So much has been said on tithe, and it has erroneously being linked as a gateway to prosperity. We must endeavour to understand God’s purpose for tithe and God’s provision for prosperity and our responsibility to those who minister spiritual things to us. Our first encounter with tithe was in Genesis, when father Abraham was returning from his victory over the Confederate kings. In Genesis chapter 14: 17-19, we read:
“After Abram returned from his victory over Kedorlaomer and all his allies, the king of Sodom went out to meet him in the valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). Melchizedek, the king of Salem and a priest of God Most High, brought Abram some bread and wine. Melchizedek blessed Abram with this blessing: “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, And blessed be God Most High, who has defeated your enemies for you.” Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of all the goods he had recovered.”
Here, we see that tithe was a response to the victory God wrought for Abram. It was man’s showing of gratitude to God. The bread and wine Melchizedek, priest of the Most High, brought shows a covenant dimension to tithe, which means it is a thing between God and man. Before the Aaronic priesthood, when Levi received tithes, Abraham, our father of faith, paid tithe to Melchizedek, the priest of the Most High God.
From the beginning, we see that tithe has a covenant dimension, a covenant demand, for it is meet for man to show gratitude to God, from whom all gifts, all blessings, all goodness, all victories and wonderful works flow.
We are beings, creation of worship, hence tithe is part of our service of worship unto God. To be created in the image and likeness of God, to be lavished upon with such extravagant love and unsearchable riches of wisdom and goodwill and grace, demands our eternal gratitude Tithe is both a covenant demand and a reminder for us not to forget God.
Tithe is also an insurance for secured and sustainable wealth on one hand and wealth distribution, on the other hand, as we will see. Tithe is not the power to get wealth. Though it provides an insurance cover for our wealth, this biblical truth must be emphasised at the onset.
In Malachi, God reminded the nation of Israel that they had robbed Him in tithes and offering. The people have neglected gratitude to God, and because of this, they were missing in the security that tithes and offering provided. Here, we can see again that tithe is a covenant relationship between God and man. Does God need man’s money? By all means no. The silver and the gold are His, but the demand for it is for the benefits of man. The bible says in book of Psalms, chapter 50 verse 23: “whoso offers praise glorifies Me, and to Him that orders his conversation (obedient lifestyle) aright, I will show the salvation of God.” This is the covenant principle behind tithes and offering. Tithe is not a means to wealth, but by it, we glorify God for His blessings in our lives. This ordering aright of our conduct opens to us His salvation. It offers security to our provisions and our blessings. When we show gratitude, it opens floodgates of more grace. Our gratitude shows we are right thinking. What we declare to God when we give our tithes is that we recognise that all our goodness comes from Him and that we place nothing before God. Pride of life sets in when we refuse to acknowledge that God is the fountain of every blessing in our lives.
Book of Malachi also takes us deeper into the purpose of tithe. When purpose is understood, biblical practice is sure-footed. Our Lord Jesus declared that He will build his church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Many practices and teachings on tithe have brought the Church of Christ into disrepute, but the word of God will always prevail. It is time we grow in the knowledge of God in all wisdom and spiritual understanding so that we are not tossed to and fro with teachings that veer from biblical truth. The purpose of God for tithe is that there might be meat in His house. Malachi chapter 3: 10: “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.”
Deuteronomy 12: 6, 11; Deuteronomy 14: 28; and similar scriptures are emphatic on where tithes are to be brought. It is into God’s house. The purpose is that there may be food in God’s house such that there’s no lack in the body.
The church demonstrated this at its birth in the account recorded in the Acts of the Apostles chapter 4 verse 34 -35. Believers sold their land and brought it to the Apostles’ feet for distribution to those who have needs such that there was no lack in the body.
Tithe is an assured wealth distribution scheme in the body, not to encourage laziness, though, but to ensure that the weak and the poor are not abandoned. Giving was a central part of their worship in the first century church, and giving was a demonstration of their gratitude and love. They esteemed greatly the Giver, the LORD God, and brought their offerings and tithes to the house of God such that there was no lack and no schism in the body.
God forewarned the children of Israel before they got into the land of promise. In the book of Deuteronomy chapter 8 verse 10-17, God said: “When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land which He has given you. “Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes, which I command you today. Lest—when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; who led you through that great and terrible wilderness, in which were fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty land where there was no water; who brought water for you out of the flinty rock; who fed you in the wilderness with manna, which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do you good in the end, And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.”
Tithes is proof of the inclination of our hearts. Its purpose is that there mght be meat in God’s house, so that there is no lack and consequently no schism in the body. The end of it is that it does us good by providing security for our provisions and open more grace unto us. Tithe is not a means to wealth, but it offers divine safety as earlier said and assured sustainability to our wealth as the devourer is rebuked from our blessings because of our tithe.
