Tithing As A Regular Monthly Payment
You will also have noticed that Christians worldwide pay tithes monthly from their earnings.
In fact, they are told by their pastors that they must set aside Gods ten percent every month before anything else.
As already discussed, this is entirely different from what happened in the days of Abraham. We already know he paid once, not from what he previously owned.
One may argue that the words of Jacob seem to support their version of Tithing. Jacob said
of all that you give me I will give you a tenth
In other words, this is not a one-time payment. But we know that God also blessed Jacob. He was rich too. But he never paid tithes, presumably because there was no priesthood at his time.
Therefore, at no time before the laws of Moses did any man pay a tenth of all he had to God.
If God was so concerned about Tithing, he would have punished Jacob for not fulfilling his vow. He did not. Instead, When God reminded Jacob of his vow, he said
And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother
There was no mention of tithes in Gods reminder.
Besides Tithing There Are Over 600 Laws Given To Moses
We should know that paying tithes is just a tiny fraction of the Mosaic law. A whole lot of these laws are not being obeyed today.
To be precise, there are 613 laws given to Moses by God. Not one, not two, Six hundred and thirteen.
In fact, most churches accept that these laws are no longer needed in the service of God.
Here are a few
Should I Tithe 10% Off Of My Tax Return Money
If you get an income tax refund, remember thats money youve already tithed on during the yearalthough, youre definitely welcome to devote some or all of it back to the Lord as even more thanks for His blessings! But since tax refunds are just interest-free loans to the government, your goal should be to avoid them by claiming the right number of exemptions and not overpaying throughout the year.
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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. What is more, 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 strict 10 percent.
What does this mean for you?
Letâs take a look at that next.
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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The Law Of Reciprocity
Give, and it will be given to you. You will have more than enough. It can be pushed down and shaken together and it will still run over as it is given to you. The way you give to others is the way you will receive in return.-Luke 6:38
But remember the Lord your God. For it is He who is giving you power to become rich.-Deuteronomy 8:18
Bring the tenth part into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this, says the Lord of All. See if I will not then open the windows of heaven and pour out good things for you until there is no more need.Malachi 3:10
For sure, I tell you, anyone who gives a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he follows Me, will not lose his reward.-Matthew 10:42
Sell what you have and give the money to poor people. Have money-bags for yourselves that will never wear out. These money-bags are riches in heaven that will always be there. No robber can take them and no bugs can eat them there. Your heart will be wherever your riches are.-Luke 12:33-34
There is one who is free in giving, and yet he grows richer. And there is one who keeps what he should give, but he ends up needing more. The man who gives much will have much, and he who helps others will be helped himself.
-Proverbs 11:24-25
He who shows kindness to a poor man gives to the Lord and He will pay him in return for his good act.-Proverbs 19:17
Tithing Isnt What Makes You Righteous
Jesus also told the following parable to illustrate that tithing in itself does not make a person more righteous than anyone else.
To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: God, I thank you that I am not like other peoplerobbers, evildoers, adulterersor even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.
But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, God, have mercy on me, a sinner. I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. Luke 18:914
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Why Should I Tithe
The Bible tells us that tithing is a way to show that we trust God with our lives and our finances. Ready for a truth bomb? Tithing isnt for Gods benefit. He doesnt need our money. Instead, tithing is meant for our benefit because sacrificing a portion of our income reminds us to rely on God to meet our needs. Plus it makes us more aware of the needs of others too.
In fact, supporting the needs of pastors and the work of the local church is one of the main purposes of tithing. Tithing helps your local church actively be the church by helping others.
Giving encourages a grateful and generous spirit and can help steer us away from being greedy or loving money too much. Plus, being outrageously generous is a blast!
Why Do We Tithe In The Bible
For Christians, tithing a set 10% is not commanded, for we are not under the Law of Moses. But in the New Testament it does specifically command believers to be generous and that we are to give with a grateful heart. Our tithes are to be used by our churches for the ministry. Most churches in our country have to pay for their electric bill and water bill and for any building repairs that may arise. Tithes are also used to support the pastor. A pastor has to eat during the week, after all. He spends his time nurturing the flock and he should be financially supported by his church.
