Malachi 3: 8-10, “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse; that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of Hosts…” (KJV, Old Testament)
Luke 6: 38, “If you give, you will get! Your gift will return to you in full and overflowing measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and returning over…” (KJV, New Testament)
Tithes and offering is God ordained (Malachi 3:8-10).Tithes are one tenth of a profit or gross salary or profits made in a business. Although, today there are controversies about tithing from Christian circle, especially preachers. But for me, I hold onto Biblical teachings. Jesus Christ frown at those who hide under the pretext that what they have in their hands as money is dedicated to God and they will not take care of their parents or the needy around them (Matt. 5: 3-7;Mark 7:11). The Pharisees called Corban i.e. something dedicated to God and must not be used for any other thing (sometimes used as a vow to God).
Tithe comes from the Old English word literally meaning one-tenth. In the religious sense, a tithe is a voluntary donation of a tenth of one’s belongings. Tithes differ from offerings, as offerings are donations that exceed what is owed or what is over a tenth. Tithing is one of the commandments that qualify us, by our faith, to enter the temple. The desire that God has is for all His children to have the blessings of tithing.
Tithing develops and tests our faith. Tithing has to do with sacrifice. When you sacrifice, we learn to depend or rely on God. In the Scripture, we are commanded to give out the best of the first part of our all that we have and who we are to honor God and to appreciate Him. Read Proverbs 3:9-10.The best way to fulfill giving our “first fruits” is giving a tithe, or giving the first ten percent of our income.
Biblical Basis and Pattern for Tithing
When you read through the scripture, especially the Old Testament, you can see that tithing is mentioned. To crown it, take for instance, when God commissioned the Israelite tribe of Levite to serve by caring for the tabernacle and providing spiritual leadership for the nation of Israel. At the time that the tribe of Levi was given these two unique responsibilities, God did not assign to them a portion of land as He did to the other tribes of Israel. He however instructed the rest of the Israelites to bring tithes of their increase to provide for the priests and Levites. (see Numbers Chapter 18.)
In the New Testament, Jesus affirmed the practice of tithing(Matthew 23:23),and the Apostle Paul encouraged Christians to give to those in need and to those who were ministering in the Gospel (see II Corinthians 9:6-15).When you tithe today, you enable those whom God has called to serve as pastors, missionaries, and ministry personnel to faithfully build up the Church and expand the Kingdom of God.
Tithing is a way or method of worshipping God and honoring Him. This is to honor Him as your provider and to call your attention that our resources belong to Him. There are provided through His grace. As you give Him that first ten percent of your income, you set your course to honor God in the way you handle the rest of your finances. For example, remember that a tithe was paid by Abraham to Melchizedek in Gen. 14:20 and confirmation is still made to this in Heb. 7:6.
- Certain tithes are due to God-Gen.28:23;Lev. 27:30;Prov.3:9;Malachi 3:8
- Certain tithes are due to the Levites. Numbers 18:21;2Chr.31:5;Neh.10:37;Heb.7:5
- Some tithes are for Feasts and for the poor to help them. Deut.14:23,28
When God says that there may be food in my house, does it means God will eat them i.e. the tithes, no but rather to be used for God’s work, for the poor, needy, strangers, widows, orphans and for the Church workers to pay their salaries. A tithe does not only mean money, but tithe of all the fruit of a farmer’s harvest, etc.
Models of Tithes and Offering
What to Give: It is no longer news that the tithe is a ten percent of your gross income. Giving ten percent of your monetary income is giving God the first fruits of other resources as well. You are to give the first fruits of your time as you are spending the first part each day with the Lord at a personal quiet time. You can also set aside the first day of each week for worship and rest. Your talents, gifts and abilities through service to your church and community can also be your tithe you give to the Lord.
When to Give: Have every noticed when your pay or profit increased? Do you know how to calculate them accurately? It is very important to discover all these. Your pay schedule and your regular time are the best time to calculate your tithes to know exactly the amount to pay God. This habit allows you be regularly faithful to the part of the Lord and express your gratitude to Him. Also, you should know when there is a need to meet the needs of others. As the early church set aside the first day of the week to take a collection of offerings as God had prospered them, we should also emulate the good practices.(see I Corinthians16:1-2.)
Where to Give: The first place you should think of is your local church because you are there at the moment and you are blessed under the ministrations there at that moment. When you pay your tithes to local church, they will be used to carry out vital church ministries. Not only that, your tithes will also be used to support your pastor and ministry staff who actively serves you. The tithes will also go toward to care for the needy, reach into the community, and get the Gospel out to non-Christians. You can still more than tenth as God prosper you.
How to Give: You should know that your motives for paying tithes and giving to the needs are vital to God. “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 9:7-8,emphasis added).The tithe should be willing and voluntarily done. It should come from the loving heart. It should not be by force. See Luke 11:42. Giving in love is meeting the needs of others. In other words, when we give secretly and in faith, God has promised care for our needs. Our rewards will be naturally eternal (see Matthew 6:1-4).So, when give cheerfully, lovingly, and generously, the Lord will faithfully supply your needs.
Further Bible Study about Tithing and Offering
No passage of the Scripture should be neglected if a person will enjoy God(Deut.28:1).
The condition attached to the blessings of God. You can search more from the Old Testament and the New Testament about Tithing and Offering.
Old Testament: Deuteronomy 8: 18, Deuteronomy 16: 10, 16: 16, 17; 1 Chronicles 29: 2-17, Ezra 2: 68: 69, Psalm 50: 10, Isaiah 32: 8, Proverbs 3: 3: 9-10, Proverbs 18: 9, Proverbs 28: 22-27, Haggai 1: 4-11, Malachi 1: 5- 14, Exodus 36: 3-6, Nehemiah 12: 43-47, Nehemiah 13: 11-12Amos 4: 4-5, Leviticus 27: 30-32, Exodus 35: 21-22.
New Testament: Luke 11: 42, Galatians 6:6, Mathew 25: 35-40, Acts 20: 35, Hebrews 13: 16, Hebrews 7: 1-2, 1 John 3: 17, Luke 18: 22: 25, Mathew 6: 19-21, Mathew 6: 21, 1Timothy 6: 6-17-19, Mark 12: 41-44, Mathew 6: 26-31, 2 Corinthians 9: 5-13, 2 Corinthians 8: 2- 21Mathew 23: 23, Luke 6: 38, Luke 18: 9-14.
