The Truth About Tithing

Wait...what? That can't be right! My pastor told me I was robbing God if I didn't give 10% to the church, which is the New Testament equivalent of the storehouse (Malachi 3).

For a great Biblical video message on this topic, I encourage you to check out the following link:

http://gnbc.church/benjamins_tithing.html

There are some fundamental truths about tithing that are conveniently put aside in many sermons today. There are preachers that will try to tell you that the Old Testament Laws were done away with at the cross!!! (a topic for a different discussion) - EXCEPT for that tithing part...we still like that one.

Now, don't get me wrong, I don't believe that every preacher that stands in the pulpit and gives a message on giving has nefarious motives. In fact, I applaude those who are bold enough to get up and preach the whole counsel of God. If a preacher does not teach you about Biblical giving, he is not doing his job. However, too many times we just ignore the Bible and what it ACTUALLY says.

Most people have been taught and understand that the word tithe simply means "tenth", but did you realize that there were multiple tithes in the Bible (Numbers 18, Deuteronomy 14). These include:

1) The Levitical tithe

The Levites were the one tribe who had no inheritance in the land. Their inheritance was the LORD himself, but they still had to eat! This tithe was given by the eleven other tribes unto their brethren who were consecrated and dedicated to the service of the temple and the administration of civil government.

2) The tithe for the feasts

You won't hear much preaching on this tithe. This was for the purpose of providing for the three huge feasts (appointed times) of the LORD, the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Passover) in the Spring, the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot/Pentecost) in the late spring/early summer, and the Feast of Tabernacles in the fall. This tithe provided for meals, travel and other necessities during the required pilgrimage to Jerusalem three times a year. You could call it a family vacation with a religious purpose!

3) The tithe for the poor

Collected and stored up every third year and used to minister to the needs of widows, orphans and those who were unable to sufficiently care for themselves.

4) The tithe for the High Priest

This tithe was given by the Levites, from the portion received from their brethren, to Aaron the High Priest for his service to the LORD.

So if we look Biblically at the concept of tithing we can see that it was actually way more than just 10%. Each tithe had a purpose, each one designed to take care of the different aspects of their society - personal, religious, civic, charity, etc. An additional thing to take note of is that in an agricultural society, the tithe was given of the produce of the land and the herds. This was their "income". If, for whatever reason a person needed to convert their tithe to money, they were required to add "the fifth part" (i.e. 20%) to it.

"Tithing" Today

Firstly, I would submit to you that like many rituals and ordinances in the Bible, you simply cannot carry them out Biblically anymore. You most likely do not live anywhere near Jerusalem, you probably don't celebrate the Feasts of the LORD as listed in Leviticus 23 (although I encourage you to study this!), and even if you did, there is no temple and thusly no temple service. We cannot simply replace Israel and Jerusalem and the temple and the Levitical priesthood with the New Testament Church concept. That leads to dangerous theology such as claiming that the "Church" has replaced Israel. However, there is no doubt that it takes resources to fund the ministry of spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ and training disciples.

So how can I be obedient in my giving?

First and foremost, we must recognize that everything we have is from God; our health, our ability to make a living, our possessions, our families, etc. Therefore it is already 100% HIS. It's not 10% His and 90% ours. We are simply stewards (or managers) of what he has blessed us with.

Secondly, before we can even hope to give like the LORD wants us to give, we must first give ourselves completely to Him. In 2 Corinthians 8, the apostle Paul tells of the abundant giving of the churches of Macedonia; how that they were in a deeply troublesome time themselves, yet they still gave even out of their poverty. vs 5 "And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God. "

The gospels of Mark & Luke record an account of Jesus and His disciples observing the people near the treasury. At one point, a poor widow woman comes along and casts in two mites, a menial sum of money, except for one thing - IT WAS ALL SHE HAD! Jesus' response...."this poor widow hath cast more in than all they which have cast into the treasury"

She had given everything to God, but it was certain that she had given herself first! This must be the first step, because the location of your treasure is a good indicator of the condition of your heart (Matthew 6:21). If every time you put money in an envelope, it's painful, or you think about all the other things that money could have bought you, I would just encourage you to STOP DOING IT!

The Bible tells us in 2 Corinthians 9:7 - "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver."

How much should you give then?

I do believe that the Biblical principle of giving of our first fruits (i.e. the first and best) is still valid today. God is worthy of the first and best not leftovers and table scraps. If I could give you a certain number or percentage, I would most likely be selling you short on the blessings that God desires for you. Once you have acknowledged your role as manager of the LORD's possessions, and given yourself to Him, do what he asks you to do. Be sensitive to his leading, and be a cheerful giver!

#tithe #tithing #bible #money #stewardship