Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. (Malachi 3:10 NIV Translation)
What is the storehouse? What is the food? Is it literally food for God’s house or does it mean something else? What is God’s house, the building or the people?
If we are to give our tithe to the storehouse which is taken to mean the church, shouldn’t we be viewing the church as the people? Shouldn’t our tithe be going to help the people?
Of course, if we did that then where would we get the money to pay our pastors and staff? Where would we get the money to pay the expenses on the building? Where would we get the money to purchase the latest and greatest Bible teaching tools?
Most teach your tithe goes to the church and anything else is an offering and that can go anywhere you choose. Now, stay with me for a bit.
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what’s coming to you in this kingdom. It’s been ready for you since the world’s foundation.
35 And here’s why: I was hungry and you fed me,
I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
I was homeless and you gave me a room,36 I was shivering and you gave me clothes, I was sick and you stopped to visit,
I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 “Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? 38 And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ 40 Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’ (Matthew 25:34-40 The Message)
What if…our tithe was to go to the church (people) and our offering was to go to the church (building stuff I mentioned earlier)? How are we helping the least of these if our money is going to the church (building)?
I am one of those where it is difficult to give 10% of my income. It hurts us financially. I would tithe but there would be so much more I would want to do but didn’t have any extra left over.
Things such as:
- supporting a child through Compassion
- buying lots of shoes for those who need them
- purchasing supplies for the homeless
- making care packages for our military that is serving overseas away from their families
- purchasing nice yarn to knit caps for cancer patients
That’s just a small list of the tings I think show the love of Christ in a practical way but financially am not able to do it. Especially if my tithe is going to the church (building) instead of the church (people).
Those are just my thoughts and I don’t have any answers.
I wonder though…how would it change Christianity if we gave to the church (people) instead of the church (building)?
Photo Credit: Eric I. E.
Bible verses from YouVersion.
