Is The Tithe For The New Testament Believers
- Cortni Marrazzo
A few weeks ago I wrote an article called “Why it’s Important to Keep Tithing in Tough Economic Times” and, quite frankly, I was surprised by the many follow up comments from Christians who don’t believe that tithing is for today. Many expressed the belief that tithing was only done in the Old Testament and thus it shouldn’t be a part of a believer’s life. Their comments made me wonder: Whether tithing is restricted to the Old Testament or not, is the practice of tithing such a bad thing for today’s believer? Let’s dive in and look at what the Bible has to say about tithing and more importantly, our heart.
Give With No Strings Attached
Its easier for someone to give when they know theyll be repaid. However, Jesus taught that a person should give freely without expecting anything in return.
And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:3436
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True Tithing Means Giving More Than 10 Percent
My family has had the privilege of our fiscal health improving throughout the pandemicbolstered retirement accounts thanks to a rallying stock market, stimulus checks, less money spent on traveling and entertainingyet it came at the cost of shrinking joy in our household. As work from home stretched on, I let the boundaries between my professional and family responsibilities blur, with my job always winning out under the rationalization that financial security was the greatest good. Instead of looking forward to when our city would reopen and spontaneous interactions with friends on the sidewalk, impromptu weekday dinner parties, and our remarkably talented parish choir would return, I became laser-focused on trying to escape our modest two-bedroom apartment and to gain more space that would allow us to live insularly apart.
I had forgotten Mother Teresas warning to never let anything so fill you with sorrow as to make you forget the joy of Christ risen. The pandemic blinded me to what intrinsically brought me joy: a faith-filled and Christ-centered community. Ive spent the majority of my professional career in fundraising and development for an Ivy League university. Despite knowing the talking points about the importance of philanthropy, I did not fully internalize them. And although my family gave to our parish and other charitable causes, we did not tithe.
Image: Shutterstock/Lamppost Collective
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We Give Our Tithes In Faith
Without faith it is impossible to please him. Hebrews 11:6
If youre tithing in fearfear that you wont have enough left over, fear that you wont be able to make ends meet, fear that you wont get a returnyoure not tithing in faith. And if youre not tithing in faith, youre not eligible to receive the benefits.
So, dont just tithetithe in faith! Do it believing that God will rebuke the devourer for your sake and that Hell open the windows of heaven over your life . If you arent tithing faithfully, your priorities are in the wrong place. Your priorities are in the natural realm instead of the spiritual realm. And its whats in the spiritual realm that will bring you out of trouble and cause you to be abundantly blessed.
Faith says, Were going to tithe first, even if we dont have groceries. And faith knows God will take care of you in a supernatural way in the meantime.
Does The Bible Require Me To Give 10 Percent Of My Income To My Church Should My Offering Be Computed On Gross Or Net Income
In Biblical times Christians typically held their meetings in private homes or public spaces ” rel=”nofollow”> Acts 2:46, ) and did not have significant operating expenses. However, modern churches do need money to pay for salaries, rent or mortgage payments, utilities, maintenance, supplies and other expenses. Churches also need volunteers for many ministries and tasks. The apostle Paul urged Christians to diligently use their God-given gifts to support the work of the Church ” rel=”nofollow”> Romans 12:4-8).
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Inspiring Bible Verses About Tithing And Offerings
by Ryan Hart | Updated on December 2, 2021 | Post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
In this post Im going to share with you my favorite bible verses about tithing and offerings from the Old and New Testament.
In fact:
These are the same scriptures on tithing I read when Im feeling grateful for Gods generosity and all the gifts He provides.
If you need some inspiration to start tithing , these bible verses are a great place to look for guidance.
Lets get started.
Whats The Difference Between Tithes And Offerings
Like llamas and alpacas, tithes and offerings are grouped together a lot, but theyre definitely not the same thing. A tithe is a specific amount that you give first, and an offering is anything extra that you give beyond that.
After youve tithed and paid all your bills and expenses for the month, you can use any extra money in your budget to give even more! This can look like giving a cash offering to your church above and beyond your normal tithe, giving money to a charity you support, giving to a friend in need, or giving your time and skills by volunteering.
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What If You Arent Cheerful About Your Giving
Over the years of my giving journey, I have had plenty of moments where I was giving in faith. Moments where I could tell God was asking me to give beyond my comfort level.
Many of these times I wasnt smiling and jumping up and down in excitement, because it was a huge step of faith and I was battling fear.
