Are we supposed to give 10% of our income for a tithe?

[SFC Retired]

I Corinthians 15:58
"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord."
Many people are hung up on the legal system of tithing. I've got nothing against giving. But you are not under the tithe. Now I know this is going to ruffle a few feathers, but remember the tithe was part of the Law. Tithing was given only to the tribe of Levi. Always remember that Paul never says tithe, because that was part of the Law, but that doesn't say that God doesn't expect you to give. Let's look how Paul puts it.
I Corinthians 16:1a
"Now concerning the collection (of money) for the saints,..."
Paul was always instructed to remember the poor saints at Jerusalem. Why? They had cashed in land and everything they had and brought the money to the feet of the twelve disciples. It all went into a common kitty back there in Acts Chapters 2 and 3 in light of the Kingdom. But the Kingdom didn't come because the Jews had rejected it. They had to live off the kitty and I imagine it was a pretty good existence for a while. But God took care of them through Paul's Gentile converts, and the money was taken back to Jerusalem for them.
I Corinthians 16:1,2
"Now concerning the collection for the saints, (Jewish saints at Jerusalem) as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye (at Corinth). Upon the first day of the week (not on the seventh day Sabbath. Why first day of the week? Resurrection day!) let every on of you lay by him in store, (as a tithe? No, but rather) as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come."
Now that's one of the beauties of the Christian life, that's the beauty of God's Grace. He has left us with that free will. We can give as much as we want to, and God more or less lets it be known that 10% is a guideline for giving. But God's not going to zap you if you don't give 10%. Now you may lose some reward in glory, but you are under no mandate under Paul's teaching to give a set amount. That's up to you as a believer as God has prospered you. And God has enough respect for your free will as a believer that you're going to give as much as you can.
Paul told these believers at Corinth to take this offering before he came so that they wouldn't beunder his influence. He wanted that all taken care of before he arrived.
Philippians 2:6,7a
"Who, (speaking of Christ Jesus in verse 5) being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: (because He was God, the God of creation, the God who owns everything in the universe) 7. But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant..."
Now too often we read that word servant and we kind of glide over it without realizing what is the better term for servant? Slave. How much material goods did a slave have? None. How much of this world good did those fellows have? None. Well this is where the Lord Jesus took Himself. He took Himself to the depths of being a slave with absolutely nothing of this world's goods to call His own. Unbelievable? It is from the human side. I can't comprehend it, but it's what the Word declares. The Almighty God Himself in the Person of Christ became a slave in so many words.
Philippians 2:7b
"...was made in the likeness of men:"
Now imagine from the exalted area of the Godhead to come down to this earth, and become nothing more than a human being like the rest of us, how far can you go? And yet that's what He did.
Philippians 2:8
"And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, (He didn't have to) and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."
Now why is Paul using that in relation to Christian giving? Well we have to take that same kind of attitude. If God, in the Person of Christ, was willing to leave that area of absolute control of the universe and took on the role of a slave for our salvation, then who are we to say, "Yeah, but I can't give anything."
II Corinthians 8:10,11
"And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward, (zealous) a year ago. 11. Now therefore perform (or complete) the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have."
What's Paul driving at? For a whole year they had been talking about getting these collections ready for the poor saints in Jerusalem. But they still hadn't done it. So Paul says, "Let's get busy and complete it." Paul wanted it all done before he got there so they wouldn't give because of his presence. So this is exactly what he's talking about. Remember this is all in regard to Christian giving, and notice there's not a word in here of him naming ten percent. He never says a tithe.
II Corinthians 8:12
"For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not."
Now does God expect someone who is on a very meager income, maybe nothing more than just a little social security check, to give all that to ministry or some church? No way. Here God is making it so clear that giving is based on that ability to give.
II Corinthians 8:13
"For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:"
In other words, Paul says, "He is not going to make anybody, whether they are wealthy or poor, to feel obligated to give because of his presence. Now he comes all the way down through verse 16 - 24 speaking of the men who would be coming along to pick up these offerings. And again he's showing the need for integrity in handling the affairs of God. Paul is telling the Corinthians that the men who are probably headed up by Titus, are men of integrity, they don't have to worry about turning over their offerings to them because they will get every penny of it to Jerusalem where it's supposed to go.
II Corinthians 9:1,2a
"For as touching the ministering to the saints, (the poor saints in Jerusalem who had been left destitute because of their offerings into the common kitty back there beginning with Acts Chapter 2) it is superfluous (or it goes beyond saying) for me to write to you: 2. For I know the forwardness (the zealousness) of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia,..."
In other words what was Paul actually doing on behalf of the Corinthian believers? He was boasting to other congregations on what a good job they were doing in making these collections.
Continued on next page.

