The TRUTH about tithing and giving.
God told Moses to have the nation of Israel pay a tithe. A tithe is 10 percent of the income. This tithe was part of the LAW.
Lev 27:30-32
30 And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD's: it is holy unto the LORD.
If this tithe is not paid then it would be a curse to the children of Israel.
Mal 3:8-9
8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
(KJV)
According to the Law the tithe was given to the Hebrew Priest, the Levite.
Num 18:21
21 And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.
(KJV)
In addition to 10% to the Levitical Priest, giving was encouraged to the poor. This giving was in addition to tithe.
Deut 15:11
11 For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.
(KJV)
Matt 6:2-4
2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
(KJV)
Jesus Christ came in the flesh.
John 3:16-18
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
(KJV)
Jesus Christ did not destroy or abolish the law but he did fulfill. Jesus Christ completed the meaning and the function of the law. The life, the death and resurrection of Jesus was the completion of the law. Remember the tithe was part of that law.
Matt 5:17
17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
(KJV)
Since Jesus fulfilled the Law, the principle of giving remained but the process or the implementation has changed.
Heb 7:12
12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
(KJV)
Gal 5:18
18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
(KJV)
Shortly after the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit of God came and filled those who sincerely believed in Jesus Christ. Even today, when people hear the Gospel, repent from sin and accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit enters them and lives within.
Eph 1:13
13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
(KJV)
This Holy Spirit does not control you but will be a guide if you let it. If you listen to the Spirit of God, it will lead you into an abundant life, a faithful life and a life of sacrifice, purpose and meaning.
Rom 8:14
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
(KJV)
Now that the Law has been fulfilled in Jesus Christ, instead of a dogmatic legalistic 10% to a earthly priest, you should now give as the Spirit of the Lord leads you.
2 Cor 9:6-7
6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
(KJV)
Who should you give to?
You should give to whom the Lord leads you to.
Who might that be.
There are two groups of people that scripturally are supported, when you give to these people, you are giving to Jesus the Christ.
1st group:
The physically poor, hungry, the imprisoned...the broken hearted.
Matt 25:31-45
31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
(KJV)
2nd group:
Those who bless you with spiritual things like teaching you the Word of God.
Gal 6:6-10
6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
(KJV)
1 Cor 9:11
11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?
(KJV)
Note: In Galatians 6:6 the word "communicate" is the word "koinoneo" in the original Greek. This word means also encourage or distribute. It does not mean just financial "encouragement" but "coin' is one way to do that.
In the New Testament of His Spirit, how much should we give?
His Word will help us to discern how much to give:
Heb 4:12
12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
(KJV)
Here are some scriptural guides to assist in figuring out how much to give:
1st guide:
Under the Law that could not save you, Gods people gave 10%. How much should we give under Christ and the Spirit?
Lev 27:30-32
30 And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD's: it is holy unto the LORD.
2nd guide:
God doesn't want a fraction, He wants all of you.
Rom 12:1-2
CHAPTER 12
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
(KJV)
3rd guide:
God doesn't want you to be in debt to other people on Earth.
Rom 13:8
8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
(KJV)
On a closing note:
If you give, let the Love of Christ be your guide. Don't let fear, superstition and the traditions of prosperity preachers motivate you. If you give...GIVE BECAUSE HE DIED FOR YOUR SINS.
Gal 3:1-5
CHAPTER 3
1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
(KJV)
Posted at: 13:15