What is Tithing and Do I Need to Tithe?
By-Crickettt
What is tithing according to the Bible? There are scriptures found in both the Old and New Testament books of the Bible. Let’s look at what it means and What God has to say about it in His Word.
Tithing in Biblical terms is the practice of giving a tenth or 10% of your income or resourses to support the growth of the church and spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. We first see tithing in Genesis 14:18-20, when Abraham offered a tenth of his spoils from war to the priest Melchizedek. This was considered a foreshadower of tithing.
Genesis 14:18-20 (NASB)2020 [18] And Melchizedek the king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High. [19] And he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; [20] And blessed be God Most High, Who has handed over your enemies to you.” And he gave him a tenth of everything.
https://bible.com/bible/2692/gen.14.18-20.NASB2020
Under the Mosaic Law, tithing became a structured practice. In Leviticus 27:30-32, the Israelites were instructed to give a tenth of their income, livestock, and crops as an offering to the Lord. Their tithing was given to the Levites, who performed the religious duties in that community.
Leviticus 27:30-32 (NASB)2020 [30] ‘Now all the tithe of the land, of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s; it is holy to the Lord. [31] If, therefore, someone should ever want to redeem part of his tithe, he shall add to it a fifth of it. [32] For every tenth part of herd or flock, whatever passes under the rod, the tenth one shall be holy to the Lord.
https://bible.com/bible/2692/lev.27.30-32.NASB2020
In Malachi 3:10-12, the prophet Malachi instructed the people of Israel to tithe faithfully to the Lord and by doing so they would receive blessings from the Lord.
Malachi 3:10-12 (NASB)2020 [10] Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and put Me to the test now in this,” says the Lord of armies, “if I do not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows. [11] Then I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruit of your ground; nor will the vine in the field prove fruitless to you,” says the Lord of armies. [12] “All the nations will call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land,” says the Lord of armies.
https://bible.com/bible/2692/mal.3.10-12.NASB2020
The New Testament encouraged believers to give cheerfully because God looks at the heart of man when they give. It should never be considered a chore to give. We acknowledge that without God, we have nothing. Therefore, giving 10% off the gross of our income acknowledges that God is our Lord and provider. We have been blessed because of Him and He deserves our tithe.
The New Testament focused on believers being generous and good stewards of what all God had blessed them with. A perfect example of giving from the heart is found in Mark 12:41-44. Jesus tells the story about a poor widow who put her last two coins into the offering. She gave from her heart and from her living.
Mark 12:41-44 (NASB)2020 [41] And Jesus sat down opposite the treasury, and began watching how the people were putting money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large amounts. [42] And a poor widow came and put in two lepta coins, which amount to a quadrans. [43] Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; [44] for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on.”
https://bible.com/bible/2692/mrk.12.41-44.NASB2020
2 Corinthians 9:7 also mentions the importance of giving with a cheerful heart. Believers should not be hesitant in their giving. God has declared a blessing and provision to the generous believer who gives to please God and is not reluctant, acting under compulsion, or greedy.
2 Corinthians 9:6-12 (NASB)2020 [6] Now I say this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows generously will also reap generously. [7] Each one must do just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. [8] And God is able to make all grace overflow to you, so that, always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed; [9] as it is written: “He scattered abroad, he gave to the poor, His righteousness endures forever.” [10] Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; [11] you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God. [12] For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God.
https://bible.com/bible/2692/2co.9.6-12.NASB2020
The Bible gives many reasons why tithing is so important to God. The most important reason is obedience to His command. When His followers obey His Word, blessings follow. God works in the lives of those whose hearts are set on Him. Obedience reflects our faith and trust in God to meet our needs and rely on Him completely no matter what. We are giving back to God the portion that rightfully belongs to Him.
Tithes and offerings help support the church and ministries to further the Kingdom of God by reaching out to those who are lost and in need all over the world. Jesus commands us to go and make disciples in all nations. One way of doing that is by our giving. There are many good churches and ministries who are truly making a difference. Ask God to direct you in your giving and where He wants you to give.
Lastly, tithing is a way of thanking God for all He has done and will do in your life. Being grateful for His provision and realizing that it all belongs to Him anyway, should be enough for us to want to tithe. Without His grace, mercy, and provision we would have nothing! He is the very breath we breathe. The Bible says, it’s His breath in our lungs and therefore, we should thank and praise Him. He loves to bless His children and bring them joy. Everything we have comes from God.
Here are more scripture verses on tithing:
Proverbs 3:9-10 (NASB)2020 [9] Honor the Lord from your wealth, And from the first of all your produce; [10] Then your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.
https://bible.com/bible/2692/pro.3.9-10.NASB2020
Deuteronomy 8:18-20 (NASB)2020 [18] But you are to remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, in order to confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. [19] And it shall come about, if you ever forget the Lord your God and follow other gods and serve and worship them, I testify against you today that you will certainly perish. [20] Like the nations that the Lord eliminates from you, so you shall perish, because you would not listen to the voice of the Lord your God.
https://bible.com/bible/2692/deu.8.18-20.NASB2020
Genesis 28:20-22 (NASB)2020 [20] Jacob also made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me on this journey that I take, and give me food to eat and garments to wear, [21] and I return to my father’s house in safety, then the Lord will be my God. [22] And this stone, which I have set up as a memorial stone, will be God’s house, and of everything that You give me I will assuredly give a tenth to You.”
https://bible.com/bible/2692/gen.28.20-22.NASB2020
Luke 6:38 (NASB)2020 [38] Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.”
https://bible.com/bible/2692/luk.6.38.NASB2020
Philippians 4:19 (NASB)2020 [19] And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
https://bible.com/bible/2692/php.4.19.NASB2020
Luke 16:10-13 (NASB)2020 [10] “The one who is faithful in a very little thing is also faithful in much; and the one who is unrighteous in a very little thing is also unrighteous in much. [11] Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous wealth, who will entrust the true wealth to you? [12] And if you have not been faithful in the use of that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? [13] No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”
https://bible.com/bible/2692/luk.16.10-13.NASB2020
Luke 21:1-4 (NASB)2020 [1] Now He looked up and saw the wealthy putting their gifts into the temple treasury. [2] And He saw a poor widow putting in two lepta coins. [3] And He said, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all of them; [4] for they all contributed to the offering from their surplus; but she, from her poverty, put in all that she had to live on.”
https://bible.com/bible/2692/luk.21.1-4.NASB2020
Matthew 6:19-21 (NASB)2020 [19] “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. [20] But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; [21] for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
https://bible.com/bible/2692/mat.6.19-21.NASB2020
©Copyright Crickettt’s Sanctuary 2024/Author- “Crickettt”. All Rights Reserved. All written materials in personal blogs, websites or network pages cannot be used, reproduced, copied to a CD, sold and distributed or altered in any way without permission from the owner. Thanks for your cooperation and God Bless.
