Tithing

The word tithe means “a tenth part.” In the Old Testament, God commanded the Israelites to give tithes — a tenth of their produce or income — for three reasons:

1. To support the Levites, who were responsible for the tabernacle and worship.

2. To support feasts and sacrifices.

3. To set aside resources to assist the poor, orphans, widows, and foreigners.

In the New Testament, neither Christ nor the apostles give explicit instructions about tithing. Jesus clearly endorsed the practice, however, as He did all the dictates of the Law (Matt. 5:17–20; 23:23). He denounced the Pharisees for hypocritically ignoring the “weightier matters” of the Law, such as justice, mercy, and faith, but those important issues did not negate other matters such as tithing. As Christians evaluate the practice of tithing today, several principles emerge:

1. Our allegiance is not to Old Testament law but to Christ.

2. Our giving should spring from a love of Christ rather than a sense of obligation. Abraham gave the first tithe (Gen. 14:17–20) as an expression of gratitude when God rescued him in battle. Scripture always puts worship at the heart of tithing.

3. Everything we have ultimately comes from and belongs to God, not only what we give away but also what we keep. God claims 100 percent of our income, not just 10 percent.

4. Ten percent is a good starting point for giving. But studies indicate that on average, Christians in the United States give away nowhere near that much to faith-based ministries or charities of any kind.

5. The New Testament is clear that vocational Christian workers have a right to financial support from those to whom they minister (1 Cor. 9:13, 14; Gal. 6:6). Many churches and other ministries assist the needy, and it seems legitimate to encourage members of a Christian community to donate money to those priorities.

6. No matter how much we give or to whom, Jesus indicates that our first priority should be to ensure that justice is carried out around us. We are to show mercy to our neighbors. Rather than just talk about our faith, we are to put it into action.

Taken from The Modern Life Study Bible