tithe
Leaking Oil
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In the past, a car or truck would leak oil. The owner would have to replace the lost oil, sometimes daily, depending upon the leak.
Something similar was happening at the time of Haggai. “There is nothing new under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 1:9)” The types of problems people in every generation have are presented somewhere in the Bible for our instruction. They were experiencing their own types of losses.
Haggai 1:1 (KJV) In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet unto Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, saying,
2 Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built.
3 Then came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet, saying,
4 Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste?
5 Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.
6 Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.
7 Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.
8 Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the Lord.
9 Ye looked for much, and, lo it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the Lord of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house.
10 Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit.
11 And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the corn, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon that which the ground bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the labour of the hands.
12 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the Lord their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the Lord their God had sent him, and the people did fear before the Lord.
13 Then spake Haggai the Lord’s messenger in the Lord’s message unto the people, saying, I am with you, saith the Lord.
14 And the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did work in the house of the Lord of hosts, their God,
15 In the four and twentieth day of the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king.
The people paid attention, and did the work the Lord asked them to do, and three months later this message came. It was part of a longer message. It reviewed the fact that when the people failed to lay the foundation of the temple, they suffered. Then they laid the foundation and the Lord said, “… from this day will I bless you.”
Haggai 2:15 And now, I pray you, consider from this day and upward, from before a stone was laid upon a stone in the temple of the Lord:
16 Since those days were, when one came to an heap of twenty measures, there were but ten: when one came to the pressfat for to draw out fifty vessels out of the press, there were but twenty.
17 I smote you with blasting and with mildew and with hail in all the labours of your hands; yet ye turned not to me, saith the Lord.
18 Consider now from this day and upward, from the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, even from the day that the foundation of the Lord’s temple was laid, consider it.
19 Is the seed yet in the barn? yea, as yet the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive tree, hath not brought forth: from this day will I bless you.
When it comes to tithing and giving, God considers the total picture, not just the amount of giving.
Mark 12:41 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.
42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:
44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
It is interesting that this event happened right after Jesus had talked about the scribes that devour widows houses.
Mark 12:38 And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces,
39 And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts:
40 Which devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.
You have to wonder if some of those same scribes who heard him talk about devouring widows’ houses also heard him talk about the poor widow. Maybe part of the reason she was in that case was because they had something to do with it? Perhaps they decided to change their ways.
In any case, giving is related to the tithe. It is called giving in the New Testament. The tithe existed before the law (given to Moses) as Abraham was a predecessor of Moses and Abraham gave tithes to Melchisedek. The concept of tithing was established before the law, just as the concept of marriage and being fruitful was established before the law.
Hebrews 7:1For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.
5 And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:
6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.
Some things were established before the law. The concept of marriage and family was established before the law.
Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth . . .
Genesis 2:23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
If you take the position that things established in the Old Testament no longer have any relevance today what are you going to do with the institution of marriage and family? Jesus did away with the ceremonial sacrifices of the law that were a temporary measure to cover the people’s sins until Jesus came. But other principles are still in effect. And while we are on that topic, if you take the position that the things Jesus said were only for the people of his day, what are you going to do with “ye must be born again (John 3:7)”? Are the only people who can be born again and saved and to whom John 3:16 applies those who physically lived while Jesus was on the earth?
But back to the topic of tithing and giving to God ….
Malachi 3:5 And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the Lord of hosts.
6 For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
7 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?
8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.
12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts.
13 Your words have been stout against me, saith the Lord. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee?
14 Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts?
15 And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.
16 Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.
17 And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
18 Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.
A blog post can only introduce a topic but not cover it in depth. For more study on various topics, click here for links to various Christian ministries.
Depending on the ministry, there may be online church services, YouTube videos, podcasts, radio programs, books, teaching, or more. You have to seek out what they have.
Tithe vs Giving
Photo by Maddi Bazzocco on Unsplash
In the Old Testament we see the word “tithe” used. In the New Testament it is more usual to see the word “give”, “giving”, “sowing”, or “seed”.
