Ten Benefits of Tithing
By glblguy
This is a guest post from rocket who blogs over at Rocket Finance and feels finance isn’t rocket science. Rocket writes about kids and money, charitable giving, taxes, coffee and occasional posts about public policy. If you like what you read, make sure you subscribe to Rocket Finance.
I recently came across this list of ten benefits of tithing and I thought it would be nice to share the list with the readers of Gather Little by Little. I have also included Scripture references for you to check out if you desire along with some editorial comments.
See if you agree:
- God is pleased by your obedience. Malachi 3:10 Regular giving is a sign of obedience to Christ. We prove our lover for Christ by obeying his commands.
- God is honored by your faithfulness. Proverbs 3:9 He deserves our faithfulness.
- Tithing helps to keep your priorities straight. Matthew 6:21 I believe that giving to the Lord is the number one priority for a believer.
- You are eligible for a blessing. Malachi 3:10 But remember, the blessing is not always monetary – God has not promised “health and wealth” to the Christian. The believer is to be content in whatever state he is placed and God has promised to shield us from trials that we are not strong enough to face.
- Guards Christians from selfishness. Acts 20:35 Tithing reminds us that ultimately our money does not belong to us.
- God loves a cheerful giver. II Corinthians 9:6-12 Are you excited about the opportunity to serve God with your finances?
- Tithing supports the Great Commission. Matthew 28:19,20 Your tithe should go to your local church and God has chosen to work through the church during this ages.
- Tithing ensures that your needs will be met. Matthew 6:33 God has promised that our needs will be met. Needs – but not necessarily “wants”.
- Tithing helps to meet the needs of God’s people. I Corinthians 16:1,2 Hopefully your church seeks to use at least a portion of its budget to help those less fortunate.
- Tithing reminds us that God is the true owner and giver of all that we have. I Timothy 6:17,18 All we have belongs to God and the tithe helps to remind us of this fact.
I do not believe that the tithe must necessarily be a tenth of one’s income. The tenth was the standard for the Old Testament Jews who were governed by the Law. Today, those of us who are privileged to live under grace, are simply challenged to give regularly and willingly to the Lord’s work.
The reality is that the tithe is just the beginning of your service to Christ.
July 9th, 2008 at 8:46 am
Re: Number 4 “God has promised to shield us from trials that we are not strong enough to face.” I hear this repeated a lot in the Christian community, things like “God won’t give you more than you can handle.”
Is there any scriptural basis for this mantra? I think the opposite is true. If God only gave us what we could handle, then why would we need God?
When do you turn to God more often? When life is going great and there’s nothing you can’t handle, or when things are falling apart and everything looks hopeless?
July 9th, 2008 at 9:11 am
I think the idea in number 4 that you’re referencing comes from this verse:
“God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength but with your testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).
I think the verse may be talking more about temptation and sin than going through hard times, but I think that God often does give us the strength to endure our trials – when we rely on him.
July 9th, 2008 at 10:06 am
Certainly your last point is what I was looking for and what I think most people miss (or at least it’s not emphasized enough). With God’s help there is nothing we can’t handle; on our own, we’re pretty much doomed.
July 9th, 2008 at 10:36 am
Matt, look at I Corinthians 10:13. The word “tempt” also has the meaning of “trial” or “test”:
No temptation has overtaken you that is unusual for human beings. But God is faithful, and he will not allow you to be tempted beyond your strength. Instead, along with the temptation he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to endure it.
Certainly, the key here is that God is the one providing the way of escape. This promise allows us to meet trials with confidence. Defeat is not an option for the believer.
July 9th, 2008 at 10:37 am
Oops, I just read Pete’s comment. He already covered it.
July 9th, 2008 at 10:47 am
Awesome! I recently wrote an article on the importance of tithing in tough economic times and was surprised to see many comments from Christians against tithing! http://www.crosswalk.com/finances/11578198/
July 9th, 2008 at 10:58 am
My question is this…As a Christian who believes in God and believes that Jesus died for my sins, I still don’t go to church. I am a member of one but haven’t attended in several years. I tithed when I went and sometimes did give 10% but that was before marriage as my hubby pretty much forbid it.
