The Biblical Case For Tithing
The word tithe simply means "tenth," and it refers to the practice of giving to the Lord ten per-cent of your income.
Tithing is often portrayed negatively in secular media as simply a money grab by churches wanting to take advantage of gullible people. However, the practice of tithing is a Biblical principle, showing us how we can worship the Lord with the resources He provides.
Tithing is not a legalistic rule, and it should not be practiced with the wrong motives or promoted by churches as anything other than a means of faithfully worshipping God in response to His grace and goodness.
When Was Tithing Introduced?
Formally, tithing was commanded by the Lord of the Israelites after He rescued them from slavery in Egypt and brought them into the promised land of Canaan. You can read about this in Deuteronomy 14: 22 - 29. In Numbers 18: 23 - 24 the Israelites were told to give their tithe to the Levites who would serve on behalf of the people in the Tabernacle.
But we see tithing being practiced even well before it was recorded as a command of the Lord. In Genesis 14: 20 it records how Abraham gave a tithe to the priest Melchizedech of all the goods he had obtained after conquering the tyrant king, Kedorlaomer. Whether from oral tradition, or whatever means, Abraham knew that ten per-cent was the right amount to give as a means of honouring the Lord from the bounty he had won.
What Did Jesus Say About Tithing?
Jesus did not speak against the practice of tithing. In fact, once when He was speaking to the Pharisees on the topic of money, He said that you should tithe (Luke 11: 42), but He also said that tithing was the least you should do to demonstrate your love for God. He said that tithing while ignoring things like justice and the love of God showed that you had the wrong motives.
What About In The Rest Of The New Testament?
There seems to be an attitude in the rest of the New Testament that tithing is simply a given. Attention is focussed instead on living a life of generosity that went beyond a mere tithe. When Paul was making his collection for the Christians who were struggling in Jerusalem, he praised the Macedonian Christians for their generous giving even though they were poor and under great hardship themselves (2 Corinthians 8: 1 - 5). Paul encouraged the Corinthians to be equally generous, and to give not because they were compelled but because it was a privilege they could cheerfully embrace (2 Corinthians 9: 6 - 15).
So, As A Christian, Should I Tithe?
Yes, we believe tithing is a Biblical principle that transcends the Old & New Testaments and remains a godly expression of worship and stewardship. However, we would not encourage someone to tithe unless they were firmly convicted personally that this is how they should worship the Lord.
But What If I Can't Afford To?
In the vary rarest of cases - that usually don't apply to most people - it may be appropriate to not tithe for a season. For most people though, it comes down to two things: 1) adjusting your budget accordingly, and 2) trusting God's promises that He will supply your needs (see Matthew 6: 25 - 34 and 2 Corinthians 9: 8). Often, when someone says they can't afford to tithe, what they mean is that they can't afford to tithe and continue to maintain a certain standard of living. Yes, tithing will mean that you may not be able to afford some of the things you want, but God says you can trust Him for what you need. Beyond that, you are simply seeking after worldly things at the expense of funding God's mission. To this Jesus said, "Don't store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be." - Matthew 6: 19 - 21 Do you trust God's promise to provide what you need?
Being A Good Steward
It's helpful to move the conversation beyond just tithing, and to look instead at the larger issue of stewardship. If you study closely what God required of the Israelites you will see that tithing was just the beginning. The total 'mandatory' amount was at least 25% of a family's gross income going to God and ministry. Stewardship begins with the fundamental idea that everything you have comes from God. It's all actually His, and for a time while you are alive, you have been given the responsibility of being the steward of that resource. Jesus told a parable about being good stewards in Luke 16: 1 - 15 where He commends a Kingdom focus to the resources God places in our control. The question then changes from "How much of my money do I give to the Lord's work?" to "How much of God's money should I keep for myself?" As Christians, we will all be called to account for how we have stewarded what God has entrusted to us. Yes, it is good to tithe. But don't fall in to the trap of thinking "10% for God and 90% for me!" He even wants you to steward the 90% in a way that brings Him glory.
Gospel Generosity
This is why at Disciples Church we just don't simply talk about giving in terms of tithing. We are very much persuaded that faithfully worshipping God with our money and things goes well beyond just a basic tithe. The Gospel calls us to a life of selfless generosity. Jesus said even if your enemy wants your coat, offer your shirt also (Luke 6: 29). Yes, it's radically counter cultural for our me-centered, consumer driven, materialistic, modern Australian world in which we live. But it embraces the kind of grace that God has shown us in sending Jesus - His One and only Son - to be our Saviour, and it is precisely this kind of grace that our world needs to hear about and see demonstrated in the lives of Jesus' followers.