There is a principle called cultural intelligence. In other words, you speak and act to mirror the people you are around in order to relate to them better.
After Jesus was resurrected, he told his followers to share the gospel. Then Jesus ascended back to heaven.
Up until this time, Jews and non Jews (also called Gentiles) stayed apart. While Jesus was on the earth, he was sent first to the Jews with the message of salvation. The time of the Gentiles had not yet come. However, Jesus in mercy still responded the faith of a Gentile woman prior to the cross.
Mark 7:24 And from thence he [Jesus] arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know it: but he could not be hid.
25 For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet:
26 The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation [a Gentile]; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter.
27 But Jesus said unto her, Let the children [the children of Israel, through whom came the Messiah (Matthew 1:1-17)] first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it unto the dogs.
28 And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children’s crumbs.
29 And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter.
30 And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed.
31 And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis.
After the cross, the message of salvation was preached to both Jews and Gentiles. As things evolved, Peter primarily went to the Jews with the message of salvation, and Paul went to the Gentiles. Paul was highly educated, as well as being perceptive, and knew how to say the correct word in due season. Here are a couple of examples where the Romans were going after Paul, and he got out of it by knowing what was happening and how to deal with it.
Acts 22:24 The chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle, and bade that he should be examined by scourging; that he might know wherefore they cried so against him.
25 And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?
26 When the centurion heard that, he went and told the chief captain, saying, Take heed what thou doest: for this man is a Roman.
27 Then the chief captain came, and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said, Yea.
28 And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was free born.
29 Then straightway they departed from him which should have examined him: and the chief captain also was afraid, after he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.
Acts 23:6 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.
7 And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.
8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.
9 And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees’ part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.
Paul knew how to use the correct words in due season. He knew his audience. He understood the background of the gentles. The gentiles, if they had religion, it was of a pagan nature. The word tithe might not have been in their vocabulary.
On the other hand, the Jewish audience that Peter primarily preached to grew up around the Jewish temple and Jewish synagogue and were familiar with the concept of tithing.
It is conceivable that in the interests of cultural intelligence, that Paul used the word “giving” or “seed” or “sowing” instead of “tithe” and “first fruits”. “Tithe” and “first fruits” would have been terms familiar to Jews, not Gentiles.
When we don’t know what something means or represents, it is good to go back to the beginning, which in terms of Bible knowledge, would be the Old Testament. How did giving or tithing work in the Old Testament? There were various tithes and offerings and alms for the poor. A tithe is 10%.
Malachi 3:6 For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
7 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?
8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.
12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts.
In today’s world, in today’s preaching, there is a lot of preaching that “we are not under the law”. But we are to be led of the Spirit. So what does that mean? What will that look like? It will look a lot like the Ten Commandments and the directives of God in the Old Testament, only under the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit rather than some kind of a daily check list. It will be an inner guidance from the Holy Spirit within rather than an outer checklist, but it will still mirror the righteousness laid down in the Old Testament. It will not look vastly different.
In other words, if you love your neighbor you will keep the Ten Commandments on their behalf.
It seems good to pause and point out that the power of God operated in the Old Testament as well through various signs and miracles. There were the miracles of Egypt. And then there were other times the power of God manifested such as this.
I Kings 8:10 And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the Lord,
11 So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord.
The Old and New Testament are not two different books. The New is a continuation of of the Old and if you read through them, you will see parallels.
The Old Testament gives a foundational understanding of the New Testament.
If the terms are not defined according to the Old Testament, and are instead defined according to the prevailing modernistic, secular, atheistic culture, a word such as “love” could have a totally different meaning than a Biblical one.
A good check chart for “further definitions” is the Old Testament and a Strong’s Concordance (which is keyed to and defines every Hebrew and Greek word of the KJV Bible) and an older dictionary.
Otherwise, a person can get really off course.
Marriage. That used to be defined as between a man and a woman. But now the culture would try to redefine the word in multiple ways. This is why that even though Jesus brought the New Covenant, the concepts have to be tethered in Old Covenant, Old Testament understanding lest words and concepts become meaningless or go off course.
