IS THERE
SUCH A THING?
Is there such a thing as a New Testament tithe? Many people dispute whether
there is a New Testament tithe. Let's not dispute, let’s go to the
scriptures. We will find that tithing was practiced four hundred years
before the law of Moses, under the covenant of faith, the Abrahamic covenant
to be specific. Genesis 14:18-20, “And Melchizedek king
of
Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high
God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God,
possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God, which hath
delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.”
We see here that Abraham gave tithes (or a tenth part of his goods) unto
Melchizedek.
Jesus himself endorsed tithing in Luke 11:42, “But woe
unto you, Pharisees! For ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and
pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and
not to leave the other undone.” If Jesus endorsed it and is a
priest after the order of Melchizedek, Hebrews 6:20,
“Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest
for ever after the order of Melchizedek,” and Hebrews 7:1-2,
“For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who
met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; To
whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation
King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of
peace,” this lends strong support to a New Testament tithe. Tithing,
in the New Testament covenant, does exist, but it does not bear the threat
of a curse. It is a voluntary act and endorsed by the scriptures.
Where does tithing belong? According to 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,” the tithe belongs in the
storehouse (typologically, the New Testament counterpart to this would be
the local church).
Before Jesus left, he delegated his priestly authority to the church. A
local assembly of believers meeting on a regular basis called out
(Gr. ekklesia) by the Holy Spirit constitutes a local church. Jesus
recognized the local church when addressing the seven churches in the Book
of Revelation. He addressed specific, organized, governed bodies of
believers.
Referring back to verse 10 of Malachi,
chapter 3, we learn that the main purpose for tithing is that there
might be meat (or supply) in God's house. In the New Testament, God's house
would be local church government. God's house connotates a place from which
the things of God are administered (the teaching and the preaching of the
gospel, the laying on of hands, counselling,
baptism and other various ministries that can be found in the study of the
New Testament church).
When the members of a local church learn the concept of tithing and practice
it, there will always be an abundant supply in that local fellowship and
they will lack for nothing. The staff will be paid properly, the equipment
needed for ministry will be easily purchased and expansion of facilities can
be realized. Many other variables such as helping those that are in a time
of need in that local body, sending forth and financing missionaries or
developing outreach ministries, etc., can be effected.
THE BENEFITS OF TITHING
Aside from the benefits of tithing resulting in a supply of abundance in the
local church, there is a special promise given by God through the prophet
Malachi that is not equaled anywhere else in biblical teaching.
*
It is a
promise of reciprocity to the giver for giving to God's work. Many people
have the wrong concept, that God is the one who just takes and does not
reward, but God is a rewarder and has given a special promise to those that
tithe.
The unequaled uniqueness is that it is the only instance in which God says
to prove him. He says that He will pour out a blessing that is
uncontainable as a result of our tithes and offerings. He says in
Malachi
3:10
to prove Him and see if He will not pour a blessing out that we cannot
contain. Many say I have tithed and nothing has happened. But have you
proved God? Have you had the boldness to take Him up on His offer?
“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, 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.”
It's a challenge by God to you to challenge Him and thereby release your
faith into His promises.
Many people have tithed and not seen the benefits of tithing as a result of
their own timidity and fear that God would be angry with them or it would
not be right for them to believe for a harvest of promise from their tithe.
Change your way of thinking concerning the tithe and believe God for good
things and you will reap good things. Romans 12:2, “And
be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of
your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect,
will of God.”
WHAT DO WE TITHE?
The first thing that surfaces in the mind of most people when tithing is
mentioned is money, but the tithe has a much broader application than that
of money. The tenth part of our first fruits is what is implied,
Proverbs 3:9, “Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with
the firstfruits of all thine increase.” First meaning the gross and
fruit meaning everything we have that is of a fruitful nature, whether it be
time, the result of a profitable venture, a gift given to us, etc.
Before we go on, let's make it clear right now that if the principles are
true; you cannot lose. You cannot out-give God and should not feel at all
threatened by what we are learning in this lesson.
SUMMARY OF TITHING
In conclusion of the study on tithing, I would like to summarize by saying
that the tithe in the New Testament covenant is something done from a
voluntary level as a type of guide to service and giving and should be
considered an obligation by believers and a general gauge of our service to
Christ. John 15:20, “Remember the word that I said unto
you, The servant is not greater than his lord." Let's look at the
parable of the talents, Matthew 25:15-28, “And unto one
he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man
according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he
that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made
them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also
gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the
earth, and hid his lord's money. After a long time the lord of those
servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five
talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst
unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast
been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things:
enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He also that had received two talents
came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have
gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done,
good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will
make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Then
he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that
thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where
thou hast not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the
earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said unto
him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I
sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to
have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have
received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give
it unto him which hath ten talents.”
