twi's error and tithing.

[WordWolf]

It's interesting to note how fast pfal does a 180 when it comes to tithing. 

Christians are not under The Law, we are under Grace.  All our rules come from Pentecost and afterwards...... except for tithing.

The rules quoted are all from The Law, like in Malachi.

One example is quoted that Abraham gave a donation- with nothing saying it was required or even expected. He chose to give it, and he gave it.  That's not proof nor an argument for tithing.  

The only reference in the New Testament?  II Corinthians 9:7.   In the KJV,  it reads:

⁷ Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

 

(For the curious, the NASB reads  "⁷ Each one must do just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." )

 

vpw used this verse to say that we were required to give 10%- or more!  to "God"- and both he and twi push for twi to be the sole source to receive all that money.

He made no effort to distinguish it from the previous requirement- he called it "tithe"- same as before- which means "tenth." 

But even the verse he quotes says we don't have to tithe!  

If we are REQUIRED to give, the giving is "OF NECESSITY".  ("Under compulsion.")

twi keeps track of their members/"followers" and their tithes/money given under compulsion.  Try giving less than 10% and see how long you go before someone starts giving you static. 

So, after Pentecost, no donations are REQUIRED.  In Acts, there were donations requested at specific times for specific needs at that time.

 

In twi, that's not the final word on the subject.

Suppose you even give 10%.  That's not enough. 

Now you have to "abundantly share." 

Those are donations above the MANDATORY 10%. 

The verses for this....no verses.  "Well, under The Law, they gave 10%, we should do more!" 

 

Wait!

In twi, that's STILL not the final word on the subject.

Outside of vpw, twi, and possibly another group that got this from them, nobody has the sheer nerve to pull this one.

"Plurality giving."

In twi,  that's a thing. It means you sit down, figure out how much you make, calculate how much you need to get by, and subtract that amount from the amount you made.  Then you take EVERYTHING ELSE AND HAND IT OVER TO TWI!

Everywhere else, you can take anything left and invest it, put it towards retirement, save it for emergencies, use it to buy something nice, etc.

That's not recommended anywhere in the Bible.

 

People wondering what difference it makes should learn some of the practical differences it makes.  People in twi are NOT SUPPOSED to save for retirement, invest, etc. They're supposed to hand twi over all that money.   So, when the person gets an emergency, does twi ever donate back a little of that money to compensate! No way! They'll pray for you, but the money is in their hands and not going back.    In twi, you're supposed to distance yourself from family members who are not in twi.....

UNTIL YOU NEED SOMETHING FROM THEM.

THEN you go to them for help to cover for the absence of the money you handed over to twi!

 

If you're in twi, you may HEAR that you're "under Grace", but in many ways, you are NOT treated that way, and that starts with handing over your money.

Lots of people remember that "Christians Should Be Prosperous" (vpw's book that argues you're supposed to hand over 10%)  was required with pfal. Most of us were given a homework assignment right at the beginning of the class, to read it.   As soon as we got the book, we were required to read it. All the pfal material to cover- but the "give us your money" stuff jumped to the front of the queue. 

 

 

[Rocky]

A very insightful post that demarcates the difference between what "the Word" says and the organizational practices, which is the STORY of how the Word is actually communicated by way of do as I say, not as I do.

 

[Nathan_Jr]

WordWolf:

twi keeps track of their members/"followers" and their tithes/money given under compulsion.  Try giving less than 10% and see how long you go before someone starts giving you static. 

 

Ha!

My fellowship commander was faithful to this practice, even though he renounced TWI for deviating from "the original" - the word as it was given to THE Man of God, victor p wierwille. (Bless his heart.)

It had been said that my fellowship commander and his wife lived near the poverty line. They themselves never admitted this. Regardless, I always contributed generously to any social event at their house. (This is just my nature with anyone, and I was ridiculed for it.) If I asked what I could bring, they would answer, and I would provide plus plus - happily, it's just how I do it. Over time, with increasing frequency, I took on the role of host - cooking, cleaning, making cocktails, store runs - in THEIR house. (Later I suspected I was manipulated into this because of my generous nature.)

Now, these parties were by invitation, but they were not optional. If they said what they needed or wanted, I enthusiastically fulfilled the request. And they were grateful, but not enthusiastically grateful. When it came to giving at fellowship, boy, oh, boy!

