Reference: Malachi 3:8-11
There is a lot of controversy on many ofthe subjects that the Bible contains and the truth concerning tithes andofferings is of no exception. Many people in the world today do not believethat tithe paying is practical in the day and age we live in. These same peoplewill say that tithe paying was a practice in old testament days, but not inthese days since Jesus came and revealed grace and truth.
Now the scriptures that I have used in ourtext above are scriptures taken from the Old Testament, and here we find thatman was accused of robbing God if he did not pay tithes and gave an offering ofhis increase. Since these scriptures are found written in the law many peoplewill refuse to pay tithes saying that Jesus did not say that this law was yetbinding in this dispensation of time.
Allow me to say right here that there aremany things that God's word does not say in a direct statement that will proveout a certain subject by just reading a verse of scripture. If a certainsubject could be proven by a single verse of scripture then Paul would not havesaid to study to shew thy self approved unto God, a workman that needeth not tobe ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. The Bible is not written insuch a way that we can read it and come to the knowledge of its truth withoutprayerfully studying it and allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal its mysteries tous.
If the Bible coud be read in a way thatanybody could understand it, then there would certainly be no need for one toreceive the Holy Spirit in their heart and life. But the Holy Spirit is givenfor the sole purpose of teaching andrevealing the mysteries of the kingdom of God to the believer. Since the Bibledoes not make a direct statement of saying that tithes is to be or not to bepaid, then we must do as the apostle Paul says when he said to prove all thingsand hold fast to that which is good.
Since any given subject can't be proven bya direct statement, then we must prove all mentioned subjects by careful studyallowing the Holy Spirit to reveal it to us. Now I would say there are manypeople who will not pay tithes simply because they are not willing to givetheir money to a certain preacher of a church. Many of these people think thatthe preacher should get a job and support himself like they do. Any person whothinks on this line of thought is not truly sincere with God and they aretotally ignorant of the truth concerning the work of the ministry.
Now if we look at our text of Malachi 3:8-11 we can easilyfind out that the storehouse can also be called the church, because this iswhere the truth is supposed to be taught. Now if you will read II Chronicles 31:4-10you will find out what was the tithe and offerings and what was to be done withthem. You will find that they were for the ministers that took part in all theservices of the house of God. Now I would say there are many people who cannotsee the reason why God had instituted the bringing in of the tithe andofferings into the storehouse for the people who were involved in the serviceof God.
Now if you can see the truth as to why Godinstitued this bringing in of the tithe and offerings into what he called thestorehouse, then you won't see no reason why it should not be yet the same inthis dispensation of time we now live in since the coming of Christ. Thestorehouse is the place where the word of God is found and proclaimed. Thisplace can be the church or any other place where God's word of truth is beingpreached and revealed.
The person or church that proclaims thetrue word of God is involved in a work where the truth has been revealed. Thistruth has been revealed in this place for a twofold purpose. One reason is ofcourse for the ones involved and the other reason is for anyone who willreceive it and live by it. Now the church is the place where a person can learnof the things pertaining to God. A true church will preach the truth and it isthis truth that will make disciples out of whosoever will receive it.
The church or any true minister willpreach the truth because they have studied the word of God and they are toproclaim it to those who are willing to receive and obey it. Now we are toldthat God chose the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. This reveals to us that God calls ministersand reveals his truth to them and they are to teach it to whosoever willreceive it. Now a true preacher has what is called the spiritual food that willbring into existence true sons and daughters of God.
All that a believer has to do is receiveand obey the truth that the true minister proclaims. Now the true minister hasalready taken the time to study God's word and has allowed the Spirit to revealthe mysteries to him. The minister in turn gives it out to them that willreceive it. Now God has chosen this way to save whosoever will hear his wordthrough the ministry. Now why will a true sincere person refuse to pay tithesand give offerings to a person or church that proclaims the true word of God?If you pay tithes to a certain church that you may attend, this is not payingfor the word of God, but rather you aresupplying a need in the same way that the church is supplying a need.
The church or a minister will supply yourneed and you are in turn to help supply their need. The ministers supply yourspiritual need and we are to help support their physical need. So you see weall are helping to supply one anothers need no matter if it be a spiritual needor a physical need. As for myself I would be more than willing to help supplythe physical needs of any church or minister that will help to supply myspiritual needs.
What a true church or minister will giveis of far more value than what we give in return. Now I would not give anychurch or minister a tithe or offering that I did not believe was preaching andteaching the truth of God's holy word. There are many people giving to thechurch they attend and the reason for this is because they are led to believethey are receiving the truth of God's word. Any person who is not willing togive a tithe or offering of their increase to the work of the ministry is in myopinion not sincere in their confession of being a child of God.
I say this because a true child of Godknows that what they receive from the ministry is far more valuable than whatthey give in physical needs. The child of God also knows that it's much moreblessed to give than to receive. The child of God does not just give in orderto receive more in abundance, but rather they give because this is the mindthat Christ possessed......