Since I don’t attend a church my donations go out to charities now and while not yet equal to 10% of my salary, that is my goal. Do you think that this counts as a tithe? Or does it need to go directly to the church? Some of the charities I donate to are Christian/Catholic organizations. Some are for animals.
I always feel very guilty about this for some reason.
July 9th, 2008 at 11:11 am
I beleive the tithe is 10%. If you give less than 10% you are not tithing. I don’t see that changed anywhere else in the bible.
July 9th, 2008 at 11:27 am
I work in an industry where we deal with many people who are in very difficult financial situations. Many of them get offended if we recommend they cut back on their church donations, so we try to be very careful about mentioning that. I think it’s great to give if you have it, but I also hate to think that churches would want someone who can’t pay their electric bill or buy groceries to give money to the church instead of feeding their family.
I think it’s important for people in a really tough economic situation to consider that they can contribute to their church in other ways (teaching Sunday School, helping at dinners, etc.) without giving money, at least until their situation improves. But, that’s just my opinion. :)
July 9th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
Kristen,
When I was part of a very successful debt counseling organization, we taught that the first step to righting one’s financial boat was to begin to tithe. We took God’s promise to meet one’s needs seriously. :)
castocreations, I firmly believe that our regular giving should be given to the local church. God has ordained the church as the focus of the believer’s life in this age. At the same time, I do not believe that you should go against your husband’s wishes in this matter. . . but that is a whole ‘nother topic. Giving is not about guilt. Don’t feel guilty, do your best and rest in the promises of God.
“Mo”money, the New Testament does not give the specific instructions that were handed down under the Law in the Old Testament. The rigid 10% idea is never mentioned in the NT. The NT emphasizes that we should give regularly to the work of God. The amount is up to you. 10% is a nice place to start, but the reality is that for the believer, all we have belongs to Christ.
July 9th, 2008 at 8:26 pm
In Love, and gentleness…
Rocket: Niether the curses nor the blessing in Malichi can apply to the believer in the Messiah, since as you pointed out, they are both legal tenants that should not be a basis for governing our lives as Kings & Priests, and the Sons of God.”1. God is pleased by your obedience. Malachi 3:10 Regular giving is a sign of obedience to Christ. We prove our lover for Christ by obeying his commands.” — Yes, regular giving is a sign of obedience to Christ… but not tithing. He gave no command to Gentile believers concerning the tithe. Only that we should give… and give… and give some more… there is no percentage limitation in scripture for His followers. And even then it’s only accepted according to what you have the ability to give… and not what you don’t have. 2 Cor 8
Cortni: “Christians” are waking up to to the fact that they do not have to be slaves to the “church” – many studies have been done to prove that over 80% of tithes and offerings go to building and salaries while most attendees of the “church” go hungry and broke. You must realize that YOU ARE THE “CHURCH” not a building… and as the King, Priest, and Son of God that you are, all the provision of the Kingdom belong to you. And, I might add, not to the Corporate Fiction known as a 501(c)3. There has been no “changing of the guard” where we once again must worship by proxy through the instructions of the “spiritual” elite who dictate to their “EQUALS” in the Kingdom when, how, and why they should worship. The word poorly interpreted “church” comes from a pagan word that means “house of a god”. We on the other hand belong to the Ecclesia – a secular word that means “town counsil” hence “called out ones”. It was no mistake that the Rabbi used this word, and said that it was upon the foundation that HE is the Christ, Son of the Living God (Meshiach – Anointed King, High Priest, and Prophet) he would “establish” those who represented His authority here on earth (Ecclesia) – We are the Lively Stones, We are his house, we are His Body, We are the 1 loaf. He alone is the head!
Humbly submitted…
July 9th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
my comments dint get posted… oh well
July 9th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
1WeathBuilder – Fixed your comment so it now displays.
