This is not a good thing.
It is logically fallacious (argumentum ad populum) to try and justify this based on “everyone is doing it in the church so it must be ok”. There are several popular doctrines that fall into this category today with tithing being just one of those.
The concept of tithing 10% is pushed in today’s churches even when Malachi was not focused on tithing at all but his preaching was a specific calling for a full return of the priests back to God as well as the people as a whole.
We are told throughout the New Testament that God wants all of us, not just ten percent of our earnings.
Jesus said it clearly when He said “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:26-33
This bears repeating, “…whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple”.
Many today purposefully fall into the same trap that Simon fell into when he was seeking after Godly things with his money. People are told that they ought to give ten percent of their earnings and then they have this idea that somehow that they have done enough. Then they go and spend the remainder of their earnings to chase after carnal things. Many excuse their behavior by incorrectly claiming Christian liberty yet they are actually using their liberty as an occasion for the flesh and as a cloak of maliciousness.
For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. Galatians 5:13
As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. 1 Peter 2:16
While Peter said the following to Simon, this can easily be applied to many today.
But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. Acts 8:20-23
Be careful if you are part of those who are thinking a fraction is enough and that the remainder of the money (and material things in general) God wants you to enjoy for yourself. Be careful because that is a lie straight from the pit of hell. You were created for God’s good pleasure. He is not there for your good pleasure. We should be serving Him and the expectation is 100%. Many walk away due to the high cost of returning to their Creator but for those who do believe and submit to Him understand the true joy and liberty that comes from being under His protection and authority.
More regarding God’s expectations regarding following Him:
If ye love me, keep my commandments. John 14:15
Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. John 15:14
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Matthew 16:24-26
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. James 4:7-8
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:1-2
But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. 1 Corinthians 6:17-20
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. Matthew 7:13-14, 21-27
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. Matthew 6:24
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