Good morning everyone (and welcome to our new members)! Since the question about tithing came up on this list as well as another I'm subscribed to, I thought I would post a response made by one of the listmembers of the other list . . . would love to hear some response from y'all . . . ************** This is an area where I struggled for many years until I realized the truth about "Tithing". Tithing is a universal principle not restricted to a particular covenant, one that relates to each of the major administrations of God as He has worked with people through the centuries. Tithing applies to all Christians today. God defines the basics of how we are to worship Him, and honoring Him with a portion of the increase He gives us is clearly a part of the worship He commands. I agree that we are not under commandment of the Law to Tithe but what better principle to use than that commanded under the law to find a starting place for New Testament Grace Giving. Actually, New Testament Grace Giving is even MORE DEMANDING than that required by the old Covenant of the Law. Even though no dogmatic or definitive guidelines are given in the New Testament for Tithing, The New Testament bases principles of Christian stewardship upon giving and love, which are, in fact, higher standards and far more exacting than a strict percentage given under the old covenant. Jesus Himself clearly upheld the practice of tithing. "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the other things undone" (Matthew 23:23). Only days before His death Christ plainly confirmed that tithing should indeed be practiced, along with sincere adherence to the "weightier" spiritual matters the scribes and Pharisees were obviously neglecting. The New Testament does not release us from tithing - in fact, we are told that we are bought with a price, and Jesus owns all of us. Not just a tithe of our increase, as under the old covenant. Instead, now, He owns us - all of us -- our time, talents, and our treasures. Loving and giving are morally superior and more spiritually demanding, convicting, and compelling than are mere percentages and calculations. Christians are told in the New Testament to give willingly, out of a cheerful heart, according to how God has blessed us, etc. etc. Giving for the Christian comes from a cheerful heart. Our faith to tithe is founded in the realization that God owns everything, including ourselves, and that we recognize Him as both our Creator and the great Giver of all good things. In giving back to God a tenth of our income, we enter into a special relationship with our Creator and owner. We dedicate ourselves to serving Him and financially supporting Christ's commission to preach the gospel and nourish the Church. In return He promises to bless us. Tithing, then, is an intensely personal matter between you and God, a way of demonstrating the depth of your commitment to, and relationship with, God. God devised the practice of tithing so we could learn to give of our possessions to further His interests here on earth. By tithing we express appreciation to God in a small but tangible way for the abundance of His possessions that He allows us to use for our material benefit. Finally, we learn to become, as He is, a giver of what we own for the benefit of others. Tithing is the opposite of a selfish approach to life. God stands prepared to support this generous approach by, in turn, blessing us in a variety of ways. He invites all to take Him up on His promise: Mal 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." God has convinced me that a Tithe is only the beginning point of the "Grace Giving" that is expected of a Christian. When Paula and I began to faithfully tithe, of the first fruits, not because we were commanded to but because we felt led by the Holy Spirit in that area, God began to change our hearts regarding money. He changed things that, if I told you, most would not believe. He also changed our willingness to give beyond the Tithe. In addition to our Tithes we began giving offerings to the ministries and works of the church and as we did God showed us his bounty and increased our faith. After the blessings (not only material) which flowed from the giving of our Offerings over and above our Tithe, our faith was increased in God's ability to give through us. We then began to give what we thought would be sacrificially to Missions through Faith Missions giving. We allowed the Holy Spirit to direct us in what He would have us give and I can tell you now, that after 5 years of Faith Giving to Missions above and beyond Tithes and Offerings God has shown us that we cannot out-give Him. Not only do we give in this manner personally but also through our company. Since we began in that area with the Company God has prospered us there as well. When I began tithing from the Company I applied the same principle that is called for as an individual. That of giving from the first fruits not from what is left. I committed to God that I would give 10% of every dollar that came in before any bill was paid. Believe me that took faith. Had I not already known what God had done in our personal giving relationship I don't think that I would have been able to make that step of faith. Maybe Tithing is an Old Testament Command but I promise you that it has New Testament application that will only bring Glory to God and Lift up His Son Jesus. Sorry for rambling on but this is something that is dear to my heart and I believe as well is dear to the heart of God. I don't believe anyone will ever know the true blessing of Grace Giving until they have (under Grace) given their tithe unto God in a systematic and planned approach then moved forward from there. ******************* Jan Ross jross@... http://focusontheword.com ICQ#18767082 "For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness." 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