Fresh Vision

Tithe may be defined as one tenth of somebody’s income or produce paid voluntarily or as a tax for the support of a church or its clergy.

The patriarch Abraham first gave tithes in Gen 14: 18-20, at an encounter with Melchizedek king of Salem, who was the priest of the most high God. Jacob also vowed to God  in Gen 28:22 saying “and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.” Today it is quite difficult to monetize gifts that are not in cash, so as to pay tithes on them.  Tithing had by this time become a tradition in Israel.  In Numbers 18: 20 -26 the LORD gave a clear instructions  to Moses not to give any inheritance to the Tribe of the Levites as HE had chosen them to be priests and thus should live by the tithes the rest of tribes of Israel would pay to them.  Truly in Joshua 13:33 when the inheritance was shared amongst the tribes, none was given to the tribe of Levi, as the LORD had commanded.  So clearly the Tithes were for the Priests.

In the New Testament, as contained in Matthew 23:23, and Luke 11:42 our Lord Jesus didn’t condemn tithing, but emphasised that morality and the Love of God must go side by side with it. In Hebrews 7:6-10, as originated from Gen 14:20, the basis was that the people paid tithes to the priests, however upon Christ’s death,  all true Christians of today are priests,  as revealed in   Rev 1:6, 5:10.  So who do we then give our tithes to? In offerings, the early church gave as the need arose; sometimes beyond 10% of their income. Some sold their lands and gave all.

Today, trying to abide by the instruction of tithing in Leviticus 27: 30-32 would be much difficult for items other than cash income, particularly for entitlements and gifts, or like other codes of conduct contained in Leviticus 7:19 – 38 they could be considered as part of the Law which made nothing perfect in the old testament and thus had to be disannulled as indicated in Hebrews 7:  18.

However the book of Malachi 3: 8-10 tells more clearly that tithes are to be brought to God’s store house, not particularly to a priest. Perhaps the Pastor today only represents the storekeeper and it, may not really be your business how that store is managed.  But it adds that by not paying your tithe and offering you are robbing God and certainly this could have dire consequences, more so phrase “BRING YE !…” appears to be a command not a suggestion.

Really the laws of the Bible are principles that when applied leads to a consequence. If you choose to pay your tithe today and do it rightly, then you get the blessings, just as you may choose to pay first-fruits, or sow “sacrificially” or even only give to the poor and get the reward in that area of giving as contained in Psalm 41: 1-4. To sow and reap is God’s universal law that governs nature. It could be faith to pay tithe from your on business capital or champion concepts such as – partnership, faith seed, project vow – etc. as are being highlighted today in some Pentecostal assemblies which could attract blessings, and a fulfilment of the word of faith that a sincere minister may make concerning them, but certainly, they are no commandments of the Scriptures.

Indeed, there isn’t emphasis on tithing in the New Testament, because the people gave as the church needed, some even had to sell their lands and give all that they had just to ensure that the needs of the church were met. (Acts 5:8 & 20). It was no more about percentages. Some literarily gave their lives (died for the cause of Christ, like Stephen. Today people give tithes even when their hearts are far from God. Truly, if you give your life to Christ, what else can you not part with for the sake of propagating His word?

Samuel Kwelle    (March 2013)