This same principle has to do with the word giving. What is giving? How does it work? How did it work in the Old Testament? How much did they give in the Old Testament? The tithe is a good starting point when you don’t know what to do.
A blog post can only introduce a topic but not cover it in depth. For more study on various topics, click here for links to various Christian ministries.
Depending on the ministry, there may be online church services, YouTube videos, podcasts, radio programs, books, teaching, or more. You have to seek out what they have.
Different Rules, Different Muscles
When it comes to various sports, it is an accepted fact that there are different rules for each sport. There are also different muscles used in each sport. While you might have a Tim Tebow who moves from football to baseball, it would be unlikely for a heavy weight wrestler to move to ballet. There are different rules and different muscles for each sport.
And, regardless of the sport, it is necessary to be “all in” in order to succeed. If something is done half-heartedly, the results are less than satisfactory. A good coach looks for the person with the heart to the game, not one just going through the motions.
Likewise Jesus indicated that one has to be “all in.”
Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
One of the biggest tests of finances is the test of the tithe. Those who tithe, consistently, find out the promise is true. But those who dabble with tithing, and only tithe once in a while, may not be as enthusiastic, because sporadic tithing, like sporadic trips to the gym, may not yield the desired results.
Ecclesiastes 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
Malachi 3:6 For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
7 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?
8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.
Where should you tithe? You should tithe to wherever you get your spiritual food.
You don’t eat at McDonald’s and pay Wendy’s. Neither should you get your spiritual food from one church and pay elsewhere. You can give offerings to other things … missionaries, evangelistic crusades, outreaches like Samaritan’s Purse; there are many good places to give offerings and you should pray for direction from the Lord as to where to donate. But the tithe is the Lord’s and the storehouse is where you draw your spiritual meat from, likely your local church or maybe an online church.
If week after week you draw spiritual meat and strength and never give back, never pay your tithe, you put yourself in the position of being chastened.
Hebrews 12:5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
Years ago … years ago … there was someone who was able-bodied who would not work. Not … could not ….. but … would not. At one point in prayer, there was a word of knowledge that God hates a liar, and so the next thing you know, something happened and the person could not work, because he would not work when he could.
Proverbs 12:22 Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are his delight.
If you say that sounds harsh, sometimes for the salvation of a soul things get a little rough. Sometimes the only time someone will look up to God and pray is when that person is on his back in a hospital bed.
Acts 5:1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.
10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.
11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
Jude 1:23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
A blog post can only introduce a topic but not cover it in depth. For more study on various topics, click here for links to various Christian ministries.
Depending on the ministry, there may be online church services, YouTube videos, podcasts, radio programs, books, teaching, or more. You have to seek out what they have.
Not to Leave the Other Undone
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There can be great theological debates concerning grace, law, and works. It turns into an either | or camp type of thing.
Jesus indicated that it was possible, and even necessary, to do some things, but then have some “add ons” … these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
In some restaurants there is a “supersize” menu. But you can’t supersize something unless you have ordered the basic item.
In math there are levels. But you can’t go to the higher levels without the basics.
And even though Einstein came up with understanding the law of relativity, that doesn’t mean that the law of gravity no longer exists.
Matthew 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Generally, it would be agreed that the new heart and new spirit are part of the new birth … “ye must be born again (John 3:3)” Jesus told Nicodemus. But what should be the result of it? So that they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.
Once a person is born again, and the Holy Spirit is invited into a life, it is for living the purposes of God from the inside out. It is not for the purpose of forgetting the law.
Ezekiel 11:19 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:
20 That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.
Ezekiel 36:25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
And this is for all people. While the original Hebrew / Jewish people were a special group through which the Messiah came, once Jesus was born, lived, accomplished the purpose for which he came, once Jesus was crucified, died, buried, resurrected, and finished the redemptive work for which he came, the way of salvation opened for all mankind.
