THE ORDINANCE OF TITHES
LEVITICUS 27:30-34
Among the offerings required by the Lord, tithes stand tall because of its specific nature. While most offerings are to be determined by the individual, tithe is already pre-determined by God. It is ten percent of your harvest. This part belongs to the Lord. And Melchizedek, king of Salem brought forth bread and wine; and he was the priest of the Most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth; And blessed be the most high God which hath delivered thy enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all, Genesis 14:18-20
The above is the first record of tithes in the scripture. When Abram retuned from battle, he was met by Melchizedek, a priest of God. After Melchizedek blessed him, Abram gave him the tithes of all the spoils from the battle. Beloved, this is lesson for us all. Life is a continuous battle. What we regard as our income are the spoils of war representing our victory over challenges of life. As Abram gave the tithes of everything to the priest of the Most High God, so should we.
Tithing is not optional. Rather it is a must for believers. It belongs to God. And all the tithe of the land whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD’S. It is holy unto the LORD, Leviticus 27: 30. No believer is exempted. Abram paid it. The Patriarchs also did. When the Israelites got to the Promised Land, he established what the Patriarchs did before. He instructed them to set aside the tenth part of their harvest and bring them into the House of God. This was a commandment to all their generations. Thousands of years later when it appeared that they have forgotten and began to violate the instruction, God spoke to them: . . . Ye are gone away from mine ordinances and have not kept them. Return into me, and I will return unto you . . . ye have robbed me . . . in tithes and offerings. Malachi 3:7-9
If you refuse to pay your tithes, you are a robber. This is the scripture. You have appropiated to yourself what belongs to the Lord. And it attracts a curse! Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation, Malachi 3:9 But if you do it, it attracts great blessings. 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 window of heavens, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground. Neither shall your vine get her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts; And all nations shall call you blessed: For ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts. The scriptures are explicit. The choice is ours. Pay your tithes and be blessed or rob God and be cursed.
PRAYER: I choose to obey God and be blessed. I refuse disobedient and curses.
