In this article I’m elated to share a very exciting revelation regarding the practice of tithing. I know this is one of the most debated topics in the body of Christ but I trust the Holy Spirit will guide us as we uncover the truth presented in this article.
1. What Is Tithing?
Tithing is a practice rooted in the Old Testament, where individuals gave one-tenth of their produce to the Levitical priests. These priests relied solely on tithes for their livelihood, as they had no other source of income. Their primary responsibility was to perform sacrifices to God for both the people and themselves.
God demanded people of the Old Testament to pay tithes, and each time they disobeyed, they’d experience seasons of lack and famine. They were unable to retain wealth and God highlighted that their lack of tithing is the reason for not reaping the full harvest of what they sowed. This was portrayed in God’s message to his people in Haggai 1:4-6.
2. Should We Tithe?
To reveal the truth about tithing, we will employ the First Principle Method. This is a scientific approach that was utilized by Jesus when addressing some of the most contentious issues of his time.
It is a way of problem-solving that involves breaking down complex issues into their most basic and fundamental parts
Before we apply this method to the question of tithing, I will present a biblical example to illustrate its effectiveness.
2.1 Example On First Principle Method
People asked Jesus whether it is lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason in Matthew 19:3.
Jesus’s response to this question utilized the First Principle Method. He addressed the original purpose behind God creating the institution of marriage.
“Haven’t you read the Scriptures?” Jesus replied. “They record that from the beginning ‘God made them male and female.’ And he said, “‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.”
Jesus responds to the crowd by highlighting the essential purpose of marriage. Their subsequent question aimed to clarify why the law of Moses allowed a man to divorce his wife and send her away.
Jesus response to the follow up question still uses the First Principle Method, citing the following:
Matthew 19:8 NLT
Moses permitted divorce only as a concession to your hard hearts, but it was not what God had originally intended.
Therefore, utilizing the First Principle Method to address the tithing question is both a valid and divine approach. Jesus, the Son of God, used this method to provide clarity on complex issues that perplexed the people of his time.
3. Background Of Tithing
The earliest recorded tithe was offered by Abram, occurring prior to the establishment of the Law of Moses. As such, we will not delve into the Law of Moses regarding tithing, as this is not the appropriate context to uncover the true answer to this burning question.
Now, let’s take a closer look at the events surrounding Abram’s tithe, as this will help us understand God’s original purpose for tithing.
3.1 Abram Rescues Lot
The complete narrative can be found in Genesis 14:17-24. It would be advantageous to read this passage to gain the full biblical context.
Abram successfully rescued his nephew, Lot, who had been captured by a king named Kedorlaomer. He brought back Lot and all people including their possessions, chasing the foreign king away.
After this victorious battle, Abram made his way to meet the king of Sodom. Previously, The King of Sodom had fought with king Kedorlaomer and lost possessions and many people into captivity. Abram was going to meet the King of Sodom to hand over his people who had been captured with Lot.
3.2 Abram Meets Melchizedek
On his way, Abram met a man by the name of Melchizedek. He is described as the the King of Salem and priest of the Most High God (Genesis 14:18). We must define Melchizedek’s descriptions, as they will offer even deeper insights for this article.
Melchizedek
- The name Melchizedek means “king of justice” (Hebrews 7:2). Moreover Melchizedek resembles Jesus Christ (Hebrews 7:3).
The King of Salem
- Bible Study Tools defines Salem as peace, completeness or wholeness. Also, Salem refers to Jerusalem since Jerusalem means the city of peace.
The Priest of God Most High
- A priest is someone who offers sacrifices to God. He is the only one allowed to enter the presence of God.
- Melchizedek was a foreshadowing depicting Jesus who is referred to a the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6) and the High Priest (Hebrews 7:28).
After Melchizedek’s description, the bible records that Abram was then given bread and wine (Genesis 14:18). The bread is also a foreshadowing of the body of Christ, and the wine is symbolic of the blood of Jesus that cleanses us from all sin.
Spiritually, bread and wine is a representation of life because without flesh (bread) and blood (wine) there is no life (this is true from a biological context too).
Abram received the life of God through the bread and wine. This is also referred to as the Holy Communion which involves sharing of bread and wine that represent Jesus Christ’s flesh and blood (Luke 22:19-20).
Thereafter, Melchizedek gave the following blessing to Abram:
Genesis 18:19-20 NLT
Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Creator of heaven and earth.
And blessed be God Most High,
who has defeated your enemies for you.
4. Conditions For Tithing
Abraham then gave Melchizedek a tenth of all the goods he had recovered in the battle with the kings (Genesis 14:20).
