So, after yesterday’s post (thanks Jessica!), most of you had very simplistic views of the Bible’s teaching on money. You said, “Be a good steward. And give 10%.” Yeah…..Ok…..Maybe….. I mean, the Bible contains a lot of teaching about money and giving, but yet, we have boiled it down to these short principles without thinking through the diverse contexts of the verses.
This got me thinking about what the church actually teaches, and I found this “helpful” video.
And for lil’Mike….
Funny? Not really.
It seems that we have done a poor job of understanding how the Bible talks about money, specifically the tithe. So, your homework for tonight is to figure out what the Bible teaches with regard to “tithing.” Don’t give me one verse, try to most of them and see if they teach the same thing. If they don’t, are you supposed to harmonize them or let them be distinct? At the end of your analysis, what are we supposed to give to God?
[Feel free to work in groups on this one. If you do, write out your "team" in the comments below.]
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December 8, 2009 at 9:11 pm
Noel Jefferson
I feel the Bible clearly states that we are to give back that which is God. God owns everything that we have. He gives us the ability to work and make a living. Like 16 teaches us about stewardship and the reasons to be cheerful giver. There are several verses in the Bible that I found that relate to giving are promises back or that money is a root of evil. Philippians 4:19, Malachi 3:10, I Timothy 6:10, Acts 20:35, Proverbs 22:7, Proverbs 3:9&10. The concept of giving 10 percent came from God’s instruction to give one tenth of what he gives us. II Corinathians 9:7 tells us to make up our minds as to what is given but to do so cheerfuly. I feel that God is understanding when the offering plate is passed. He knows that if you all are being a cheerful giver. I feel thw bottom line is you should give what you are able to give weath that is ten percent or 1 percent. God knows what’s in our heart.
December 8, 2009 at 10:43 pm
Jessica McCleaf
I searched some verses and i came up with the same references as Noel. According to Scripture we are to give ten percent but that is the minimum.. I believe that tithing does not only include money but also how we spend our time. We shouldn’t stop at ten percent with our giving. This also includes giving of time and abilities to your church, youth group, community service (in God’s name). We are always to be witnesses and things like community service projects and the church building all cost money. With the economy the way it is I know everyone is trying to cut back in areas but this does not apply for tithing (financially). God is ALWAYS faithful to us and He will provide a way for us. There are so many other ways to cut back. When we surrender our insecurities about our “tight” finances, God will take it upon Himself to provide an abundance of what you need. As you tithe you will see so much more being revealed to you. Put your mind at ease. God’s got you in His arms and in His plans, financially, emotionally and spiritually.
December 9, 2009 at 2:51 am
jtj
which of Noel’s verses make you believe that you have to give 10%?
December 9, 2009 at 11:06 pm
Jessica McCleaf
it wasnt the same references… sorry i kinda trailed a bit in thought on that one without realizing it.
What i ment was according to Scripture and the definition of the word Tithe, we are to give 10% to the Lord.
Sorry about that.
December 8, 2009 at 10:45 pm
Ken Reilly
Tithing is an act of worshipful recognition of God as the source of our existence and all blessings. We are commanded to give the first 10% of our fruits of labor to God. Tithing encourages our reliance on god and is results in blessings from God. Tithing is the unselfish giving nature of God. Jesus said in Acts 20:35 “it is more blessed to give then to receive.” If we can’t afford to financially tithe we should offer our time, such as volunteering to help those less fortunate then us, spread the gospel of Jesus or offer other gifts we may have such as serving him in some way, playing music or teaching as long as we do it cheerfully. Jesus said we should be generous to those in need (Matthew 25:31-36).
December 9, 2009 at 2:52 am
jtj
where are we “commanded” to give 10%?
tithing results in being blessed by God? does this mean financially? who says?
who can’t afford to tithe their money? who decides? is “tithing” time what the Bible is getting at?
December 8, 2009 at 11:03 pm
John Hale
There are many old Testament references to tithing, it is included many times, both explicitly in the law, and other examples such as Abraham giving away %10 back to God. Jesus seems to be more against tithing when one first looks at the NT references, as He rebukes the Pharisees for obeying the tithe, but ignoring “weightier” parts of the law.
What are we supposed to give to God? In a way, everything. I think that when it comes to money, we aren’t to give all of our money to the church, (although He does still want the “first fruits”) but to spend all money as if it was a gift from God (to not waste money or use it for purposes He would never support).