July 9th, 2008 at 9:45 pm
Thank you WealthBuilder. The church where I am a member has gone through a lot of remodeling – though they did ask specifically for those donations separate from regular donations. I just really like to give my money to specific causes where I know what it will do and who it will help.
I do often feel guilty for not going to church. Even though I DO know that the church can be just me or just me and hubby. Or whenever two people gather. :)
July 10th, 2008 at 12:04 am
Well put, castocreations.
If you are free, then you are free to worship everywhere that “you” are.
Unfortunately, we (like the children of Israel) want a king. So, the guy who speaks the eliquentist (not a word) and has a following, obviously should be leading our families.
When we awaken to the truth… that anything that stands between us and the Messiah (Christ) is Anti-Messiah (well you know).
We can no longer afford to abdicate the teaching of our families the ways of the Lord to anyone else but the heads of the home, and their Head (God is the Head of Christ, the Head of Man, the Head of the Woman) Head meaning authority and covering.
People love to judge you and ask “why did you leave the ‘church'”… How can you separate yourself from who you are?
As a caveat.. God still saves, fills with His Spirit, and speaks to those who walk this way. He has to. The real issue is that they can never function in their proper place in the body as long as all gifts must be submitted to the Corporate Fiction and its CEO.
Offered without judgment…
July 10th, 2008 at 11:53 am
My humble opinion on the subject that while I’m not sure that 10% tithe is required biblically (I’ve seen it explained eloquently both ways), I do think that as a fruit of our faith we are required to give. For me that means giving 10% to our church, and any additional we can to sponsor a child, give to local food shelves, etc. God loves a joyful giver, and we’re doing our best to do just that. We’re debt free besides the mortgage, so for us this isn’t that hard to do.
I’m not sure I would say that if you’re in a situation where you’re having a hard time feeding your family – that you’d still be required to give. This verse pops out at me:
“If anyone does not take care of his own relatives, especially his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 1 Timothy 5:8”
Tough subject!
July 10th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
@Castocreations
I would say be careful not being planted in a “church”. I agree that the church is not just a building, but the psalms say that those who are planted in the house of GOd will flourish, and the new testament (I believe paul) said that you should not forsake assembling as is the habit of some.
I know from experience that church life can get tough – there are lots of imperfect people there! :) But as a brother I would encourage you to prayerfully consider attending more frequently.
for what its worth
@Rocket
good post – just to look at the other side of the coin, I have heard someone say that if they tithed according to the law in the old covenant – what should we be giving by grace?
July 10th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
@ChristianPF (I love that… it’s like twitter) – I also would encourage you as a brother in the Lord to be careful in directing others to “church”… as you said “it’s not just a building”… Truth is Its Not a Building At All! Never has been.
In Davids day “planted in the House of God” referred to the tabernacle (as Solomon had not yet built the temple) and all of its requirements (sacrifices for sin, etc.). However, David being the prophet that He is, would simply now refer to our attachment to the Head, the chief cornerstone.
Now, building off of that point (no pun intended) He is the Chief corner and we are His building – hence the “assembling” of ourselves that is forsaken by not just some, but quite a few… This can also in proper context be carried over into the Assembly of the “Body of Christ” (Where the Head properly fits).
Most “Christians” after “planting” themselves in a “church” almost immediately begin forsaking the assembly in that 1) they wont fellowship in true love with other believers of different doctrinal backgrounds, and B)They don’t properly “discern” (I Cor 11:29 KJV)the Lords Body for what it truly is… The individual believers fitly joined together and every part providing what every other part needs.
I humbly offer I Cor 12, Rom 12, and Eph 4 as truly synaptic (saying the same thing) on this issue. We should encourage each other to fellowship more intimately… from house to house (even if its just cell groups of larger “brick and mortar” “churches” – for herein is where relationship, accountability, free functioning of everyone’s gifts, and true communion can be realized.
