At one church I served as pastor we recited a tithing slogan in unison each week just before we received the offering. We said together: “The Bible teaches it; God honors it; we gladly practice it – tithing!” The Bible certainly does teach tithing. It is demanded in Leviticus 27: 30 – 33 among a number of places. Some suggest tithing is just a matter of the Law however tithing was practiced centuries before the Law was given. Abram gave a…a tenth of everything to Melchizedek (a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ) (Gen. 14: 20). Jacob vowed, “If God will be with me and watch over me on this journey…then the LORD will be my God….and I will give to You [God] a tenth of all that You give me (Gen. 28: 20, 22). Tithing predates the Law and extends beyond it. In Matthew 23: 23 Jesus gave His implicit blessing to the practice of tithing while demanding deeper reality in the life of the Scribes and Pharisees.
It is sometimes helpful to recall that the Hebrews were actually supposed to contribute three different tithes. They were to bring a tithe to the Levites who were in turn to tithe to the priests (Num. 18: 21 – 32). A tithe was to be brought to the sanctuary and eaten before the Lord (Deut. 14: 22 – 27). Every three years a tithe was to be given for the poor (Deut. 14: 28 – 29).
Since God has nowhere in the New Testament negated the practice of tithing why do some Christians insist tithing is not necessary for them? Such an artful dodge has always amazed me. Being lavishly blessed as we are we should long to give more not less to our Lord. Lets all make this a year of financial obedience to the Lord. Let’s begin with a tenth of our gross income if we are not yet tithing. If we are tithing lets mature in our giving as God directs. God says if we are faithful in giving that He is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work (2 Cor. 9: 8). People of the Book are always people who give God their pocketbook.