The Truth About Tithing Part 1

I received a tremendous number of comments both on the blog page itself and my message files on myspace about my last post: “Three Signs of Spiritual Maturity Part 3: How do you spend your money?” Of the many questions I received, most dealt with the topic of tithing. So, I thought we would just dive right into the subject!

Understanding the biblical perspective on tithing is extremely important not only for your own peace of mind as a believer but also for your unchurched friends who ask, “Why is the church always asking for money.” This question unfairly puts all churches in the same category but the heart of this question is important to answer – what does God want with my money?

The Easton’s Bible dictionary explains the tithe this way:
Tithe - Literally means “a tenth” - - a tenth of the produce of the earth consecrated and set apart for special purposes. The dedication of a tenth to God was recognized as a duty before the time of Moses. Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek (Gen. 14:20; Heb. 7:6); and Jacob vowed unto the Lord and said, “Of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.”
The first Mosaic Law (the law given to Moses and the Israelites in the Old Testament) on this subject is recorded in Leviticus 27:30-32:
30 All tithes from the land, whether the seed from the ground or the fruit from the tree, are the Lord’s; they are holy to the Lord. 31 If persons wish to redeem any of their tithes, they must add one-fifth to them. 32 All tithes of herd and flock, every tenth one that passes under the shepherd’s staff, shall be holy to the Lord.
The first Levitical Law (the Levites were a tribe of priests in the Old Testament) on the subject is recorded in Deuteronomy 14:22-29:
22 Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year. 23 Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the LORD your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the LORD your God always. 24 But if that place is too distant and you have been blessed by the LORD your God and cannot carry your tithe (because the place where the LORD will choose to put his Name is so far away), 25 then exchange your tithe for silver, and take the silver with you and go to the place the LORD your God will choose. 26 Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice. 27 And do not neglect the Levites living in your towns, for they have no allotment or inheritance of their own. 28 At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year’s produce and store it in your towns, 29 so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the aliens, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.

Some scholars say that the texts show three tithes - 10% to the priests, 10% to the temple, 10% every third year to the poor - 23 1/3 % tithe! You might be thinking, “God demands that I give 23 1/3 % of my paycheck to him? I like the 10% tithe I learned in Sunday School a lot more all of the sudden!”

It’s clear that there was a mandate by God to give at least a tenth of our stuff to Him. Further, God specified where this money should go – the Temple, the priests, and the downtrodden in our communities. But, what does all of this have to do with us today? We’ll find out…in my next post!

Carpe Deum! (Seize God!)
Todd Phillips
www.toddphillips.net

For those of you reading Colossians with me –
Colossians 2:16-23
16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. 18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. 19 He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow. 20 Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: 21 “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? 22 These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.