And He said unto them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" - Mark 16:15












Monday, August 2, 2010

Tithing Means 10% & It’s A Command From God. Deal With It.

Sorry to be blunt like that… but we all need to suck it up & deal with the fact that we OWE God 10% of what we earn. Simple as that. So stop crying about it & trying to make excuses for why you don’t have to!

I know I am going to be disliked for this one… but this will be on tithing. Not too many can agree on this doctrine. Mostly because it hits our precious pocket book. And we don’t like being told what to do with our money. Only problem with that? It’s not OUR money. It’s His. He gives it to us. No scripture even mentions a substitute program for tithing in the New Testament.

There is a difference between tithing and offering. Tithing is a command. Offering is just that. Offering. Tithing is a tenth. A tenth off of the top of your profit. Whether it be your paycheck or your crops ‘back in the day’. A tenth of your earnings should go to God before it is touched for ANYTHING else. Before your mortgage, car payment, groceries.

I heard someone say once, If you want to know what is most important to someone… look in their check book. On the day of payday when that money is deposited… what is the very first thing money is withdrawn for?

Is it God?

It should be. Here is why. First of all, it is commanded by God. Secondly, the true Word needs to be spread.

Mark 16:15 (King James Version)

15And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

How are we to make sure the true Word of God gets spread if we don’t support the church?

Tithes. Used 23 times in the bible.

Tithe. Used 14 times in the bible.

Tithing. Used 2 times in the bible.

Tithe  means tenth.

It’s really very simple. This does not mean a tenth of your time. This is a tenth of your earnings. Look at all the biblical examples. These people gave what they earned! Not just some ‘community service’ as they chose. That doesn’t mean painting the church in your spare time, or preparing meals for the sick or homeless or donating your baked goods for the church bake sale, or helping the youth on your free day.  All of those things are wonderful, but it all is considered offeringsnot tithing!

The very first mention of tithing was in Gen. 14:20, Gen. 28:22 and again in Heb. 7:1-11. This practice was 430 years BEFORE the Law  of Moses!  So we will see, that the doctrine of tithing was practiced before the Law of Moses (Old Testament), Under the Law  of  Moses, and also in the New Testament (after the Law was finished). In the New Testament, Christ taught it & Paul taught it. It was commanded in both Old & New Testaments.

Tithing Under The Law Of Moses:

First of all it was commanded in Lev. 27:30 & Mal. 3:10.

Five Purposes for tithing:

When were tithes to be brought? Yearly, along with all other offerings for the feast Dt. 12:6-7, 14:22-26

These tithes belonged to God, not the people who paid them Lev. 27:30-34, Mal. 3:8

Where tithes were brought: 2nd Chr. 31:12, Neh. 10:38, 12:44, 13:5 & 12

If someone borrowed  then 20% interest had to be added when it was paid back Lev. 27:31

Tithing in the New Testament:

Christ taught it: (Mt. 23:23 <--- command, Lk. 11:42), Lk. 18:11-12,

Matthew 10:10 (New Century Version)

10 Don't carry a bag or extra clothes or sandals or a walking stick. Workers should be given what they need.

Luke 10:7-8 (New Century Version)

7 Stay in the same house, eating and drinking what the people there give you. A worker should be given his pay. Don't move from house to house. 8 If you go into a town and the people welcome you, eat what they give you.

