The issue of giving to the Lord is one that is greatly misunderstood and about which there is much false teaching today. For the most part, Christian teachers have taken two approaches to giving. Either they talk about it constantly and make it the only measure of faith and blessing or they completely ignore the issue because they don't want to be accused of being a "money hungry preacher". Neither approach is proper. What is needed is a careful study of what God has to say about giving.
The First Recorded Tithe
There are those who say that, while we are not under the Mosaic Law, we Christians, are children of faith. Our father in this faith is Abraham. They say that Abraham was a tither and therefore we must be tithers.
The 14th chapter of Genesis deals with a battle between nine kings, five against four. Abram, with 318 of his men, went after the four kings who spoiled the king of Sodom and the king of Gomorrah. Abram defeated the kings, and set his nephew Lot free. On the way back with all the spoils of war, the king of Sodom met Abram in the king's valley. Here a mysterious king of Salem, priest of the God Most High, brought out bread and wine and blessed Abram. Abram then gave a tenth of those spoils to Melchizedek. At this point, the king of Sodom told Abram to take everything except the people. It is not clear in the text whose goods and people are involved here. When Abram defeated them, he must have collected a tremendous amount of wealth plus people which could be turned into slaves. One thing is clear in this passage, these "spoils" were not the property of Abram. They belonged to other kingdoms which were defeated by the previously mentioned kings. The dividing of all the "spoils of war" and the people is not completely clear. One thing, however, is clear, Abram, kept nothing! Furthermore, there is no reference in the Bible that Abram gave the king of Salem anything else, ever. In other words, there is no tradition prior to this event of "tithing" to Melchizedek. In addition, there is no directive anywhere in the Scriptures which authorizes anyone to imitate the priesthood of Melchizedek and require tithes of God's people!
The king of Sodom said Abram could keep all the goods, he just wanted the people. It is not clear which people he referred to. We may assume he was referring to his own citizens who were captured, but that would be conjecture.
There are many questions which can be asked about this mysterious passage, but there are some very clear points that can be made. Abram gave a tenth of these spoils of war to Melchizedek. If tithing is the issue here, then Abram had every right to keep the rest, but Abram gave it all back. He used a part to feed his army and he allowed three men to keep their share. Therefore, Abram didn't technically give a "full tithe".
There is nothing here to indicate Abram gave a tenth of his own personal possessions. It should also be noted, these spoils went to this mysterious king of Salem, not to a church, or pastor, or denominational headquarters. There is not one record that Abram did anything like this again. There is nothing in the Bible up to this point to indicate that God required a tenth of everything one owned. If He did want that, it seems it wouldn't have been to difficult to simply state that He did. So what can we learn from this passage? Abram offered a free-will offering of spoils of war to a mysterious king.
The Second Tithe
The second mention of a tithe given in the Bible is also found in Genesis (Gen 28:22). In this chapter we find that Jacob goes to Padanaram. On his journey he stops in a certain place to sleep. He not only sees a vision but God speaks to him and tells him of things to come. When Jacob woke up he realized he was in a special place. So he built a pillar and anointed it. Then he made a vow to God and then promised to tithe of all that he gets from God.
Notice that God does not command the tithe but that Jacob vows to give a tithe. Also we notice that the tithe was conditional on God fulfilling the vow of Jacob first (IF GOD WILL… THEN…) (Gen 28:20-21). No further mention is made as to whether Jacob actually paid the tithe but considering that he did indeed return to this place (Gen. 35:1-15) and God did look after him then we may assume that he paid the tithe. Although I suppose we cannot be dogmatic about this, the ‘argument from silence’ is unwise to be used for or against.
The Harvest Cycle
Before I go on to the Levitical tithe I should point out God’s command concerning the land and harvests. Just briefly we should note that in Exodus 23:10-11 God commands the Israelites to work the land for 6 years and to let it rest on the 7th year (so the poor could eat from the land and so the land could recover). Further on in verses 14-17 God commands how many feasts are to be kept and at what time they would occur and what the feasts were: There were 3 annual feasts – the feast of unleavened bread, the feast of harvest or firstfruits and the feast of ingathering. The feast of harvest, which is also called the feast of firstfruits, is the feast at which the tithes were brought to the Levites. The feast of ingathering may also have been centered on tithes. (Nehemiah 10:37)
The Levitical Tithe
The tithe that was required during the Levitical priesthood is fairly involved and complicated. So, we must go over the chapters in various OT books that cover tithes and the Levites, to get the specifics of the tithe.
