Tithes & Firstfruits:
“ In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. 4 And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.”Genesis 4:3-5
Notice the difference between the two offerings? Abel’s was a “firstfruits” offering, (he gave God His portion first) while Cain’s offering was given over the course of time.
“Bring the best of the firstfruits of your soil to the house of the Lord your God.Exodus 23:19
Honor the Lord with your wealth,
with the firstfruits of all your crops;
then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
and your vats will brim over with new wineProverbs 3:9,10
“A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.”Leviticus 27:30
Notice that the Tithe is Holy to the Lord.
“Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask ‘How do we rob you?’
In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse – the whole nation of you – because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have enough room for it.”Malachi 3:8-10
Note the mention of tithes and offerings. We have already established that the Tithe is 10%. So, the offering is extra. The local church is your storehouse. That is where your tithe belongs.