When we talk about tithe, we always end up with the argument that if we are not under law why should we tithe. Do we tell lies because we are not under the law? Do we murder because we are not under the law?
I always refer to Paul when these points come up. Paul calls law as "guardian". Now that we have faith (through Jesus Christ), we longer need the guardian. What is means is, we had a guardian before to show us the way. When we stepped out, the guardian will only punish us. Guardian will not show us love (aka grace). Now we have Jesus and He calls us "child of God". Like John says "such as we are". We are not under the rule of guardian. The guardian cannot punish us and we are no longer under the guardian. But we must remember that the guardian always taught the right things. Now that we have Father, it does not mean the moral standard has changed. It just means, instead of being slave to guardian, we are slaves to righteousness.. We are righteousness of God..
Having said this, a person not tithing is same as a believer still telling lies or committing sins.. We all fall short.. God never looked at sacrifices even in OT days. He looked at heart of the person. Same holds today. It is not the 10% God looks at. But the heart that gives. If we have the right heart and intention, we would not even be arguing if 10% is the right amount. We would automatically be giving more than 10%. We would want to give more than 10%.
I always refer to Paul when these points come up. Paul calls law as "guardian". Now that we have faith (through Jesus Christ), we longer need the guardian. What is means is, we had a guardian before to show us the way. When we stepped out, the guardian will only punish us. Guardian will not show us love (aka grace). Now we have Jesus and He calls us "child of God". Like John says "such as we are". We are not under the rule of guardian. The guardian cannot punish us and we are no longer under the guardian. But we must remember that the guardian always taught the right things. Now that we have Father, it does not mean the moral standard has changed. It just means, instead of being slave to guardian, we are slaves to righteousness.. We are righteousness of God..
Having said this, a person not tithing is same as a believer still telling lies or committing sins.. We all fall short.. God never looked at sacrifices even in OT days. He looked at heart of the person. Same holds today. It is not the 10% God looks at. But the heart that gives. If we have the right heart and intention, we would not even be arguing if 10% is the right amount. We would automatically be giving more than 10%. We would want to give more than 10%.