Expert: Quentin Parker - 12/3/2009

Question
Is this verse saying that if we make a vow of money to a church or ministry the Lord will repay us ten fold?

Answer
Hi Thomas,

Thanks for your question.

These verses from Genesis 28 don't specifically say that if we give to God He'll repay us ten fold. In these verses, Jacob vows a vow to God promising that of all that God gives to him, he'll give Him a tenth. Basically Jacob is promising to tithe.

Malachi 3:8-11 speaks about how blessings and curses are attached to tithing. The Israelites were being punished by God for not tithing but in the same passage in which Malachi points this out he reminds them that if they do tithe God will surely send "so much blessing you will not have room enough for it".

     "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 room enough for it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the LORD Almighty. "Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land," says the LORD Almighty.

2 Corinthians 9 is also an informative passage dealing with this issue.

I hope you've found this helpful. God bless!

- Quentin Parker