I usually gave whatever cash I had on me, which wasn't much because who carries cash anymore. However, if I had 3 twenties, a fiver and three ones, I would only throw $8 in the horn. (If I had $60 on me, that money was likely already allocated for another purpose.)

Somehow he knew. Probably because my then wife told him. Or maybe he knew exactly what to expect every week from the other regular attendees, as they always gave the same amount. Likely both are true. He never said anything to me directly, but the subsequent daily emails to "the family" and the next week's fellowship "teaching" were all about tithing, abundant sharing and II Corinthians 9:7. 

The passive-aggressive message to me was clear: I was not a cheerful giver, and God does not love that.

Edited Saturday at 10:54 PM by Nathan_Jr

[Twinky]

TWI's attitude to giving is so against what the Bible teaches and the way God operates that it is unrecognisable. And what they teach about tithing isn't recognisable either.  To whom were the tithes given, tithes of what, where to be presented, and when.  And why (that's a big one, and not one that TWI has ever touched on) (it's not what you might think).

You can research it for yourself.  

It is absolutely wrong to be checking up on people's incomes to make sure they tithed/donated any money.  It's between individuals and God.

Here are the words of Jesus (yes, I know in the gospels, and only for our learning, hahahaha, as not part of the NT according to TWI) as recorded in Mt 6:

when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your giving may be in secret.

Now just how private, how secret, is your giving supposed to be, if (hyperbolically) your left hand doesn't know what your right hand is doing?  Your left hand can't know, but your twig leader can?  Huh???

We were badly taught.  But I do believe that God respects those who did give (even if from dishonest teaching).

[Raf]

When we were in our teens, WordWolf once had a bunch of notes from which I used to study, and one of them was "Things in Which Christians Are to Abound," or something close to that. The list was believing, the Word, knowledge, diligence, love and grace. It was drawn from II Corinthians 8:7. 

It took me years to realize what II Corinthians 8 was doing. To really grasp it, you HAVE to let go of the tithe. Only then does the section make sense. A group of Christians was exceedingly generous to Paul, and he was using that group as an example to the Corinthians for how to approach giving. Their gift was both generous and entirely voluntary. The percentage was not discussed. 

And then v. 7 makes total sense. As you abound in one thing, abound in the other. A standard is being set. As you about in A, abound in F. As you abound in B, abound in F. As you abound in C, abound in F.

It's not just a list of things in which we are to abound. It is a standard that is supposed to underscore our motivation to give.

You call yourself a Christian who believes? Give accordingly! You call yourself a speaker of the Word? Give accordingly! You call yourself knowledgeable of the Word? GIve accordingly. You call yourself committed to the spread of the Word? Give accordingly. You say you love? Give accordingly.

Our giving, according to the Bible, is to be motivated by these attributes. Not a percentage. A reflection of your commitment, of your dedication, of your seriousness about this whole Christian thing.

The tithe is not a minimum or a maximum. It's not even a reference point.

Abraham tithed ONE TIME, best as we can tell from scripture. No one told him to do it. No one asked him to do it. He wasn't setting a pattern. If he was, the pattern was this: YOU choose when to give. YOU choose who receives it. YOU choose how much. 

There is no place in scripture where ALL believers are instructed to tithe. It is simply NOT the big deal churches make it out to be.

I've long forgotten my deep dive into tithing. But I do remember this much: believers should give, and give generously. NO ONE defines "generously" but you. Just don't be a hypocrite about it. When something's important to you, you invest in it.

 

[Rocky]

IOW, if the organization badgers you about how much you need to give them, it's a cult. 

BTW, Mormon churches do that too.

[Charity]

3 hours ago, Raf said:

When we were in our teens, WordWolf once had a bunch of notes from which I used to study, and one of them was "Things in Which Christians Are to Abound," or something close to that. The list was believing, the Word, knowledge, diligence, love and grace. It was drawn from II Corinthians 8:7. 

It took me years to realize what II Corinthians 8 was doing. To really grasp it, you HAVE to let go of the tithe. Only then does the section make sense. A group of Christians was exceedingly generous to Paul, and he was using that group as an example to the Corinthians for how to approach giving. Their gift was both generous and entirely voluntary. The percentage was not discussed. 