Prosperity, on the other hand, is our inheritance in Christ. God delights in our prosperity (Psalm 35: 27), and He gives us power to get wealth (Deuteronomy 8: 18). Is it only believers in Christ Jesus who prosper?. By no means no. But the difference between a believer in Christ who prosper and an unbeliever who prosper is that there is no leanness to the soul of a believer who prosper in Christ. The scripture says in Ephesians chapter 1 verse 3 that God has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. Our Lord Jesus said that the Holy Spirit will take from what is Christ (the riches in glory in Him) and show them unto us. The LORD Holy Spirit will enlighten our minds with wisdom, knowledge, and understanding (sound mind) to translate this into ventures that generate wealth and sustained by His power. The love of God is also shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit in all these so that our hearts are never lifted up with the riches that come with this wealth. A lifestyle of gratitude remains the centrality of our worship, even in our wealthy estate. Payment of tithe comes easy, and so there is food in God’s house. Tithe provide security, an insurance for our wealth, more grace is given in form of open heaven and devourer cannot come in to devour because Satan our adversary always seeks to steal, to kill and to destroy. We thus have a cycle of wealth that transcends generations and which also ensures that there is meat in God’s house and that there is no schism because of lack.
Tithes is for the house of God as delieanated in scriptures. It has a covenant undertone, meaning it is not an option, and it provides divine cover or insurance for our prosperity. Tithe is never a means or power to get wealth, as there are many people who pay tithe but who are not prosperous, though God delights in the prosperity of His servants. The requirement for prosperity is clear-cut in the bible, and it must be so taught. Believers must be so taught to put their hands to work. They must be taught about financial intelligence, about investment, either as a sole enterprise or in partnership with others. They must be taught about crowdfunding and how to harness and upgrade their skill. There is no room for passivity in wealth generation, and prayer will not cover indolence. Believers must be diligent, and they must know that God is the source of their power to get wealth and nurture relationship with Him through faith and obedience.
Apostle Paul also in 1 Corinthians chapter 9 verse 11 teaches that believers have an obligation, a responsibility to those that minister to them in spiritual things. This is a responsibility we must not renege from. Those who ministers in the temple and serve at the altar get their sustenance in the temple. Verse 14 of the chapter is emphatic: “In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should get their living by the gospel.” This is our obligation as believers to all those that minister the gospel to us for our spiritual edification. Verse 15 of 1 Corinthians chapter 9 is also very instructive to ministers. God has set everything in order in His church, and it serves us well as believers to be obedient to the faith, having an understanding of our covenant obligation, our inheritance in Christ and our responsibility to those having spiritual oversights over us.
The article “Tithes and Prosperity: Biblical Perspective” offers a comprehensive and spiritually insightful examination of the purpose and significance of tithes, emphasizing that tithes are not merely a gateway to prosperity but a covenantal act of gratitude and obedience to God. This commentary will highlight the validity and spiritual inspiration of this perspective by delving into key biblical principles and examples.
Tithes as a Covenant of Gratitude
The article rightly points out the covenantal nature of tithes, as first seen in Genesis 14:17-19, where Abram gives a tenth of all he had recovered to Melchizedek, the priest of God Most High. This act of giving is a response to God’s blessings and victory, underscoring that tithes are an expression of gratitude and acknowledgment of God’s provision. As James 1:17 reminds us, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights.”
Tithes as an Act of Worship
Tithing is an integral part of our worship, reflecting our recognition of God’s sovereignty and our dependence on Him. As the article mentions, Malachi 3:10 emphasizes bringing the full tithe into the storehouse to ensure that there is food in God’s house. This principle aligns with Deuteronomy 12:6, 11 and demonstrates that tithing is a form of worship that sustains the community and prevents lack within the body of believers.
Tithes and the Assurance of God’s Provision
While tithes are not a direct means to wealth, they do provide a form of divine insurance for our provisions. Malachi 3:10-11 promises that God will “open the windows of heaven” and “rebuke the devourer” for those who faithfully tithe. This assurance of God’s protection and provision emphasizes that tithes safeguard our blessings and open the door to further grace and favor.
Prosperity as an Inheritance in Christ
The article eloquently distinguishes between tithing and prosperity, emphasizing that prosperity is our inheritance in Christ. Psalm 35:27 declares, “The Lord delights in the prosperity of his servant,” and Deuteronomy 8:18 affirms that God gives us the power to get wealth. Ephesians 1:3 further highlights that God has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Christ, which the Holy Spirit reveals to us.
Practical Application and Responsibility
The article encourages Believers to understand the biblical principles of prosperity and financial stewardship. Believers are urged to work diligently, invest wisely, and harness their skills, recognizing that God is the source of their wealth. This practical approach aligns with the teachings of 1 Corinthians 9:11, 14, which emphasize the responsibility of believers to support those who minister to them.
Conclusion
“Tithes and Prosperity: Biblical Perspective” provides a balanced and spiritually enriching understanding of the purpose and significance of tithing. It highlights that tithes are an act of gratitude, worship, and a means of divine protection, while prosperity is a broader inheritance in Christ. By adhering to these biblical principles, Believers can experience the fullness of God’s blessings and ensure that His house is well-provisioned.
This perspective is not only valid but also spiritually inspiring, encouraging Believers to live a life of gratitude, obedience, and wise stewardship.