This is the origin of tithing and we can establish from this story the conditions that meet giving a tenth of our income to someone.
4.1 Peace And Justice
The word of God is about peace and justice, and Melchizedek embodies this as he was the king of peace and justice. Jesus gave us peace through the message of the Good News, and all recipients of tithes should preach the Good News that we are at peace with God.
Nahum 1:15 NLT
Look! A messenger is coming over the mountains with good news! He is bringing a message of peace.
The 7th beatitude reads, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” Therefore, anyone who brings a message of peace is a child of God and is worthy to receive our tithes.
Good News proclaim that through Jesus we are now at peace with God. Our relationship with Him has been restored by the blood sacrifice of Jesus, and we are now children of God. This message brings spiritual peace, and it leads to a life of holiness and living by the Spirit (Romans 5:1).
Regarding Justice, Paul wrote, “All are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Jesus Christ.” Therefore, our justification came by grace and anyone who proclaims the grace of God is deserving to receive our tithes.
In all of Paul’s letters, he greeted the churches with these words that signified that he was a messenger from God and his teaching involved peace and grace.
Romans 1:7 NLT
May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
4.2 Bread and Wine
Giving a tenth should also be directed at someone who gives us bread and wine. Anyone who points us to Jesus by giving you the word of God (the bread of life) and preaching the message of the cross (wine) is a representative of Jesus the king of Jerusalem and the High Priest of God and is worthy to receive tithes.
Galatians 6:6 NLT
Those who are taught the word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good things with them.
Matthew 4:4 reads, “Men shall not live alone, but by the word that comes from the mouth of God.” The message of one who receives our tithes should nurture our spiritual life, leading us to a godly life that is totally surrendered to God. Because Jesus came that we may have the life of God and have it to the fullest (John 10:10).
4.3 Blessings
Anyone who blesses you by evoking the name of Jesus, the Son of God who created the heavens and the earth is worthy of receiving a tenth.
Jesus Christ gave us the word through the message of the Good News, he also gave us wine – his blood that cleanses us of all sin. Then he blessed us:
Ephesians 1:3 NLT
Bless the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! He has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing that comes from heaven.
This prayer is very similar to the prayer of Melchizedek who blessed Abraham and blessed God the creator of heaven and earth.
5. Biblical Example Of A Tithe Recipient
Paul exemplified the type of individual worthy of receiving tithes by satisfying all the three conditions we have established from Abram’s encounter with Melchizedek:
- Paul proclaimed the grace and peace from God in all his letters to the churches. Refer to Romans 1:7, 1 Corinthians 1:3, 2 Corinthians 1:2, Galatians 1:3, Ephesians 1:2, Philippians 1:2, Colossians 1:2, 1 Thessalonians 1:2, 2 Thessalonians 1:2, 1 Timothy 1:2, 2 Timothy 1:2, Titus 1:4 and Philemon 1:3.
- He preached about our redemption through the cross, where Jesus body was crucified that we may be cleansed from sin by his blood.
- Lastly he conveyed blessings to the church in all his letters. When someone ordained by God to minister the priestly duties blesses you, God then blesses you.
Numbers 6:27 NLT
“Whenever Aaron and his sons bless the people of Israel in my name, I myself will bless them.”
6. What Happens When We Tithe
To uncover why God mandated people to pay tithe, let’s also find out the effects of tithing. We will still use the First Principle Method to determine what happened to Abraham after offering a tenth of his possessions.
6.1 A Profound Desire To Glorify God
Abram’s encounter with meeting Melchizedek occurred whilst he was on his way to meet the king of Sidon. The king began negotiating with Abram that he could just return only the people, but all material possessions Abram could keep.
This sounded like a fair deal since the king was defeated in a battle and the spoils were due to Abram who recovered them. However Abram rejects the offer to keep the possessions citing thus:
Genesis 14:23 NLT
I will not take so much as a single thread or sandal thong from what belongs to you. Otherwise you might say, ‘I am the one who made Abram rich.’
This statement unveils a deep truth: after receiving the blessing, Abram understood and believed that he was wealthy. His fortune was not due to offering a tithe, but rather because he was blessed by God through the High Priest. He had no intention of coveting anyone’s belongings, as he was already blessed.
In essence, tithing should cultivate a particular mindset. Even if your bank account is low, the awareness of your blessings should liberate you from anxiety and the urge to accumulate material possessions. This is the peace and fulfillment that arises from having an encounter or receiving a message from God.
