All that is required of us is to be a cheerful giver...The tithe was part of the Jewish law, not part of the grace purchased by Our Savior's blood at the cross. But, we DO reap if we sow...this is a universal God principle that unbelievers and believers alike can tap in to. Whatever it may be, if sown in good ground or as the H. S. leads, will produce a harvest in due season. In the new covenant, we ARE the tithe, we are the fruit of Jesus' blood sacrifice. This is a deep teaching, but I believe it. Let me explain...

We are to be givers, because God is a giver. Giving is a part of loving.You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving. Although the church is still stuck and needs pushed through the birth canal, NT scripture do reflect that it is a good thing to give into the the upkeep of the church laborers.

Many pastors are afraid of not having the money to keep afloat, and some will  bend to emotional control and manipulation to get people to give. IF God is truly speaking in response to an open door at a particular time, I get that. And I know the difference....I will not give out of pure natural emotion. The enemy would bust your bank account down to nothing if he can get you to give emotionally.And there will be no harvest either...cause God didn't speak it. I believe in giving to the ones who are "feeding me" AND as God leads.

I believe a lot of ministers get ahead of God ...they get the call and run out to make it happen and get in over their heads financially.God has no responsibility to empower something He did not build. The churches like these struggle and struggle ...but their hope is to give their way out of it...sowing and reaping. In due season, IF they stay focused correctly, they will come out of the situations created. Even so, God will still anoint, move in power and the gifts of the Spirit because He is good and understands.

Tithing is bondage. We are not in bondage any more to anything...we are free. Many people who tithe for yrs and yrs never see anything back...because they did not give cheerfully ...they did by obligation. Wrong reason.

Even the main scripture used for giving of money in the NT is taken out of context...it is not even speaking about money in particular...(Luke) Give and it shall be given unto you...good measure etc....people have made this all about money, and it just isn't. "Hebrews" to used to back up what they believe. Most of this book that is about types and shadows of the old testament...and must be interpreted that way.

 After the resurrection and departure of Jesus, the early church was having struggles concerning the Jews and the Gentiles, the law and the grace Jesus had brought. Paul, who was sent to the Gentiles, challenged them to come out of the law and not require that the Gentiles adhere to these laws of the O.T. Although they were still being stretched to receive freedom, they did agree to not require the Gentiles to partake of their traditions/law. Even today, the Jewish nation has not  made their way into the new covenant experience, their eyes having been blinded.If we live by the law, we must keep ALL the law. Who does that? No one...there is a better way, a better covenant.By the way, most of us aren't Jews anyway, we are Gentile.

Even Jesus (Matthew) says that tithe is under the law...so that is a given. He did not say it would stay that way, he simply spoke a matter to the religious leaders of that time using the law still in effect to reveal their true hearts.This was before the blood sacrifice at the cross. Whether it was before the law , has no bearing...IT became the law under Moses' administration. Abraham did it as a type and shadow, just cause he WANTED to...nowhere does it say that God said to. Also, the Bible says WHY he did it...and that he did it off the spoils from the war. Not what he already owned.People did then what we still do now, confuse law and grace.

We hear about it again with Jacob. More than likely he heard the story from his great Grandpa while on his knee, and when he was in a pinch running from his brother, decided to try to "make a deal" with God. Moses received it in God's OT law as a type and shadow...the Israelites brought the tithe to the high priest and those who were called by this linage to this work. The tenth was given for them to keep as their "wages" because the Levities where not given any portion of the land as were  the others. They were to rely on this tithe to survive and feed their own.(tithe was edible back then)This continued right up to the time of Jesus. (Remember David opening the grain storages to eat? He was allowed the privilage of seeing the forth coming dispensation of grace and freedom of the Law.)

Jesus came and fulfilled all these laws, became the ONLY High Priest so it doesn't have to be done anymore.The Leviticus priesthood and system were dismissed! Now we are priests and kings under THE  High Priest. He was the last and final, sacrificial priest and lamb...no more blood ever needed to be shed. Now,the veil is torn and we  can come boldly to the Holy of Holies and sacrifice ourselves...our lives, our thinking, our bodies...we ARE the tithe. Boldly because we are now under the blood, not the law that required a perfect, fearful presentation once a year.We don't have to worry about keeping the Law, which no one could do and that is why there was that previous sytem in place until Calvary.

Money is a tool..God knows we all need it...it's our motives and reasons for wanting more of  it that is important to Him. He wants us to receive His blessings in every way- everything that Jesus gave His life for... including financial blessings.The question is...will it draw us further into His Kingdom plans for our lives, or further away? The principle of sowing and reaping is a universal God- law which will work for anyone...but the truth wealth and riches of this world, is held and given to those who can be trusted to not let it come between His face and our own... allowing our mindsets to be challenged and changed by His truths and receive! Hebrews chapter 8, NIV is a great place to start your journey of this truth. Verse 13 says, "If the priesthood of the Levi could have achieved God's purposes-and it was that priesthood on which the law was based-why did God need to send a different priest from the line of Melchizedek, instead of from the line of Levi and  Aaron ?" Great question...the answer is , it couldn't.Jesus was not sent in the OT line of the Levites. He broke a new mold and finished the law as it was know previously in order to imput (reveal) sin.

Study the book of Hebrews ...study with the Spirit of Truth and lay aside what you have been taught and be open to a revealing of truth you have not known. We pray the prayer from Ephesians asking God to open our eyes and be enlightened, for revelation and wisdom...but are we able to receive it when He does? Can He mess with our theology? Selah. Blessings, AAF