Tithes and Offerings
The practice of giving tithes and offerings is frequently criticized in today’s world. Even within the Church there are those who charge that the principle of tithing was instituted under the Law of Moses and that it is obsolete for New Testament believers. Others have rejected any sense of obligation to give as legalism and have left it up to the discretion of each believer. And there are those who have misinterpreted the giving of tithes and offerings as a way to prosperity and spiritual protection, thus alienating many who do not have these needs.
It is important to note, that the practice of tithing precedes the Law giving to Moses by hundreds of years. The first mention of tithing in the Bible is found in Genesis, chapter 14, when Melchizedek, the King and High Priest of Salem, met Abraham with bread and wine, on his return from the battle with the five kings. Abraham presented Melchizedek with a tenth of all he had won. This became a practice of Abraham and his family, as we see when Jacob, his grandson, made a covenant with God to tithe on everything he earned. The giving of offerings has an even earlier beginning as seen in the offerings brought to God by Abel and Cain. (Gen. 4.3-4) Although this practice was passed on through oral tradition, upon entering the Promised Land, tithing and the giving of offerings became written law. Even up into the New Covenant era, the giving of tithes and offerings was commonly practiced and recorded in each major section of the Bible.
My intention here is not to “proof-text” an argument in favor of tithes and offerings, but to get at the root of the objection. I believe the issue has to do with ownership and stewardship, rather that legality or license. The most often found word in the Bible is the word Lord. It is used over 5000 times, in both the Old and New Testaments, when referring to God. The word Lord means owner. (i.e., a landlord is an owner of a property.) In Psalms 24.1, it states clearly that “the earth is the Lord’s and the fulness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein.” Everything belongs to the Lord. If we recognize this, then instead of possession, I have a stewardship. In the world-system, the economy is based on private ownership, but not so in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Let us imagine that we are managers of a business. The owner has entrusted us with his company and desires that we make a profit. We are given freedom to make decisions and to use his money to pay the bills and invest as we see most beneficial. The owner only requires that set aside 10% of all proceeds in a separate account and 5%, or more as he would desire, in another account. I don’t believe any of us would have any problem with this, seeing that the owner can do with his money as he wishes. Isn’t it the same with tithes and offerings? It is a matter of ownership, (God), and stewardship, (us).
Even though the Lord has every right to require of us, as the stewards of His riches, whatever He wants, our attitude in our giving is our worship of Him. We are to worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. (Ps. 96.8-9) Holiness means set apart to God. When we worship the Lord in holiness it should include the offerings and tithes we have specifically set aside to God. Let us not come before the Lord empty-handed. (Ex. 23-15) Let us worship Him as Lord.
Scriptures to mediate on:
Mat. 6.25-34; Luke 16.10-13; Ps. 24.1; Ex. 23.14-15; I Cor. 16.2; I Tim. 6.17