3)Malachi 3:10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test 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 a blessing until it overflows.
4)Leviticus 27:30 Thus all the tithe of the land, of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORDS it is holy to the LORD.
5)Nehemiah 10:38 The priest, the son of Aaron, shall be with the Levites when the Levites receive tithes, and the Levites shall bring up the tenth of the tithes to the house of our God, to the chambers of the storehouse.
Give generously
6)Galatians 6:2 Carry each others burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
7)2 Corinthians 8:12 If the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.
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Does Paying My Bills Before Tithing Mean I Dont Love God
Actually, the Bible says, If you love Me, keep my commandments . One of those commandments is to provide for your family.
We looked at one of them earlier:
But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
1 Timothy 5:8
There is another passage, however, that is not as well-known as this command to take care of our family. Yet it goes into the heart of giving money to the church to the point that it causes us not to fulfill family obligations.
You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions. And he continued, You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! For Moses said, Honor your father and mother, and, Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.
But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is Corban then you no longer let them do anything for their father or mother.
Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.
Mark 7:8-13
The religious leaders of the day had a practice of neglecting the command to financially support their needy parents by saying the money was already dedicated to God. Jesus clearly condemned the practice and considered it putting traditions above the word of God.
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.
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How Much Should You Tithe According To The Bible
While 10% is the literal translation for the word tithe, it is not what is required Biblically. In the Old Testament, with all of the required tithes and offerings, the average family was giving almost a third of their income to the Temple. It was used for upkeep of the Temple, for the Levitical priests, and to store in case of famine. In the New Testament, there is not a set amount that is required for believers to give. We are just commanded to be faithful in giving and to be generous.
24)1 Corinthians 9:5-7 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given. Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
There Is A Curse To Those That Disobeyed The Laws Of Moses
Just as there are blessings if you keep the whole laws, there are curses if you dont. In other words, all laws must be obeyed to receive Gods blessings.
However, if you do not obey the Lord your God and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come on you and overtake you:
You will be cursed in the city and cursed in the country.
Your basket and your kneading trough will be cursed.The fruit of your womb will be cursed, and the crops of your land, and the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks.
You will be cursed when you come in and cursed when you go out.
Deuteronomy 28: 15-19
It is not so easy to abide by all commandments of the law. James, an apostle of Jesus Christ, said
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
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Jesus Christ Is The New Priesthood And Has No Need
In the first tithe of the world, Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek. God also instructed his descendants to pay tithes to the Levites.
So, we could say that the Levites paid their tithes through Abraham to Melchizedek.
One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham
Hebrews 7:9
Simply put The Israelites paid tithes to the Levites, the Levites paid to Abraham, and Abraham paid to Mechdezek.
So, there was the payment of tithes from Abrahamss lineage to the lineage of Melchizedek.
Now, Jesus Christ is after the order of Melchizedek and not after the lineage of Aaron .
Therefore, through his death, a new testament begins .
In verses 9-10, Paul said
If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthoodand indeed the law given to the people established that priesthoodwhy was there still need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron?
For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also.
Hebrews 7:11
This is the most important Bible verse against Tithing as it is done today. The Levitical priesthood has been abolished through the death of Christ. Its rules and commandments of Tithing have also been abolished too.
A new priesthood has arrived, and it is Jesus Christ. Having a new priesthood means that the laws must change too.
So, burnt sacrifices are no longer required. So, likewise, payment of tithes to the Levites has been abolished through the death of Christ.
Bible Verses About Tithing
Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth but she, out of her poverty, put in everythingall she had to live on.
And he blessed Abram, saying, Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And praise is to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand. Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything. Genesis 14:19-20
He ordered the people living in Jerusalem to give the portion due to the priests and Levites so they could devote themselves to the Law of the LORD. As soon as the order went out, the Israelites generously gave the first fruits of their grain, new wine, olive oil and honey, and all that the fields produced. They brought a great amount, a tithe of everything. 2 Chronicles 31:4-5
Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, How have we robbed you? In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. Malachi 3: 8-9
Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. Proverbs 3:9-10
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