The practice of tithing in the New Testament is often
discussed but rarely understood. Since many Christians don’t know how to tithe,
they avoid the topic altogether. This is very unfortunate because giving tithe
is one-way God has ordained for our prosperity.
When you understand what it means to give to God, you’ll
be more inclined to participate. The reason why many find it difficult to give
is that they lack a biblical understanding of giving.
Some Christians don’t believe in giving of tithe though
they have read many Bible verses about it. Some see it as part of Old Testament
teaching which was not established in the New Testament. They believe we don’t
need to continue in it.
Today, one controversial topic modern Christians have to
battle with is tithing in the new testament.
Verses in the New Testament where tithing is mentioned are few when
compared to the Old Testament. There God
gave specific instructions to the children of Israel about it.
As Christians, we are called to give our time, talent,
money, or whatever we have to God. We can do this when there are needs to be met
in any God-kingdom project. We received everything we have from God; hence He
can ask us to loan Him anything we have.
Tithing is one of the most talked-about ways of giving
in the Bible. It goes as far back as the Old Testament. The first person to pay
tithe in the Bible is the father of faith – Abraham in Genesis 14:20.
What God Says About Tithing
In the book of Joshua, God instructed the leaders of
Israel not to share give land to the tribe of Levi. God chose them to minister
in the temple, Joshua 14:1–5. Part of their duties is to collect the tithes of
the remaining tribes as their inheritance. That was the beginning of tithe
payment in the land of Israel.
In Malachi 3:8, God called non-payment of tithe robbery.
He said anyone who is not paying is robbing God and not man. He challenged us
to pay all tithes and offerings promptly and see how He will release unusual
blessings from heaven.
“Bring
the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And
thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the
windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no
more need,” Malachi 3:10.
The idea behind it is that we should give ten percent of
what we have. This should not be a difficult thing to do, since we receive so
much from God, but this is another area where some people argue about tithing.
They said God was not specific about the amount or
percentage of what to give, especially when it comes to tithing in the New
Testament. John Macarthur, a foremost American Christian leader said that the
Israelites gave between 20 to 40 percent tithe as against 10 percent that many
of us believe that God is asking us to give.
He argued that what they gave in the Old Testament was
income tax. It was needed to run the theocratic administrative system that
Israel was having then.
Tithes and Offering Scriptures in The New Testament
Tithes and offering scriptures in the New Testament are
scanty when compared with the Old Testament. The truth of the matter is that
there was no place in the New Testament where tithing was abolished or
condemned, neither the payment nor the amount to be paid which is one-tenth of
our income.
Jesus said he had not come to abolish the law but to
establish it. He condemned the religious Jews who love to obey giving tithe,
but disobey God in other aspects of the law. He called that hypocrisy and said
rather they should give the tithe, and also do other things that the law says.
Many don’t tithe because they feel that their income
will be reduced if they do. However, tithing does not reduce your income but
increases your assets. Every time you sow into something, you receive a blessing
in return. The more you give the more the Lord will bless you.
Tithing is a misunderstood and often disliked financial
practice. It can be hard to make sense of at first, especially for those who
are struggling financially. However, as Christians, we understand that tithing
was given to us as a commandment from God.
The bible gives many reasons why we should tithe. The
most relevant is that it is an act of worship and thanksgiving to God for
what he has done, and what He is doing in our lives and the world around us.
If you are wondering how to tithe effectively today,
remember that God is always faithful. You can never do enough for Him or give
too much to His work. 1 Chronicle 29:14 tells us that if we present our tithes
and offerings joyfully, the Lord will direct our paths and bless all we do.
We are living in a time where technology allows us to
tithe online, this is a means that we can employ to give tithe faithfully. Many
people have testified that they find it easy to transfer money electronically
rather than when giving checks or cash for any transaction.
This can be a solution for those people who find it
difficult to tithe. Even if you are not earning much, God wants you to give from
the little that you are getting now, so that He can multiply it.
The truth is that if you find it difficult to give tithe
when you are earning little, you will find it difficult to do when your income
increases.
The word of God is still true as it has always been. No
one should be surprised that some people are opposing tithing today. They have
equally opposed many Bible doctrines to their destruction.
The Bible has warned that in the last day’s many people
will not be able to stand sound doctrine. It is already happening now.
Instead of the following man, do what God says and reap the
benefits of obedience.
Should We Give Tithe to The Poor?
Anyone who needs something but has no capacity to get
it can be considered to be poor. God told the children of Israel that the poor
shall not cease in the land, hence they have to make adequate provisions for
them.
Some people believe that giving to the poor is
important. They give money, food, clothes, and other goods to people who are in
need. This is what the Bible asks us to do.
The question is, can we give our tithe to the poor
people around us? The answer is yes. Primarily, we need to give a tithe to the
priests and the Levites, but there is a category of tithe reserved for the
poor.
According to Deut. 14:28,29, God instructed the children
of Israel that every three years they should bring a separate tithe for the
fatherless, widows, and the strangers in their midst. They are to do this in addition to what they are giving to the priests. The third-year was called the
year of tithing which prophet Amos also mentioned in Amos 4:4.
While giving is important, the right kind of giving is
even more important. We must not mix the tithe meant for the priests with that
meant for the poor. As one is important so is the other. The Bible says to obey
is better than sacrifice and to hearken than the fat of ram.
You may not be able to practice giving a tithe to the poor
according to the year of tithing since you are not under a theocratic
government, also most churches are not following it. On your own, you may set
aside the tithe for the poor different from the normal tithe that you give to
the priest – your pastor. Look for the poor around you and give to them, and
the good Lord will bless you for it.
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