and it cannot be called 5%. It is actually a 20%. If you wanted to redeem your 10%, you have to add 20% more to its value and redeem it. (Lev. 27:31)
2. Offering is consecrated when you give and tithe is consecrated before you give. Same like the first born, you cannot consecrate which was already consecrated by nature (Lev. 27:26). You just give it back. Free will offering is yours until you give. (Act. 5:4). Tithe is not counted as a free will offering though both are given by a single person. When you give tithe since it is already consecrated, blind or lame it has to go to the sanctuary. (Lev. 27:32-33.) Jacob vowed that he will give tithe. (Gen. 28:22). Something can be a vow until it becomes a commandment. After that it cannot be a vow.
3. When Abraham gave tithe he did not give because of the commandment but because of his faith. (the law was not there at his time). Tithe is not from the law. It is older than the law. It was added to the law. In New Covenant, we are not without any priestly order. We did not have the order of levites now because it is replaced by the order of Melchizedek. We are now royal priests and Jesus is our High Priest. (1Pet. 2:9; Heb. 5:6-10). Priests have to give their tithes to the high priest. (Num. 18:26). If you see the order of levites, those who would die received tithes. If you see the present order the One who lives is receiving tithes (Heb. 7:8).
The One who lives said not to stop tithing (Matt. 23:23). But he doesn't like that you ignore justice, mercy and faithfulness which are more important matters of the law. Tithing will not replace the observance of justice, mercy and faithfulness. And observing them will never replace the tithing.
4. Giving a consecrated thing doesn't make you a "giver". It frees you from an obligation. Giving a free will offering doesn't make you a generous person. What you give to God is an "offering" and it's not an alm. If you wanted to be called as a giver or a generous person give to the poor and needy. But when you give to the Giver, don't give it like you give to the needy. Give to needy but don't call it an offering. Give to God and don't call yourself a generous person. Give your offerings to the needy if God tells you to but don't call yourself a giver. You actually obeyed to the Giver.
Yes offerings also can go to the poor but from the Object of the offering and not from the worshiper (Deut. 14:28-29). Otherwise calling it an offering doesn't make sense. Jesus told us to give to the poor. I give to the poor. Sometimes i also want to pour oil upon Jesus. While i was pouring i hear someone say "give to the poor." When i look around to see who was that, this time its not Jesus. Hophni and Phinehas took from the offering while it was still in the process. Off course they paid for it later (1Sam. 2:15-17; 4:17). Don't take it for yourself before offering to God or while offering to God.
In 2Cor. 9:5 Paul was talking about a gift that they promised. He was not talking about tithe or any consecrated offering.
5. Give 100% to God if you want to but, keep it in mind that it doesn't free you from your action of holding His 10% unless you don't mix both consecrated and normal. Your 100% will never equals with His 10%. When God said that tithe belongs to him (Lev. 27:30), he did not have a memory loss that he should forget the fact that all belongs to him. He said it and i do it. Give if someone asks you. Obey if someone in authority commands you. When you give tithe you are giving because you are obeying.
5. Give 100% to God if you want to but, keep it in mind that it doesn't free you from your action of holding His 10% unless you don't mix both consecrated and normal. Your 100% will never equals with His 10%. When God said that tithe belongs to him (Lev. 27:30), he did not have a memory loss that he should forget the fact that all belongs to him. He said it and i do it. Give if someone asks you. Obey if someone in authority commands you. When you give tithe you are giving because you are obeying.
