There
can be a lot of confusion as to what a tithe is, why we are to tithe,
and what it's used for. There is so much controversy over giving
tithe, to even address the subject causes some people to be leery of
the motivations and intents of the speaker or author.
It is
tragic that such a glorious privilege as a Christian should be cast
into such suspicion by the misrepresentation of the subject in many
religious areas today. However, there is so much perversion of what
is called "giving" in religious circles today, that many
have a difficult time sorting out the legitimate from the
fraudulent.
I am here to shed some light on this controversial
subject.
What
is Tithe?
The
word tithing means to voluntarily set one tenth of personal income or
assets to God for His faithfulness and mercy.
Giving
tithe is an act of freewill to honor God and thank Him for all the
blessings that He has bestowed upon us for the week.
It's not
meant to bring burden upon us nor is it meant to give up hard earned
income to false prophets. It is a testimony of our love for God and
an acknowledgment that He is truly the owner of all things.
Why Do We Tithe?
Giving
makes it clear that God has first place in our lives and that we
worship Him above money. Jesus said, "But
lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor
rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."-
Matthew 6:20-21.
Money is actually not our possession, it is
God's, which we hold in trust. He allots different amounts to His
children based on His plan and purpose for their lives. "But
this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and
he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man
according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not
grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God
is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having
all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:"
- II Corinthians 9:6-8.
Part of being a good steward, is
giving back to God a portion of what He's entrusted to us. It's not
that God needs our money. It's about honoring Him and becoming a
personal testimony, acknowledging to God that we know He owns both
the material and spiritual things of our lives. It also supports the
greatest, most enduring work ever conducted in this world, and that
is the Lord's work.
Thousands of Christians have proven God
faithful to help them financially by getting more out of 90% with
God's blessing, than using all 100% on their own.
How
Much Do We Tithe?
God
commands us to tithe is 10% of our income or assets, throughout the
Old Testament you will read of the people giving one tenth of their
worth. The word tithe actually means one tenth.
Abraham
instituted this amount right after he defeated an enemy and recovered
his stolen family and goods. "And
Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was
the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said,
Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies
into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all." - Genesis
14:18-20.
Jacob also promised God a tenth for His blessings
"And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God
will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will
give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, So that I come again to
my father's house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God: And this
stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of
all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee."
- Genesis 28:20-22
One excuse for not tithing is that it
limits the amount a Christian gives to God. Although 10% is a guide
the tithe was never meant to be a limit. In fact, the Jews were
required to give nearly one-fourth of their income each year.
As
we fulfill our part of the covenant by giving 10 percent to God, then
God fulfills its part by continually blessing us. “Every
man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD
thy God which he hath given thee." - Deuteronomy 16:17.
The Old Testament provides ample support for the practice of
tithing.
Although tithing was not widely practiced in the
Christian church until almost the seventh century. Before tithing
became an integral part of Christian faith, Christians still gave
generously of their incomes to support the Church and its
teachers
So what about those who do not have monetary income?
For those without money, such donations might take the form of
manufactured goods, farmed foods, and various services to support the
Church.
Tithing In The New Testament
Church
The New Testament does not specify that
Christians are to give tithe however, the underlying principle is
still valid. We are to honor God by returning some of the blessings
that He gives us. Christian giving is the grace of God at work, the
free-flow of God's activity consistent with His character. This is
predicated on the fact that God is the owner of all that He has
created. Since God is the owner and giver of all things, we are, but
trustees, managers, stewards of His goods. God entrusts some things
to us, whatever He can trust us with.
The old covenant
required simple percentages. Everyone knew how much was required. The
new covenant has no set percentages. Instead, it requires more
soul-searching, more training for the conscience, more selfless love
for others, more faith, more voluntary sacrifice and less
compulsion. It tests our values, what we treasure most, and where our
hearts are.
God could all our needs miraculously, if money
were the only need we had. Instead, he supplies our needs through the
contributions of his people. That's because he is not only working in
the church as an organization, he is also working in the hearts of
his people. By making the church dependent on the members, he is
addressing the most important need we have: that each of us become
more closely conformed to the love exemplified by Jesus Christ.
The
truth is that a person who has faith in Jesus Christ does not worry
about whether tithing is commanded in the New Testament. A person who
is transformed by Christ to be more like Christ is generous. Such a
person wants to give as much as possible to support the gospel and to
support needy members. Christians should give generously, but giving
is a result of their relationship with God, not a way to earn it. We
are given grace through faith, not through tithing.
Some
people act as if Christ liberates us from the law so that we can keep
more for ourselves. That is false, he liberates us from the penalty
of the law so that we can be free to serve him more, as loving
children and not merely as slaves. He frees us so we can have faith
instead of selfishness.
