Under the Law, sin dominated people’s lives, and they had to work for their righteousness (Romans 6:14). Under GRACE, we receive our righteousness through our faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 10:4).
The Law still has a purpose today. It is a schoolmaster for those who do not know God (Galatians 3:24, 25).
The tithe is the tenth or 10% of our income.
After God helped Abraham win in battle, he willingly brought a tithe to Melchisedec, king of Salem, and priest of the Most High God (Genesis 14:18-23, Hebrews 7:1-14). Abraham knew by instinct to pay a tenth of his spoils to God. He knew it was impossible to win the battle without Him (Romans 2:14, 15, AMP).
Abraham brought his tithe to the high priest because he appreciated what God had done for Him. Melchisedec blessed Abraham. The blessing is empowerment (or enablement) to prosper.
Abraham’s descendants were also blessed because he paid tithes. Our descendants benefit from the blessing of tithing.
Under the law, a CURSE would come from failing to tithe. Now under GRACE, the CURSE has been removed by the Blood of Jesus but the BLESSING from tithing remains and you can expect the PROMISES of Malachi 3:10-12. Like Abraham, we bring our tithes out of love and appreciation.
Under GRACE, Jesus is our High Priest. There is a change in how we tithe and why we tithe. When we pay our tithes, we are ultimately bringing them to Jesus, who is our High Priest. God does not want us to feel obligated or pressured to tithe. He wants us to tithe because we love and honor Him. Our money represents the majority of our time and efforts. When we pay our tithes to honor God, He honors us in return.
We are freed from the curse of the Law, yet we still partake of the blessing of tithing (Malachi 3:10-12, Galatians 3:10). There is grace (divine power) released upon us when we give. We access this GRACE by faith. Even when we give with a willing heart, it is an act of faith. The covenant of tithing is God’s way of financing His Church here on earth to fulfill its mandate to preach the Gospel in all the world.
The truth is without the tithe and the generous support of the congregation the local Church cannot exist. For this reason, the blessing attached to tithing continues to this day but has actually been reinforced and enhanced because of the ‘Great Commission’ to proclaim the Gospel.
The New Testament gives wonderful teaching on the great and precious promises of giving. Now giving has been exalted from an act to a ministry. Read 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 and you will discover the powerful promises that the Bible says will occur when a person is generous in their giving to the things of God.
‘Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, SUPPLY and MULTIPLY the seed you have sown and INCREASE the fruits of your righteousness’.
I have been a ‘Born-Again’ Spirit-filled Christian for 26 years and I have consistently tithed every week a 10% of my earnings into the local Church. First, at the church, I was saved in and was a member for 8 years and now as the Senior Pastor of Awesome Church, my wife Lissa and I have covenanted with God through tithing.
I can honestly testify that the Lord has blessed us abundantly and has never failed to meet all of our needs and continues to empower us to be able to give even above and beyond our tithe. I have also observed in the past 26 years that those people who have made a covenant with the Lord through tithing seem to always move ahead in life financially and experience tremendous financial breakthroughs and increase.
Tithing takes away the struggle and toil of trying to get ahead financially. Though we are all blessed in Jesus and He promises to meet all of our needs the empowerment that tithing brings elevates you above and beyond needs, wants, and desires.
It’s great to be BLESSED to be a BLESSING to others! In this season of God’s almighty GRACE, my prayer is that you will no longer be led by Old Covenant Laws which only produce condemnation in a person’s heart but that from now on you will be led by the Holy Spirit that brings life and peace.
GRACE brings REST and FREEDOM from laws, regulations, and rules. Because of what Jesus Christ did on the Cross we are FREE from every curse. You are no longer a slave to sin but a SON and a DAUGHTER in God’s Kingdom.
