The Act Of Giving Is Vital To Living!

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. John 10:10-11 KJV

Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. 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. 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. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts. Malachi 3:8-12 KJV

But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; 2 Corinthians 9:6-12 KJV

Very noticeable in the Bible but often conveniently overlooked is that it speaks a lot about giving

In fact everything belongs to Him so any use on our part is because He allows it. We learn that: Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. James 1:17 KJV

Giving is a godlike trait and God expects his children to be like Him. Yet it is a very sensitive topic with a vast majority who somehow foolishly believe that what they have in their possession is theirs.

It’s very simple and obvious…God loved so He gave…therefore we also give because we love!

It's the love in the giving that makes the difference.

Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things; Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee. Deuteronomy 28:47-48 KJV

Every time the subject of the tithe is brought up people mount various hobby horses in opposition. The most popular evasion is that we are not living under Law but under Grace despite the fact that many such nay-sayers live the most disgraceful lives.

Before the law Abraham gave a voluntary tenth of the spoils of war to Melchizedek. The rest he gave to the king of Sodom, after providing for those who went with him to war. Jacob made a promise of a tithe to the LORD of all that the LORD gave to him.

It appears a though the principle of giving a tenth was known in pre law times but it was only when Israel was organized as a nation under God that the tithe became a requirement. This was mainly to ensure that the priests and Levites were provided for, since they were fully dedicated to the service of the LORD.

The tithe was to look after the ministers of God, the widows and orphans and the poor.

And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation. Numbers 18:21 KJV

At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates: And the Levite, (because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee,) and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest. Deuteronomy 14:28-29 KJV