First, let's understand why we should tithe.
Proverbs 3:9 (KJV) - Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
Because it gives the Lord honor when we bring the fristfruits of our labor to Him. It is one of the only areas where we are told to test God and watch the associated rewards come forward.
Malachi 3:10-12 (KJV) -
10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.
12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts.
I've seen it in my own life. There have been times where I have been very much without and yet even with all the craziness of today this has remained true:
Proverbs 3:10 (KJV) - So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
I believe the reason is that as we admit our humble dependence on God He is in a better place to continue pouring our blessings upon our lives.
When tithing it is important to do so within the right mindset and heart.
Matthew 6:1-4 (KJV) -
1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
The only reason this was addressed as an issue is that there were those who were very much not following this counsel.
Matthew 6:5 (KJV) - And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
With that said let's turn our eyes to an understanding of what tithing is.
Leviticus 27:30 (KJV) -
30 And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord's: it is holy unto the Lord.
This is not just a portion of what one has.
Genesis 14:19-20 (KJV) -
19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
If all is the Lord's then shouldn't we give all to Him?
Mark 12:17 (KJV) - And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him.
But then what about us?
Matthew 10:29-31 (KJV) -
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
Matthew 6:30-33 (KJV) -
30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Would all include more than just tithe?
Yes, and that is where the concept of offerings and gifts to help those in need comes into the picture.
Deuteronomy 12:5-6 (KJV) -
5 But unto the place which the Lord your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, even unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come:
6 And thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks:
If it all belongs to the Lord anyway why wouldn't we give it back to Him? Especially with promises like this that would become available to us.
Luke 6:38 (KJV) - Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
Our agape loving Father and His precious only begotten Son, Jesus Christ want more than just our tithes.
Amos 4:4-5 (KJV) -
4 Come to Bethel, and transgress; at Gilgal multiply transgression; and bring your sacrifices every morning, and your tithes after three years:
5 And offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving with leaven, and proclaim and publish the free offerings: for this liketh you, O ye children of Israel, saith the Lord God.
Malachi 3:8-9 (KJV) -
8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
In fact, they want more than our money.
Matthew 23:23 (KJV) - Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
They want our hearts.
Proverbs 3:5 (KJV) - Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Why?
Matthew 6:21 (KJV) - For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
As a result, we have another promise:
Ezekiel 36:26 (KJV) - A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
As we come to truly acknowledge that without Him we have nothing.
Matthew 6:24 (KJV) - No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.