Everyone was given a certain amount and was expected to invest what they
were given for a return and the one who did not, lost the talent that he
had. Let us not forget that Jesus is coming again soon and His reward is
with Him, Revelation
22:12,
“And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every
man according as his work shall be,” for those who are His good and
faithful servants. They will not only receive the reward of salvation, but a
reward for service. Jesus said, “the harvest is plentiful, but the
laborers are few,” Matthew
9:37.
Will you labor in God's vineyard through tithing your time? Merely give ten
percent of your time and the experiences you will have as a result will
astound you. Just think how much more enjoyable the balance of your time
will be after you've put God first.
WHAT ARE OFFERINGS?
An offering is something we do above the tithe. Jesus said that when we have
done all that we are supposed to have done, then consider ourselves
unprofitable servants. Luke 17:10, “So likewise ye, when ye shall
have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable
servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.” In other
words, we have not gone over the break-even point. When we have
learned to tithe, we have merely come from a point of loss to the break-even
point in service, doing that which is required. We've taken the red line
of loss and run it upward to the break-even mark. Now we have the
opportunity to go on to becoming profitable through the offering. The
offering is something we do with the same resources we tithe with, but
it is something that goes beyond the tithe and is considered a profitable
giving. Many promises are associated with this realm of giving and a
more bountiful harvest can be expected. Let's look at some of these
promises.
SCRIPTURES FOR REINFORCEMENT
Philippians 4:19, " But my God shall supply all your need according to
his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
2 Corinthians 9:6-11,
“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. And God is able to make all grace abound
toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound
to every good work: (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath
given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. Now he that
ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and
multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us
thanksgiving to God.”
Ecclesiastes 11:1-6,
“Cast thy bread upon the waters; for thou shalt find it after many days.
Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil
shall be upon the earth. If the clouds be full of rain, they empty
themselves upon the earth; and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward
the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be. He that
observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not
reap. As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones
do grow in the womb of her that is with child; even so thou knowest not the
works of God who maketh all. In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening
withhold not thine hand; for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either
this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.”
Luke 6:38,
“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.”
Matthew 19:21,
“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.”
Proverbs 28:27,
“He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack.”
Proverbs 19:17,
“He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he
hath given will He pay him again.”
*
Proverbs 3:9-10,
“Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine
increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall
burst out with new wine.”
Acts 20:35,
“I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support
the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, It is
more blessed to give than to receive.”
Jesus gave us a very clear incentive plan to help motivate us to good works.
He said we would be rewarded for our works, 1 Corinthians 3:8,
“Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man
shall receive his own reward according to his own labour,” and
1 Corinthians
3:14, “If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall
receive a reward.”
Jesus also instituted the laws of seed time and harvest, Genesis
8:22, “While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat,
and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease,” every
seed producing fruit after it's own kind, not only in the natural world, but
in the spiritual dimension as well.
In the natural, we can see that if we will devote ourselves to certain
endeavors and sow our time, that is to say, plant our time or spend our time
working at something, we will reap the benefits and that endeavor will bring
profit (such as physical exercise). If a farmer sows his seeds faithfully,
waters, fertilizes and does the other things beneficial to their growth, he
will begin to reap a harvest from his seed sown. The sowing of seed through
offerings can be a very exciting
avenue of giving. Unlike the tithe, it is something we can do more
creatively.
The promises are clear... as we sow our seed we will find that we will
begin to reap! Sow love and you'll reap love. Sow joy and you'll reap joy.
Sow money and you'll reap money. Sow bad things and you'll reap bad things!
Luke 6:38, “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.”
CONSISTENCY
A major key in giving is to understand that there is a time of endurance in
which sometimes we will feel that our giving is unfair to us. Let us follow
the example of Jesus, who for the joy that was set before him, endured the
suffering of the cross, planting His very being, His body, His soul, His
spirit, in love for us, to redeem us from sin and eternal damnation! He was
willing to sow His very life for us.
The key to His endurance of this experience was the knowledge of the joy
that He would experience as a result, Psalms 126:5, “They that sow in
tears shall reap in joy.” He looked beyond the suffering to the
result of His suffering, Hebrews 12:2, “Looking unto
Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set
before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the
right hand of the throne of God.” Looking beyond the sowing to the
reaping of the seed sown will help one to be motivated in giving, and of
course, all of our giving should be primarily motivated by love.
The merging of all the motivational factors such as love, joy, our eternal
reward, our desire to obey God, as well as our respect and love for Him,
will catapult us into a life of abundance. The secret is first to be
willing and open and when God shows you what to do, be obedient.
Isaiah 1:19, “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the
land.”
