Dearly Beloved,
RENEW YOUR GIVING (Part 2)
“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:6-7).
Since the temple ministry was suffering because of the non-payment of tithes and offerings of the people to the priests, God had to place a curse on them. The nature of this curse can be determined from the blessing in Malachi 3:11 – famine due to pests eating their vegetation and vines without grapes (cf. Deuteronomy 28:38-40).
The people were enjoined to bring their whole tithe to the temple so that they would receive God’s blessings (Malachi 3:10). This promise was a reaffirmation of the obedience/blessing relationship stipulated in Deuteronomy 28:1-14. It reminded the Israelites of the covenant God had made with them. They would receive agricultural blessings and a good reputation among other nations.
The New Testament does not specifically teach about tithe, but it does teach about generous giving (Acts 4:32-35; 2 Corinthians 9:6-12; Galatians 6:6; Philippians 4:14-19). The manner of this giving must be in (a) firstly giving of ONESELF (2 Corinthians 8:5); (b) one that, as much as possible, no other person knows about (Matthew 6:1-4); (c) giving in love (1 Corinthians 13:3); (d) accordance with one’s ability (Acts 11:29); and (e) without grudge (2 Corinthians 9:5, 7).
The measure of the New Testament giving is UNLIMITED – the more you give, the more you receive from God (Luke 6:38; 2 Corinthians 9:6). The tithe is a good place to begin in formulating a program for Christian stewardship. However, it should not stop there. God is ready to bless only those who are giving generously to the needy and the cause of the gospel. Many people have been robbing THEMSELVES of the blessings of God by not giving generously out of their possessions.
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor)
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).
+234 805 515 9591
http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/spirituald igest2003
Save the World Ministry 
Friend, May I offer an alternative interpretation of Malachi for your study.
From: Tithing is not a Christian Doctrine
http://www.shouldthechurchteachtithing.com
Russell Earl Kelly, PHD
Malachi 3 is the Most Abused Tithing Text in the Bible. The “whole” tithe never was supposed to go to the Temple!
A. Malachi is Old Covenant and is never quoted in the New Covenant to validate tithing (Lev. 27:34; Neh. 10:28-29; Mal. 3:7; 4:4).
B. In Malachi 3:10-11 tithes are still only food 1000 years after Leviticus 27:30-34 and Numbers 18:21-28.
C. Malachi’s audience had willingly reaffirmed the Old Covenant (Neh.10:28-29). The blessings and curses of tithing are identical to and inseparable from those of the entire Mosaic Law. The rain in Deuteronomy 28:12, 23-24 and Leviticus 26:1-4 is only obtained by obedience to all 613 commandments. Galatians 3:10 (quoting Deu 27:26) “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continues not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.” Trying to earn God’s blessings through tithing only brings curses for failure to keep all of the law. See also Galatians 3:19.
D. Beginning in 1:6 “you” in Malachi always refers to the dishonest priests and not the people (also 2:1-10; 2:13 to 3:1-5): “Even this whole nation of you –priests” (3:9). In 1:13-14 the priests had stolen tithed animals vowed to God. In Nehemiah 13:5-10 priests had stolen the Levites’ portion of the tithe. God’s curses on the priests are ignored by most tithe-teachers (1:14; 2:2 and 3:2-4).
E. Point #12 of the essay. The Levitical cities must be included in a correct interpretation of Malachi 3:10. Most tithe-recipients lived outside of Jerusalem.
F. The 24 courses of Levites and priests must be included in a correct interpretation of Malachi 3. Normally only 2% of the total Levite and priest work force served at the temple one week at a time. Subtract wives, males under the age of 30 and daughters. Therefore 2% did not require all of the tithe. See 1 Chron 23-26; 28:13, 21; 2 Chron. 8:14; 23:8; 31:2, 15-19; 35:4, 5, 10; Ezra 6:18; Neh. 11:19, 30; 12:24; 13:9, 10; Luke 1:5.
G. Nehemiah 10:37-39 is the key to understanding Malachi 3:10, The people were commanded to bring their tithes, not to the temple, but to the nearby Levitical cities. Verse 38 says that the priests were with the Levites in the Levitical cities when they received the tithes.
H. According to Nehemiah 13:5, 9 the “storehouse” in the Temple was only several rooms. The real “storehouses” were in the Levitical cites per Nehemiah 10:37b-38. Only the Levites and priests normally brought tithes to the Temple (10:38). Two rooms in the Temple were far too small to contain the tithe from the entire nation and 98% of the Levites and priests lived too far away to eat from them.
Therefore, Malachi 3:10’s “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse” only makes contextual sense if it is only commanding dishonest priests to replace the tithes they had removed from it or had failed to bring to it.
While the 3:10 of the Law in Malachi is so important to tithe-teachers they ignore the 3:10 of the Gospel in Galatians and 2nd Corinthians. Perhaps those wanting to enforce the 3:10 Law of Malachi should also enforce the 3:10 Law of Numbers. They share the same context.
Christian giving is freewill, sacrificial, generous, joyful, regular and motivated by love. That is enough to provide the needs of the Church.
LikeLike