There are a couple of different views that people today take on tithing. The different ways people choose to tithe should not divide anyone in the church. The two ways are tithing a percent and giving as you feel lead. Many people look at the Old Testament and see how the Israelites would give a tenth of what they had to the Lord and follow this same pattern.
Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. This verse is seen by many as strong advice to only give to the church.
People believe the storehouse is the church. The point of our tithing is to honor God. We can often miss that point when giving an exact amount. It also helps you give consistently from the first fruits of all you earn. You do not earn anything by tithing. Instead, you are showing God you trust Him with your finances.
For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.
When we tithe we do not want to simply follow the laws as the Pharisees and other religious leaders did in the Bible time. While the scribes and Pharisees were very good at tithing the exact tenth of what they had, they ignored other like justice, mercy, and faithfulness.
There are Christians out there today who feel like there is no exact obligation to giving and should happen more on a whim when they feel lead or something tugs on their heart. Although this can seem like an okay idea, we as humans do not always walk in the spirit, sometimes we make decisions in the flesh.
We cannot trust our hearts on when to give to God. Scripture gives a good picture of our human condition and why we cannot trust ourselves.
With a set goal of giving in place, we can make sure we honor God and give back to him a percent of what is his even when we do not feel like it. Without a commitment, there will be moments when it seems easier or more convenient to skip tithing.
This happens especially in financially tight situations, it can seem like tithing is not possible but that is when we can trust God to provide. Whether you are tithing or giving a one time gift, you should do it sacrificially. Sacrificial giving is a whole different way to look at giving. We are told in the New Testament that God loves a cheerful giver. When looking at examples in the New Testament, we see those who gave by faith were giving more than they thought they could.
In the Gospels of Mark and Luke, a story is recounted of a widow who at the temple gives two coins, in fact, Jesus says that was all she had to live on.
Check out our new and evolving YouTube Channel. Having considered the importance of tithing and the issues of accountability and management, the next logical issue is - Where should our tithes go?
Or as someone asked:. The Bible is silent on this issue. Although that is not strictly true since the Bible does not refer to different denominations. All those who call upon the name of the Lord are the church. Someone living in Florida would not pay tax to the state of California. Each person should affiliate with one spiritual approach and act accordingly. We can only describe what happens in Jewish circles. These are the very days that attract largest synagogue attendance. Yet, there can be no offering or passing around of a basket for tithes.
Instead, most synagogues have a membership fee, though they encourage people to give beyond and above that. If this is where you worship and the pastors there are serving you, then it would be spiritually unhealthy for you to be only a taker and not a giver. You are asking if your entire tithe needs to go there, which we cannot answer since we come from a different religious approach, but to give nothing would be inadvisable. General charitable guidelines were recorded by Moses Maimonides and they tend to be followed until this day.
Among other things, these guidelines rank helping someone gain an independent livelihood as more praiseworthy than simply giving a hand-out. Sometimes, charities that are categorized under tax law are also valid for tithing, while other times they are not.
Likewise, to use America as an example, while the IRS might not consider helping out a struggling neighbor to be deductible, the money would be considered as part of a tithe under a Jewish understanding. Interestingly enough, the word also hints at wealth. I have had the same question for several years. At the end of the year I would make modest donations to the churches I attended, but I mainly donated to causes I felt were important. During the year I would help friends and family in need, charities for veterans, I have sponsored a young rodeo cowboy trying to make the big time, and I support the AAJC.
I have found that the most joyful time for me during the holidays, or any time of year for that matter, is when I make financial gifts. And for your work. Thank you and shalom! I am so happy to hear that you have been engaged in a spiritual odyssey and I pray it takes you onwards and upwards. Cordially RDL.
Most thithes in the OT were agricultural or livestock. The expecation is that the tithe is brought into the central hub for worship and then apportioned by that place as appropriate.
Therefore it is not ours to direct where and when we want. There is a mechanism which allows us to help others and that is called charity and gifts. It is another word then tithe for exaclty that reason. Very True, the tithe belongs to GOD. We give it back to HIM by way of the church. Be certain to sow on good ground. The holy spirit is our helper and there are moments when guilt can be a tool utilized by the spirit of GOD to help us recognize when something should be corrected.
Dear Camelia As you correctly say and contrary to what most mental health professionals insist, feelings of guilt are good, useful, and perfectly normal and perfectly natural. The last thing I want is a therapist or psychiatrist who tries to talk me out of feeling guilty over things I have erred on. Dear Grant- thanks for writing; your letter is precisely what were thinking of when we explained that there are different religious traditions as to what exactly to give, where and how to give it.
Dear Rabbi, Thank you for clarifying this issue for me personally. I have always been under the impression that the original commandment to tithe was for the benefit of the priests since they had no land inheritance of their own.
I always give ten percent to the church the pastor draws his salery and other living expenses from that and give other charitable donations as my conscience leads me. Dear Brian— Interestingly, the idea behind them having no land inheritance was to align their interests with those of the people. When they blessed the people and prayed for them to thrive economically, you can be sure their prayers were fervent and their blessings sincere since their own well-being would depend upon that happy outcome since they were, as it were, on commission.
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