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NASB | Malachi 3:10 "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this," says the LORD of hosts, "if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Malachi 3:10 "Bring all the tithes (the tenth) into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this," says the LORD of hosts, "if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you [so great] a blessing until there is no more room to receive it. [Mal 2:2] |
Bible Question:
I have 2 questions regarding tithing. My wife and I have been cheerfully tithing a great deal for the past several years (and especially this past year) and then in December we became disappointed in our church because it seemed that they began placing a huge emphasis on tithing to help with a huge expansion of church facilities that is being financed from loans. Neither my wife or I agree with a church taking out large loans for expansion, especially when the existing facility is plenty sufficient. (At all Sunday sermons etc each week there is only about 50 per cent capacity.) It seems like the church would focus on filling the pews before expanding the facilities. Now I am at a point where I have written checks for year end tithes but I have been wrestling with sending it in because of my feelings over the way the church is forging ahead with this big project (especially when my wife and I have been struggling financially etc). My question is two-fold and is as follows: 1) Can tithes only be given to CHURCHES or can a contribution to other ministries or the needy or poor also be considered a tithe? and 2) If a tighe can only be given to a church does it have to be given to the church you attend or can it (for example) be given to a church your relatives attend (and speak very highly of). Just looking for some alternatives to cheerful tithing. |
Bible Answer: Greetings, Mal 3:10 says to ""Bring one-tenth of your income into the storehouse so that there may be food in my house". This is referring to your own church. Tithes are meant to be given to your home church for the support of the pastor and the church. A contribution to another ministry is just that a contribution - an offering. When we give our tithes we are to "give" them. This means we are to take our hands off the money. We no longer have any say in how they are spent. If we want to have a say in how our money is spent then we are not really taking our hands off of it. Your pastor may be spending the money in a way that you do not approve of and indeed he may be wrong in what he is doing but that is not for us to decide - that is for God to decide. If he is spending the money wrong then God will deal with him. I would tell you above all be obedient to the Word and pay your tithes then pray and ask God to either cause your pastor to "see the light" or if what the pastor is doing is God directed that he cause you and your wife to accept it. Please forgive me if I sound harsh - I really do not mean to. I say what I say in love only. prayon |