Why Tithing?

Today at our launch team meeting after opening with worship I (Pastor Terrance) got to share with the team how God has provided for us with some of the sound equipment we need for our worship service. This was the spring board into why tithing is important in the life of a church. God's economic program is twofold: For the temporal needs of his people, and financial aid in the promotion of the gospel. The tithing system is God's original plan for promoting and maintaining the gospel and has never been changed.

The tree of knowledge of good and evil was an everlasting reminder that God is the rightful owner of the earth and everything in it. Adam was guilty of stealing something that did not belong to him. Today we are tested by the tithe. It is a safeguard against selfishness, which is the root of all other sins.

What two distinct things belong to God? The Sabbath and the tithe. We can recognize or disregard either of them--the seventh part of our time and the tenth part of that which we possess. We can steal God's time, His money or both.


Bible Basics
Old Testament

A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the Lord. Leviticus 27:30 (NIV)

Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; (10) then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. Proverbs 3:9-10 (NIV)

A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. Proverbs 11:25 (NIV)

"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. Malachi 3:10 (NIV)

New Testament

Freely you have received, freely give. Matthew 10:8 (NIV)

Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's. Matthew 22:21 (NIV)

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Luke 6:38 (NIV)

So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? Luke 16:11 (NIV)

It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35 (NIV)

Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. 1 Corinthians 4:2 (NIV)

On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. 1 Corinthians 16:2 (NIV)

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9 (NIV)

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. (7) Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 (NIV)

Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 1 Timothy 6:18 (NIV)



T-I-T-H-E

T - Tenth (10%) off the top for God
A tithe of everything ... is holy to the Lord. Leviticus 27:30

I - Investment in God's Kingdom But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven. Matthew 6:20 (NIV)

T - Test of our faith
"Test Me in this," says the Lord Almighty Malachi 3:10

H - Habit for spiritual growth
Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will
enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 2 Corinthians 9:10 (NIV)

E - Exhibition of our love
But just as you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us see
that you also excel in this grace of giving. 2 Corinthians 8:7 (NIV)

I have never met a Spirit-filled, committed, dynamic Christian who was still arguing about whether to give God ten percent of his income. ~ Dr. Charles Stanley