“In addition, we might even say that these Levites – the ones who collect the tithe – paid a tithe to Melchizedek when their ancestor Abraham paid a tithe to him. For although Levi wasn’t born yet, the seed for which he came was in Abraham’s body when Melchizedek collected the tithe from him.” Hebrews 7:9-10 NLT

The longer I live the more I focus on the next generations. If there is anything I desire in the Autumn season of my life, it is to prepare a solid foundation for those coming after me, especially my own children and grandchildren. More than two decades ago, we pioneered a church. We have now seen a generation of babies grow up in this church, and quite frankly, that is one of the most awe-inspiring parts of the whole process. We now see them as young adults in the church, stepping into positions of key leadership. I would say to young pastors today, never hold back on what you invest of your time, talent, and treasure into the children who are currently in your children’s ministry. They are pure gold!

My life has been so positively impacted by the generational blessings passed to me from my parents and grandparents and from my husband’s parents as well. While generational blessings may involve more than the principle of faithfully tithing (giving the first tenth of everything back to God), I see so much wrapped up in this one principle, and according to the verses above, we can give our children a head start into the blessings of God by being faithful tithers!

Blessing #1: Provision for God’s House.

The purpose of the tithe was to make sure there was always enough in God’s House. Seeing a church grow from a basement room to a prime corner property in our city reminds me constantly of the faithful men and women who have brought their tithe “into the storehouse.” Every person who has been delivered from sin and found new life in Christ is indebted to these faithful men and women of God. The tithers will find that their rewards in heaven are much greater than they could have imagined! This provision for the House of God is exponential when you think of the church being catapulted forward for the generations now growing up in the House. This excites me to no end!

Blessing #2: Open Heavens.

The Lord of Hosts has promised to open the floodgates of heaven for those who bring their tithe and offerings to Him. I’m quite sure that we do not begin to comprehend the magnitude of this blessing. God is a good God, and He gives good gifts to His children (Luke 11:11-13; James 1:17). But as good as our God is, if we live our lives under heavens of brass, those blessings do not get through to us! “Open heavens” to me means that there are no hindrances to the free blessings of God flowing into my life and my family. I want to pass a generational blessing to my children and children’s children that includes living under an open heaven! I don’t want them to make the same mistakes I’ve made or have to plow the same territory I’ve plowed. I want to transfer the degree of open heaven I have received, directly to their generation. That is happening through the blessing of the tithe.

Blessing #3: Overflow.

With heaven’s windows open, the Lord pours out blessings that we cannot contain. That’s overflow! This is the blessing that keeps on blessing. Since I’m living in overflow, everyone around me is being blessed. God’s blessings spill out on everyone I meet. Our families cultivate the culture of generosity, because the overflow is viewed as God’s blessing, not something to be consumed upon ourselves. I’m so very thankful for the overflow blessings from the generations before me. They are so abundant that they now run over into the generations beyond me!

Blessing #4: Protection.

When we put the Lord to the test by joyfully giving our tithe and offerings, He places Himself at the borders of our lives, our businesses, our interests, and our families. Speaking to an agricultural society, He said, “Your crops will be abundant for I will guard them from insects and disease. Your grapes will not fall from the vine before they are ripe.” The King James Version of the Bible says, “I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes.” I can think of no one I’d rather have as my protector, no one I’d rather have watching over my business affairs, than the LORD of Heaven’s armies! Oh, I realize that listening to economic forecasts can be unnerving, especially as we think of future generations. How will they carry the debt load of our nation? Will the economy collapse? Will they ever get to walk in their dreams and visions? The answer is a resounding, YES! No matter the state of the nation or the economy, the blessing of the tithe passes from generation to generation.

Blessing #5: Land of delight.

The Lord of Hosts promises that all nations will call you tithers and givers of offerings, “blessed,” and a “delightful land.” I confess this regularly over my family. “Lord, you promised to establish our seed and make us a delightful land.” Have you ever been around a family that was simply delightful? Wasn’t that refreshing in a world of conflict, dysfunction, and pain? Well, I believe the blessing of the tithe passes on to generations in a delightful way, creating entire legacies of blessings and delight. In fact, I’ll dream here and say that one day – if we can establish a culture of tithers and givers – we can be a nation of blessing, a land of delight!

Levi, before you were born, you were tithing through your grandfather, Abraham, to the priest of the Most High God, Melchizedek. You became a nation of priests unto the Most High God.