GIVING
WHAT IS TITHING?
You will see this throughout the Old Testament as the standard. Abraham gave a tenth in the spoils of war to Melchizedek (Genesis 14:20), and the Book of Hebrews appeals to this account to support the superiority of Melchizedek’s priesthood over Levi’s (Hebrews 7:4-10). When God met Jacob at Bethel and the covenant was established with him, Jacob promised God a tenth of everything (Genesis 28:22). A tenth of Israel’s seed, it’s fruit, and it’s flocks were given to the Lord (Leviticus 27:30-32; Deuteronomy 14:22-24; Nehemiah 13:5, 12) Israel gave a tenth of everything to the Levites to support them (Numbers 18:21-24; Nehemiah 10:38, 12:44). God’s Word takes the tithe so seriously with the people of Israel so seriously that those who did not tithe were threatened with a curse while those who did tithe were promised a blessing (Malachi 3:8-10).
ARE WE REQUIRED AS CHRISTIANS TO TITHE?
The answer isn’t as simple as yes or no. The Mosaic Law was established for the people of Israel. Some think that tithing is required because both Abraham and Jacob gave a tenth and because we like things to be cut and dry and we want to know just how much we “need to do”, that is that! Jesus explains it this way in Matthew 5 when addressing the topic of fulfilling the Law, which is addressing exactly what we are addressing right here:
17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
(Matthew 5:17-20, ESV)
So taking this in context, is a tithe the goal to fulfill GIVING back to God? If in worship and placing your trust in Him, what is the appropriate measure of stating your trust in Him? What is the appropriate measure for you?
HOW DO I GIVE TO GOD IN WORSHIP?
41 And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny.[f] 43 And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. 44 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”
(Mark 12:41-44, ESV)
In worship, we don’t give out of guilt or out of obligation. We give out of obedience and as a statement of dependence on our Father. It is an act of worship. We do this as a discipline to change our hearts and order our lives in such a way as to make sure we are setting our dependence on our Father for everything in our life because everything that we have comes from Him. It is not done publicly for any kind of recognition from people because then it is not worship. It is kept private between God and the individual for the building of His Church here on earth for His glory for the Name of Jesus here on earth.
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