And then v. 7 makes total sense. As you abound in one thing, abound in the other. A standard is being set. As you about in A, abound in F. As you abound in B, abound in F. As you abound in C, abound in F.

It's not just a list of things in which we are to abound. It is a standard that is supposed to underscore our motivation to give.

You call yourself a Christian who believes? Give accordingly! You call yourself a speaker of the Word? Give accordingly! You call yourself knowledgeable of the Word? GIve accordingly. You call yourself committed to the spread of the Word? Give accordingly. You say you love? Give accordingly.

Our giving, according to the Bible, is to be motivated by these attributes. Not a percentage. A reflection of your commitment, of your dedication, of your seriousness about this whole Christian thing.

The tithe is not a minimum or a maximum. It's not even a reference point.

Abraham tithed ONE TIME, best as we can tell from scripture. No one told him to do it. No one asked him to do it. He wasn't setting a pattern. If he was, the pattern was this: YOU choose when to give. YOU choose who receives it. YOU choose how much. 

There is no place in scripture where ALL believers are instructed to tithe. It is simply NOT the big deal churches make it out to be.

I've long forgotten my deep dive into tithing. But I do remember this much: believers should give, and give generously. NO ONE defines "generously" but you. Just don't be a hypocrite about it. When something's important to you, you invest in it.

 

The reason for this collection in 2 Corinthians 8 is given in Romans 15.

25 but now, I am going to Jerusalem, serving the saints. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. 27 For they were pleased to do so, and they are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are indebted to do them a service also in material things.

How does this compare to what twi does with their collections from the saints?

[Raf]

Good point. I delved into what I called "God's standard for giving," but I never got to the part of God's standard for getting. What to do with money collected from the church would make a great Doctrinal thread.

[waysider]

Three ministers were discussing how they used the weekly offering:

Rev#1: I draw a big circle on the floor and toss the money high into the air. Whatever lands inside the circle, I give to the Lord. Whatever lands outside is my salary.

Rev#2: I draw a big circle on the floor and toss the money high into the air. Whatever lands outside the circle, I give to the Lord. Whatever lands inside is my salary.

Rev#3: I draw a big circle on the floor and toss the money high into the air. If the Lord wants any of it He can grab it while it's up there.

[Joe Maslow]

Well, I adhere to the main post here. 

However, publicly TWI is teaching about GIVING not Tithing (If you watch their current STS they do not mention tithe) - unless you are in a private circle where they still expect 10% or more from "leaders" and "faithful believers".

TWI is full of contradictions...they still sell "Christians Should be Prosperous", in that book VPW says..."Do not pray for prosperity if you do not tithe".

But....check TWI's description on their website: "This booklet opens the doors to prosperous living. Biblically established keys, such as the law of giving and receiving, unlock true prosperity for the believer"

THE LAW OF GIVING OR TITHING? 

 

 

Edited yesterday at 12:51 PM by Joe Maslow

[Charity]

46 minutes ago, Joe Maslow said:

Well, I adhere to the main post here. 

However, publicly TWI is teaching about GIVING not Tithing (If you watch their current STS they do not mention tithe) - unless you are in a private circle where they still expect 10% or more from "leaders" and "faithful believers".

TWI is full of contradictions...they still sell "Christians Should be Prosperous", in that book VPW says..."Do not pray for prosperity if you do not tithe".

But....check TWI's description on their website: "This booklet opens the doors to prosperous living. Biblically established keys, such as the law of giving and receiving, unlock true prosperity for the believer"

THE LAW OF GIVING OR TITHING? 

 

 

Thank you for confirming that they call it the law of giving which lines up with their law of believing.  In both cases, however, when the law doesn't work then the giver/believer must be doing something wrong (not cheerful enough, not generous enough, not trusting enough).  Been there, done that.

Yet, the promises are there in the bible.  For tithing, there's Malachi 3:10

10Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and put Me to the test now in this,” says the LORD of armies, “if I do not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.

For giving, there's 2 Corinthians 9:7-8

7Each one must do just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8And God is able to make all grace overflow to you, so that, always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;

Is a biblical promise and a law not similar in some way?

[Joe Maslow]

21 minutes ago, Charity said:

Thank you for confirming that they call it the law of giving which lines up with their law of believing.  In both cases, however, when the law doesn't work then the giver/believer must be doing something wrong (not cheerful enough, not generous enough, not trusting enough).  Been there, done that.

