What the Bible Teaches Us
About Tithing
WHAT IS TITHING?
The word "tithe" means "a
tenth part" or "10%". In
the Bible, God tells us that we are to give
the first 10% of all that we earn back to
Him. Giving less than 10% is not tithing.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A "TITHE"
AND AN "OFFERING"?
A tithe is 10% of your income. An offering
is any amount you give over and above that
amount. An offering is anything you give
in addition to your tithe, such as gifts
for special projects, the church building
fund, missions, etc. Tithing is God's minimum
standard, the starting point.
As God prospers you, you'll want to give
more.
WHY SHOULD I TITHE?
11 REASONS FROM GOD'S WORD
1. Because God commands it!
"A tithe of all you produce is the
Lord's and it is holy." (Lev. 27:30)
2. Because Jesus commands it!
"Yes, you should tithe, and you shouldn't
leave the more important things undone either."
(Matt 23:23) Tithing was the only thing
Jesus commended the Pharisees for doing!
3. Because tithing shows that God has first
place in my life!
"The purpose of tithing is to teach
you to put God first place in your life".
(Deut. 14:23 (LB)) If God does not have
first priority in your finances, He isn't
really first in your life.
4. Because it reminds me that everything
I have was given to me by God!
"Always remember that it is the Lord
your God who gives you the ability to produce
wealth." (Deut. 8:18) Rather than feeling
"I'm giving God 10% of my money,"
realize God is letting you keep 90% of HIS
money. Without God's help, you would have
nothing.
5. Because tithing expresses my gratitude
to God for helping me earn income!
"How can I repay the Lord for all His
goodness to me?" (Ps. 116:12) Here's
the answer: "Each of you should bring
a gift in proportion to the way the Lord
your God has blessed you." (Deut. 16:17)
6. Because refusing to tithe is stealing
from God!
If you don't tithe, God says you are using
money that rightfully belongs to Him. "God
says: "Will a man rob God? Yet you
are robbing me!' But you ask, 'How do we
rob you?' God says: 'In tithes and offerings.
Bring your whole tithe to My house.'"
(Mal. 3:8-19) (God has a right to whatever
He asks for from you.)
7. Because tithing gives God a chance to
prove to you that He exists and wants to
bless you!
Bring me your tithe. Test me in this,"
says the Lord, "and see if I won't
throw open the floodgates of heaven and
pour out so much blessing that you will
not have room enough for it, I will prevent
pests from devouring your crops and the
vines in your fields will be protected from
plagues."
This is one of the most amazing promises
in the Bible. God actually offers you a
challenge. He says "I dare you!"
Start tithing and watch what happens!"
He not only promises to bless you with more,
but He also promises to protect what you
already have! In the Bible, tithing is the
only way given that you can prove God exists.
Start tithing and get ready for God's blessing.
8. Because it is essential to spiritual
growth!
"Just as you grow in everything~in
faith, in speech, in knowledge, in earnestness
and love...see that you also grow in the
grace of giving." Many Christians remain
spiritual babies because they disobey God
by not tithing.
9. Because tithing shows I really love
God!
"Where your treasure is, your heart
will be also." (Matt. 6:21) Wherever
you put your money is where your affection
is going to be. Everytime you give back
to God you are drawn closer to Him. You
may say you love God, but 2 Cor. 8:8 says
that your giving tests the sincerity of
your love.
You can give without loving but you cannot
love without giving.
Jesus said, "If you really love me,
do what I command." (John 14:15)
10. Because tithing is an investment for
eternity!
Jesus told us to "Store up treasures
in heaven." (Matt. 6:19-20) How do
you do that? By investing your money in
helping people get to heaven! Most of the
things you spend your money on will not
even last for ten years, much less last
for eternity.
11. Because you cannot outgive God!
There are more promises in the Bible connected
to giving than any other subject. Giving
unlocks the promises of God in your life.
When you give, God always gives back to
you in a greater degree. Jesus said, "For
if you give, you will get. Your gift will
return to you in full and overflowing measure.
Whatever measure you use to give it will
be used to measure what is given back to
you." (Luke 6:38)
WHAT SHOULD I TITHE?
The first 10% of every paycheck, and all
else you earn. "Honor the Lord by giving
Him the first part of all your income, and
He will fill your barns...to overflowing."
(Prov 3:9-10) God doesn't want your "left-over"
income at the end of the month. He wants
first place.
WHERE SHOULD I GIVE MY TITHE?
The Bible is very clear that God expects
the tithe to be given back to Him at the
place where you worship. In the Old Testament,
they brought their tithes to the temple.
In the New Testament , the tithe was given
at the synagogue or church. While there
are many fine organizations, charities,
and ministries, the church is God's institution.
You may support other ministries with additional
offerings.
Only gifts given to God as an act of worship
at the house of worship are considered tithes.
WHEN SHOULD I TITHE?
1 Cor. 16:2 (LB) says: "On the first
day of every week, set aside some of what
you have earned and give it as an offering.
The amount depends on how much the Lord
has helped you to earn."
ISN'T TITHING AN OLD TESTAMENT JEWISH LAW
THAT I CAN IGNORE?
No. That's just an old excuse with no biblicale
basis.
First, God established the principle of
tithing, 430 years before He gave the Law
to Moses. If tithing was only a Jewish law,
why did Abraham tithe 430 years before the
law was revealed? Tithing was being practiced
long before the Jewish nations even existed!
Second, although tithing is mentioned in
the Old Testament Law, there is no punishment
mentioned for not tithing. Can you imagine
a law without a punishment? Tithing is a
Life Principle that is to be a voluntary
act.
Third, Jesus commended tithing in the New
Testament.
SHOULD I TITHE ON MY NET INCOME OR GROSS
INCOME?
Which do you want God to bless ~ your net
or your gross? Proverbs 3:9 says we are
to honor God with the first part of all
our income. I believe that means the gross
income. Anyway, 2 Corinthians 9:6 says:
"Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly
will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows
generously will reap generously."
WHAT IF I CAN'T AFFORD TO TITHE?
If you are in debt, you can't affort NOT
to tithe! You need God's help to get out
of debt. There are many financial principles
in the Bible but the starting point is to
be honest with God by beginning to tithe.
Tell God you're going to put Him first in
your finances that you are willing to obey
the priciples in His Word, and that you
are trusting Him to help you get out of
debt.
THE REAL ISSUE
As a pastor, I've heard every excuse ever
invented for not tithing. But in every case,
an unwillingness to do what God says can
be boiled down to two motivies: First, materialistic
values. If you're more interested in "having
things" than pleasing God, you won't
tithe. You may store up treasures on earth,
but you won't store up treasure in heaven.
Second, unbelief. If you don't really believe
God will keep all his promises He has made
regarding tithing, you won't do it.
by Donald H. Dinninger, Pastor
Old Town C.O.C. Missions Ministry
The goal of the Mission's Ministry at Old
Town C.O.C. is to have a strategic part in
fulfilling the great commission by reaching
the lost by showing god's love in our communities
and beyond..
Find out how you can get involved in a
missions trip this year.