Submitted in Love and service…
July 10th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
@ChristianPF C.S. Lewis challenges us to tithe to the point of poverty. That’s a tall order, and one I’m thus far unable to swallow… Any thoughts?
July 11th, 2008 at 2:19 am
Good thoughts and discussion – all. Just a couple of comments:
I think the tithe is a great place to start, but certainly not the end of our giving.
The NT does connect promises to giving, I chose OT passages here, but probably would have been more consistent to stick with the NT.
The church is not a building, yet the local church or local assembly is the focus of God’s plan for mankind today. Numerous passages bear out the idea that the believer is to seek out and remain faithful to a local assembly of believers. Paul and John addressed their letters to specific bodies of belivers. Paul started numerous churches. The passage states that “where two or three are gathered, there am I” does not call that gathering a “church”. God simply states that He will be present. Another familiar passage is that the church is the “pillar and ground” of the truth.
With that I will close. Thanks for your time!
July 11th, 2008 at 10:55 am
Well put Rocket…
Jesus said, “Unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees…”
I have always felt that 10% is the minimumumum we can do. Our lives as localized and global believers should be an open readiness to expend all for our brothers.
Love to all….
July 13th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
I don’t BUY it. Prosperity peachers are the only ones who prosper from teaching a FAKE meaning of tithes. Malachi 3:10 has absolutely nothing to do with your weekly pay check. Tithes were specific animals, crops from the land, that HAD to be BURNT unto the Lord using specific methods, and placed upon a divinely created alter, NOT to be offered on any old alter. Tithes were offered ONCE a year, sometimes every three years..The tithe was typically BLOOD SACRIFICES for sin and specific crops that were shared with the Widows, orphans and aliens. This is how God doesn’t change. Jesus was the ONLY perfect sacrifice and to be a pure Christian we are to take care of the WIDOWS, orphans and aliens, not make a preacher rich-who doesn’t take care of the widows orphans and strangers. Why should they be treated better than Jesus, who at times didn’t have a place to rest his head? There were 613 Jewish laws, and tithing was just one of them, and if we practice one law we are to practice ALL of them. This means your fake tithe preaching preacher should be preaching not to eat BBQ pork, bacon, pork chops, and stay away from leven bread, and be certain to circumcise your children…and telling his members not to touch a woman on her period and to stay away from the temple for 7 days until she is done…These were laws too, but nobody talks about them. Fake preacher like to twist scriptures to INVENT ways to get your money. They’ll even tell you they didn’t have money back then so this is why you give money instead. NOT TRUE, they had money, as early as Genesis…Anyone who believes if they tithe their weekly pay check and in return they’ll receive a financial blessing so big their bank account cannot contain it has been banboozled. Force Tithing is the biggest Christian con game. Watch out for false apostles they make merchandize of your soul. They’re cunning, they draw men unto themselves…Nobody will testify acount their bankruptcy, foreclosures, only their mysterious tax return…forking over hundreds of dollars a month…when you can’t afford is steals from your children, and your retirement, the dream of owning a house!
July 14th, 2008 at 11:20 am
If you are putting the ‘dream of owning a house’ before your charitable giving then it is an idol. If the bible is God breathed then tithing is in there for a reason. Yes Jesus fulfilled the law, but that doesn’t mean we have nothing to learn from it. A 10% tithe is a good starting place, but all Christians should be giving as the Spirit leads us. Whether that is to our local church organization, to international aid, sponsoring children, supporting missionaries, or wherever isn’t as important as out attitude about our own giving. We shouldn’t feel required to give; we should desire to do so. The Lord loves a cheerful giver.
BTW, blood sacrifices for sin were offered on the Day of Atonement on behalf of the nation of Israel and we’re not a part of the tithe AFAIK. Tithe was for the tribe of Levites to live off of. They did not receive a share of the land, but instead were to got the tithe of the other 11 tribes for their work as priests. (Numbers 18:21)
July 17th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Re: tithing not being 10% – you do realize that the word tithe means 10 percent (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tithe)? I always have a hard time with people’s reluctance to accept a tithe as being 10%. I realize that it began with the Jews, however, if you want to follow the Old Testament you could always follow Jesus’ advice to the rich young ruler: “Sell everything you have, and give the money to the poor.”