Galatians 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
It is here that the Apostle Peter, born a good Jew, indicates that the Lord showed him that the Gentiles (basically all of the rest of us or those who were not born Jewish) were now invited into the family of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
Acts 11:1 And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.
2 And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,
3 Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.
4 But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying,
5 I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me:
6 Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
7 And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat.
8 But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth.
9 But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
10 And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven.
11 And, behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me.
12 And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man’s house:
13 And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter;
14 Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.
15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.
16 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.
17 Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?
18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
A blog post can only introduce a topic but not cover it in depth. For more study on various topics, click here for links to various Christian ministries.
Depending on the ministry, there may be online church services, YouTube videos, podcasts, radio programs, books, teaching, or more. You have to seek out what they have.
Book Ends
Like book ends on a bookshelf, Genesis and Malachi are the first book and last prophetic book in the Old Testament. And it seems that the basic issue in the first book was still an issue in the last book.
In Genesis, God said that one thing was off limits.
Genesis 2:16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
In Malachi, God said something belonged to him.
Malachi 3:6 For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
7 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?
8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
After Malachi, God was silent for 400 years, until the New Testament.
A blog post can only introduce a topic but not cover it in depth. For more study on various topics, click here for links to various Christian ministries.
Depending on the ministry, there may be online church services, YouTube videos, podcasts, radio programs, books, teaching, or more. You have to seek out what they have.
10% Rule
The tithe is based on 10% of the first fruits of income or increase that comes into a person’s life. Here is the promise of the tithe.
Malachi 3:6 For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
7 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?
8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.
12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts.
Interestingly, there is a 10% rule regarding energy. You can learn more here. The video will stall out (at least it does at the time of this writing) if you are not registered, but, you can scroll down and read the accompanying article.
A blog post can only introduce a topic but not cover it in depth. For more study on various topics, click here for links to various Christian ministries.
Depending on the ministry, there may be online church services, YouTube videos, podcasts, radio programs, books, teaching, or more. You have to seek out what they have.
Malachi Chapter 3
Malachi 3:1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.
2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap:
3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.
4 Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in former years.
5 And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the Lord of hosts.
6 For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
7 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?
8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.
12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts.
13 Your words have been stout against me, saith the Lord. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee?
14 Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts?
15 And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.
16 Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.
17 And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
18 Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.
A blog post can only introduce a topic but not cover it in depth. For more study on various topics, click here for links to various Christian ministries.
Depending on the ministry, there may be online church services, YouTube videos, podcasts, radio programs, books, teaching, or more. You have to seek out what they have.
“Even this whole nation”
Image credit: Keith Evans / Monument plaque to the tithe war
Malachi 3:8 (KJV) Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.
When the economy was good, did the majority of people in the nation pay tithes to the Lord? Since the inception of this nation, have the majority of people paid tithes to the Lord?
If the answer is “no”, then the devourer did not get rebuked. Now whether that devourer manifested as a stolen election, or an expanded money supply leading to inflation, or a proxy war to fill the pockets of those who invest in destruction, those are details, those are fruit, they are not the cause. The cause is always spiritual first before it manifests in natural details. The details could be debated. The cause is the refusal to glorify God as God and bring the tithe, that belongs to him, to him, into his storehouse, so that he can fulfill his promises.
What is the storehouse? There are many Christian churches the preach the gospel. There are costs associated with those message delivery systems. The storehouse is the one you go to for biblically-based, spiritual food. If you eat at McDonald’s you don’t pay Wendy’s. Jesus instituted the church. There’s a place for you.
A blog post can only introduce a topic but not cover it in depth. For more study on various topics, click here for links to various Christian ministries.
Depending on the ministry, there may be online church services, YouTube videos, podcasts, radio programs, books, teaching, or more. You have to seek out what they have.
Muzzle not the ox that treads out the corn
“The Ammonite and Moabite Armies are Destroyed”
Gustave Doré, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Nehemiah 13:1 On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever;
2 Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing.