Paul taught it:

God ordained the support of ministers 1 Cor. 9:7-14

Melchisedec priesthood is eternal & must be supported Heb. 7:1-11

Here are some examples of those mentioned in scripture who paid tithes:

  • Abraham (Gen. 14:20, Heb. 7:1-11)
  • Jacob (Gen. 28:22)
  • Levi in Abraham (Heb 7:9)
  • Hezekiah and Israel (2 Chr. 31)
  • Nehemiah and Israel (Neh. 13)
  • Hypocrites (Mt. 23:23, Lk. 11:42; 18:12)
  • Christians (1 Cor. 9:7-14; 16:2, 2 Cor. 7:11; 8:1-15, Gal. 6:6, 1 Tim. 5:17-18, Heb. 7)

Here are blessings mentioned for paying tithes:

  • Blessings for obedience (Rom. 4:12, Heb. 7:6-10, 1 Cor. 9:7-14, 1 Tim. 6:17-18. Compare to Mal. 3:8-10, Pr. 3:9-10, Gen. 14:20, Dt. 8:10-20)
  • God’s house will not want (Mal. 3:10)
  • God’s ministers will not want (1 Cor. 9:7-14, 1 Tim. 5:17-18, Neh. 13:10)
  • Material and spiritual blessings (Mal. 3:8-10, Pr. 3:9-10, 2 Chr. 31, Neh. 13)

Malachi 3:10-12 (New King James Version)

10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,
      That there may be food in My house,
      And try Me now in this,”
      Says the LORD of hosts,
      “ If I will not open for you the windows of heaven
      And pour out for you such blessing
      That there will not be room enough to receive it.
11 “ And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes,
      So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground,
      Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,”
      Says the LORD of hosts;
12 And all nations will call you blessed,
      For you will be a delightful land,”
      Says the LORD of hosts.

Tithes and offerings belong to God. To use them for personal gain is robbery of what belongs to God. Robbing God of tithes and offerings brings a curse. The purpose of tithes and offerings was to support the priesthood and the work of God in general. In vs.. 10, God challenges men to prove Him regarding the rewards of tithing.

We have all said, “I can’t afford to pay God the full 10% this week” because we have bills due. But someone once told me, “I can’t afford NOT to pay God this week”. Have you ever been faithful with your 10% for a long period of time… and then slacked off for a couple of weeks. ‘Jipped’ God out of His 10%? Then something unexpected came up? Like… your car broke down. Or something in the house went wrong? An extra bill came or you got a ticket? Remember that curse in vs.. 8 & 9? God WILL get His money one way or another.

And on the flip side – If you are faithful with your 10%… imagine the blessings!! God knows what we need. He knows if we are struggling with our bills. He also knows if we are struggling with the idea of paying Him or not paying Him.

If we are faithful in paying Him, then He will provide for us. He will take care of our needs. Don’t forget:

”If I will not open for you the windows of heaven
      And pour out for you such blessing
      That there will not be room enough to receive it.”

He is faithful to us.

Are we faithful to Him?

5 comments:

Jessica said...

It's all His money anyway. He doesn't actually need it. It's a sign of our faith in Him to obey his command to return it. Like obedience to any command -- it's about our faith and our walk with Him.

He doesn't force anyone though. Each person has to fall under their own convictions. That doesn't mean His expectations change, it means He wants our tithing to be because we love and trust Him.

Two points:
1. The people gave 10% of their increase. People then generally did not receive paychecks each week. Whatever their increase was they gave 10% of it... grain, fish, etc. What other increases do we have today other than a weekly paycheck? It's important to consider. Aren't all of our "increases" a blessing from God?

2. The exact use of the tithe is also taught in the Bible. There are lots of ministries and churches that are using God's tithe in an unacceptable way and as the giver you are responsible for knowing how the tithe that you return is being used.

Russell Earl Kelly said...

Russ: True biblical HOLY tithing does NOT mean 10% -- it is always only food from inside God’s HOLY land of Israel which He had miraculously increased. True HOLY tithes cannot come from what man increased, from Gentiles or from outside Israel.

DANIELLE: No scripture even mentions a substitute program for tithing in the New Testament.

RUSS: New Covenant post-Calvary giving for the Church is: freewill, generous, SACRIFICIAL, joyful, not by commandment (or percentage) and motivated by love for God and lost souls. That is much more than tithing. Tithes only applied to food producers living inside Israel; this applies to all believers.

