Our Questions: God's AnswersShembull

Should I tithe?

The word "tithe" comes from the Hebrew word that means "tenth", and it is a common understanding that believers must give a tenth of their income to the church.

In the Old Testament, God requires three types of tithing. The first was for the Levites, who were responsible for performing the work of the Tabernacle. The Israelites paid them a tithe, which was their income. God also commanded the Israelites to pay 10 percent of whatever their fields produced each year to the church as a tithe. Then, every three years, the Israelites were told to bring a tithe in for the foreigners, the fatherless, and the widows who lived in that town.

God explains in Malachi that there was a curse if they didn't tithe. He called it robbing from Him. He says that not tithing is the same as robbing Him. In that same verse, God describes the blessings if you do tithe. In those blessings, He promises to prevent pests from devouring your crops. He promised that vines would not drop fruit before they were ripe. He said that He would bless so much that He would open the Floodgates of Heaven and pour out a blessing so great that you wouldn't have enough room to hold it. It is so awesome.

But what about us under the New Covenant? In the New Testament, tithing is not commanded. Jesus spoke of the tithe when He addressed those still living under the Old Testament Law. His comments are the only time in the New Testament that tithing is even mentioned. When Jesus died on the Cross, He fulfilled the Law, and we, as believers, no longer live under its authority. So, you are no longer required to fulfill the Law, especially the Mosaic Covenant of tithing.

But there's something that I want to look at with you, and that's the question of why did God require tithing in the Old Testament. We know that tithing was how the widows, Levites, and temples were cared for. But was there another reason? The answer to that is yes, and that's in Deuteronomy 14:23. It tells us the purpose of the tithe was so that the people would learn how to worship the Lord. That blew my mind when I read that.

The purpose of the tithe is not about money; it is about worship.

If the Israelites, living under the condemnation of the Law, had to give regular sacrifices for their sins to an inadequate high priest for temporary forgiveness, and they could give ten percent in worship, then how much more should we, who live under Grace and have a Perfect Savior who gave the Ultimate Sacrifice so that we could live eternally with our Father in Heaven, give in worship? How much more should we worship?

I also want to point out that giving, while not a requirement, is spoken of a lot in the New Testament. It should never be done out of obligation but should always be done as worship and thanksgiving for God's Amazing Grace. Paul tells the Corinthians they should support those who preach the Gospel. He says they should put aside money for collections and do so cheerfully. He explains to Timothy that those with finances should be generous and willing to share.

Paul does not require a set amount anywhere in Scripture, but he says that they should give according to what God has given them. I don't know about you, but 10 percent of my income does not seem like nearly enough compared to what God has given me. In my opinion, it does not begin to show the Lord how grateful I am for who He is, what He has done, and what He continues to do in my life.

Tithing is not about obedience to the Law but about worshipping your Creator. It's an opportunity to show Him how much you love Him, fully surrender to Him, and say, "I trust Your Plan." We get to partake in this opportunity every single week, and I look forward to it. I hope that you do, too.

If you have never given, I want to challenge you today to try it and see if you aren't blessed abundantly by the Lord in so many areas of your life. God promised to open the Floodgates of Heaven and pour out so many blessings that there's not enough room to store them. He wants to be in your life, and He wants to provide for all of your needs, and He wants to do so abundantly. He wants you to truly, genuinely trust and worship Him.

If you've never tithed, start small— a dollar, ten dollars, ten percent. But if you've always tithed, try something different. Why don't you give 20 percent or 50 percent this week? Or why don't you give 100 percent of what you make this week? Give it to the Lord, sow it into His Kingdom, and see what God does in your life. I promise you, you will be amazed.