Tithing

 

 

Central Thought: Tithe is commanded by God for Himself, and is holy to the Lord.

 

Hymn: “Sowing In the Morning”

Text: Malachi 3:8-12; Proverbs 3:9-10

 

 

Tithing is a law that began during the time of Moses, Leviticus 27:30-34; Deuteronomy 14:22. The Levites, as commanded by God, used some of the tithes because they could not possess land of their own, Numbers 18:20-21.  However, during Malachi’s day the people were not paying tithes, so the Levites went to work to earn a living, thereby neglecting their God-given responsibilities of caring for the temple, Nehemiah 13:10-12, and for the service of worship.

Tithe is reserved by God, for Himself, it is holy unto God, Leviticus 27:30. Tithe is an expression of God’s sovereignty over man, Deuteronomy 8:18.  Everything we have is form God; so when we refuse to return to Him a part of what He has given, we rob Him.  Do you selfishly keep 100% of what God gives, or do you return at least 10% towards helping to advance God’s kingdom?  It is important therefore that we do not ignore God’s command to give tithe of our income to His temple, as the people of Malachi’s day did and were cursed.  Recall that Abraham gave to Melchizedek, “the priest of the Most High God” tithes of all, Genesis 14:18-20.

 

 

Lesson Objectives:

1. To define tithe.
2. To examine the purpose of tithing.
3. To know the consequences of not paying Tithes.
4. To appreciate the blessings in tithing.

 

1. What is the Biblical history of tithing?

-Tithing before the Law.

Tithing was practiced 430 years before the Law of Moses: In Genesis 14:20, Abraham gave Melchizedech, king of Salem “tithes of all”. Also in Genesis 28:22, Jacob promised to give God the tenth if He spared his life and returned him safely to his father’s house.

-Tithing under the Law.

Tithing was commanded under the law, as we read in Leviticus 27:30, “tithe of the land, whether of the seed or of the fruit of the trees…”. In 2 Chronicles 31:4-6, Hezekiah and the children of Israel paid tithe.  Also we read in Nehemiah 13:10-12 that Nehemiah restored tithing as one of his steps towards revival in the land.  In Malachi 3:10 the people were commanded to “bring all the tithes…”

-Tithing in the New Testament.

In the New Testament, references were made to the act of tithing in the Old Testament: and it was commanded, Hebrews 7:1-10; Luke 11:42.  The Lord Jesus Christ, while teaching on the kingdom of Heaven, did not condemn tithing in His rebuke of the Scribes and Pharisees for omitting “weightier matters of the law”, Matthew 23:23.  Apostle Paul also taught that God ordained support of ministers in the Kingdom work, 1 Corinthians 9:7-14; Galatians 6:6; Hebrews 7:5.

 

2. What are the purposes of tithing?

Under the Law of Moses we gain insight to some of the purposes of tithing. From Numbers 18:21-24-26; Nehemiah 10:37, 12:44; Deuteronomy 14:27-29, we understand that because of the work which the Levites (the Priesthood) do, the tithe is their inheritance.  Also through tithing there will be “meat” in God’s house, Malachi 3:10, bringing support to the work of God in general.  Furthermore, tithing honors God, Proverbs 3:9-10.  Thus, from the tithes, God ordained that the ministers be paid and supported, among other things like caring for the poor, strangers, the fatherless and widows.

 

3. What proportion of our income is the tithe?

From Hebrews 7:2 we see that the tithe Abraham gave to Melchizedech was “a tenth part of all”. Genesis 14:20, was the first recorded instance of tithe in the Bible.  Also in Genesis 28:22, Jacob promised to give to God the tenth “of all that Thou shalt give me.” Thus the tithe is one tenth of an individual‘s income, not of the basic salary.

From Leviticus 27:30-34, it is also clear that tithes are also given from “seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree …of the herd, or of the flock…” The believer should be careful not to pay anything less than one-tenth of income, livestock or land/farm proceeds, because that will not be tithe.   Tithe is holy unto the Lord!  The Lord our God, whom we serve requires complete or total obedience in every area of our Christian walk on earth, including financial matters.

 

4. What are the consequences of not paying tithe?

From Scripture we understand that tithe is reserved by God, for Himself, and it is holy unto Him, Leviticus 27:30. So it, the tithe, is a snare to whoever eats it, Proverbs 20:25.  Not paying tithe is disobedience to God, and the blessings associated with tithe paying will be missing, in the life of such individual.  The believer who fails or refuses to pay his tithe, not only denies God due worship with his substance but also withholds the benefits for those God has called to His service in the Body (the church).  God considers the use of tithe for personal needs as robbery; so the people who do not pay tithe defraud God, and are placed under His curse, Malachi 3:8-9.  “It is a fearful thing to fall unto the hand of the living God”, Hebrews 10:31.  So repent and fall to the mercy seat, commence tithing immediately and the Lord will pardon and bless.

 

5. What are the results/blessings of tithing?

Everything we have is from God; so when we give to Him a part of what He has given to us, the following are some of the accruing results:

-Divine Provision, Malachi 3:10; Proverbs 3:10

“And prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of Host, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that they shall not be room enough to receive it.” God challenges men to prove Him regarding the rewards of tithing.  His faithfulness will be exhibited such that the blessings poured out upon the tithe-payer from “the windows of heaven”, will be so great that there will not be room enough for them.

-Divine Honor, Malachi 3:12

The divine provision mentioned above will be recognized by all as an honor. This honor bestowed on the tithe-payer has evangelistic implication, because people/nations will be attracted to such person with a view to knowing their source.

-Divine Protection, Malachi 3:11

Another blessing of faithful tithing is the Lord’s declaration that He “will rebuke the devourer (the waster, the spoiler of finances, business, health, produce, etc.) for your sake”. Failure to pay tithe exposes the believer to all sort of attacks from the enemy.  The Lord, by His wisdom, providence and use of supernatural means and messengers, rebukes, opposes and hinders the devourer (our enemy) for the sake of the faithful tithe payer, this is divine protection.

-Support for the Ministry, 2 Chronicles 31:4; Malachi 3:10

Another result of tithing is that there will be “meat” in the House of God. This implies that there will be no lack of means or money to carry on God’s work.  Thus there will be abundance in God’s house, and the ministers will be encouraged to do the work of the kingdom.

-Building faith for what we don’t’ have as yet.

Tithing is appreciating the fact that God owns us and our pay packet, and that all we were able to do or achieve was not as a result of our ingenuity but due to His mercy, Deuteronomy 8:18. Acknowledgement of God’s ownership of all that we are and have makes us to trust Him for all things that pertain to life.

 

 

Daily Living Application:

Tithing is proof of our obedience and appreciation of God’s blessings. The Bible is emphatic on tithing.  The New Testament believer, in addition to tithing should give generously.  So the minimum giving expected of the believer is the tithe.  Tithe belongs to God by virtue of the covenant with man.  Every child of God should pay tithe and give offering willingly.  There are abundant attendant blessings for the obedient.

 

Memory Verse:

Malachi 3:10 – “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in Mine house, and prove Me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”