DANIELLE: There is a difference between tithing and offering. Tithing is a command. Offering is just that. Offering.

RUSS: Tithes were only food from inside Israel. Offerings could be anything from anywhere.

DANIELLE: Tithing is a tenth. A tenth off of the top of your profit.

RUSS: Tithes and firstfruits were not the same. Firstfruits were very small token offerings. Deu 26:1-4; Neh 10:35-37.

DANIELLE: Whether it be your paycheck or your crops ‘back in the day’. A tenth of your earnings should go to God before it is touched for ANYTHING else.

RUSS: “Money” occurs 44 times before “tithe” in Leviticus 27. Money was essential for sanctuary worship but it was never included in 16 texts describing the tithe. According to First Timothy 5:8 a Christians “first” should go to buy medicine, food and essential shelter.

DANIELLE: it is commanded by God.

RUSS: Numbers 18:21-28. (1) tithes were food, (2) tithes went to the servants of the priests (ie deacons, ushers, choir), (3) priests only got one tenth of the whole Levitical tithe, (4) priests were to KILL anybody else entering the sanctuary and (5) tithe recipients were not allowed to own or inherit property. This was commanded also.

DANIELLE: How are we to make sure the true Word of God gets spread if we don’t support the church?

RUSS: We should support the church, but not with the false doctrine of tithing. OT tithes could not be and were not used for mission work.

DANIELLE: Tithes. Used 23 times in the bible. Tithe. Used 14 times in the bible. Tithing. Used 2 times in the bible. It’s really very simple.

RUSS: Yes, and most of the Christian world had CHANGED God’s simple definition and purpose.

DANIELLE: Gen 14:20

RUSS: Abram was forced to obey the pagan law of the land concerning spoils of war to his local king-priest. He gave the 90% to the King of Sodom – not an example of faith.

RUSS: In Mt 23:23 Jesus taught it as “matters of the law” which was OT before Calvary. Paul did not teach tithing. Period.

Lev. 27:30 & Mal. 3:10: Only food from God’s holy land. Why has this changed?

Num. 18:21-24: Not allowed to own property. Why has this changed.

Dt. 14:27-29, 26:12-14: The Levites and priests were to remain among the poorest of the land. 23% total tithe

Mal. 3:10; The priests were stealing from God per 1:6-14; Neh 13:5-10

Prov. 3:9-10: this is not a tithing text; firstfruits were not tithes; Deu 26:1-4; Neh 10:35-37.

Where brought: 2nd Chr. 31:12, Neh. 10:37-38; TO THE LEVITICAL CITIES

Mt. 23:23; Lk. 11:42: TECHNICALLY Old Covenant before Calvary.

1 Cor. 9:7-14: The principle is that each vocation provides for its own under its own principles. The 9:14 principle is: Gospel, not law. Paul refused a salary per 9:12, 15-18.

Heb. 7:1-11: Compare 7:5, 12, 18. The law of tithing from 7:5 was changed per 7:12 to being annulled per 7:18.

Here are some examples of those mentioned in scripture who paid tithes:

WRONG; 1 Cor. 9:7-14; 16:2, 2 Cor. 7:11; 8:1-15, Gal. 6:6, 1 Tim. 5:17-18

Here are blessings mentioned for paying tithes:
WRONG, Rom. 4:12, 1 Cor. 9:7-14, 1 Tim. 6:17-18, Pr. 3:9-10

God’s ministers will not want (1 Cor. 9:7-14, 1 Tim. 5:17-18, Neh. 13:10)

The Bible nowhere says that ministers must be full time and must be paid with tithes. They seem to own houses also.

Danielle @ We Have It All said...

Jessica, I agree with you that it is all His money & He doesn't need it. But His Word DOES need to be spread so we should support a church that preaches/teaches the Word. Like you said, it is our responsibility to make sure we are supporting the right church.
Thanks for commenting.

