Why Tithe?

For the love of money people will steal from their mother. For the love of money people will rob their own brother. For the love of money people can't even walk the street because they never know who in the world they're gonna beat. For that lean, mean, mean green Almighty dollar, money. For the love of money people will lie, Lord, they will cheat. For the love of money people don't care who they hurt or beat. For the love of money a woman will sell her precious body For a small piece of paper it carries a lot of weight. Call it lean, mean, mean green—“For The Love Of Money” by the O’Jays, Album: Ship Ahoy 1973

Money, Money, Money, Money, MONEY! Do you remember that song from back in the 1970’s by the O’Jays? A song whose foundation was 1 Timothy 6:10 and is the motto for much of the secular world. But in recent history and in current circles, we hear stories of similar motivations in the church to increase giving in the church offerings by nefarious purposes. The church building (assembly) is supposed to be a gathering place for worship, learning doctrine, prayer and Christian fellowship. But many negative connotations are associated with many of today’s churches. Some thoughts I have heard from the secular people and from Christians concerning the Church include:

• The preachers are just trying to take people’s money.
• The church members are continually living at a lower standard of living than the preachers.
• Mommy, why do some preachers go to church in a limousine, and we have to walk every Sunday?
• Preachers beg and talk too much about getting people to give money to the church.
• Should I pay my rent, light bill, etc. or should I give this as an offering to the Church, and believe God for a blessing?
• Some preachers manipulate the congregation to tithe and give money with scare tactics of going to Hell for robbing God.
• It is our duty to help get the Gospel out to the world, so that poor people in India can hear about Jesus.
  
  

Maybe you have heard some of these claims, or perhaps others. Well, I am here to set the record straight concerning the tithe. Yes, the Bible does mention tithing. But what does it say? Follow along, be a student and not a drone. Get ready to search the Scriptures as the Bereans did to see if I am presenting the truth in context (Acts 17:11). I ask that you please be objective and not to hold too dearly to your current belief system. Let’s test what you believe (1 Thessalonians 5:21), and test what I believe, as well. The Holy Spirit will give light, so let’s be open to Him. This subject is a “sacred cow” for many people, in other words there is a stronghold belief system and/or influence over some people concerning giving. You’ll see why, so continue reading in faith and be open minded to the Spirit of God. Let’s go!

The most popular Scriptures that I know concerning the tithe are in the Old Testament (OT); however, there are a few references to the tithe in the New Testament (NT), as well. The most famous verse I believe is found in Malachi 3:8-12: Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.

So from this verse the major ideas to note are:

• Not tithing and not giving offerings denotes robbing God. Stealing is a sin (Exodus 20:15), and we know that all sinners will be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15).
• God will bless you if you tithe and give offerings.
• God will rebuke the bad things from happening to you.
• Other people are going to recognize you as fortunate and good in the sight of God.
  
  

It appears from this very popular verse that tithing is a very beneficial practice. But what is tithing? What does the contextual application of Scripture teach us about tithing?

• Tithing was instituted before the law with Abraham (Genesis 14; Hebrews 7) and was adopted into the Levitical law (Leviticus 27:30-31).
• Jesus was born under the law (Galatians 4:4), came to fulfill the law (Matthew 5:17) so that He could give us power to live above the law (Galatians 3:13-14).
• Tithing was the people bringing 1/10 of their increase to be given to God via the children of Levi for their service in the tabernacle of the congregation (Numbers 18:21), and in obedience to God the Levitical Priesthood was to offer up a heave offering (1/10 of the tenth) to the Lord (Number 18:26).
• Reserving the first tenth for God is actually the tither acknowledging God as having complete ownership (so to speak) over his/her life. Let’s look at things in natural terms: at a birthday party, who gets the first piece of cake? The person whose birthday it is. When your girlfriend gets a new outfit that you really like, don’t you at least let her wear it first before you ask to borrow it? When the guest of honor enters the room, doesn’t everyone stand up and let him/her sit down first? It’s a respect that we give to people on the earth. How much more respect should we give to the King of Glory?
• The OT believers didn’t belong to God in their hearts; remember sin came in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:14-24), and put a spiritual barrier between God and man. So God created covenants with mankind (Genesis 9:11-13; Genesis 15), and later the Law was instituted (Exodus 20) so that mankind could walk in God’s ways and atone for sin.
• The purpose for the law was to distinguish between right and wrong, as well as differentiating between God’s people and the heathen (Galatians 3:21-25; 1 Timothy 1:9).
• The OT was a temporary fix for the mistakes of Adam and Eve, a detour so to speak. Jesus Christ is the eternal sacrifice (Hebrews 9:11-14; Hebrews 10:7-10), and the mediator of a new and better covenant (Hebrews 8:6).
• There are no New Testament (NT) instructions for us to tithe. Tithing is mentioned in the NT, but only as references under the law. God used Paul and the other Apostles to teach the Church everything that we need to know for living a fulfilled Christian life before God and man; 27 books to be exact. Why are there no instructions, teachings, examples of tithing in or for the NT Church? Could it be that tithing is not a NT practice? Let's keep studying.
• In the NT, the true believers in God belong to God exclusively (1 Corinthians 6:20; 1 Corinthians 7:23). He purchased us with His own Blood (Acts 20:28); therefore He owns us, and there is no reason for us to sacrificially give Him 10% of what is 100% His. Do you understand that? That wouldn’t make sense. We are His property in no uncertain terms; however, we do NOT serve a dictator, nor are we robots. He expects us to submit ourselves to Him (James 4:7-10; Isaiah 1:19-20).
• We are instructed in the NT to give offerings (sowing and reaping). We also see examples of Paul and the Church giving alms and offerings but never a tithe (Acts 24:17; Romans 15:25-28; 2 Corinthians 8:1-24 and 2 Corinthians 9:1-15) Why is this significant? Am I playing with semantics? No, I am setting you free by the Word of God and I am taking the power away from the enemy of our soul who uses certain preachers to use the Word of God to manipulate you and to bring you into bondage.
• Do you remember earlier I said that tithing is under the law? It was by compulsion, and you had no choice in the matter. However, in the NT, we defer to our hearts concerning our giving. It’s a personal act between the believer and God. The problem arises when preachers impose their will on us, play on our emotions and try to put guilt trips on us. These people may have a sincere heart, but they are sincerely wrong. These type of people do NOT have our best interest at heart. They may mean well, but aiming at the target is not the same as hitting the target. No one has the right or the authority to coerce you to give any amount of money, and then lie to you and manipulate you by suggesting that you are robbing God and going to Hell. That is heresy! What I have found is that if you take the OT away from many preachers, you take away much of their belief system. It’s sad because grace and truth came by Jesus Christ (John 1:14), not OT law.
  
