In Leviticus chapter twenty-seven, verse thirty, the Lord speaks to Moses about the children of Israel concerning tithes. A tithe is a tenth of the land produced and the livestock in a donation to the Lord. The contribution was an offering to support the Levites, as stated in Numbers twenty-one verse eighteen. “And behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.”
God did mention the tithes to contribute to the priests like Moses’ brother Aaron. In Numbers eighteen twenty-eight, the Lord declares, “Thus ye also shall offer a heave offering unto the Lord of all your tithes, which ye receive of the children of Israel; and ye shall give thereof the Lord’s heave offering to Aaron, the priest. The contribution is also to assist in sacred meals and to help the poor, the fatherless, and the widows.
Today, few churches follow the agenda of the Lord concerning the tithes. Some leaders do follow the Word of God about using the funds towards helping others and maintaining the necessity of the sanctuary. However, many pastors do not use the church’s assets properly and do not help give to the poor who need them, and do not remember the fatherless and the widows. Instead, some leaders feast on themselves with these tithes and call it a “blessing from above.” Still, they take from God contrary to His Word. The temptation of more than what they need becomes greed which is sin.
Tithes, according to God’s Word, are to bring to His storehouse that He will provide the blessing to those that faithfully contribute. However, some church leaders have brought the tithes to the storehouse and afterward added to their house, which is not a blessing, only possessing which they will answer to God soon.