AVOIDING PITFALLS
In giving, there are several pitfalls that should be avoided. The first is a
self-imposed one, that of becoming slothful as a result of an abundance.
Many times, when we see the results of our giving coming to fruition, the
tendency of human nature is to slack off in the area of giving. We begin to
think we have somehow attained it through our own ingenuity and not the
result of God’s promises kept.
The danger is to allow our newfound abundance to preoccupy us to a point
where we forget how we obtained it. We tend to want to make up for what
many call lost time, when in reality, the time they are considering lost,
was indeed the time spent sowing seed... that which brought them the
abundant living they now have.
But beware, doing this for a prolonged period of time will waste one's
substance and even doing it for short periods will diminish it. Luke
15:13, “And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and
took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with
riotous living.”
Substance in this scripture is typologically that which is good and that
which is life in all dimensions of living (spirit, soul, body and our
environment)! So we must remember that sowing is something we do as a
preventative measure to keep out of trouble. Proverbs 22:3, “A
prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on,
and are punished.”
In this proverb, we see preparation for problems, but human nature in the
realm of false confidence will cause us to be erratic in our giving and we
will pulsate between good and bad times, abundance and poverty. It
sometimes happens this way.... Oh, I'm behind on things. I’d better start
tithing and planting seed. God begins to bless, we become lackadaisical and
we discontinue our giving, and the cycle begins all over again, ergo
resulting in many hurtful situations and a need for restoration. Therefore,
let us learn to be consistent in our giving.
Another area of malpractice in giving is when believers begin to give beyond
their proportion of faith and begin to jeopardize their financial situation
or family. This is the opposite extreme. We must learn to grow in faith and
act according to our proportion of faith. Romans 12:6, “Having then
gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether
prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith.”
We do not want to jeopardize our family, business or our credibility by
acting irrationally. Learn to sow seed according to your faith, not too
little, not too much. Find that place in which you are operating at your
full capacity. Seek God patiently and grow before you go!
GIVING IN WORSHIP
All of our giving should be done with an attitude of praise and worship to
our God. For instance, if we are picking someone up for church who does not
have a ride, we are sowing and as we do this, the attitude should be.... I
do this as praise and worship to Christ, or planting a monetary gift into
the local church or to someone who is poor and in need, with an attitude of
praise and worship as unto Christ. Ephesians 6:7, “With
good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men.”
We should do all that we do as unto Christ.
Whenever we sow our tithe, it should be considered a direct form of worship
and gratitude! We should not give as unto men or as unto an institution,
nor should we give grudgingly, for God loveth a cheerful giver. 2
Corinthians 9:7, “Every man according as he purposeth in his
heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a
cheerful giver.” This will help to stimulate faith and motivate us
in our giving.
When we give to our local church we should consider their operational needs
and how things are budgeted, but our giving should be as unto Christ.
Philippians 4:18, “But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received
of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet
smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God,” and Acts
10:4, “And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it,
Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a
memorial before God.”
GIVING IN SECRET
Another key in ensuring the fact that we will reap from our seed is doing
our giving secretly, so as not to be seen by men or to receive reward from
those we are giving to. Matthew 6:1-4, “Take heed that
ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no
reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine
alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the
synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I
say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy
left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret:
and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.”
Jesus said in that portion of scripture that our giving should be done in
secret so as to ensure a reward directly from the Father and that our reward
becomes void if we do otherwise! Many people give, stand on the Word for
the results but do not see the rewards because they are looking to man for
their rewards and shortcircuiting the process of harvest from their seed
sown! If someone praises us for our giving, let us not be rude and refuse
their praise... simply, mentally and spiritually, redirect it to God and
thank them. The more secretly we do something, the better!
However, in some situations, exposure to our giving cannot be avoided.
Giving with the thought of receiving a token gift from a particular ministry
or our name emblazoned in lights will rob us of our reward. Therefore, let
the sower of seed beware of the need to be discreet when giving!
CONCLUSION
Finally, let us consider the needs of the poor, the weak and the feeble,
those who are oppressed and those who are without, that we sow a portion of
our time in love to them. We should care for those who need strengthening
until they are able to strengthen themselves and others likewise. We can do
this through sowing monetary gifts to them in secret, giving them rides to
church, calling either in person or on the phone those who are lonely,
visiting to share a word in season with those who need counseling, or to
merely lend an ear to those who need to air out their problems to someone.
At the same time, we need to be wise, knowing we have needs ourselves. We
should not sow beyond our capacity when we need time to enjoy our harvest
and be blessed. We should never be motivated by guilt, but by love, wisdom,
and the leading of the Holy Spirit! Listen to the still, small voice
within you telling you who is in need and how much you should give
monetarily.
