Is Tithing for Today?

How exciting is the walk of faith in following Jesus Christ!  It clashes on every level with the wisdom of the world:  when we lose our lives for Christ's sake, that is when we find it.  As Christians mature and grow in Christ, God deals with old ways of thinking, our habits, attitudes, thoughts, words, and deeds by confronting them with the Word of God.  If we are in Christ, we are new creations.  We are not our own, having been purchased through the blood of Christ by grace through faith.  Our whole life is to be brought into subjection of God in obedience to His Word as led by the Holy Spirit.  One of the ways God challenges our faith is in the area of finances and giving.  Sometimes we can be ignorant of our responsibilities as Christians which holds us back from obedience.  Other times we dig in our heels.  There are also occasions when we are not convinced which is the right way so we remain undecided.

I am convinced by scripture of my responsibility as a Christian to tithe.  I was not always of this opinion.  The word "tithe" literally means "tenth."  For some of my life, I would have placed tithing in an optional category.  Because of the day of liberty and grace in which we live, it is true we have freedom in Christ.  There are no demands placed on New Testament believers of how much to give:  we should give as led by the Holy Spirit.  We should never, however, use freedom to cloak our lack of faith in giving.  It is before God every man will stand or fall, and I am no one to judge another man's servant.  If we ask, "Why tithe?" then we also must consider the opposite:  "Why not tithe?"  Often our reasons for not doing something can be more telling of our heart's condition than why we do something.  Whether or not we tithe, it is important that we are fully persuaded in our own minds according to the leading of the Holy Spirit for the glory of God.

Some claim a call to tithing to their church fellowship is a deliberate step towards legalism.  As I read scripture, this is simply not true.  Tithing in scripture occurs before the institution of the Law God committed to Moses.  We read of both Abraham and Israel freely giving tithes.  Genesis 14:18-20 and Hebrews 7:3-10 speaks of when Abraham gave tithes of all to Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of God Most High (a type of Christ).  Freely Abraham received, and freely Abraham gave.  After God revealed Himself to Jacob who would later be called Israel, he promised God in Genesis 28:22:  "And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God's house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You."  When the Law was instituted almost 500 years later, Leviticus 27:30 states, "And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD'S. It is holy to the LORD."  2 Chronicles 31:5 shows tithes were to include everything:  "As soon as the commandment was circulated, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of grain and wine, oil and honey, and of all the produce of the field; and they brought in abundantly the tithe of everything."

A wonderful passage concerning tithing is found in Malachi 3:8-11 through the prophet's words to the nation of Israel:  "Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, 'In what way have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings. ⁹ You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation. 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."  When we withhold from God His due, we are in reality robbing Him.  And see what great benefits God promises those who tithe!  He is mindful of the birds of the air and provides for them.  God will provide for us even when our faith is small.

I find it sad that for many people these verses lack credibility because they are found in the Old Testament.  To discount them upon that basis also means we must discount Jeremiah 29:11 and many more verses like it:  "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."  I am not of the mind that every promise not explicitly re-stated in the New Testament should have an asterisk placed by it in the margin!  I believe all scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness so those who follow God might be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Tim. 3:16-17).  One rule of Bible study is the New Testament takes precedence over the Old.  This does not mean the Old is without relevance.  Because of the New Covenant ushered in by grace, we are no longer under the Law. But we see tithing occurring before the Law and apart from the Law.  There is no prohibition of tithing in the New Testament.  Tithing is a good work.  Good works ought to be done.

The precedent set in the New Testament is greater than that of the Law.  If God claims a tenth as His own (though He owns all things!) under the Law, should I give less under grace?  In fact, we read in the New Testament that people gave all their money and possessions into the hands of the apostles for use in ministry!  Paul requested of the church in Corinth in 1 Corinthians 16:1-2:  "Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: ² On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come."  Everyone was required to give on a weekly basis as God prospered them.  10% was not the limit of what they were to give.  In my own life, I see tithing not a command to be obeyed, but a responsibility and privilege to be embraced.  The opportunity to give back to God by faith is a great blessing!  I believe and testify that the promises to those who tithe in Malachi 3 concerning God's provision, protection, and fruitfulness are relevant today.

Tithing is a matter of priority.  There are many "non-negotiable" payments we all must make:  mortgage or rent, car repayments, life insurance, electricity, water, fuel, school fees, life insurance, and retirement investments.  We may cringe or pay them without a thought.  But when it comes to giving God of our increase (which in much of society today is in the form of money), that is when some dig in their heels.  But what is more important:  to give in faith and obedience to the God who has provided us all things - even Himself - or to make my own funds a greater priority to ensure I will have money in the bank when my career is over?  If my housing costs and children's school fees are "non-negotiable," then giving to God should be even more untouchable.  When people give unto the LORD they invest in eternity for the glory of God.  It is not my job to make sure everyone tithes.  God has impressed upon my heart that my role is to hold forth a biblical basis for tithing.  It makes sense to me that if we are part of God's family, we logically have responsibilities as part of that family structure.  My view is that tithing is the least part I should embrace.

One of the common complaints about giving is not being able to afford it.  Let us not forget that all we have is a gift from God.  We would have nothing except that God  has given it to us.  Paul reminds in the second part of Romans 14:23 that "...whatsoever is not of faith is sin."  We are to walk by faith, not by sight.  We are to display this faith even in how we handle our finances.  I will not be dogmatic and claim, "If you are not tithing, you are sinning."  God provides liberty by His grace.  But I will say if the reason for not giving is you are not convinced God will provide for you, that is sin.  Giving by faith is a way God challenges and changes us into the image of Jesus, the One who has given His own blood so we might live.  God deserves our firstfruits; He is worthy only of the best.  We should never pay taxes to Caesar until we have first rendered to God what is rightfully His (Matthew 22:21).

As we grow in Christ, may we grow in generosity.  Let us take to heart 2 Corinthians 9:6-15:  "But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. ⁷ So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸ And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. ⁹ As it is written: "He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever."¹⁰ Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, ¹¹ while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. ¹² For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, ¹³ while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men,¹⁴ and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you. ¹⁵ Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!"