Misinterpretation of Malachi 3:8-10 on Tithing
Tithing is not what makes you rich. Tithing is not what makes God bless you. And also, it doesn't rebuke any devourer for you today.
The primary scripture misused to claim tithing brings financial prosperity is Malachi 3:8-10, where God instructs Israel to bring tithes into the storehouse so He can "open the windows of heaven" and pour out a blessing too large to contain. This promise is misunderstood as guaranteeing money or wealth; however, "windows of heaven" is a biblical metaphor for rainfall, not financial abundance.
First usage in Genesis 7:11-12 describes the Flood: "fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened," followed by rain for 40 days.
Rain symbolized God's agricultural blessing in Deuteronomy
11:13-14 and Psalm 65:9-10, essential for Israel's agrarian economy amid
droughts ravaging crops and livestock.
So, this means that the blessing God promised to send down in Malachi to the nation of Israel for their tithing is simply rainfall not money, not financial breakthrough as many religious preachers have erroneously preached and made many naive people to believe.
In Psalm 65 verse 9 to verse 10. We also see, in this place that the Bible talks about the rain as blessing, a blessing from God. In these passages, the Bible presents rain as a sign of God's blessing, provision, and favor. So, rain is actually seen as a gift from God that blesses the land and provides for the agricultural needs
So, Israel neglected tithes, leading to drought; restoring tithes would bring rain to restore farmlands, not personal riches.
Therefore, Windows of heaven opened does not mean financial outpouring but rainfall for crops.
And blessing with no room to receive does not mean overflowing
money but abundant rain.
"Storehouse tithes" also does not mean modern church giving for wealth but rather it means temple provision for priests.
The Devourer in Malachi 3:11 and Its Modern Irrelevance
Malachi 3:11 promises God will "rebuke the
devourer" if Israel tithes, preventing destruction of crops or premature
vine failure. The devourer was Satan using drought to ruin Israel's
agriculture; tithing was God's temporary method under the Mosaic covenant to
counter this, as no redeemer existed yet.
Israel was agrarian, dependent on rain-fed farming; neglect of tithes allowed devastation.
Today, under the New Covenant, Jesus Christ—our Redeemer—has eternally conquered and rebuked the devourer at Calvary, rendering him powerless before believers, tithe or no tithe
So, since Jesus Christ has already rebuked Satan and conquered him for our sakes, even before we were born again, Jesus already conquered Satan. Praise God! Before you got born again and before you started Tithing, the devourer was already conquered and rebuked for your sake. Now what this means is that Tithing is not what rebukes the devourer for your sake.
Tithing cannot rebuke the devourer now; claiming it does undermine Christ's finished work.
Redemption is by Christ's blood, not silver/gold. 1 Peter 1:18-19, tells us that we're not redeemed, we're not delivered by perishable items like money, silver and gold.
Just like what a lot of religious preachers have
been teaching you that your money is what rebukes the devourer. This is
contrary to what Peter is teaching you, that you're not delivered from the
devourer by silver or gold. You are not redeemed or delivered by your money. So,
what that means is that your tithing is not what frees you or rebukes the
devourer for your sake. It's not money. Your money cannot make God to rebuke
the devil for your sake under this new covenant age. It’s ridiculous to think
so because it's like you're trying to bribe God or buy his services like Simon
tried to buy the gift of God but Peter rebuked him.
So, tithing as "payment" to rebuke Satan is like
bribing God, akin to Simon the Sorcerer (Acts 8:18-20)
Thus, under the Mosaic Covenant (Malachi), Tithing rebukes the devourer via rain. Whilst under the New Covenant (Today), Jesus eternally rebuked the devourer.
Also, there was no redeemer under the Mosaic Covenant. It was law-based protection. But under the New Covenant, Christ redeems eternally.
The way to receive or enjoy all that Christ has accomplished for us is to take an unwavering stand of faith on all that Jesus Christ has done for us in his finished work of grace. Take an unshakable stand. Take your stand on the truth of all that Jesus Christ has accomplished for you.
Ours is a Grace-based victory
Abraham's Wealth Proves Tithing Doesn't Cause Riches.
Abraham, first mentioned tithing in Genesis 14:18-20 to
Melchizedek, he was already "very rich" (stupendously wealthy in
cattle, silver, gold) in Genesis 13:2—before tithing. No modern
billionaire matches his described excess.
So, if Abraham was rich even without having tithed, we also can be rich or become prosperous even not having tithed.
The Bible says that Abraham was very rich in cattle and in silver and in gold, do you see that! He already had cattle, livestock, that nobody could number. Then he had silver and gold, not the paper money that we are talking about. I mean real silver, gold bars and all that. He was very rich in this. Praise the Lord Jesus! Very, very rich.
Even when Abraham had never tithed, the guy already had serious wealth. Serious wealth that made nations back then to tremble. In fact, at the time he met Melchizedek in Genesis 14, some kings had sought for his help.
Abraham tithed from spoils after rescuing Lot, not to get
rich (he was already so).
Melchizedek the priest of the Most High God as at that time blessed Abraham first (Genesis 14:19), crediting God for delivering his enemies into his hands—blessing preceded tithe.
So, Melchizedek blessed Abraham before Abraham tithed which shows that the blessing came before the tithes and it was not the tithes that brought the blessing.
It is very important to note that Tithing wasn't Abraham's
wealth source; his covenant with God (pre-tithing) was.
This shows tithing doesn't produce or sustain prosperity;
Abraham prospered without it as the basis.
Our Source of Blessing and Prosperity Under Grace
The source and security of our wealth, of our blessing and our prosperity as children of God is not by tithing. Praise God! It's not based on the tithing system. Rather, it is by the relationship we have with God through Jesus Christ. it is by all that Jesus did for us and by how unwaveringly we take our stand on the truth of all that Christ has accomplished for us in his finished work of grace.
So, Blessings aren't from tithing but Christ's finished work and faith therein. For God deals by Jesus' accomplishments, not our giving/performance and we receive by our "unwavering stand of faith" on Grace (Matthew 9:29: "according to your faith," not tithe).
(A Prize Chukwuka Teaching)
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