Malichi 3:8-10 and Luke 6:38: What is God's Perspective Concerning Titihing?
“Tithing” is by definition the giving of 10% of your income, time, talents and fruit of increase from the earth to the Lord through the local Church. I say the local church because your membership to that local assembly constitutes your “storehouse” location. There is an argument that the Christian church is not bound to law of the tithe, and there are many scholars and members of the Christian faith that believe as such. But when you consider what Jesus Christ has done for us on the cross, establishing the church based upon the profession of faith in His Name, even sitting at the hand of God the Father interceding in our behalf each and everyday, giving tithes to the Lord ought to be done out of sheer love and gratitude of him. Apparently the New Unger’s and Nelson’s Bible Dictionaries substantiates my personal position. The following 2 quotes come from their reference material respectively:
In the New Testament the words tithe and tithing appear only eight times (Matt 23:23; Luke 11:42; 18:12; Heb 7:5-6,8-9). All of these passages refer to Old Testament usage and to current Jewish practice. Nowhere does the New Testament expressly command Christians to tithe. However, as believers we are to be generous in sharing our material possessions with the poor and for the support of Christian ministry. Christ Himself is our model in giving. Giving is to be voluntary, willing, cheerful, and given in the light of our accountability to God. Giving should be systematic and by no means limited to a tithe of our incomes. We recognize that all we have is from God. We are called to be faithful stewards of all our possessions (Rom 14:12; 1 Cor 9:3-14; 16:1-3; 2
Cor 8:1-9:15)
It cannot be affirmed that the Old Testament law of tithes is binding on the Christian Church, nevertheless the principle of this law remains, and is incorporated in the gospel (1 Cor 9:13,14); and if, as is the case, the motive that ought to prompt to liberality in the cause of religion and of the service of God be greater now than in Old Testament times, then Christians outght to go beyond the ancient Hebrew in consecrating both themselves and their substance to God.
Tithing predates the Mosiac law where it was first required by God that Israel in Leviticus 27:30- 32 to tithe. In Leviticus 27:30- 32 we find the following passage:"'A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the he must add a fifth of the value to it. The entire tithe of the herd and flock every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd's rod will be holy to the Lord .
The first man in the Old Testament who gave a tenth to the Lord was Abraham, who gave a tenth to Melchezidek written in Genesis 14:20. In Old Testament times, the Hebrews because of special circumstances sometimes were permitted by the law to convert their produce or animals set aside for feast days dedicated to God to the currency of that day and purchase food for the festivals. Usually, this occurred when the people had to travel long distance where these feast were held. As a Christian, we must by conscience and as an act of love and dedication give tithe and bring generous offerings to the Lord, even if it wasn’t a mandatory biblically. If we are tithing, as I stated beforehand, my belief is your tithe should go to the local church where you have
membership. The local church must use these tithes to maintain the physical plant as well as its missionary obligations to the membership and to the community at large both near and far.
If you a pledge to give a tenth to some other organization other than the church, it should stand to reason that your vow to the Lord and his church must take precedence over any charitable gifts given anywhere else. There is nothing wrong with given another organization a tenth if you choose to do so as long as a person doesn’t neglect God in their giving by giving to a secular or even Christian based organization other than the church more money than they would to their place of worship.
“Tithing” is by definition the giving of 10% of your income, time, talents and fruit of increase from the earth to the Lord through the local Church. I say the local church because your membership to that local assembly constitutes your “storehouse” location. There is an argument that the Christian church is not bound to law of the tithe, and there are many scholars and members of the Christian faith that believe as such. But when you consider what Jesus Christ has done for us on the cross, establishing the church based upon the profession of faith in His Name, even sitting at the hand of God the Father interceding in our behalf each and everyday, giving tithes to the Lord ought to be done out of sheer love and gratitude of him. Apparently the New Unger’s and Nelson’s Bible Dictionaries substantiates my personal position. The following 2 quotes come from their reference material respectively:
In the New Testament the words tithe and tithing appear only eight times (Matt 23:23; Luke 11:42; 18:12; Heb 7:5-6,8-9). All of these passages refer to Old Testament usage and to current Jewish practice. Nowhere does the New Testament expressly command Christians to tithe. However, as believers we are to be generous in sharing our material possessions with the poor and for the support of Christian ministry. Christ Himself is our model in giving. Giving is to be voluntary, willing, cheerful, and given in the light of our accountability to God. Giving should be systematic and by no means limited to a tithe of our incomes. We recognize that all we have is from God. We are called to be faithful stewards of all our possessions (Rom 14:12; 1 Cor 9:3-14; 16:1-3; 2
Cor 8:1-9:15)
It cannot be affirmed that the Old Testament law of tithes is binding on the Christian Church, nevertheless the principle of this law remains, and is incorporated in the gospel (1 Cor 9:13,14); and if, as is the case, the motive that ought to prompt to liberality in the cause of religion and of the service of God be greater now than in Old Testament times, then Christians outght to go beyond the ancient Hebrew in consecrating both themselves and their substance to God.
Tithing predates the Mosiac law where it was first required by God that Israel in Leviticus 27:30- 32 to tithe. In Leviticus 27:30- 32 we find the following passage:"'A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the he must add a fifth of the value to it. The entire tithe of the herd and flock every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd's rod will be holy to the Lord .
The first man in the Old Testament who gave a tenth to the Lord was Abraham, who gave a tenth to Melchezidek written in Genesis 14:20. In Old Testament times, the Hebrews because of special circumstances sometimes were permitted by the law to convert their produce or animals set aside for feast days dedicated to God to the currency of that day and purchase food for the festivals. Usually, this occurred when the people had to travel long distance where these feast were held. As a Christian, we must by conscience and as an act of love and dedication give tithe and bring generous offerings to the Lord, even if it wasn’t a mandatory biblically. If we are tithing, as I stated beforehand, my belief is your tithe should go to the local church where you have
membership. The local church must use these tithes to maintain the physical plant as well as its missionary obligations to the membership and to the community at large both near and far.
If you a pledge to give a tenth to some other organization other than the church, it should stand to reason that your vow to the Lord and his church must take precedence over any charitable gifts given anywhere else. There is nothing wrong with given another organization a tenth if you choose to do so as long as a person doesn’t neglect God in their giving by giving to a secular or even Christian based organization other than the church more money than they would to their place of worship.
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