Tithes

The real purpose of tithing was to provide support for the Levites because they were not given inheritance as the other 12 tribes of Israel because the Levites were appointed by God to work for the temple and God commanded the 12 tribes to give the tenth of their income for the Levites. There is no more temple now and no more Levites attending to the temple. Giving during the Christian age is whatever the heart desires, nothing specific so that we may even give our life which is more than 10 percent. That is in the New Testament which in effect amended the Old Testament where the Israelites were commanded to give to the Levites who took care of the temple.

In the OT context, I think, the purpose of tithing is that people will know that God is the giver of everything, and by giving tithe they may learn to revere God. Another reason is that tithing is to support the Temple system, and it is through temple system that Israelites get their sins forgiven... the governance of the nation of Israel revolves around the temple system. Finally, tithing is to support the widows and aliens...those who do not have financial supporting systems.