Russell, this is pointless. I've googled you & have learned quite a lot about you :) I see you do this every chance you get. Unfortunately, I am not going to play along in your game... but maybe I will give you a minute of enjoyment.

Russell: True biblical HOLY tithing does NOT mean 10% -- it is always only food from inside God’s HOLY land of Israel which He had miraculously increased. True HOLY tithes cannot come from what man increased, from Gentiles or from outside Israel.

Danielle: In the Hebrew & Greek tithing DOES mean a tenth of whatever is being spoken of in the paticular vs.

Russell: According to First Timothy 5:8 a Christians “first” should go to buy medicine, food and essential shelter.

Danielle: The word "first" is not mentioned in that vs.

Russell: Numbers 18:21-28. (1) tithes were food, (2) tithes went to the servants of the priests (ie deacons, ushers, choir), (3) priests only got one tenth of the whole Levitical tithe, (4) priests were to KILL anybody else entering the sanctuary and (5) tithe recipients were not allowed to own or inherit property. This was commanded also.

Danielle: And your point is...??? There were 6020 commands/laws in the O.T. & 1050 in the N.T.

Russell: We should support the church, but not with the false doctrine of tithing. OT tithes could not be and were not used for mission work.

Danielle: Tithing is not false doctrine. I've backed it up with scripture above that I did not twist like you did.

Russell, I am not interested in debating with you. I hope you realize I will not respond again. So say what you want to say, buy you will not get a rise out of me like you have everyone else. I have quoated tons of scripture. I do not twist the Word of God. If that were the case then I would not have provided the actual link to these versus.

Jessica said...

Whenever someone uses a statement like "Oh, that was Old Testament" I get red flags like pop up ads.

God DOES NOT change. Christ's death did not change anything from the OT except the need to continue keeping the ceremonial laws.

"And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures" Luke 24:44-45

"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil." Matthew 5:17

If you throw the OT away you throw Jesus away also. I'm so sad when I hear people use that as an excuse.

Unknown said...

First of all, tithing was NEVER the first part of anything. READ Leviticus 27:30-33 - a TENTH (not the first tenth) of the increase of the seed, and every TENTH animal in herds and flocks, NOT the first. They got to KEEP the first nine animals.

Old Testament - firstfruits were to be taken to the priests at the Temple.
New Testament - the farmer is to KEEP the FIRST part of the harvest. 2 Timothy 2:6 (KJV) - The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.

The New Testament teaches generous, sacrificial giving, from the heart, according to our means. For some, $1 might be a sacrifice, while for others, even giving 50% of their income might not induce a sacrifice. In the Old Testament, ONLY the farmers tithed, and it was equal percentage (a tenth). The New Testament teaches the principle of equal sacrifice instead of equal percentage. Equal sacrifice is much harder to achieve than giving ten percent.

The well-to-do and wealthy love the idea of tithing because it lets them get off dirt cheap. At the same time, tithing is not fair to the poor.

You said tithing is commanded by God. Are YOU following His commands, or have you CHANGED them? God gave His definition of His tithe was a tenth of crops and animals WHICH ARE ASSETS, NOT INCOME. The Israelite farmers had income, but didn't tithe on the income. God commanded the tithe be taken to the Levites, FOREVER. God NEVER gave the Christian Church permission to receive His tithe. (Numbers 18)

YOU don't pay the Biblical tithe. You are merely giving a tenth of your income to the church. If that is what you want to do, fine. But you can't show any scripture where God EVER commanded anyone to tithe on their income, nor can you give any scripture to show that God gave the Christian Church permission to receive His tithe.

You take God's Word and CHANGE IT to fit your own purposes. ANYONE can take scripture and CHANGE IT to fit just about anything they want it to say. FALSE TEACHERS do it all the time.

Tithing teachers are either ignorant or just plain liars. I personally know both types of pastors.

Being Spirit led, I find myself giving FAR, FAR MORE than a mere ten percent of my income.