December 9, 2009 at 1:09 am
Mike Tirrell
In the New Covenant the Bible does not specifically stated we are to tithe, meaning 10%, but we are obligated to give God our first fruits as a testament and acknowledgment of his many blessings. If you look closely at the verses they do not give a specific amount that must be rendered, but 10% is used in the OT, as the OT is for our teaching. I mean what can it hurt if we give God back a portion of what he gave us, we’re investing in the kingdom!
Philippians 4:19; Malachi 3:10; I Timothy 6:10; Acts 20:35; Proverbs 22:7; Proverbs 3:9&10, as well as in Matthew, Luke, and Hebrews. They all talk of giving back to God, the ones from the OT discuss tithes. In the end I thihnk tithing is necessary and essential in our lives (givings, budgets, etc.).
Deuces
December 9, 2009 at 2:55 am
jtj
what are our “first fruits”?
how is giving our money to the church “investing in the kingdom”? (it certainly can hurt in some scenarios – providing money so the rich get richer, people being scammed, paying off an unnecessary building, etc.)
so the whole book of matthew, luke, and hebrews is about tithing?
December 9, 2009 at 9:23 pm
Jessica Stratton
Im tag teaming with Lil Mike on this one. Our first fruits are the first part of everything that we owned. In Biblical times, the farmers were commanded to bring their first fruits, the best of their crops.
Giving money to the church is investing in the the kingdom because the church will use the money to help finance their ministry. Their ministries reach out to the members of the church and to nonmembers in their communities. (altleast my church does).
December 9, 2009 at 2:59 am
jtj
I feel like most of the comments above are simply spewing out stuff that you think you know, that may or may not actually be in the Bible. (I know its late in the semester…it is for me to, which perhaps has led to my gripy-ness.)
I want to see somebody dealing with some texts that address the issue!
If there is a difference between the OT and NT, what do we do with the OT? Is it moot? (If it is, why do we still have it?) If there is no 10% in the NT, are supposed to just give whatever our heart decides? If so, who decides if it is good enough? Should we ask questions to our church about where our money is going? Is it ok to be discontent when we find out where our money IS going?Is our time a replacement for our money?
December 10, 2009 at 9:28 am
Ryan
Matt 23:23 (Jesus’ affirmation of tithing, Luke 11:42 (Jesus’ affirmation of tithing), Lev 27:32 (Every tenth animal is the Lord’s), Deut 12:5-7 (Tithes, special gifts, freewill offerings) here are some Old Testament and some New Testament verses that tell us we are supposed to tithe and give back to God what is His. We are supposed to give God at least ten percent of what our income is and then anything else that we offer unto God is an offering, a little extra.
December 10, 2009 at 9:41 am
Gunner Kollock
I believe that tithing is is a way to show God that we are recognizing him and plus we are commanded to give 10% of the fruits of are labor. If you don’t tithe because of the fact that you forgot your money or you can’t simply afford to donate money its all okay because God understands your situation so you should at least give Him your time. Because God gives us His attention to us 24/7 we at least should give Him and 1 or 2 of are time at church. I learned over the years as i have got older that is that the money physically does not go to God but it helps build Gods buildings that were made for worship and fellowship otherwise know as churches. I try to give my 10% at church and sometimes I can’t but i think He understands so i try to make up what i don’t have by giving my time.
December 14, 2009 at 11:15 pm
Keina Harmon
Tithing is not a donation, it is something we give God becuase it is commanded.
December 10, 2009 at 10:48 pm
Anna Barnard
“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)
He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much. (Luke 16:10)
You shall bring the very first of the first fruits of your soil into the house of the Lord your God. You shall not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk. (Exodus 34:26)
These are just a few verses in the Bible that discussed the use of money, specifically tithing. In the first verse, God tells us very clearly that we ought to give our tithes. However, do not be mistaken, we should not tithe just for the sake of being blessed. I made this mistake for a long time and God convicted me of it. We should give, expecting nothing back. All our money is God’s anyways. However in this verse He says that He will bless us. So when you tithe, be thankful and God will bless you. In the second verse, it points out the fact that God wants us to be faithful in the little things, such as tithing. Then he will allow us to work on something bigger. In the last verse it points out that we should give our first fruits to God, our ten percent.
December 14, 2009 at 11:12 pm
Keina Harmon
There are a lot of verses in the Bible that talk about giving an offering to God. But the verses that Anna uses are some of the main verses used to describe money tithes in the Bible, although they do not directly say money. Like John said everything we have should be God’s even though he only asks for 10%.