The mindset fostered by tithing is one that seeks to honor God. Abram understood that his blessings came from the Most High God, and that all his wealth were attributed solely to Him. As a result, it was simple for Abram to relinquish the king’s possessions, ensuring that he would not be mistaken as a contributor to Abram’s success.
6.2 You Become Blessed
After God observed the faithful character of Abram He spoke to him in a vision:
Genesis 15:1 NLT
Do not be afraid, Abram, for I will protect you, and your reward will be great.
This promise was due to the fact that Abram relinquished everything and trusted in God to bless him. And God affirmed that he will be greatly rewarded and protected for trusting in Him.
7. Tithing Of The Early Church
The early church had the same mindset that Abram had with regard to tithing. The Book of Acts records that people would bring money to the apostles (Acts 4:36-37). The apostles met all the conditions we established in the previous sections. They pointed people to Jesus Christ and preached the Good News that brings spiritual life, and finally they blessed the people.
Acts 4:33 NLT
The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all.
Individuals who contributed their resources prioritized God and placed their faith in Him, recognizing that their blessings come through Jesus Christ. For them, the act of giving and sharing came naturally, as they were blessed by God Most High.
8. Why Did The Law Commanded Tithing?
Why did the Law commanded tithing? The explanation is straightforward: neglecting to tithe can cause individuals to prioritize money over their relationship with God.
Money has the ability to take control of a person’s life, so when the Law of Moses instructed people to give a tithe, it served as God’s method of preventing people from serving money as opposed to serving God.
9. What Did Jesus Say About Tithing
However, this Law ended being corrupted and abused. The rich would tithe the surplus of what they had to get the approval of people. But Jesus, when observing people offering money in the Temple in the story of the widow’s offering, said this:
Mark 12:43-44 NLT
“I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.”
Jesus comment affirms what he said about God and Money: You cannot serve two masters, you’ll either love one and hate the either. The two masters are God and money.
The rich people’s conduct revealed who their true master was, money. While the poor widow’s true master was God.
So tithing from biblical context takes form in 2 ways, it’s either you offer a tenth of the whole or the whole.
- A tenth of the whole is represented as 10/100
- While the whole can be represented as 100/100
Abraham gave the former; while the early church and the poor widow gave the latter. Let’s look deeply into Jesus observation and comments on the poor widow and the rich.
9.1 The Rich People Tithing
The wealthy contributed only a small portion of their excess funds. Here, “surplus” refers to the extra money beyond the total amount. This suggests that the rich were engaging in theft and deceit, and this money is considered surplus.
We know this to be true from the life of Zacchaeus who was a rich tax collector, and would cheat people of their money (Luke 19:8).
From this surplus, the rich brought just a tiny part of it into the Temple’s offering.
9.2 The Poor Widow
The poor widow gave two small coins, which can be likened to the smallest denomination in any currency. In today’s terms, she would have offered two 1-cent coins in USD.
While Abraham donated a tenth of his possessions, the widow was giving a tithe based on her meager 2 cents. A tenth of her 2 cents technically amounts to 0.2 cents, a value that cannot be represented by any existing coin.
If she only gave one of the two coins, it would not accurately reflect the entirety of her offering, as a single cent would imply she possessed ten 1-cent coins.
Thus, the only way to give a tithe representative of the whole was to give the both her small coins. This conveys the deeper meaning behind Jesus’ statement: “she gave her all.”
The principle that relate to tithing are the same as repentance. When we repent, we give our lives completely to God by believing in His Son Jesus. Then we receive the life of God through the Holy Spirit.
Likewise when we give tithe to God, by giving a tenth, which is representative of the whole, He responds by giving us riches, blessings and more.
10. Final Remarks
I firmly believe tithing can produce a mindset that we saw in the life of Abraham. He had faith rooted in God, and was blessed for showing great faith in Him. We too can be blessed like Abraham:
Galatians 3:9 NLT
So all who put faith their faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of faith.
Tithing should be directed towards those who minister the Good News about the Kingdom of God. These are people who provide spiritual nourishment through the word of God (bread), and point us to the cross where Jesus was crucified for our sins.
Galatians 6:6 NLT
Those who are taught the word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good things with them.
The message of the Good News produces peace, grace and life. Paul the Apostle was an example of an individual deserving. Each letter he would declare grace and peace from God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ showing that He is a messenger from God.
Finally, the act of giving automatically dethrones all material things, allowing God to be exalted in our lives. Giving is a sacrifice that is pleasing in to God, and He’ll always rewards those who give cheerfully.
Luke 6:38 NLT
Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.
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