[SFC Retired]

II Corinthians 9:3
"Yet have I sent the brethren, (these that will be picking up the offering) lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf, that, as I said, ye may be ready:"
He is building them up as he says, "Now look Corinthians, Titus, and the gentlemen that are already making collections up here in the poorest part of mountainous Greece, when they come into a culture and commercial center like Corinth, then it stands to reason there's going to be more wealth available than there would be up there in the mountains." So I think Paul is sort of setting them up and preparing them that these men are going to be expecting something of you, because you have so much more to offer than these poor churches up in northern Greece.
II Corinthians 9:5
"Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, (their offerings) where of ye had noticed before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness."
Do you see this constant drumming of the fact, "Now have this done when these fellows get there, don't put it off, don't procrastinate, have these offerings collected and ready so that they can pick it up and take it on to where it has to go there in Jerusalem. Here we come to the whole concept of Christian giving.
II Corinthians 9:6
"But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully."
Now you want to remember that the vast majority of people in this day and time were agriculturally connected. So Paul is talking about sowing a crop of grain. And any farmer knows that if you sow half a crop of the required seed, you're not even going to get half a crop. Now you don't sow more grain than is necessary, but you put on the stipulated amount to get a full crop of grain. However, it's brought into the Christian experience on the same level. If you're going to be tight with your giving, if you're going to hold back when you have the ability to give, then God will kind of hold back on His blessing.
II Corinthians 9:7
"Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: (legalism, or because somebody has laid it on you) for God loveth a cheerful giver."
Now if you have a marginal Bible the word cheerful in the Greek meant "Hilarious." How many people go to church on Sunday morning, and lay that offering on the plate with a hilarious attitude? Not many. They do it out of a sense of duty, they do it because they think somebody is laying a burden on their shoulder that they have to give. No you don't. If you don't want to give, and if you can't give hilariously, God in so many words says, "I DON'T NEED IT, AND I DON'T WANT IT."
But for a believer to give as God has prospered and do it joyfully, and give it to a place where the Word is honored, where the Gospel is proclaimed for salvation. (I Corinthians 15:1-4 or Romans 10:9-10) then God will give you the direction, and God will show you how much to give and where to give it.
Malachi 1:1
"The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel ( not the Church in the Age of Grace) by Malachi."
Now remember believing what God says is the whole basis of studying and understanding the Word of God. Now granted we have to be careful. We're not going to bring into operation things that God told Israel to do back in the Old Testament. "Doesn't the Book of Malachi say to bring your tithe and offerings into the store house?" "Yes, but doesn't the same Old Testament say bring me your sacrifices?" Well then what are you going to do? Just because the Bible says to bring an animal sacrifice, are you going to go out and buy a lamb? Well of course not, we're not under that today, we know better than that. And yet it carries all the way through on everything. Just because the Old Testament told Israel to do something, that doesn't mean that's still valid for us today, and so we have to shake these things out. You can't just pick and choose what you want, like a lot of people are doing. Remember what was for Israel is completely different from what Paul tells us in the Church Age.

[Leafrivermac]

I have my opinion on tithing but immediately I wonder why we should be so eager to excuse what we don't want to do for God. Very possibly if a person believes tithing was done away with . . .(really believes and not choosing to believe conveniently) then maybe it won't impact his everlasting . . .but thats not my call.
Tithing was however before the Law of Moses. Genesis 14: 17-20 shows Abraham honoring God's high priest Melchizedek after God had delivered his enemies into his hand. . . . .and he gave him a tithe of all.
Abraham didn't tithe because it was a law but because he honored the man of God. Neither do I think that we should tithe believing that it is a law but because we honor the man of God and the Lords ministry. It's easy to dress up and go to church for some folk, easy to speak piously, great to be seen doing good works, but when it comes to reaching into our pockets for something other than what we covet and dropping it into a plate for which we get no credit, then we see where our affections lay.
Jacob also promised to serve the God of Abraham and said "Of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You" (Genesis 28:22) . . . . .Notice, it was "Of all You give me" . . . .We as God's children believe that what we have, our strength and abilities, are God given . . .why should we not give back in the same spirit that was giving back before the Law? Jesus Christ is a High Priest forever after the order of Melchisedek, should not we want to freely tithe as was done before the Law. . . . .Basically I feel that we should want to and if we don't "want to", then we have a much deeper problem.
Speaking to the Scribes and Pharasees who made self-righteous displays of strictly keeping the smaller points of God's Law He says "Woe to you Scribes and Pharasees, hipocrites! For you pay tithes of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the Law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done (these weightier matters) without leaving the others (tithing) undone. Mat 23:23
Of course the message is that mercy and faith should be put ahead of carefully tithing on every clump of poke salad that comes up in your yard . . . .especially when that strictness is driven by self righteousness. But Christ said "Not to leave the other undone" . . . .Not to fail to pay your tithes.
I feel pretty strong about this because I know the blessing that folk are missing out on by not taking God at His Word. . . . . Mal 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
God asks us to prove Him out and I have found that He is true to His Word. I feel that we should gather with like minded believers, congregate, and tithe to that church. Giving above the tithe as offering is also good but it does'nt replace the tithe. Some say that they don't want to tithe to the church because they want to know where their money is going but I have found that giving that kind of money to people of your own choosing glorifies oneself as much as anything else. If my 10 per cent is 500 a month and I hand it to folk I know every month then it builds my reputation . . .If I give it to the church and the church is able to help those in need then the money came from the Church and I don't get the credit for it.

