Tithing and Giving
Old Testament Tithing
Tithing was an Old Testament commandment. Under the old covenant the sons of Levi were “given the tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service which they perform, the service of the tent of meeting. For the tithe of the sons of Israel, which they offer as an offering to the Lord, I have given to the Levites for an inheritance. Therefore, I have said concerning them, ‘They shall have no inheritance among the sons of Israel.” (Numbers 18:21,24)
The priests didn’t have other jobs, income or even an inheritance. Their needs were met and they were blessed to be serving before YHWH. God took care of them through tithing. (Numbers 18:21, Leviticus 27:30-33)
3 Tithes
In addition to the priests being provided for from a tithe, it seems that there were two other tithes. There was a “festival tithe” that proved for the various required festivals. (Deuteronomy 12:17-19, 14:22-27) Additionally, there was a “charity tithe” every third year. (Deuteronomy 14:28-29) This tithe was for the Levite, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widows.
When you have finished paying all the tithe of your increase in the third year, the year of tithing, then you shall give it to the Levite, to the stranger, to the orphan and to the widow, that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied. (Deuteronomy 26:12)
A Tithe on What?
It is interesting, Moses told Israel to tithe on the seed crops, fruit trees and animals. He did not tell fishermen to tithe on the fish they caught. Nor, did he tell people who produced textiles or metalwork to tithe. They were not told to tithe on income. In fact, if they wanted to pay a tithe with money, he told them to add one-fifth to what they owed.
It is important to note, it was every tenth part of herd or flock that was to be “tithed.” If you only had nine sheep, you didn’t tithe a tenth of the nine. (Leviticus 27:322)
Even then, there were many offerings from all people, beyond these tithes.
Should Christians Tithe?
Christians in the New Testament are told to care for those in need, but it is not through tithing.
Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. (James 1:27)
Levites and priests served at the temple as mediators between God and His people. Under the new covenant Jesus is the high priest (Hebrews 7) and the only mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5). Christians are called a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9) and will be priests in the millennial kingdom (Revelation 1:6, 5:10, 20:6) together with Jesus.
Christian giving under the new covenant (tithing)
Believers are no longer under the Mosaic covenant, but are under the law of Messiah. Followers of Christ are not under the Law, but under grace and the new covenant. (Romans 7:5-6, 6:14-15, Galatians 3:15-4:7, 2 Corinthians 3:4-18)
If Christians are not under the Law and are not required to tithe, what is required of them?
Total Self Sacrifice
God gives us everything we have, regardless if we “earned” it or not. We crucify ourselves and our own desires when we make the decision to follow Christ. Everything we are and everything we have, is put on the altar. We understand that our possessions, status and talents have been entrusted us by God. They are now to be used for God’s Kingdom purposes and to serve Him and to help the brethren, like we see in Acts. (Acts 4:32-37)
Faith and Works
“What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.” (James 2:14-17)
New Testament Giving
Galatians 6:10 says that if we have opportunity, we should do good to all people. But, we should do good especially to those who are of the household of the faith. In other words, if it is in our power to help someone in need, especially a brother in the faith, it is our duty to do so.
Matthew 6:1-4 explains how our giving should be done. “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them. Otherwise, you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. So, when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”
Church Giving
In 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 a “collection for the saints” is mentioned. This tells us that the church, the body of Christ, should be giving money to help other saints in need. “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come.”
Blessings in Proportion to Giving
2 Corinthians 9:6-15 reveals profound truth. “Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly. Likewise, he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion. God loves a cheerful giver.”
These verses are clear that it is up to each believer to decide how much he gives. God allows us to choose how much we give and bless others. In return, this determines how much we ourselves are blessed.
We are reminded that the principle of sowing and reaping is now the law of giving in the believer’s life. Equally important, we do not give out of compulsion, but out of love, and we do it cheerfully.
God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed
As a believer we are guaranteed that God will make grace abound in our lives. Even when we give generously, we will have sufficiency in everything. Our needs will be met!
This echos what God told the Israelites in Malachi 3:8-12. It is very interesting that in Malachi 3:7 God tells Israel to return to Him. When they ask how they can do that, He says to quit robbing Him and bring in the whole tithe.
