- Giving According to the Bible -Should We Tithe?

Giving the Biblical way

Giving is very important because it helps the Body of Christ give to the needy, and further the work of the Lord. We at PDCM understand, embrace, and practice giving the Biblical way. This teaching is not to bebate whether or not tithing is right or wrong nor is it to challenge you to give, but to provide you with Biblical truths and to encourage you to give Biblically. We hope that this Biblical teaching will assist you in your understanding of what the New Testament teaches about giving and by doing so, dispel common misconceptions.

To answer the question, “Should Christians tithe”? The astounding answer is simply NO! -at least not in the way that we are pressured and threatened with “a curse” from leadership! First of all many believers consider it their privilege to give proportionately to the work of the Lord using the tithe as a pattern and that is fine, whatever works for them. Although churches are not given percentages in the New Testament, the principle of proportionate giving is given (1 Cor. 16:2; 2 Cor. 8 which we will break down). At the same time, this is not to be a legalistic requirement and a door for bondage like the “tithe” has become. Rather, it is to be a joyous celebraton in response to the Lord’s provision. (Please see: Common Lies Taught About Tithes) 

Old Testament Tithing and Giving

While many people think the Old Testament required believers to give ten percent of their income to the Lord’s work, this is not true. The Old Testament saint was required to give far more!

Israelites were expected to give the Lord’s Tithe (Leviticus 27:30), the Festival Tithe (Deuteronomy 12:10-11, 17-18), and the Poor Tithe (Deuteronomy 14:28-29). In addition to tithes there were other giving requirements (Leviticus 19:9-10), miscellaneous taxes (Nehemiah 10:32-22), and offerings (Numbers 18:11-13; Exodus 25:1-2).

What does all of this equate to? It means that Israel, the nation, did not practice what we commonly consider tithing (ten percent of one’s total income). Israel tithed, but multiple times over.

What is a tithe?

Tithing was a command under the Mosaic Law. It is important that we know that tithing is called an “ordinance” or “statute” of the Old Covenant. Why? Because “ordinances/statutes” are that part of the Mosaic Law which were purely ceremonial instructions for the Levitical priesthood. Numbers 18 uses these terms five (5) times (verses 8, 11, 19, and 23). These “ordinances” were abolished in Col. 2:14; Eph. 2:15; Heb. 7: 12, 18, plus many other texts. Compare Malachi 3:7 and 4:4).

The Mosaic Laws were specifically for the Israelites during that time period. The Old Covenant was only meant for the Isrealites until the New Covenant began at the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.

According to God’s Word, the true biblical tithe consisted ONLY of the increase of food and clean animals which were grown, or raised, in the land of Israel by Israelites. The tithe was NEVER MONEY. Tithes from animals could not even be redeemed for monetary value (Lev. 27:33). According to Numbers 18 and Hebrews 7:5, tithing is the foundational “ordinance” which established the very existence of the Levitical priesthood and made possible the enforcement of all other worship ordinances.

The tithe is NOT “the first tenth, or increase, of one’s [gross] income [preferably before taxes] for the support of the church as God’s divine institution on earth. This definition comes from a modern dictionary, and not from God’s Word as defined above.

What was tithed?

Lev. 27:30, 32  seed, fruit, herd, flock from the land

Num. 18:27 corn, fulness of winepress

Deut. 14:22 increase of thy seed that the field bringeth

Deut. 14:23 corn, wine, oil, herds, flocks

Deut. 26:12 increase [produce: N.I.V., R.S.V.]

2 Chron. 31:5-6 corn, wine, oil, honey, oxen, sheep

Neh. 10:37 tithes of our ground

Neh. 13:5 corn, wine, oil

Mal. 3:10 meat [food] in mine house

Matt. 23:23 mint and anise and cummin

What were tithes for?

We can see by reading Numbers 18:20-21 in context what the tithes were for. Numbers 18 is cataloging the duties of the priests and the Levites and showcasing what was done to support them as they worked in the Tabernacle. Atfer verse 21 we are told that tithes were food products from the land of Israel which were to be used to compensate the Levites for serving God in the Tabernacle as a replacement for their lost land inheritance rights in Israel (see Numbers 18:31).

Who were the tithers?