Yet, the promises are there in the bible.  For tithing, there's Malachi 3:10

10Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and put Me to the test now in this,” says the LORD of armies, “if I do not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.

For giving, there's 2 Corinthians 9:7-8

7Each one must do just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8And God is able to make all grace overflow to you, so that, always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;

Is a biblical promise and a law not similar in some way?

It's evident that God established giving according to the heart in the New Testament. Calling it a law is complex, because if it fails in any case, it would no longer be a law, since laws "are always fulfilled." In TWI, at least in recent years, when a person tithed and didn't get results, contradictory excuses arose, such as:

"They are giving without the love of God in the renewed mind in manifestation."
"They are giving without believing"
"They are giving out of compulsion."

Ultimately, it's a vicious circle, because TWI's entire belief system is based on another principles that VPW developed (or plagiarized). Tithing and Abundant Sharing are based on the "law of believing" and the love of God in the renewed mind in manifestation, and others. If one fails, it's because the other is failing, and so on. The central issue is that these three main beliefs or principles are not 100% biblical and generate condemnation in people.

 

Edited yesterday at 02:04 PM by Joe Maslow

[Charity]

1 hour ago, Charity said:

Thank you for confirming that they call it the law of giving which lines up with their law of believing.  In both cases, however, when the law doesn't work then the giver/believer must be doing something wrong (not cheerful enough, not generous enough, not trusting enough).  Been there, done that.

Yet, the promises are there in the bible.  For tithing, there's Malachi 3:10

10Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and put Me to the test now in this,” says the LORD of armies, “if I do not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.

For giving, there's 2 Corinthians 9:7-8

7Each one must do just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8And God is able to make all grace overflow to you, so that, always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;

Is a biblical promise and a law not similar in some way?

 

55 minutes ago, Joe Maslow said:

It's evident that God established giving according to the heart in the New Testament. Calling it a law is complex, because if it fails in any case, it would no longer be a law, since laws "are always fulfilled." In TWI, at least in recent years, when a person tithed and didn't get results, contradictory excuses arose, such as:

"They are giving without the love of God in the renewed mind in manifestation."
"They are giving without believing"
"They are giving out of compulsion."

Ultimately, it's a vicious circle, because TWI's entire belief system is based on another principles that VPW developed (or plagiarized). Tithing and Abundant Sharing are based on the "law of believing" and the love of God in the renewed mind in manifestation, and others. If one fails, it's because the other is failing, and so on. The central issue is that these three main beliefs or principles are not 100% biblical and generate condemnation in people.

 

Your last line (highlighting is mine) shows the error in twi's calling giving (tithe/AS) a law.  However, in their writings about giving, they do (or at least did) quote the two promises above to support their concept of guaranteed results.   

Malachi says "bring" and God will "open and pour."  2 Cor 9 says "be a cheerful giver" and God is able to provide "all grace, all sufficiency and an abundance."  

A promise is defined as "a declaration or assurance that one will do a particular thing or that a particular thing will happen."  God's promises are guaranteed according to Isaiah 55:20, "For as many as the promises of God are, in Him they are yes; therefore through Him also is our Amen to the glory of God through us."

So, is twi's only error in calling giving and receiving a law whereas God accurately considers giving and receiving a promise?   What difference is there really between the two?

 

[Charity]

On 5/27/2025 at 12:23 PM, Raf said:

When we were in our teens, WordWolf once had a bunch of notes from which I used to study, and one of them was "Things in Which Christians Are to Abound," or something close to that. The list was believing, the Word, knowledge, diligence, love and grace. It was drawn from II Corinthians 8:7. 

It took me years to realize what II Corinthians 8 was doing. To really grasp it, you HAVE to let go of the tithe. Only then does the section make sense. A group of Christians was exceedingly generous to Paul, and he was using that group as an example to the Corinthians for how to approach giving. Their gift was both generous and entirely voluntary. The percentage was not discussed. 

And then v. 7 makes total sense. As you abound in one thing, abound in the other. A standard is being set. As you about in A, abound in F. As you abound in B, abound in F. As you abound in C, abound in F.

It's not just a list of things in which we are to abound. It is a standard that is supposed to underscore our motivation to give.

