Tithing

A letter from a father to his son...
Here's some verses that you already know about tithing. People that use the excuse that we put them under legalism when we quote the Old Testament are not correct. They have what I call selective theology. They take what they want from the Old Testament, like the ten commandments and 23rd Psalm, but won't let the other commandments bless them. God says "You honor me and I'll honor you" (I Samuel 2:30, John 12:26) That works for ALL our lives not just in tithes. And I remind you that the Laws of God are given to us for "our good always" Deut. 6:24. " His commandments are NOT grievous" I John 5:3

Lev. 27:30 The tithe belongs to the Lord. Malachi 3:10 (This is what I believe about this verse.) Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, the church. The tithe belongs to the church and is God's way to support it. The tithe should NOT be split up among ministries. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house. That is the purpose of the tithe, and any other way loses the blessing of God. A woman said she could not tithe because she didn't have enough money. I told her to give $10 or so every week and the Lord would bless her, because she felt she couldn't give any. A few weeks later, on her own, she raised it to $15. Now she has been blessed so much that she has raised it again. She hasn't got to the tithe yet, but God is honoring her efforts. She doesn't always see the blessings and I have to remind her that God is honoring her and I feel it is working for her. And you know your sister's story about that man that lives in PA. I believe they are still tithing now because of her efforts, and being blessed by it.

To get back to Malachi 3:10 "Prove me now." The Lord was telling them here that their worship was not right, their hearts were not right, and their giving was not right. When Paul said "I beseech you."  He also said to prove the Lord by laying our lives down for Him. (Rom.12:1&2) God said He would pour out a blessing to those who would honor Him with the tithe. I'm sorry that is only for the people of the Old Testament. I wish God could give the Christians of today a promise like that. (I'm being facetious, of course). God promised them that they would be blessed, He would rebuke the devourer, for YOUR sakes. If we take 3:10 as a verse for us then we can take 3:16 also and get everlasting blessings.

I want to get to the New testament cause that's what you want, so here goes. Jesus said, "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye pay TITHE of mint and anise and cumin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith, these ought ye to have done, AND NOT TO LEAVE THE OTHER UNDONE." Matthew 23:23 & Luke 11:42 They were bragging about giving their tithe and how faithful they were, and how God, and people should praise them for that. But Jesus reminded them that tithing without serving the Lord is not right. God doesn't just want our money, He wants ALL of us. The money just shows that we love and obey Him. Notice that Jesus said that they should have judgment, mercy, and faith, BUT they should also tithe too.

Since a person doesn't want to give a tithe, then he should follow the New Testament verses on giving, which are even more strict, because God owns everything anyway. "Sell that ye have and give alms" Luke 12:23. "Give and it shall be given unto you, good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again." Luke 6:38. I ask this - If we don't give a tithe in this day of grace, how much should we give? Here is an Old Testament portion you have never thought of and though some may not understand it I think it is significant. Leviticus 27:1-8 The estimation shall be 20-60 yr old gives the most (50 shekels of silver for males, 30 shekels for females) v.3&4, 5-20 yrs old, 20 shekels for males and 10 for females,  v.5, one month-5yrs 5 for males and 3 for females, v.6, (then the old folks) 60 yrs and up 15 and 10. You have to admit that this is an interesting breakdown, and shows that little kids give less cause they're not employed yet. And notice that kids and teens are lumped together till their 20 yrs old. Then the stronger and employed take up the most of the burden. Then, of course the poor old folks are retired, but should still give. I came upon this when combating those who say there is nothing in the Bible about retiring. There is MUCH said about retiring, but that's another story.

"But this I say, he which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully." II Cor. 9:6 Some could take this verse to give everything away and live on "Faith". But God tells us in the New Testament how much we should give. First another verse from the O.T. "Honor the Lord with thy substance , and with the first fruits of ALL thine increase." Proverbs 3:9. Now here's the N.T. way to give. "Upon the first day of the week!!"  I Cor16:2 Sunday !!!! "Let every one of you"- not just the rich, or those who feel like it. "lay by him in store" - prepare for it. lay it aside. make sure that it is NOT spent, but set aside for the Lord. (And here's the best part!!) "as God hath prospered him"- That sounds like a tithe to me. God gives me $20 - I give him $2, God prospers me with $800 - I give Him $80. Have you heard the illustration of a father teaching his kid about tithing? He piled up ten dimes and took one away. "You get the nine dimes and God gets one" "Wow I get to keep all this?" That's the attitude we should have, especially when it all belongs to Him anyway.

"Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give, NOT grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver" II Cor. 9:7 According as he purposeth in his heart means how much more over the tithe will he give. So two ways we should give "as God hath prospered me" and "as I purpose in my heart." I believe that anything less than the tithe is robbing God and keeping a blessing from coming. Another N.T. verse that refers to the tithe, I believe, is II Cor 8:12 "For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what a man hath, and not according to what he hath not." If our mind is willing we will gladly tithe, and give offerings besides.( I believe this passage I Cor. 8 is talking about an offering over and above the tithe, for the poor folk) And if finances are so tight that we really can't tithe we should set a goal to tithe as soon as we can and start giving more than we have been and increase it as tithe Lord blesses with more money - And He WILL - We have his word on it!! Luke 6:38 !!

Thompson chain has references on this - numbers 2115 - 2133. I could have just told you to look it up there but I wanted to add my thoughts to it. Hope it helps. Now here's one more illustration. A man came to the pastor to say he wasn't being blessed of the Lord. "Do you tithe?" "Nope. Can't afford to. Only make $100 a week." "Well, if you want to be blessed of the lord you start giving $10 a week and see what happens." A while later the man told the pastor that God had blessed him to $300 a week and so now he's giving $30 a week to the Lord. The man moved away and the pastor didn't see him for a few years. When he did see him he asked if the Lord was still blessing him. Yes, he replied. Now I'm making $5000 a week. "Well, are you still tithing?" "No, I'm not!! I can't afford to give that much to the Lord!!" I don't know the rest of the story, but I do know that we should keep honoring the lord because He sure does honor us.

I've enjoyed writing this and hope it helps. If there are any questions or comments I'd be glad to try to answer them. I'll be praying with you that the people of the church will see the blessings of giving cheerfully. as God hath prospered them, and as he purposeth in his heart. God bless. LOVE

DAD