Jesus never let us off the hook as far as the law he gave in the Old Testament – he simply fulfilled it and gave it a higher purpose. If someone can’t give God a measly 10% of their income (you truly cannot outgive God – while that’s not a good motivation, I think it’s worth saying that if you’re faithful you CAN afford 10% or more) I’d question why. I think 10% is a starting point (I’d at least make it a goal to get there soon) not a destination. Someone way better than I had a goal to give God 90% and live on 10% (which we may be able to do once we’re debt free and have a good nest egg) – what better way to put God first?
October 31st, 2010 at 9:10 pm
Hello there, just doing some research for my 7 for all Mankind site. Lots of information out there. Looking for something else, but cool site. Have a great day.
May 19th, 2011 at 8:51 am
Tithing helps you out, God does not need your money he is making a way to bless you. God is a god of order and he cannot go against or contradict his word. The tithe is 10% of your gross income and you are not giving until you have giving above the tithe (offerings). I dont care if all you have left after giving the tithe is 1 cent, give and it shall be giving to you, good measure pressed down and running over. He is the God that multiplies your seed and he is your source. God said prove him now that he will open the windows of heaven and poor you out a blessing that you do not have room enough to receive. You must believe in God more that you believe in the mortgage co, power co, or government. Let God be true and every man a liar.
Even if you are behind on your bills, put God first, confess the word, meaning you say what the word of God says about your situation by thanking him that he has already gone before you and made the crooked places straight and he already knew what was going to happen because nothing takes him by surprise so that means he has already made a way for you, you just have to believe and thank God for he is a God that cannot lie. You can rob God now and things in your life may seem to go well for the moment but later is always longer that now. David said he was young and now he is old and he has never seen the righteous forsaken nor their seed begging bread. If you want to give God a “sick” offering, meaning less than 10% of your gross, then you need to keep your money because your going to need it. God can’t bless you the way he wants to when you go against his word.
He who makes provisions for this life alone is wise for a moment but a fool forever…
July 27th, 2012 at 11:02 pm
I’m not against supporting my church, just mandatory laws that God never gave the Christian churches. Tithing, keeping Leviticus laws like Saturday Sabbath, the Pass Over Feast, Circumcision & tithing were never given to one Gentile Christian to keep, period!
Twelve Negatives of Tithe Legalist:
1). In various churches Tithing is taught like paying a bill as if one must buy the free grace and favor of God when Jesus declared from his Cross “Paid in full. Not Pay in full. This misrepresents the love, mercy and character of Jesus. Romans 10:4 Christ is the endd of the law for every believer. Romans 8:32 God with His Son freely gives us all things.
2). Mandatory tithe teaching takes all the focus off the payment Jesus made and places it on the money people pay. They then feel they paid for their blessing and some even feel they paid for their salvation, instead of Jesus.
Tithe teaching in some cases is a slippery slop into heresy where some are preaching tithe for salvation. The bible is clear that man was helpless to save himself which is why Jesus had to come save a lost & dying world.
3). Tithe boasting produces pride in works and diminishes the work of grace threw faith in Jesus, thus producing self glorification, and self reliance.
4). ENFORCED TITHING throws redeemed Christians back under an Old Covenant which they were never given. Christians came to God under a completely separate and different (New) Covenant based on the payment Jesus made for us on the Cross.
5). Enforced tithing makes Christians believe they came to God under the Old Covenant of performance and works. God never gave one Gentile the tithe law!
