Many believers have fallen away from the principles of God and often question why must we give tithes and offerings. They often feel that they should give whatever they want to whomever they want. This is due to a lack of education and understanding. We believe that it is absolutely essential to honor God with our tithes and our offerings as the two (2) come together to form an agreement in the heavenlies on our behalf.
Malachi 3:6-12
6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. 7 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return? 8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. 9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. 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. 11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. 12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.
There are some who are of the belief that tithing was only an old testament principle. However, the bible clearly refutes this thought process. Tithing began before the law was introduced. The Law simply regulated the tithe. Abraham tithed to Melchizedek, 400 years before the time of Moses and the Law, and according to Romans 4:12 we are to walk in the footsteps of the faith of Abraham. If tithing was good for him, it should be good for us, too.
We give tithes like Abraham gave them, not by the Law but by faith. And besides that, if the people of God paid ten percent before the Law, and ten percent under the Law, shouldn't we, who live by grace, when we have a better covenant (Heb 7:22)? Why would we do any less, when God has given us so much more!!