You call yourself a Christian who believes? Give accordingly! You call yourself a speaker of the Word? Give accordingly! You call yourself knowledgeable of the Word? GIve accordingly. You call yourself committed to the spread of the Word? Give accordingly. You say you love? Give accordingly.

Our giving, according to the Bible, is to be motivated by these attributes. Not a percentage. A reflection of your commitment, of your dedication, of your seriousness about this whole Christian thing.

 

(Highlighting and colour of font above is mine)

2 Corinthians 8:7 Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance (logos), and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.

You said that you saw this verse as showing abounding is the "standard that is supposed to underscore our motivation to give."  

I see it also as "abounding" in all of the areas are necessary in order for any one specific area to be successful in God's eyes.  

IOW, you need to abound in faith if you want to abound in all the others; you need to abound in speaking the word if you want to abound in all the others; you need to abound in knowledge if you want to abound in all the others, etc. 

According to BibleHub, "abound" is 4052 perisseuó meaning to abound (exist in large numbers or amounts), to be in abundance (a very large quantity of something), to overflow (the excess or surplus not able to be accommodated by an available space), to excel (to be superior to: surpass in accomplishment or achievement).

Is it taking it too far then to say that this abounding in all 6 things is required to receive anything from God as opposed to pfal's list of 5 things to do in order to receive anything from God?

 

[Nathan_Jr]

“…doors…keys…”

**transactions

 

Malachi sounds transactional, too. Bring the WHOLE tithe (not more) and see if blessing don’t pour out from heaven. Maybe a promise. Maybe a challenge.

But the tithe was about food, right? The priests had to eat. Livestock were given to be cooked (sacrificed) and eaten. These animals also provided milk and eggs.

The temple money changers, who Jesus rebuked, converted coin to livestock. The livestock was then offered. For sacrifice. To be eaten. The tithe was about food. Do I have this right?

[Charity]

I want to look at the words "generous gift" in 2 Corinthians 9:5 So I considered it necessary to urge the brothers that they go on ahead to you and arrange in advance your previously promised generous gift, that the same would be ready as a generous gift, and not as one grudgingly given due to greediness. (NASB)

Translations of 2 Corinthias 9:5 shows parallel verses which used different word(s) instead of "generous gift." They include willing gift, blessing, a matter of bounty, matter of generosity, bountiful gift, etc. 
 

However, 2129. eulogia  gives the definition of eulogia as meaning "blessing, praise, benefit."  It also shows it's specific meaning for 2 Cor 9:5 as "the blessing of a collection sent from Christians to their brethren" (See 5a).  The word "generous" is not mentioned.

Finally, Verses with eulogia show how this word is translated as "blessing" in all its usages (except Romans 16:18) and 2 Cor 9:5-6 where it is translated in terms of bounty or generosity.  Why is this?

2 Corinthians 9:6 is the next verse that should be looked at as well.

[Charity]

55 minutes ago, Nathan_Jr said:

“…doors…keys…”

**transactions

 

Malachi sounds transactional, too. Bring the WHOLE tithe (not more) and see if blessing don’t pour out from heaven. Maybe a promise. Maybe a challenge.

But the tithe was about food, right? The priests had to eat. Livestock were given to be cooked (sacrificed) and eaten. These animals also provided milk and eggs.

The temple money changers, who Jesus rebuked, converted coin to livestock. The livestock was then offered. For sacrifice. To be eaten. The tithe was about food. Do I have this right?

That's how I understand it as well.  Apparently, once the temple was destroyed, the transactional tithe in order to receive God's blessings took on a mandatory monetary value according to some religious organizations.

[Charity]

I've obviously extended this thread to include "giving" (aka twi's doctrine of abundant sharing) as well as tithing.  If anyone finds this is being , I can start a new thread.

[Rocky]

6 hours ago, Joe Maslow said:

Well, I adhere to the main post here. 

However, publicly TWI is teaching about GIVING not Tithing (If you watch their current STS they do not mention tithe) - unless you are in a private circle where they still expect 10% or more from "leaders" and "faithful believers".

TWI is full of contradictions...they still sell "Christians Should be Prosperous", in that book VPW says..."Do not pray for prosperity if you do not tithe".

But....check TWI's description on their website: "This booklet opens the doors to prosperous living. Biblically established keys, such as the law of giving and receiving, unlock true prosperity for the believer"

THE LAW OF GIVING OR TITHING? 

