GIF Purpose of the Tithe

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this. . .if I will not open for you the windows of heaven, and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.”

(Malachi 3:10)

Purpose of the Tithe
by Larry Burkett

The purpose of the tithe has been established as a physical, earthly demonstration of our commitment to God. God understood our greedy, selfish nature and provided a readily identifiable sign of our sincerity.

By the act of surrendering some of our physical resources, we are testifying to our origin, just as a farmer does when he surrenders some of his crop back to the earth from which it came.

The tithe is not a law now; nor was it a law in the Old Testament. Although it appears in Leviticus 27, there is no punishment associated with a failure to tithe. There is a consequence (the loss of blessings), but do not misinterpret this. It is not a punishment from God.

Thus, God said that the tithe is an expression of commitment—or the lack of it—by which we can determine our relationship to Him.

What are your thoughts about tithing—why you do (or don’t). Do you think it is a reflection of your commitment to God?

Daily Scripture Reading:
2 Samuel 2-4