[SFC Retired]

I did not say anywhere in the post we are not to give. I said we are not tied to the 10% tithe that so many preach. If you give your 10% because you think you have to, God doesn't want it and if you give you money to a church that does not preach the gospel, I believe you will be held accountable for that.

So you want to keep the law, but choose only the ones you like. What kind of animal do you carry to your church for sacrifice?

[IL_ray_phillips]

We are not under the the law which requires 10%. We do have to keep the commands. Which are the 10 commandments or the law of God. We are required to give for sure but its more than 10%. Thats what its all about giving everything for Jesus!
Luk 14:33
In the same way, any of you who does not
give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.

[Kosherboy]

I think we should give what we can and Give without expecting, not as taught by TV evangelist.

[LBR]

I agree that tithing was a requirement under the Law, which applied to Israelites. I believe that tithing didn't consist of just giving 10% of your cash, but basically 10% of everything you owned of value--such as livestock.

Christ told us to give as we have been prospered. If we truly do that, we'll give more than 10% of our cash. You can also give more of your time, and your talents, etc.

I'll admit I could certainly give more.

Chad

[elgallo114]

Originally Posted by SFC Retired

I did not say anywhere in the post we are not to give. I said we are not tied to the 10% tithe that so many preach. If you give your 10% because you think you have to, God doesn't want it and if you give you money to a church that does not preach the gospel, I believe you will be held accountable for that.

So you want to keep the law, but choose only the ones you like. What kind of animal do you carry to your church for sacrifice?

That wasn't very nice. Surely you could have made your point without the knife in your hand.

I agree with the base of your message though. We are not under any law that requires 10%. I agree with most others here that say give what you can when you can. Not just wealth either. Sometimes my time is more valuable than the check I could write.

[Snooky]

Isn't it easy to select chosen portions of the scripture to justify our love for the things of this world. The LOVE of money is the root of all evil. If one isn't WILLING to give all things unto the Lord, and do it cheerfully, he should find an altar pray that God have mercy on his stingy soul. Bro mac did a good job of laying the scriptures plainly so any that wants to do right will know what the can willing do to farther the Kingdom.
Moses law was written in stone by "the finger of God" not Moses. That same God has now written his Law upon the fleshly tabels of the believers HEART. Where ones treasure is, there will his heart be also. With the heart man believeth unto righteousness. Paul said it this way, that the RIGHTEOUSNESS of THE LAW might be fulfilled in us. Us being the Gentiles grafted into the tame tree and made partakers of the blessings of Abraham, who is the Father of the faithful Jews and Gentiles.
If it isn't written in you heart, then don't give God the tenth. If you are not willing to give God freewill offerings after you have given unto God that which is his to begin with, and not yours to spend and use as you see fit, don't give it. Until we can trust God with our finances, we will NEVER trust him with our soul.

[elgallo114]

Well, churches, meeting places, youth groups, etc... they all cost money to operate. And they need to be funded. The best solution is to have the members fund it.

I'm guessing it probably sounded really bad to call it a membership fee. And hoping the people will give all they can and actually fund it without having to ask for it is probably not ever gonna work. So people seemed to just come of with the solution of tithing. 10% was mentioned in the Bible, so they used that. Some tried to justify it to those who questioned and probably opened this whole can of worms without the intention.

That's a theory anyway. I'm sure there's been a lot of plain old corrupt greedy A holes exploiting good people. No question.

But I can't help but think that initially, most church's or religious communities mean well when they ask for money.

How else would a church receive funding? And I know some of you don't believe in structured churches, so obviously, this question is not for you. Unless you have some constructive commentary of course.