 

 

Pardon me if I misunderstand, but if God had set it up as a law, wouldn't there be a one to one ratio of action and reaction?

Why don't they (or anyone else) just call it the concept of giving (and receiving)?

One would think they could expand on it to include the organization's understanding of what the believer's giving is conceptually supposed to be used for... and perhaps expand the teaching to include TWI responsibility to contribute to community support organizations, at least 10 percent of gross receipts.

[Joe Maslow]

24 minutes ago, Rocky said:

Pardon me if I misunderstand, but if God had set it up as a law, wouldn't there be a one to one ratio of action and reaction?

Why don't they (or anyone else) just call it the concept of giving (and receiving)?

One would think they could expand on it to include the organization's understanding of what the believer's giving is conceptually supposed to be used for... and perhaps expand the teaching to include TWI responsibility to contribute to community support organizations, at least 10 percent of gross receipts.

I do not think there is a law of "giving and receiving", Of course I know that not everyone in this forum is Christian or Bible purist, but if we take the Bible as a reference, it does not mention giving as a law (unlike the Mosaic law or other civil, agricultural, etc. regulations) - the closest thing is "He who soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he who soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully." Is that a Law?  Does it always happen the same way? If a person gives abundantly, will that person always receive abundantly?

I believe God and the Bible, and I choose to give BUT freely, Not by coercion, obligation or pressure.

There are two books that contain a lot of information on this subject and that obviously do not coincide with TWI's vision:

"The Tithing Dilemma" by Ernest Martin

" L’identification des dîmes: Quelle dîme est donc payée par les chrétiens" by Hughes N.

 

 

[Charity]

2 Corinthians 9:5-7 So I considered it necessary to urge the brothers that they go on ahead to you and arrange in advance your previously promised generous gift (blessing) that the same would be ready as a generous gift (blessing) and not as one grudgingly given due to greediness (covetousness). 6 Now I say this: the one who sows sparingly (refraining) will also reap sparingly (refraining), and the one who sows generously (upon blessings) will also reap generously (upon blessings). 7 Each one must do just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 

Sparingly = 5340 pheidomenós (adverb): Sparing, refraining, withholding.  This is in the context of verse 5 which says "not as one grudgingly given due to greediness" NASB which is one Greek word - 4124 pleonexia meaning greed, covetousness. 

So sparingly here isn't about giving a small amount but giving a small amount because of greed (an intense and selfish desire for something).  IOW, you don't have to give out of what you need, but out of your blessings.

Generously = 2129 ep' eulogia (noun): upon (on the basis of) blessings (See 1909 epi)

I know it can be a challenge to get past twi's doctrine and expectations of habitual giving/abundant sharing in order to begin giving according to one's own heart.  And again, the purpose for Paul's collection in 2 Cor 8 and 9 is for the poor saints in Jerusalem maybe because of a famine or because of persecution or both. 

My last word on this is the concept of giving "in order" to receive.  Can't see how this is a right attitude to have.

[Charity]

Our Legal Rights in Christ to God’s Blessings

This article was posted 5 years ago by twi.  In it they say "One of these immutable laws is the law of giving."

[Charity]

Giving to God—Abundant Sharing   Posted on November 14, 2016 by The Way

Quote:

Tithing (giving one-tenth of one’s increase) to the Lord is established in God’s Word as a basic law of God’s prosperity. In making the tithe our minimum, we open the floodgates for prosperity to ourselves, and we help make available the knowledge of God to others. We also have the joy of giving above and beyond the tithe, which we call abundant sharing. Abundant sharing is a heart-motivated commitment to freely share of our abundance out of love for and thankfulness to God. Two main purposes for abundantly sharing are so that God’s people may give and thus receive the subsequent blessings, and so that the necessary financial and physical means are provided to help move God’s prevailing Word.

[Raf]

Yeah, there's nothing Biblically required about making the tithe the minimum;

[Rocky]

1 hour ago, Joe Maslow said:

L’identification des dîmes: Quelle dîme est donc payée par les chrétiens

Which translates to: Tithe Identification: What Tithe is Paid by Christians?

I appreciate the practice with French language translation (I still have to use google translate).

1 hour ago, Charity said:

"One of these immutable laws is the law of giving."

Immutable my BEE-hind.