Genesis 28

"This stone that I have set up as a marker will be God's house, and I will give to You a tenth of all that You give me."

Genesis 28:22

Today's church often misinterprets the whole concept of tithe and offering.  Here, we see the continuation of a tradition that started as far back as Cain and Abel - giving a tenth of one's yield to the Lord in a burnt offering.  This is where our current view of tithe comes from (the word tithe means tenth).  However, instead of giving that tenth to whatever house of prayer we attend, we should be burning it!  Donations to charity (such as giving to a church) don't have much to do with this oldschool tithe and offering.

On the other hand, I don't think God would tell us that giving a tenth of our possessions to the church is a bad idea!  I just think that we need to learn true sacrifice as a biblical concept.  True sacrifice involves cutting something out completely, not just giving it away.  Sacrifice = destruction.  A burnt offering wasn't used by anybody, but was simply pleasing to God.  What can I sacrifice?  What can I truly destroy in an offering to God, instead of trying to give it away or sell it?