Galatians 4:30 God said “Cast out the bond woman and her son for she shall not inherit the promise with the free woman” Paul said this is an allegory (ANALOGY) of Law vs. Grace. Bible illiterates have no on the difference in Old Covenant vs New. They need to read and re-read Galatians 3:13, Gal. 5:4 Gal.3:24 & 25, Hebrews 8:6 & 7
Romans 8:3, Hebrews 7:2
6). Most Christians are ignorant to the fact that Devout Orthodox Jews this day no longer pay tithes but give free will offerings. God specified all Tithes be given in a specific manner. Only the Tribe of Levi was authorized to collect the tithes from those Tribes who were given an allotment of the Promised Canaan Land.
7). Jesus did not promote tithing even to the proud tithing Pharisees in Matthew 23:23 AND THEY WERE JEWS UNDER THE LEVITICAL LAW BEFORE JESUS SAID PAID IN FULL. JESUS said tithing was not even the most important aspect of the law. Yes Jesus called it a law
8). No One can find one mandatory command from God to Gentile Christians to keep the tithe law, infact the bible is clear that no man is justified by keeping any law. We now have the Holy Spirit as a guide the bible is clear the law saved no one it only pointed out our sin and need of grace.
9). Galatians 2:16 know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.
10). Paid in full means Paid in full, not 80 percent but 100 percent
11). Abraham was not justified by his voluntary one time tithe to Melchizedek
Romans 4:2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had
something to boast about–but not before God.
12). Tither boast in their tithe record and give it the credit instead of the payment Jesus made on the cross
13 Bonus one: Christ has redeemed us from the curse which means they have no right to quote the Malachi 3:8-9 curse to the Lord’s redeemed to collect tithes.
Those redeemed by Christ can give as the Holy Spirit leads and guides.
July 27th, 2012 at 11:10 pm
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us– for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE “–
So this pretty much voids the Malachi 3 curse which anyone who has read their whole bible would know was to a completely different nation called the Nation of Israel before Jesus ushered us into the Dispensation of grace. If you are redeemed you have God’s favor free of charge.
It is not being obedient to keep one Levitical law which was never given to one Gentile Christian. James 2:10 says to keep one law and break the others voids them all!
July 27th, 2012 at 11:14 pm
Galatians 3:13-14 Christ redeemed us from the curse, Christ redeemed us from the curse, Christ redeemed us from the curse…
Keep repeating this till you actually believe it. Don’t accept a curse in Malachi for not tithing. Christ redeemed us from the curse.. this includes, sickness, poverty and lack.
Christ redeemed us from the curse, that’s it keep repeating it, some Christians have had a life time of brainwashing on paying those tithes.
Col.2:14 He nailed the ordinances that was against us to the cross.
November 28th, 2012 at 12:27 pm
tithing indeed re-affirms our dependence on God and acknowledges him as our only source.
March 20th, 2013 at 4:13 pm
Tithing is not a practice of OT Law, tithing was established years before the Law. Please study to show thyself approved and do not lead others into unfaithfulness by assumptions. Abraham tithed to Melchizidek, he wasn’t bound by the Law to do it. Also if you believe the Law should require us to do less, Jesus said if you look at a woman to lust, it’s adultery, where the Law said the actual act of sleeping with a woman was adultery. Under grace we are held to a higher standard of faithfulness. Please remove your “opinion” on tithing and do not cause any more of your brothers and sisters to stumble in regards to giving.
April 25th, 2013 at 6:57 pm
to Matt-
Is there any scriptural basis for this mantra? I think the opposite is true. If God only gave us what we could handle, then why would we need God?
ans: read 1st Corinthians 10 vs 13 and this is assured to those in the Lord which is 1 of many reasons why we need God
When do you turn to God more often? When life is going great and there’s nothing you can’t handle, or when things are falling apart and everything looks hopeless?
ans: turning to God shouldn’t be like “more often” but as soon as you see the light that’s when you turn to Him and stay in Him. when life is great you give thanks but when things are falling apart you ask for strength.
June 5th, 2016 at 12:33 pm
i have been tithing for years now and has seen my life transformed from just an ordinary person to a somebody.
try it!! Results are there.
God bless you all Tithers!