Does it apply to now?

Something to ponder. Does this still apply today?

"Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me.
But you ask, 'How do we rob you?'
In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse-the whole nation of you- because you are robbing me. 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. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your field will not cast their fruit," says the Lord Almighty. "Then all the nations will call you blessed, and yours will be a delighful land," says the Lord Almighty. Malachi 3:8-12

Some people will say no, this does not apply to us today. We are no longer under the law. That is true. Scripture says to give what you have decided in your heart to give. The Lord loves a cheerful giver. This is coming out of a time when many believers were so committed they were selling everything they owned and giving it all to the church. It says you decide what to give. 100% is not necessary.

A key part of 2 Corinthians 9:7 is to give what you have decided to give in your heart. Giving is an indicator of the state of your heart? Another verse says, where your treasure is, your heart will be also. Giving is a reflection of the heart.

What does that say about people who want to be very private about their giving and don't want anyone to know? Giving in the Bible was not a particularly private affair. Jesus and the disciples watched people put their money into the box. That's where Jesus' observation of the widow putting in her mite came from. It was no secret.

Secrecy today could have something to do with people who intend to do someone harm. The Bible does not say one has a right to privacy when donating. It does say not to shout out how much you are giving to brag and make a show of it.

Is it possible that people want to hide how much they give because they may be ashamed? Privacy is a part of our culture so it may just be something we take for granted. Generosity is a reflection of the heart, whether it be time, talents, service or finances.

Am I going to tell people to tithe? Probably not. The original tithe (tithe means 10%) was more than that. There was the yearly temple tithe. On top of that was the tithe for the poor each year. There was another tithe spent once every three years to celebrate before the Lord. The tithe was really 20% a year plus the 3 1/2% or 10% a year for the celebration, depending on how you read it. The early followers did more than that from indications in scripture.

Where does that leave all of us, as church members and believers? I will leave that to God who can see people's hearts and knows much more than I ever will. Do we tithe? Yes, plus. Why do I tell? Maybe somebody else will want to try it too if they know people would really do such a thing. Maybe God will pour out a lot more blessings on them.