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29 April 2013

tithing

We generally restrict tithing to giving 10% of your income to the church. However, it can be a much broader concept. Let me simply list off other examples of tithing

() 1st day of the week (Sunday) is devoted to God
() The Jews gave the of all sorts of things that came from the ground including regular crops, grain, oil, wool, wheat, bread, wine, honey, and every fruit tree. (See list of verses here)
() We often pray before we eat, almost before we take the first fruits of our meal
() Fasting is a stretch, but might apply
() Cain and Abel, the sons of Adam and Eve, pretty close after the fall in Eden, both sacrificed stuff to God. Cain farmed and so gave grain, wine, and stuff while Abel kept flocks and gave animal sacrifices. (Read passage here)
() We go to church in the morning, the beginning of the day, as opposed to the evening. The firstfuits of the hours of the day.
() Most praises of God from the Psalms seem to occur in the morning. Likewise I would expect, but have no evidence that offerings and dedication ceremonies typically happened in the morning. ("Morning" in the bible)

Anyway, there might be more but I no more come to mind immediately.

Tithing is the idea that God deserves the first of everything. He is your first thought in the morning, the first person you run to when you're in trouble, the first person you give praise to when things go well, the first person you thank, the first one you point to, the first person to whom you give spending of any sort for you recognize he gave you everything you have, etc.
Honor him.