But the strong line is what it guarantees. It puts one on a fast ride on the lane of financial prosperity. If this was true, the teacher clergy who teaches tithing and to whom it is brought would definitely be the fastest rider. He would cruise on the twentieth lane of the road of financial prosperity. And he will be far ahead of every person who pays tithe.

He receives from the hundreds of members or so everyone must think.
Just the other day at a church service, the teacher clergy preached. His topic was ‘’ Reposition to Position in tithing’ and exhorted severally. But he must ride a Jeep like his mates. He must also be faithful to God’s word. He must be healthy and keep the ‘’devourer’’ far away. And he must be bold to query God should he encounter usual difficulties.

And he desired much more for his members. So he prays for them fervently. If they prosper, he would also prosper. The prayer should make God to give them more income from which to pay greater tithe.

He is a faithful tithe paying person and pays thirty per cent of his income, he had said. And just for checks, he started to study the tithe records regularly. He used the ‘tithe-to-meter’ to gauge faithful ‘tithers’ and how much each of them really pays to confirm consistency.

In the payment of tithe, most people send theirs to a spiritual mentor. Others pay it at the fellowship they attend regularly. Yet others send it to a village church to support the work there. What is paid as tithe could be larger than what is willingly given as weekly offering at places of fellowship. This tells the common religious place tithing fills.

Importantly, tithe was first known among members of the Jewish faith. As a levitical law it demanded strict adherence. It was also a form of taxation. And it was never to be considered, at all as a love offering or charitable contribution.

The Jewish society marked it as a festival. And it had a seven year circle with the third year committed to the poor. But the practice, at some point in history lapsed until King Hezekiah revived it during the years of reformation.

In the Patrical and Noahic era, it was visible. Tithing subsisted for the sake of keeping the Sabbath, building the altars, and performing animal sacrifices both of the clean and unclean animals. It was however, during the inter-testamental period, that tithing became a major practice among the Pharisees. That suggested it was not the Jews alone who practiced tithing.

Like the members of the Christian faith, the Agnostic and Atheists do too. A portion of their income is set aside for charity to support their communities. And the Christians used it to perform the work of the church, support religious officials, and build churches and her monuments of faith including providing for missionaries and the poor. And because it is the singular largest part of church collections, the theocratic government hijacked it.

Tithe provided enduring revenue base to support the government.
Agree that God is the true ruler. So by assumption the government treasury was the storehouse of the Lord. And as a highly organized nation-wide event, tithe aided a stable theocratic nation with considerable infra-structure.

A big contrast it was with the early churches. They were minority group and were opened to persecution. That made them very mobile. So could not keep a permanent treasury. And the Middle Ages continued to gain of it. For 585, it became the sole source of stability of the theocratic society. Then Emperor Charlemagne held sway.

The church became a victim. It plunged into serious financial corruption. That was so visible under Emperor Charlemagne who had become drunk with tithe proceeds. He demanded to control one-tenth of the GDP of Europe and over a third of the lands.

In our society it might not be the political leaders. There are visible evidences of such drunkenness with tithe proceeds. And some cleric demand it in a form most suiting to them.

Frankly, tithe included food and was to be eaten. Money was only involved when the tithe was to be transported across great distance. Only food was to be presented as tithe so when money was involved, it would be converted to food and paid as tithe. The food was consumed partly during the festival.

It could be stored in storehouses or granaries for the use of the poor, the Levites, the widows and the orphans. It thus acted as a basic social security for those without land or family protection.

Tithe was levied on the produce of the land. It was seen as God's direct gift. One-tenth of cattle, grain, olive oil, wine and notably, absent from the levy were silver, gold, money and the profits of merchants and artisans.

Tithing is still a proper duty. And it must not be neglected by those trying to fulfil the Mosaic Law as the Pharisees did. Jesus never abolished the law before he went to the cross. He fulfilled it. And he told the Pharisees that they were over-emphasizing tithing and under-emphasizing justice, mercy and faith. The Pharisees tried to justify themselves before God by tithing.

And Abraham the great father of faith paid tithes to Melchizedek. That was the last reference on tithing in the Bible. The point is been made here is that the Levitical priesthood descended from Abraham. And he, Abraham honoured the priesthood according to Melchizedek - a type of Christ. And thus Christ's priesthood is superior to Aaron's. To him Abraham gave ‘’one-tenth of everything.’’ In the first place, his name means ‘’king of righteousness’’; next he is also king of Salem, that is, ‘’king of peace.’’

Every descendants of Levi had received the priestly office. And by the law should collect tithes from the people; from their kindred. They could be descendants of Abraham. But Melchizedek , who did not belong to that ancestry, collected tithes from Abraham. He blessed Abraham who had received the promises.

It is mortals that receive tithes. It is to Him of whom it is testified that He lives. So it would not be wrong that a Levi who receives tithes, also should pay tithe. And why should a senior pastor choose his ‘ground’ to sow his tithe and deprive the individual members such liberty?

Frankly, tithe is holy to God. And it is to be used to help support the Levites. In Jewish culture, Levites did not have any land to inherit. They were about the size of one over ten of the population. And it did not matter if they were artisans and traders. If a tithe of the tithe was set aside, it was sent directly to the High Priest. That was the practice.

Tithing is a way of life. And because it is a service unto God, it required a degree of purity. That was why God expressed hatred for the scribes and Pharisees and Hypocrites. Those people pay tithe in mint, dill, and cumin. And they fast, religiously twice a week. But they neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. Indeed, giving a tenth of every income did not justify before God. Only His grace saves.

God alone makes the believer what he is. Such person is created in Christ Jesus for good works. That also included generous giving. And the tithe must be employed to cater for the poor. The number continuous to increase among the flocks but God prepares, beforehand, the best way of life for His people.

As a gift, the grace of giving differs from person to person. It is much like prophecy, faith, the ministering of teaching and exhorter. The giver in his generosity must such leader traits of diligence, compassionate and be cheerful. Giving should not be clothed with intention to bribe God. He cannot be manipulated. As a loving expression of relationship to God and other people, giving should flow from an awareness of Christ as God's best gift to mankind.

The book of Proverbs gives sound advice on finances. Such characteristics of thrift, prudence and wise investing are admired. There is also giving to the poor and lending freely without charging interest. Practices that are condemned include giving to those that are already rich, the love of "little luxuries" and hard-hearted stinginess. It gives us a picture of a steady, faithful and wisely planned giving. Such, joyfully sees needs and meets them.

There are those who find ten per cent useful in planning their giving. But it should have God as the focus. There are those who give differently but it should be unto the Lord. No-one should feel obligated under a law or being judged by others. Rather feel free to give with excitement. And do it under the direction of the Holy Spirit. Giving should be planned, faithful and reliable so that the recipients can depend on it.