TITHE

Tithing is a big deal in religion these days, especially in the Abrahamic ones. There’s been so much said about it, either for or against, that I find it trite to make an input. I have absolutely nothing against tithing, even though I may not agree with the interpretation some people have given it. In sabbath churches, sometimes lots are cast when prophesy is desired for certain individuals. The Bible is hit (sometimes thrice) and then opened to a point that a chosen finger lands on, and the message in that part is read and applied to the subject. If the first passage is inconclusive, it may be done a second, or a third time, with or without some prayer made for guidance. So, on this occasion, I hadn’t prepared a lesson for the Shabbat, and I simply had to resort to casting lots on what to teach on the fateful Shabbat a few weeks back, and my chosen finger fell on the much vaunted part of the scripture that is most quoted for the topic of tithing.

That day like now, I elected to render the verses concerned, and treat each of them as simply as they appeared without aid from scripture material before or after the passage. I wanted to see if the passage was self explanatory and convincing enough to stand alone, and I was not surprised it did, hence my decision to do the same here.

Let’s go, 👇🏽
Malachi Chapter 3:
Verse 10. “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there be meat in mine house“ – so, tithes are such that there should be meat or sustenance in the house of YAHWEH, that is any location upon which YAHWEH allows for his name to be called. Such storehouses will make provisions available to those who live within it, and/or those who frequent it, including workers, to members of the assembly, and even to strangers who approach the venue, as a house of prayer, or refuge. One can expand it to mean money as well, that will be available to cater for the needs of the people aforementioned. What it doesn’t say however, is that the storehouse will belong to the head of the mission to do as s/he wills, or for personal aggrandisement.

Continuation of verse 10: “and prove me now herewith, saith YAHWEH of hosts, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.“ – refers to those who obey the injunction to pay tithe, and the guarantee from THE CREATOR himself to bless such individuals. This blessing isn’t denominated in any particular currency, rather a blank cheque as to what the blessings pertain to, meaning it can span from the spiritual, to physical, financial, and any other ramification one can fathom, and in abundance. Sadly, the image one is left with, especially among the prosperity preachers is that, when one “sows a seed, it will return in multiple folds to the sower“, in financial reward. This craze has seen many “believers” sacrificing their last change, so called “widows mite“, only to find themselves trekking back miles to their homes after the service.

Verse 11: ” ‘I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,’ says YAHWEH Almighty.“ – suggests that those who should pay tithe must have an income, because it is the source of income that will be blessed, hence the reference to what will happen to the crops and vines of those who pay tithe. The absence of pests or unplanned ripening will not be associated with their crops or vines respectively, which ultimately improves their yield, and profit, and not just some unwarranted, unrequited, and undeserved blessing for one who had to obtain money by tricks, cheat another of their wealth, or by corrupt practices, obtain what they now use in paying tithe. Interestingly, patience and I daresay, perseverance and longsuffering may be involved when it comes to ripening of fruits, which some people who pay tithe may find adverse when a much sought after uplifting. However, those who understand the import of the message will continue to faithfully follow the principles of tithing until the perfecting of all that concerns them by reason of their obedience to YAHWEH’s command.

Verse 12: “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says YAHWEH Almighty.“ – Notice how in the end, it is then about the majority of people that YAHWEH speaks of, and not just the individuals who tithe, because the idea from the onset wasn’t just for a few to benefit, rather the greater majority, hence you’d find in earlier scripture where tithing is mentioned, that beneficiaries includes not only ones’ immediate family, but those who work for him, referred to as manservants and maidservants, and the priests (since they have no other occupation beyond their service to YAHWEH), without excluding the stranger, especially the needy in the main; but in the larger context, breeding generations of tithers with blessings on all sides culminating in a delightful land because the society caters for her weakest and her lowest.


‘kovich