When the "Tithe" is Misdirected It is No Longer Tithe

In the times we live in, many people have chosen to take their "tithe" and use it to bless other people rather than give it to the church. Paul addressed this head on in this passage:

1 Corinthians 9:8-14GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

8 Am I merely stating some human rule? Don’t Moses’ Teachings say the same thing? 9 Moses’ Teachings say, “Never muzzle an ox when it is threshing[a] grain.” God’s concern isn’t for oxen. 10 Isn’t he speaking entirely for our benefit? This was written for our benefit so that the person who plows or threshes should expect to receive a share of the crop. 11 If we have planted the spiritual seed that has been of benefit to you, is it too much if we receive part of the harvest from your earthly goods? 12 If others have the right to expect this from you, don’t we deserve even more? But we haven’t used our rights. Instead, we would put up with anything in order not to hinder the Good News of Christ in any way.

13 Don’t you realize that those who work at the temple get their food from the temple? Don’t those who help at the altar get a share of what is on the altar? 14 In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who spread the Good News should earn their living from the Good News.

The simple, straightforward truth is that when a person takes their tithe (not God's, but their own) and places it anywhere else, they are in disobedience and rebellion to the Word of God and God is not going to bless that. In truth, the issue is that they want to control where the money goes because it somehow makes them feel good that they have "blessed" someone else. They have received their "reward" right then and there, self-gratification. But the Biblical blessing will not come upon them because they are acting from a selfish and rebellious heart. If a person wants to bless another, that bless another, that should be done as a free-will offering over and above the tithe. Those that take their tithe and use it such a manner are typically fight periods of deep depression, anxiety and suffer financially themselves and they cannot see that they have brought all of this upon themselves by trying to do works of the flesh rather than obeying God. God's Word is clear... "obedience is better than sacrifice."  So even if a person sacrificially gives to another but in the process is disobeying God's Word, they bring curses upon themselves.