It is important for everybody to understand the importance of tithing and you have explained it all in a nutshell. Too bad not everybody is going to read this. Too bad not everybody tithes, knowing that they should. It's a shame not everybody goes according to ALL of God's word, His will, His way. As a believer/christian, I have failed many times but I still keep trying and trying to do God's will and to do my best to obey Him at all times. Thank you so much for your article. It is an encouraging piece for everyone who has trouble tithing (no, I do not have that trouble. I always tithe). I have made a copy of this article so that I can show others the importance of one of God's will for us to do. May God bless you always!!! Elaine

It's hard to post here and make one's point clear as space is limited and tone of voice doesn't come across so it's hard to tell sometimes where people are coming from - therefore easy to be misunderstood.
I also believe that God doesn't want us to argue so don't really want to get into this more.
I don't think God allowed my friend to get cancer to get her to tithe. At least not just for that alone. There is much more to the story but space is limited.
You are entitled to your opinion - all I can say is that in my years of leadership in the church I have seen God pour out blessings to those who are faithful in their tithes and offerings and I have seen people struggling in major ways when they didn't follow the Word in this area. I didn't always tithe myself - I have come to this through reading the Word and witnessing the difference it makes.
God says to test Him on this. He is faithful!

Pam
It is not my comment or opinion..it is in the Word of God.
Unfortunately mainstream Christianity will not go there.

To say God allowed cancer to get someone to start tithing goes contrary to the Gospel. Didn't Jesus redeem us from the curse of the law of sin and death. Be careful to try all the spirits. If you say tithing is pre-law then you must also agree that circumcision is required too. Paul clearly states that is not so.

Jesus Christ is my hope, my salvation, and my redeemer. He has set me free from other's requirements. Again we give, but NOT to keep us from the curse or to keep us in God's grace and blessing. Jesus settled that all for me not the tithe! This is a NEW covenant and we are not under the rules/restrictions of the old covenant. Giving is from the heart not because it is required!

I would also like to comment on what Furnituremaker said.
wow - I've seen people get a hold of that type of teaching and then stop tithing. It was all downhill from there.
I firmly believe God told us in His word to give 10% - it's an act of obedience at first and in time becomes much more than that. To give as you are led is fine if you spend signifigant time with God and are serious about seeking His will with your money - but most don't do that. IF you do then I believe you would give your 10% and more! God knows money is a stronghold for most and He laid down these guidlines to help us.
A woman in our church was faithful in tithing. Then she stopped - and gave what she felt she could. She got very sick with cancer.God told her He didn't GIVE her cancer but He allowed it to happen to get her attention. She repented and began to tithe again. The cancer is a battle the doc said she wouldn't win. BUT she IS winning. Praise God. He is faithful!
The Word says it. I'll do it.

I would really like to address some of the previous comments.
I am the secretary at our church and also part of leadership so I see what goes on behind the scenes.
Most people have no idea what happens behind the scenes.Our church is very careful in how the money is spent and we seek God for wisdom daily. We DO help the poor etc. AND some money is spent on the building as well. Keep in mind many who enter a church don't know Christ and if they enter and see a run down dump - they won't want to stay. We don't have a fancy building - but it's important to keep the building clean and in good repair. The main goal is to reach the lost and for kingdom growth. We don't neglect the poor and we don't neglect the property God blessed us with either.
The bible says the poor will always be with us. Of course we are to help them and that needs to be a priorty but to say that all money should go in that direction and not to church itself is not what the Word says.

BTW
“At the end of every third year you shall bring out the tithe of your produce of that year and store it up within your gates. 29 And the Levite, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you, and the stranger and the fatherless and the widow who are within your gates, may come and eat and be satisfied, that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.
And the Levite, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you, and the stranger and the fatherless and the widow who are within your gates, may come and eat and be satisfied, that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.

“When you have finished laying aside all the tithe of your increase in the third year—the year of tithing—and have given it to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, so that they may eat within your gates and be filled,

‘Cursed is the one who perverts the justice due the stranger, the fatherless, and widow.’

The problem I see in giving to a church that uses the tithes for meaningless things like big buildings, fancy signs, gyms, playgrounds and the like while ignoring God's charge to care for the needy in the land is this. God was upset enough at the man that buried the talents he was entrusted with... how much more must He be upset with those who are throwing them away on such useless things as buildings and fancy trappings while the poor go cold, sick and hungry?

I think the church is falling away from God ... I think the true church is no longer within a building. There are some soldiers who still go to the building called the church, but the true CHURCH consists of those who are in obedience to God's will, whether or not they ever set foot in that building. And God's will is that the church take care of the widow, the homeless, the weak, the forsaken.

Remember every time you give one of the least of these a cup of water in His name you are doing it unto HIM. And when you DON'T??

As a gentile believer you are under no obligation to give a strict tithe:
Acts 21:25As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.

Giving is your decision:
2 Corinthians 9:7Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

Your family is your first responsibility:
1 Timothy 5:8But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

If you read the whole chapter of Malachi, the most quoted text about tithing, you will see it is the PRIESTS who are not bringing the whole tithe into the storehouse, not the tithers, and the nation looses the blessing as a result!

We should give, certainly, but as we are led and not out of obligation or guilt for gain!

i was Just like you furnituremaker! i didnt see where any of the money was going back into the community! Corrupt people in the church! i was not going to make any Preacher, Teacher, Prophet, or anyone elses pocket fat while i barely paid my bills! BUT GOD reminded me that He never said give your tithe based on what you see the church doing.i tithe because im commanded to do so BY HIS WORD not on what i see! Look at abraham. God said take his son up a hill and sacrifice him in My name. Now how crazy does that sound. But good old Abe was FAITHFUL to God's will just as we have to be as beleivers. God said give only on the principle that he would keep your finances intact and cover you. its not considered tithe if you go to the jail because thats not the storehouse.you'll be blessed behind sowing a seed in his life but youre still obligated by God to the church to tithe! i know it sounds offensive and i pray you take none, but its the truth my brother in Christ.

I agree that we need to give as it is talked about in the Old and New Testament. But then I have questions. I have been going to a large church. They are wonderful people. We are, by IRS standards, considered a low-income family earning less than $30,000 per year. Plus we did the bad thing and got ourselves into credit card debt.

We now have to pay the price to get out! We are working hard and trying to pay things off. Obviously there is none left. So, when I need money to go visit my brother who is in prison, it comes out of my bill money. But I do it because I believe it is God's will. Oh, and I love my brother and want him to be encouraged.

If Christ's blood covered the Law, then why is ten percent still preached almost legalistically? Why isn't it considered giving into the storehouse when I visit my brother, buy him food in the waiting room, spend the money on gas, etc.? And we talk about God and Scripture almost the entire time.

I won't argue about whether the tithe is mandated or not. What Stops me from giving to ministries is that I do NOT see them applying the storehouse for those in need, just more empty buildings. Also if times are tough financially doesn't the same rule apply. If we as tithers need to give so God will bless, doesn't it also apply that Churches/Ministries need to give for HIS blessing! I always scratch my head in wonderment about this concept again and again. If we the members are struggling financially it is because we are not giving enough but if the Church/Ministry is struggling financially it is because we the members are not giving enough!? If the Church needs more supply perhaps it is not giving enough or in line with God's way for the use of those resources it has. Do you the Administrators and treasures trust God or the tithers. This seems to me to be just another toned down version of prosperity doctrine where the givers give and the preachers prosper all in God's name.

A link to this article has been posted on the website GoodNewsNow.com.