In Leviticus God gave Moses commands which he was to then to teach to the people of Israel. (Most of the commands and laws centered on the Levitical priesthood) Tithes are mentioned last in Leviticus and it doesn’t really go into much detail about the tithe (Lev 27:30-33). It does mention that the tithe consisted of produce (seed of the land, and fruit of the tree) and livestock (herd and flock). A man could redeem (buy back) his tithe or part thereof by its value plus one-fifth the value (+20%). It doesn’t mention how this is done or to whom it is paid but this is elaborated on in Deuteronomy.
It is obvious that the tithe here was consumables (e.g. corn, animals and perhaps grape juice) but not money. Although money is mentioned in the redeeming of the tithe, it was not the tithe required. I don’t think God required them to put their money where their mouth was.
The next place we find tithes mentioned is in Numbers 18:26. The Lord gives commands concerning offerings and what part/s of the offering/s the Levites and their families may eat. In verses 15 and 16, we see that money was used to redeem the firstborn of men and unclean animals. However this was not a tithe. Verses 26-31 gives directions about the tithe: 1. A tenth of the tithe was to be offered to God in a heave offering, which then was given to Aaron. 2. The best parts were to be offered in like manner and then the Levites were to eat the tithe.
Deuteronomy 12:5-7…God says that the tithe was to be taken to the place where the Lord would place his name. The tithe was to be eaten there. In verses 11-14 God tells them basically the same thing yet expands on who would be included in the feast and that it must be taken to the place God chooses. In verses 17-19 God tells us what the tithe was. As stated previously the tithe was of produce, such as corn, grape juice, oil and livestock. Again they are told to eat it in the presence of the Lord and to eat it with their own family and the Levites. It is to be a time of rejoicing and God warns them not to forsake the Levites for as long as they live.
Deuteronomy 14: 22 states that the people are to tithe all the increase year by year; then verse 23 states that it is to be consumed before God so that they may learn to fear God always. Verses 24-26 states very clearly how money was handled in a tithe. If certain people lived too far away from the place the Lord would choose, then they were commanded to turn the tithe into money ( Lev 27:31 value +20%) and then take the money instead of the tithe to the place God would choose. God then commanded that the money was to be used to buy produce or livestock from the locals (or possibly from the Levites) and then to eat it before the Lord. In verse 27 they are again reminded not to forsake the Levites during the feast. In verse 28 they were to store the third year tithe at home rather than take it to the place God would choose; then share it with the local Levite, strangers, the fatherless and any widows that were in their own town. They were to eat until satisfied and God promised to bless them for it.
I cannot tell if everybody was on the same cycle of tithing or if it was dependent on when they got their first harvest. It is probable that it was reckoned according to when each individual family had their respective harvest as over time they would overlap and some would go to God’s chosen place and some would stay at home and feast with the local Levites and the poor. This seems reasonable to me.
It also may be possible that the tithe was either an annual event that occurred at the feast of harvest/firstfruits or it may have happened twice a year and the second time was during the feast of ingathering. The wording of verse 28 indicated to me the possibility that this particular tithe that was kept at home on the third year was held during the feast of gathering rather than the feast of harvest.
Deuteronomy 26 shows the separation between the usual tithe and the third year tithe; it also mentions that it was to be consumed. Verse 12 states that the third year was to be called the year of tithing.
We should also note that, considering the people did not work the ground during the seventh year, no tithes would likely have been required.
The Old Testament also tells us about how displeased God was with incorrect tithing:
1 Sam 8:11-18…God warns that King Saul will be wicked and take a tenth from the people for himself. This may not be a tithe according to the command of God, but it shows that the King (the one in authority) would steal a tithe from the people and keep it for himself.
2 Chron. 31:2-15… King Hezekiah reinstates the Levitical priesthood and encourages the people to return to tithing. They brought so much that after everybody had eaten there was plenty left so they built storehouses to hold the excess. After this they set certain priests over the remaining tithe to allocate portions for the needy and amongst the priests.
Amos 4:4... The Lord rebukes the people because they weren’t giving tithes and offerings according to the law.
Malachi 3:10…“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, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”
To understand the book of Malachi, we need to look at Malachi 4:4… “Remember the Law of Moses...”--- that is the whole thrust of the book of Malachi. Preachers today point their congregations to Malachi chapter 3 and teach everything from God will bless you if you tithe; if you don’t tithe, you are robbing God; if you don’t tithe, you will probably wind up in the hospital “having your tithes taken out” or God will see that you experience an unexpected and unnecessary financial setback if you don’t tithe. However, preachers are guilty of pointing Scriptures at the people when it should be pointed at them. The text tells us that Malachi is primarily rebuking the Levites (although he did not exclude the nation as a whole) for not bringing their tithes into the storehouse. “A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?” (Mal. 1:6) “And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you.” (Mal. 2:1) “And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, (i.e. preachers) and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.” (Mal. 3:3)
There is additional scriptural support that God has the priests and Levites in view for failing to tithe. According to Nehemiah 10:38-39, the people of Israel were instructed to turn their tithes over to the Levites. “And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure house. 39: For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering of the corn, of the new wine, and the oil, unto the chambers, where are the vessels of the sanctuary, and the priests that minister, and the porters, and the singers: and we will not forsake the house of our God.” “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse” was the duty of the priests and Levites---not the people. God is rebuking the priests and Levites for holding back the tithe of the tithes that should have been secured in the storehouse. God, as He did many other times in Israel’s history, confronted the leadership of the nation for being derelict in their responsibilities.