If we look at 2 Cor 9:7 again it specifically says that we should NOT give out of compulsion, but it doesnt say that if we arent cheerful about it, we shouldnt give. It just says that God loves it when we are.
And as I have given in faith over and over through the years, I have found myself becoming more cheerful in those tough moments of obedience.
Each time you step out in faith and see God come through, it just makes it that much easier to get excited about what God is going to do.
Jesus Endorsed The Tithe
In Matthew 23:23 and Luke 11:42 Jesus referred to tithing as something that should not be neglected
Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spicesmint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the lawjustice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.
So if you have been wondering what Jesus said about tithing or if tithe is in the New Testament, you have it right there in Luke 11:42.
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Give God 10 Percent Or 100 Percent
If your desire is building a solid financial future, God shares that desire for you. He wants you to take dominion over the state of your finances. Part of this process involves how you perceive yourself. Do you see yourself as a steward of anothers resources? Or do you believe you have personal ownership over what is in your care?
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Tithing Protects The Other 90 Percent
I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground Malachi 3:11
I cant afford to tithe. Have you ever heard or said these words? You may have even thought, When I can afford it, Ill tithe. Some of you have been thinking that for 10 years, and you still dont think you can afford it. Now, that ought to tell you something. The way youre doing it is not working.
Heres a simple truth about tithing: Give God what is His, and He will protect what is yours. As you honor God with the 10 percent that belongs to Him, Hell get involved with the rest. The other 90 percent will go further than ever before because youve got the supernatural power of God involved with your finances.
The tithe from your income belongs to God, and it lays the foundation for your financial success and abundance. There is a protection plan thats attached to the tithe. Everything we have is protectedour finances, our home, our goods.
Gloria Copeland says this: If youre not a tither, I guarantee you, you can look back in your life, and you can see where your fruit was destroyed, where your situation didnt work out, where your job didnt come to full fruition, where you werent able to do what you intended to do. Thats what happens to people who dont tithe. Whats missing? THE BLESSING!
Watch as Jerry Savelle teaches how sowing in famine is the key to financial breakthrough.
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Living A Generous Life
Tithing was used by God in the Old Testament to take care of his people. Today, Christ works through your offerings to advance his kingdom and bless others. To participate in Christ’s work, itâs essential to live a generous life.
A generous life includes serving with your time and talents. But for the sake of this post, letâs talk about three ways you can become a generous giver:
- Study the Bible
To live for Christ, you have to know what Christ asks of you.
To do this, you have to study the Bible. When it comes to a generous life, itâs essential to study these topics:
- Bible verses about tithing
- Stewardship in the Bible
Studying these topics is the foundation of living a generous life for Christ.
After studying the Bible, the second best thing to do is to pray about your situation. Praying through what youâve studied is one of the best ways you can receive guidance in your life from Christ. He will guide you through his Word, and give you the grace you need to live a generous life.
Even though you have to take personal responsibility for your life, Christ doesnât call you to do it alone. He invites you to seek counsel in your life.
When it comes to your finances and your thoughts around tithing in the bible, getting advice from a friend, pastor, or financial advisor can make a significant difference. Someone looking at your situation from the outside can provide new insight or confirm what youâre already thinking.
Should I Tithe While Trying To Pay Off Debt
Even if youre in debt or walking through a rough financial season, tithing should still be a priority. Yepyou read that right. While its tempting to throw that money at your debt, the discipline and faith that tithing brings are so worth it. Even while youre paying down debt, you can still have an attitude of generosity.
If you think itll take a miracle to get through the month with 10% less in your wallet, you might need to do a lifestyle check. Take a look at your budget and find ways to cut back on spending. It might mean limiting some of your fun money, packing your lunch instead of eating out every day, brewing your own coffee, or buying generic productsbut it is possible!
But you should hold off on offerings while youre paying off debt, though. And if youre in debt, you should put all your extra money toward your debt snowball. Once youre out of debt, youll be free to give as generously as you want to!
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Women Who Caused Death Of Another
1) Sisera killed by a woman who drove a peg through his head
2) Abimelech was killed by a woman who dropped a milestone on his head
3) A woman caused Sheba’s head to be cut off
4) A harlot accidentally rolls over and kills her infant child
5) Jezebel, wife of King Ahab, has the prophets of God killed
6) Jezebel has Naboth, who owned a vineyard her husband Ahab wanted, murdered
7) A starving women, in the besieged city of Samaria, boils and eats her son
8) Athaliah, the mother of King Ahaziah, has the entire royal seed killed
9) Esther has Haman’s ten sons, which were enemies of the Jews, hanged
10) The head of John the Baptist is requested of Herod, by Herodias, through her daughter
Most Quoted Old Testament Books
The 10 Old Testament books most referred to in the New Testament are the following.