First it is important to define the occupations of Biblical society. Biblical society included the following occupations: bakers, candle makers, carpenters, clothing makers, hired farm workers, hired herdsmen, hired household servants, jewelry craftsmen, judges, masons, metal craftsmen, musicians, painters, perfume makers, physicians, sculptors, soldiers, tanners, teachers and tent makers.

Strange as it may seem, no tithes are ever required from these occupations in the Bible.

Scriptural tithing was intended for a society sustained almost wholly by agricultural crops and animal herds. After the landowner paid a tithe, his hired servants were not required to pay a second tithe from their wages, but gave free-will offerings. If they failed to pay their tithe, they were assessed a 20% penalty (Leviticus 5:14-16; 22:14; 27:31-32). Not all Israelites were required to pay tithes only landowners and herdsmen inside Israel. Others only paid or gave freewill-offerings.
New Testament Giving – Principles for Christian Giving – Give to God

The New Testament speaks with great clarity on the principle of giving. We learn from Philippians 4:18 that all giving should be thought of as being directed toward the Lord. As believers our mind-set for giving should never be to receive something in return; a give-to-get mind-set and attitude. This is the way the world operates.

The Scripture says, But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God (emphasis added).

Give Liberally

The Macedonian believers exemplify faithful giving. Why was Paul writing about giving at all? What was he collecting money for?  Paul was raising money to help the Christians in Jerusalem, who were very poor. He had previously mentioned this effort in 1 Corinthians 16:1-4. Paul says in Second Corinthians 8:2 that even though they were “in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality.” The poverty of the Macedonians is confirmed by secular history. The Romans took most of their wealth when they conquered this former homeland of Alexander the Great.
Their giving was liberal even though they were of little means. Paul shows he considers both the opportunity and the willingness to give a gift of the grace of God (v.1).

Give Sacrificially

These believers sacrificed by giving in two ways. First, they gave “according to their ability” in the sense that in total, their gift wasn’t very much. It was not a “large” gift in a total dollar sense. Secondly, since their heart was freely willing to give, and they gave in proportion to the little they did have, they “gave beyond their ability.” (2 Corinthians 8:2).

This principle can apply equally to every social class. It does not mean that every person is supposed to give equal dollar amounts, but that every Christian should give sacrificially.

The classic example of this kind of financial devotion to the Lord’s work is the poor widow who Jesus observed in Mark 12:41-44

“And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld (observed) how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much (put in large sums). And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites (two small copper coins), which make a farthing (amount to a cent). And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, verily I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast unto the treasury; for all they did cast in of their abundance (all put in out of their surplus), but she, (out) of her want (poverty) did cast in all that she had, even her living (all she had to live on) “ (vv.41-44). (emphasis added mine)

She only gave two mites, which was a very small amount of money. In that sense, she gave according to her ability. But since she gave all she had (after all, she might have kept one mite to herself), she gave beyond her ability. That poor widow’s mite was beyond the rich man’s magnificence, because it came out of a richer mind. The same principle of giving was evident in the Macedonian Christians.

Christ’s evaluation of our giving is not based upon the dollar amount, but available resources. So an appropriate amount for one person may not be for another.

Give Voluntarily

Second Corinthians 8:3 commends believers for giving “of their own accord (on their own)”, not out of their “need” as some suppose and ignorantly teach and preach. Christians shouldn’t have to have a proverbial gun held to their head, bribed or manipulated in order for them to give to the Lord’s work.

Give Enthusiastically

At first, the idea of giving enthusiastically may seem to be a contradiction in terms. After all, any significant giving involves sacrifice and sacrifice isn’t something we naturally get enthused about. But as followers of Jesus Christ, the one who exemplified giving and sacrifice, we are to be like Him in all of His ways.

The Apostle Paul describes the Macedonian enthusiasm when he says they were “praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.” (2 Corinthians 8:4) Paul didn’t have to beg, manipulate, bribe, give “love gifts”, benefits, bonuses or pressure the Macedonian Christians for money (which he wouldn’t have done anyway).  instead, they were begging him (“praying us with much intreaty”) to receive the gift!

 
Intreaty or Imploring us means that it was the Macedonians who were begging Paul for the privilege of giving, not Paul begging them for money. If a ministry is truly from the Lord and are operating from Biblical principles and teaching then God will supply the needs for that ministry. The ministry will not have to compel, bribe or beg for donations.

 So, though the Macedonian Christians didn’t have much to give, they really wanted to give. They saw it as a privilege to give. True Christian generosity can’t be measured by how much one has to give. Often those who have less are more generous with what they have.