  

Again, we live in a better covenant established upon better promises (Hebrews 8:6), and this present-day dispensation is called the New Testament (NT). We have been redeemed from the curse of the law by Jesus’ blood and solely belong to Him (Galatians 3:13-14). The Law of God is not being carried around in the Ark of the Covenant (Deuteronomy 31:26) as it was in the Old Testament (OT), but it now resides in the hearts of the true believers of Jesus (Hebrews 10:16). Therefore, we can safely, without guilt and/or condemnation follow our hearts in peace (Colossians 3:15). With that said, no one can control our giving: how much or how little we give. We must follow the peace of God in our hearts. From our hearts proceed our motivations, and from there we receive our reward. No longer can preachers hold people hostage, make you stand up and wave your tithe before the congregation that is seated watching you. No longer can preachers embarrass you because 20 people aren’t standing in the $100.00 line. No longer can preachers call you out and “prophe-lie” to you and say that “God told me to tell you to give $100.00 in the offering today, and your blessing will be released.” That is just plain error. These people aren't even Scriptural. But these types of preachers prey upon unsuspecting people, who mean well. But don’t worry folks, God is not afraid of you, He won’t give you personal instructions through a third party; God will tell you what He wants you to know, and/or witness what is said to you in your heart if what you’re hearing is from Him. PLEASE REMEMBER THAT; IT IS PARAMOUNT FOR YOU TO KNOW THIS!

Whenever you are giving money, you are not tithing; you are following the principles of seedtime and harvest (Genesis 8:22), giving/sowing and reaping (Galatians 6:7). If you sow bountifully, you will reap bountifully (2 Corinthians 9:6-8) and your sufficiency is of God. Jesus said in Luke 6:38, “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” It’s an offering, not a tithe. I NEVER tell anyone to stop giving 10% of their income. So why am I making a big deal and writing this article? Because the 10% that you bring to the church in this dispensation is not a tithe. The tithe is the 10% that the OT believers gave by compulsion of the Law of the OT, but what we give in this dispensation of grace is a free will offering from the heart. Give whatever amount is in your heart to give. Give 50%, 60%, or 100% of your income if it’s in your heart to do. But don’t let someone get you all emotional and get you out of your peaceful heart of giving to God. God will touch you and lead you in giving. Just follow your heart! Only you and God know your faith level, so obey the Spirit of God that lives on the inside of you. Remember that you are the Temple of God (1 Corinthians 3:16). He knows your heart and won’t steer you wrong, He will lead and guide you into all truth (John 16:13).

I don’t know how many preachers are genuine in their hearts about tithing and giving, and how many are just interested in making the church budget for the week. But I do know that some preachers will not admit that my article is Biblically correct because they think that people will stop giving if the congregation finds out that they are not obligated to tithe. NO! Only an insecure preacher will think that. God will always touch people’s hearts to give. It’s just that people would start giving in faith instead of fear; without faith we can’t please God (Hebrews 11:6), and we are delivered from fear which is not of God (2 Timothy 1:7; 1 John 4:18). If you remember this and live out of your heart, you will be set free, 2 Corinthians 3:6 says “The letter of the law killeth, but the spirit gives life.” In other words, the letter stands for the whole Mosaic Law, and if you break one commandment you were guilty of breaking all of the law (James 2:10-13). The Law kills because it cannot give life (Acts 13:39; Romans 3:20). The purpose of the law was to make humanity conscious of sin and to be able to distinguish right from wrong (Galatians 3:21-25; 1 Timothy 1:9). Ladies and Gentlemen, your freedom is in the Spirit of God (2 Corinthians 3:17), and if you can take hold to this message, pray about it and ask God to reveal the true intent of this message to you, then you will begin living a life that is pleasing to God in Spirit and in truth, and before humanity as well. Live free! Live well!