Why is tithing relevant to us today?
Tithing causes all kinds of heated debates and arguments. Whichever side of this issue you find yourself, for or against tithing, it's essential to be informed. There are too many opinions regarding this critical issue, not enough knowledge, which should come from one source, the Bible.
Tithing is mentioned two times in the Old Testament before the Law God gave Moses. When Abraham gave a tithe to Melchizedek, the king of Salem and a priest of God Most High, and when Jacob made a vow to God and promised to give him a tenth (tithe) of what God would provide him. There are a lot of unknowns in these short stories, which has caused much conjecture. To better understand the tithe, we must look to other scriptures that more precisely define it.
Leviticus 27:30-32. "And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord's. It is holy to the Lord. If a man wants at all to redeem any of his tithes, he shall add one-fifth to it. And concerning the tithe of the herd or the flock, of whatever passes under the rod, the tenth one shall be holy to the Lord."
This is the next mention of the tithe in the Bible. According to these passages, the tithe was a part of the land's produce, the herds, and the flocks. Many use this verse to justify that tithing doesn't apply since they are not farmers of land or animals. Unfortunately, they miss the most critical part of this passage; to whom the tithe belongs.
The tithe belonged to God.
"It is holy to the Lord." This fact is crucial to understanding the relevance of tithing today. The argument against the tithe completely ignores the fact that the tithe belongs to the Lord and is holy. The Hebrew word for holy is "qodesh," which means "apartness, sacredness" or "separateness." The tithe was sacred and was to be set apart and presented to God.
Ever wonder? Why would God separate for himself a portion of all that He provided to the people of Israel and require that they return it back to him and not retain and require the same of the provision he gives us?
Gods' primary reason for the tithe
Let's be honest; we don't like to depend on anyone. We want to do things our way, be in control, and be recognized for our achievements. It takes humility to acknowledge that what you accomplish isn't wholly your doing; that if it weren't for God's provision, you would be incapable of doing anything. Our flesh strives for independence and control every day, and if we allow it to rule, it leads us to idolatry.
God knew the abundance and blessings he would give the Israelites in the promised land would compete for their affection and undermine their commitment to Him. That's also true for you and me. God established the tithe for our own good: to provide a tangible way for us to chose God over the things in this world.
"Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today, lest-when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;… then you say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.'… "Then it shall be, if you by any means forget the Lord your God, and follow other gods, and serve them and worship them, I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish."" (Deuteronomy 8:11-14, 17, 19)
Only when a person's heart is lifted up because pride creeps in can he say, "My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth." How likely is that person to acknowledge and submit to God and His ways?
Pride in our hearts is an assault against God. It seeks to remove God from his position of authority and place self in that place. This is idolatry. God alone is worthy of worship. When man worships anything other than God, including himself, destruction and death inevitably follow. Knowing this, God provides tithing as a way to overcome this temptation.
Tithing is fundamentally a repetitive act of acknowledgment and submission.
It's worship and rededication. When I tithe, I acknowledge [bring to mind and agree] who my provision's real source is. In submitting the first portion back to God, I declare, "God, you are the creator and giver of life. All I have is from you, and you have once again faithfully provided for all my needs. I return this, your portion, back to you as a tangible expression of my love, submission, and trust in you."
Some topics in the Bible, like tithing, are not simple to understand. It takes study and prayer to draw out their meaning and application for us today. No one can claim to be an expert on these topics, but we should all seek to understand them better.
We’d love to hear your thoughts.
Do you believe tithing is relevant to Christians today? Why or why not?
Please be of the right Spirit, kind and respectful in your response.
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