The New Testament contains very little concerning tithes:
Matt 23:23 Jesus was not commending the Pharisees for the practice of tithing. Over the course of this chapter He rebukes them constantly. In this verse however we should notice what Jesus did mention about their tithes. Note that whatever else the Pharisees may have been tithing, Jesus only mentions these 3 garden herbs/spices. These things were not mentioned as tithes in the law, I propose this was Jesus way of showing them that they were so legalistic and bound by their own added laws that they had taken tithing to the extreme.
Luke 11:42 This verse is almost identical to Matt 23:23 except different herbs are listed. Again this verse is in the midst of a series of rebukes aimed at the Pharisees. In both these verses Jesus tells them that they should have considered more carefully the more important issues of the law and yet not forgotten to tithe.
Hebrews 7 is the last place in the Bible where tithes are mentioned. It starts out explaining that Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek. Verse 4 confirms that he gave from the spoils of war, not his own possessions. It continues into the Levitical priesthood and how they had received the commandment according to the law, to receive tithes from the people. In verses 11-12, the writer asks the question concerning whether perfection was attained through the Levitical priesthood or not. He then states that the priesthood has indeed changed and so has the law. In verses 16-17 the writer states that Jesus is made our new priest; not according to the law but according to the power of eternal life. Verse 18 is the nail in the coffin for those who teach today that tithing is required: The commandment has been made null and void. Which commandment has been disannulled? In context it is surely the commandment concerning tithes.
For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. ( I Timothy 6:10)
Notice that the danger in money is not the money itself, but rather our attitude about it. If in our own conscience, material gain is more important than the truth of God's Word we are on the road to erring from the faith and rejecting God's truth for filthy lucre's sake. In the Old Testament we see the leadership of the nation Israel rejecting God's truth for the reward of material gain. They made judgments based, not on God's truth, but on who was the highest bidder.
Hear this, I pray you, ye heads of the house of Jacob, and princes of the house of Israel, that abhor judgment, and pervert all equity. They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity. The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say Is not the LORD among us? None evil can come upon us. (Micah 3:9-11)
In Paul's day the tendency of man to sell out the truth is seen in men like Demetrius, who was more concerned about his craft of idol-making than about who was really the living and true God.
For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen; Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.. Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands: So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth. (Acts 19:24-27)
Rather than abandoning the truth for monetary gain, and making money our God, we should be using our money to promote the truth of God. Paul gives very specific instructions in his epistles about where our affections, and therefore our money, should be focused.
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. (Colossians 3:1,2)
Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy: That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; (1 Timothy 6:17,18)
As we begin to look at the details of how much money we should give God, it is important that we keep in mind the general attitude that is to be evident in our dealings with our material goods. We should view our goods as tools to be used to further God's truth. Where our affections are will determine where our money goes.
The Attitude of Grace Giving
I find it strange also that in all the letters Paul wrote to mostly Gentile churches, he never once mentioned to the people about tithing. The Gentile believers would have known very little of the Old Testament Scriptures. Surely something as important as tithes, if indeed it was still required, would have been a topic to shed light on.
Under the law and kingdom programs the motivation to give to the Lord was fear. As with all other areas of the law, Israel was motivated to service in giving by the promise of blessing and the fear of cursing. This principle as it applies to giving can be clearly seen in the message to Israel from the prophet Malachi. Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.”
The fear factor can also be clearly seen in the kingdom program in the account of Ananias and Sapphira. After these people had lied about their commitment of giving, and been struck dead for their sin, we read the following sobering statement concerning the attitude of the kingdom church: And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things. (Acts 5:11)
It is easy to see how this type of curse for disobedience could bring fear to those that were living under this system. If we faced the possibility of being struck dead for failing to give properly to the Lord, we would certainly be very careful to give properly and very fearful about the consequences if we give improperly.
In addition to motivating out of fear, the giving of the law made God a debtor to the giver. Notice that in the passage above from Malachi, God says to Israel, "prove me". Giving, and for that matter all obedience under the law, makes God a debtor to the person performing the obedience. When a person obeys God's commandment under the law, God becomes obligated to give him the appropriate blessing.