There are those who complain about giving to God. They don’t complain about giving to Wal-Mart when they go buy a big screen TV or to their pharmaceutical company when they pick up their medicines or to the movie theater when they pay to see a movie. But it is fashionable to complain when asked to give to God.
God is the only one who offers a benefit for giving. Try getting this from Wal-Mart, your pharmacy, your movie theater or anyone else.
Malachi 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.
12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts.
It is worth reading that in the context of the whole chapter.
Malachi 3:1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.
2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap:
3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.
4 Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in former years.
5 And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the Lord of hosts.
6 For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
7 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?
8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.
12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts.
13 Your words have been stout against me, saith the Lord. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee?
14 Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts?
15 And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.
16 Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.
17 And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
18 Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.
There are those that complain that they don’t want to give because they think the funds are misappropriated.
There are ministries who have audits so if that concerns you, find one.
And out of all the probably hundreds of thousands of churches, ministries, and gospel-based organizations you can’t find one you believe in giving to…did you look very hard?
You should give to the church you eat from, in terms of spiritual food and nourishment and teaching. Find the church that feeds you the gospel.
You don’t eat at McDonald’s and pay Chik-fil-a or vice versa.
You don’t buy a Honda and pay Ford.
The natural world is structured after the spiritual world, and not vice versa.
Matthew 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Principles of order, of remittance for benefits received, still apply.
I Timothy 5:18 For the scripture saith, thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.
Probably one of the biggest failures to “give back” for benefits received applies to God.
God is often looked on like a lottery machine, a slot machine; throw up a prayer, toss in an offering, and hope the blessings will come out.
And then there is complaining when there is not a flood of blessings.
A walk with God is a lifestyle, not a toss up or a flipping of the coin.
We would question the idea that a one-time change of a meal and a one-time trip to a gym would solve all health problems and give someone a award winning physique. We know better. We would question the idea that someone could even think that that might be possible.
It’s a lifestyle. It takes a healthy lifestyle to have ongoing health.
When it comes to God, an occasional visit at Easter and Christmas will not do what ongoing regular church, Bible study, regular devotions, and a relationship with the Lord will accomplish.
Yet, in this world that tempts us with quick and easy fixes to everything…the 7 day diet, cramming for the mid-term tests, life hacks…perhaps that influences thinking regarding God as well.
Slow and steady wins the race. The tortoise won, not the hare*.
* Since some in today’s audience may not know Aesop’s fable, it is reproduced here.
The Hare and the Tortoise The Hare was once boasting of his speed before the other animals. “I have never yet been beaten,” said he, “when I put forth my full speed. I challenge any one here to race with me.” The Tortoise said quietly, “I accept your challenge.” “That is a good joke,” said the Hare; “I could dance round you all the way.” “Keep your boasting till you’ve beaten,” answered the Tortoise. “Shall we race?” So a course was fixed and a start was made. The Hare darted almost out of sight at once, but soon stopped and, to show his contempt for the Tortoise, lay down to have a nap. The Tortoise plodded on and plodded on, and when the Hare awoke from his nap, he saw the Tortoise just near the winning-post and could not run up in time to save the race. Then said the Tortoise: “Plodding wins the race.”
A blog post can only introduce a topic but not cover it in depth. For more study on various topics, click here for links to various Christian ministries.
Depending on the ministry, there may be online church services, YouTube videos, podcasts, radio programs, books, teaching, or more. You have to seek out what they have.
Seek the Lord
The Widow’s Mite
I Chronicles 16:11 (KJV) Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
63:1a O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee,
Psalm 34:10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.
Psalm 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
Matthew 7:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
Isaiah 55:6 Seek the LORD while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near.
Amos 5:6 Seek the LORD, and ye shall live; lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and devour it, and there be none to quench it in Bethel.
Malachi 3:9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.
12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts.
A blog post can only introduce a topic but not cover it in depth. For more study on various topics, click here for links to various Christian ministries.
Depending on the ministry, there may be online church services, YouTube videos, podcasts, radio programs, books, teaching, or more. You have to seek out what they have.