1) The book of Isaiah is referred to 419 times in twenty-three books.
2) The Psalms are referred to 414 times
3) Genesis is referred to 260 times
4) Exodus is referred to 250 times
5) Deuteronomy is referred to 208 times
6) Ezekiel is referred to 141 times
7) Daniel is referred to 133 times
8) Jeremiah is referred to 125 times
9) Leviticus is referred to 107 times
10) Numbers is referred to 73 times
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Should You Automate Tithing
Using some of the tools listed in the section above, you can make tithing automatic by automating it. While I am thrilled that technology is making it easier for us all to give, I personally like making a bit more of an event and use it as an opportunity to give in faith.
So even though we dont use checks anymore to tithe, we use the app on our phone and Linda and I do it together and pray over our giving each time we do.
It is just a simple way that we can still stay connected to our giving.
That said, for some people creating a set-it-and-forget-it approach to giving is the easiest way for them to stay consistent with it.
So if that is what you need to do, by all means, go for it. I would just encourage you to regularly remind yourself of what is happening automatically and pray over your giving.
Christians Are Commanded To Tithe
Hereâs the argument:
Tithing in the bible began in the Old Testament, and it’s still commanded today.
This position stands on two pillars.
First, is that the requirement to tithe was made before the Mosaic covenant . If this is true, then this means the tithe was not abolished in Christ and is still in force today.
Second, this position argues that Jesus affirmed the continuation of the tithe . Since Jesus upheld the tithe, then Christians are commanded to tithe today.
Christians who take this position believe you should donate at least 10 percent or to other causes outside of the local church. More or less, this position treats the tithe as a baseline of givingânot a limit.
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Over 100+ Scriptures About Tithing In The Bible Giving And Generosity
Do you need scripture references to use for your church offering?
Maybe youâd like to use tithing scriptures or Bible verses about thanksgiving for your daily devotions?
What about tithing verses you can use as part of a Bible study youâre releasing in your church app?
Where is tithing in the bible, you ask?
Regardless of what youâre looking for, here are over 100 passages on giving.
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Christians Are Commanded To Be Generous
Hereâs the argument:
Christians are called to give generously, but theyâre not commanded to tithe.
This position boils down to three main points.
First, the offerings that were tithed by Abraham and Jacob are descriptionsânot prescriptions. In other words, there’s no evidence that Abraham and Jacob continued to tithe or that their actions were binding for others then or today.
Second, the tithing required by the Israelites was a part of the Mosaic Law. When Jesus fulfilled the requirements of the Mosaic Law , the obligation to tithe was also abolished. So then, what did Jesus say about tithing? When Jesus talked about tithing and offering sacrifices , he did so before he started the New Covenant, which means itâs not binding today.
Finally, the New Testament does not command Christians to tithe. When giving is referenced in the NT, followers of Christ are commanded to give generously ânot to give strictly 10 percent.
What does this mean for you?
Letâs take a look at that next.
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Questions And Answers About Tithes Or Tithing
1) What is the tithe?
Tithe is a word that comes from an Old English root meaning one-tenth. It is the common English translation for the Old Testament Hebrew asar word group. Back in ancient Israel, the tithe was an offering of ones agricultural income to the Lord as an expression of thanks and dedication. It is important to understand that in the Old Testament agricultural economy, tithes were paid not in cash, gold, or goods but in crops or livestock, for only the agricultural fruit of the promised land was to be tithed not other forms of income. Although today, we commonly think of the tithe as 10 percent as a result, apparently there are three tithes in the Old Testament, two every year and a third every third year, or an average of 23.3 percent of ones annual produce from the land.
There was also a promotion of freewill offering and personal giving above and beyond the tithe. Tithes were given by the patriarchs Abraham and Jacob a system of tithes was instituted in the law of God given through Moses . Although the idea of the tithe is still present in the New Testament , it is on no occasion explicitly applied to believers. Instead, all Christians are invited to embrace freewill giving as a response to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the savior of mankind, based on faith in God as Provider of all things .
2) Does the Bible require me to give 10 percent of my income to my church?
3) Should my offering be computed on gross or net income?