Thus God tells Israel to "prove" him, to demonstrate his faithfulness in giving the blessing He had promised. Giving, like all obedience under grace is not motivated by fear but by love. The motivation to serve in the Age of Grace is clearly set forth by the Apostle Paul in his second letter to the church at Corinth.
For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: (2 Corinthians 5:14)
Our motivation to serve under grace should never be out of fear of being cursed by God. Fear of a curse is not a valid reason to serve the Lord in this Age of Grace. In addition, since God has already given us all the blessings which he has for us in this life, there can be no promise of additional blessing for obedience.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: (Ephesians 1:3)
As we can clearly see, we are not in a position of waiting for blessing in this Age of Grace. We have already been blessed in Christ. Because of this, our giving is no longer a way to prove God; it has now become a way to prove us. Notice carefully what Paul says to the church at Corinth as he writes to them about their giving toward a gift being taken for the poor saints at Jerusalem.
I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love. (2 Corinthians 8:8)
Notice that giving in the Age of Grace is a means by which we are proved, not a means by which we prove God. Our attitude about giving in the Age of Grace is to be that we are giving out of a heart of love and gratitude for what God has already graciously done for us. Our giving must never be motivated by the fear of judgment or to try to gain additional blessing from God.
The Amount of Grace Giving
In time past, under the law and kingdom dispensations, the amount of giving was specified in great detail. In the book of Deuteronomy God gave Israel a specific percentage for their giving.
Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year. . . . And the Levite that is within thy gates; thou shalt not forsake him; for he hath no part nor inheritance with thee. . . . At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year , and shalt lay it up within thy gates:
As the kingdom is presented as being "at hand" in the earthly ministry of Christ and early Acts, the level of giving is increased dramatically.
Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. (Matthew 19:21)
Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell that ye have, and give alms:... (Luke 12:32,33a)
And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. (Acts 2:44,45)
While the amount of giving in these two dispensations is different, it is clear that in each instance the specific amount was plainly spelled out. There could be no misunderstanding about the amount of giving God demanded under the law and kingdom programs. And those requirements were enforced with some very severe punishments if they were not met.
In this Age of Grace, we see no such commandments concerning the amount of our giving to the Lord. The Apostle Paul does, however, give us some principles which should guide us in determining the amount of our giving.
But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:6,7)
Notice that in the above passage, Paul tells us that we are to purpose in our hearts. That means that we should prayerfully consider how much we can give to the Lord's work, just as we would consider any other financial commitment that we would make.
Our giving should be with a plan and a purpose, not based on how much we happen to have in our wallet on Sunday morning. Notice also that our giving is to be cheerful. You should give God as much as you can give Him and still have a cheerful attitude about it. If you can give $100 cheerfully, but you begrudge the 101st dollar then you should stop at $100. It is far better to give $100 with the proper attitude than $1,000,000 with a grudging heart.
Finally, we must remember that we will reap in direct proportion to where we sow. If we "invest" in spiritual things we will reap eternal, spiritual reward.
If we spend our money on corruptible things they, like all the rest of the world, will one day melt with a fervent heat. The amount of our giving in the Age of Grace is not governed by a specific regulation, as it was under the law and kingdom. The amount of our giving today is based upon the principles of grace revealed to us in Paul's epistles.
There is a serious error being taught today that God will somehow reward you with financial gain if you give to the Lord. As with so much other false teaching today, this teaching comes from trying to apply the principles of the law to the Age of Grace. If you reread the passage from Malachi quoted earlier you will see that God did clearly promise a physical blessing to Israel if they would give of their tithes.
Nowhere in scripture is the Church, the Body of Christ, promised material gain as a result of our giving. In fact, in the life of the Apostle Paul, quite the opposite is true. Paul gave more to the cause of Christ than perhaps any other man that has ever lived, and yet he suffered great depravation. Paul went from a wealthy Pharisee at the top of Jewish society to a poor apostle who often didn't know where his next meal was coming from.
For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation. . . . (Galatians 1:13,14a)
In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. (2 Corinthians 11:27)
Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ. (Philippians 3:8)
What we can expect to receive as a result of our sacrificial giving is eternal glory!!!
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory: (2 Corinthians 4:17)
Don't let anyone manipulate you into giving them money for ministry with the false promise that God will return it "good measure, pressed down and shaken together, and running over". As you give to the Lord, you should not be looking for material gain but rather eternal spiritual glory. Giving in the Age of Grace is honored by God only if it is done in accordance with the principles of grace and not in accordance with the instructions for the law and the kingdom. We must be sure that we are giving with the proper attitude, after carefully considering the amount, and that we are expecting the right answer from God in response to our giving.
I believe that I have shown that tithing is not done according to the Scriptures. I therefore conclude that tithing as practiced today, is a false doctrine and it needs to be removed from our churches.
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