They saw financial help as a way to participate (literally, “fellowship”) in the ministry and couldn’t keep from wanting to be a part.

Where is your enthusiasm level when it comes to sacrificial giving? Remember that “God loves a cheerful giver” with no strings attached (2 Corinthians 9:7). It is also important to understand that in giving, the real issue isn’t giving money. It is giving ourselves (time, gifts, talents, resources, energies, etc.) to the Lord. If we have really given ourselves to the Lord, then the right kind of giving will naturally follow. Amen!

Give as a Result of Devotion to Christ and the Ministry

Before giving themselves financially, Second Corinthians 8:5 says they “first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God.”

This record demonstrates what is common in the local church-when people give themselves to the Lord and His Church, giving financially follows.

Give in Proportion to Your  Spiritual Growth

Did you know that God expects us to excel not only in virtues like faith, knowledge, and love, but in giving also? This is precisely what the Bible teaches:

“Therefore, as you abound in everything, in faith and utterance and knowledge and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see  that you abound in this grace also” (2 Corinthians 8:7).

I know that if I am experiencing spiritual growth (and every Christian should be), then I should likewise be growing in my giving. Are you growing in your giving?

Give According to Plan

Christian giving calls for more than a “what’s in my wallet” approach. It is obvious in Second Corinthians 9:7 that planning is involved.

“Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (emphasis added).

Give Systematically

Distinct from giving once in a while, but complementing a planned approach, First Corinthians calls for systematic giving:

“Upon the first day of the (every) week let every one of you lay by him in store (put aside and save) as God hath prospered him,  that there be no gatherings (collections) when I come (it should be ready for me when I come)” (1 Corinthians 16:2). (emphasis added mine)

It is apparent that the local church regularly collected these monies. Otherwise Paul’s statement that “no collections be made when I come” would be nonsensical.

Give Proportionally

Returning to First Corinthians 16:2, we observe that the amount given should be in relation to personal prosperity (“as God hath prospered him”).

This supports the concept of giving a percentage. The appropriate amount could be nine percent or ninety percent depending on personal prosperity and what constitutes sacrifice.

Give to What Lasts

The timeless instruction of Jesus in His Sermon on the Mount is particularly relevant when it comes to giving:

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21).

Our Lord’s reasonableness here is unmatched. By definition, investing in perishables is an investment that will not last. This should compel us to give sacrificially toward spiritual endeavors that will hold their value for eternity.

Conclusion

Tithing is not a mandate for us. The context of Hebrews 7 demands that one see the Mosaic Law of ordinances, including tithing, was anulled along with all other ordinances of the Livitical Priesthood. Some may wonder, “Well how in the world will the church survive if one does not pay thier tithes?” This question suggests that one is fearful when it comes to trusting the Lord for provision. Today some of our churches are set up like coorporations which ought not be so.  This is what constitutes and promotes the lie of tithing. If the Church teaches the truth about tithing, then thier security blanket – guaranteed monies by threatening the saints will be taken away, and many workers of the church will have to GET JOBS to support themselves. There are many evangelical churches which do not teach tithing and are very successful. Thus, the success, or failure, of a church does not depend on whether or not tithing is taught. Instead, the success, or failure, of a church is dependent on whether or not the GOSPEL is preached and the spiritual neesds of the people are beeing met (2 Cor. 3:10- 18 and Gal. 3:1-3). I KNOW that if the Chruch will teach the TRUTH about tithing and giving, preach the gospel and meet spiritual needs like they are supposed to, the people will give and the church, whether or not it is in a building that seats thousands or in someones home- will be sustained by GOD’S provision. If our leadership is depending on us to “meet the needs of a church building”, they have misplaced their trust in God and transfered it over to us (if God did in fact tell them to go out and get a building). I guess this is why they ignorantly (and some knowingly) twist the Word of God to threaten us. Saints STUDY the WORD for yourselves-the Who, What, Where, When, and Why’s to see why and for what reason they did the things they did in the Bible days.

When studying God’s Word, sometimes it is difficult to know just how to respond. This is not one of those times however. Scripture clearly teaches us how we are to give now that we are under the New Covenant, therefore, all Christians can respond to what we are taught in Scripture immediately by giving biblically.

May the Lord help us all to follow His Word.

In Him and with Love,

PDCM

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