Giving in Faith
God doesn’t need our money; it is all His anyway. (Leviticus 27:30) For this reason, we trust God to continue providing for us when we give back to Him. When we give to His work and to help the saints we show Him that we trust Him to faithfully meet our needs.
Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing. He will increase the harvest of your righteousness; you will be enriched in everything for all liberality.
Even Jacob acknowledged that all he had was from God and that he would give God a tenth of what he had. This giving was out of a thankful heart, not because it was required of him.
God’s Provision
Jesus said that if we seek God’s Kingdom first and His righteousness, THEN our physical needs will be met. (Matthew 6:33) We can have this assurance if we are living in obedience.
In addition, Jesus said to His disciples, “when you give.” He did not say, “if you give” (Matthew 6:2)! We are expected to give, but there is no LAW for the believer as to how much they give. Christians understand that all they have is ultimately God’s anyway and they should be generous.
No Lack
But now finish doing it also, so that just as there was the readiness to desire it, so there may be also the completion of it by your ability. For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. For this is not for the ease of others and for your affliction, but by way of equality. At this present time your abundance is a supply for their need, so that their abundance also may become a supply for your need, that there may be equality. As it is written, “He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little had no lack.” (2 Corinthians 8:11-15)
We must desire to give and give generously. But always remember, we are required to give out of what we have, not what we don’t have.
Generous Giving Not 10% Tithing
Romans 12:6, 8 show us another angle to giving. The gifts that we have been given differ according to the grace given to us. Moreover, if we have been given the ability to give, we must certainly do it generously.
Even David in the Old Testament said that he woud not make an offering that cost him nothing. (2Samuel 24:18-25) He had the ability to give much and so he did.
Many people who have more wealth give a larger amount, but very often they just give out of their abundance. They are not digging deep so they actually sacrifice, as David said. Their giving doesn’t even compare to the widow who gave all she had, even though the amount was minimal. Her giving was worth more to God than the large amounts the rich gave.
It is good to reflect from time to time if our giving is sacrificial and actually costs us something. Or, do we just give with what we have extra after we have taken care of our needs and wants?
Caring for One Another
Christians are instructed to give to the poor. They are not told to give a tithe to the poor. Instead, they are instructed give generously and help those in need. (Galatians 2:10)
Likewise, in Acts (2:43-47, 4:32-37, 11:27-30) believers shared all they had with each other so nobody had any needs.
Pay Your Preachers and Teachers
1 Timothy 5:17-18 tells the people that “the elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing,” and “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”’
Clearly, those who are serving on the front lines, preaching and teaching, should be compensated by the others. (Matthew 10:10, Luke 10:7, 1 Corinthians 9:6-14)
Wealth as an Idol
1 Timothy 6:17-19 warns Christians that wealth can become an idol. Additionally, those who are wealthy are instructed to do good and to be generous. They must be ready to share when needs arise. When they do this, they are promised a greater treasure in the age to come.
Whether we are rich or poor when we make the decision to follow Christ, we must count the cost. We must be willing to part with our past and embrace Kingdom service, whatever that may be. We may have to leave the comforts and riches we have in this world. On the other hand, we may be blessed to be gifted in giving generously to God’s work or His people. Either way, wealth is put on the altar and is acknowledged as God’s.
Galatins 3: Faith (Giving) or Law (Tithing)?
Galatians 3:13 says that Christ redeemed us out from under the curse of the Law. 6:23 testifies that “before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law.” The Law is said to have been a tutor and that when faith came, we were no longer in need of a tutor.
Simply put, as a Christian, you are to surrender your whole life to Jesus, and that includes everything you have. This includes, desires, finances, material things, and even children. In reality, nothing we have is our own. God has entrusted everything to us to be used for His Kingdom work and to bless the brethren. When we understand this, we will experience great peace and joy.
Teach and Practice the Spiritual Law of Sowing and Reaping
Jesus taught that one is more blessed to give than receive. (Acts 20:35) Once you experience this blessing, you will seek more opportunity to give, and your cup will run over with joy.
The church is wrong when they focus on the Old Testament Law of tithing. This is a scarcity mindset. Consequently, lost is the opportunity for people to be abundant givers if all we hope for is 10%. It would be much better to teach the law of sowing and reaping. Faith would grow, God’s work would be funded, and God’s people all cared for.