Tithing is often portrayed negatively in secular media as simply a money grab by churches wanting to take advantage of gullible people. However, the practice of tithing is a Biblical principle, showing us how we can worship the Lord with the resources He provides.
Tithing is not a legalistic rule, and it should not be practiced with the wrong motives or promoted by churches as anything other than a means of faithfully worshipping God in response to His grace and goodness.
When Was Tithing Introduced?
Formally, tithing was commanded by the Lord of the Israelites after He rescued them from slavery in Egypt and brought them into the promised land of Canaan. You can read about this in Deuteronomy 14: 22 - 29. In Numbers 18: 23 - 24 the Israelites were told to give their tithe to the Levites who would serve on behalf of the people in the Tabernacle.
But we see tithing being practiced even well before it was recorded as a command of the Lord. In Genesis 14: 20 it records how Abraham gave a tithe to the priest Melchizedech of all the goods he had obtained after conquering the tyrant king, Kedorlaomer. Whether from oral tradition, or whatever means, Abraham knew that ten per-cent was the right amount to give as a means of honouring the Lord from the bounty he had won.
What Did Jesus Say About Tithing?
Jesus did not speak against the practice of tithing. In fact, once when He was speaking to the Pharisees on the topic of money, He said that you should tithe (Luke 11: 42), but He also said that tithing was the least you should do to demonstrate your love for God. He said that tithing while ignoring things like justice and the love of God showed that you had the wrong motives.
What About In The Rest Of The New Testament?
There seems to be an attitude in the rest of the New Testament that tithing is simply a given. Attention is focussed instead on living a life of generosity that went beyond a mere tithe. When Paul was making his collection for the Christians who were struggling in Jerusalem, he praised the Macedonian Christians for their generous giving even though they were poor and under great hardship themselves (2 Corinthians 8: 1 - 5). Paul encouraged the Corinthians to be equally generous, and to give not because they were compelled but because it was a privilege they could cheerfully embrace (2 Corinthians 9: 6 - 15).
So, As A Christian, Should I Tithe?
Yes, we believe tithing is a Biblical principle that transcends the Old & New Testaments and remains a godly expression of worship and stewardship. However, we would not encourage someone to tithe unless they were firmly convicted personally that this is how they should worship the Lord.
But What If I Can't Afford To?
In the vary rarest of cases - that usually don't apply to most people - it may be appropriate to not tithe for a season. For most people though, it comes down to two things: 1) adjusting your budget accordingly, and 2) trusting God's promises that He will supply your needs (see Matthew 6: 25 - 34 and 2 Corinthians 9: 8). Often, when someone says they can't afford to tithe, what they mean is that they can't afford to tithe and continue to maintain a certain standard of living. Yes, tithing will mean that you may not be able to afford some of the things you want, but God says you can trust Him for what you need. Beyond that, you are simply seeking after worldly things at the expense of funding God's mission. To this Jesus said, "Don't store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be." - Matthew 6: 19 - 21 Do you trust God's promise to provide what you need?
Being A Good Steward
It's helpful to move the conversation beyond just tithing, and to look instead at the larger issue of stewardship. If you study closely what God required of the Israelites you will see that tithing was just the beginning. The total 'mandatory' amount was at least 25% of a family's gross income going to God and ministry. Stewardship begins with the fundamental idea that everything you have comes from God. It's all actually His, and for a time while you are alive, you have been given the responsibility of being the steward of that resource. Jesus told a parable about being good stewards in Luke 16: 1 - 15 where He commends a Kingdom focus to the resources God places in our control. The question then changes from "How much of my money do I give to the Lord's work?" to "How much of God's money should I keep for myself?" As Christians, we will all be called to account for how we have stewarded what God has entrusted to us. Yes, it is good to tithe. But don't fall in to the trap of thinking "10% for God and 90% for me!" He even wants you to steward the 90% in a way that brings Him glory.
Gospel Generosity
This is why at Disciples Church we just don't simply talk about giving in terms of tithing. We are very much persuaded that faithfully worshipping God with our money and things goes well beyond just a basic tithe. The Gospel calls us to a life of selfless generosity. Jesus said even if your enemy wants your coat, offer your shirt also (Luke 6: 29). Yes, it's radically counter cultural for our me-centered, consumer driven, materialistic, modern Australian world in which we live. But it embraces the kind of grace that God has shown us in sending Jesus - His One and only Son - to be our Saviour, and it is precisely this kind of grace that our world needs to hear about and see demonstrated in the lives of Jesus' followers.