The Bible is filled with verses about giving. Whether it’s giving sacrificially, tithing, or giving offerings, God wants us to be generous with what we have. In this blog post, we’ll explore what the Bible has to say about tithe and offering, and how we can apply these principles in our own lives.
Are you ready to dive in? Let’s go!
Tithe And Offering
When it comes to giving, the Bible is very clear that we are to be generous. In 2 Corinthians 9:7, Paul says, “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
This verse tells us that we should give generously and cheerfully, not begrudgingly or out of obligation. When we give from a place of joy, it pleases God and blesses both the giver and the receiver.
Tithe is an Old Testament practice that is often misunderstood in our modern context. To help clear things up, let’s look at what the word “tithe” actually means.
The word “tithe” comes from the Hebrew word ma’aser, which means ” tenth.”
So when the Bible talks about tithing, it is referring to the practice of giving 10% of our income back to God. This was a common practice in Old Testament times, and it was seen as a way of honoring God with our finances.
What Does The New Testament Say About The Tithe?
In the New Testament, we see that giving is still important, but it’s not tied to a specific percentage. In Matthew 23:23, Jesus says, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.”
Jesus is pointing out that the Pharisees were focused on tithing herbs and spices, but they neglected the more important things like justice, mercy, and faithfulness.
While tithing is not required in the New Testament, we see that giving is still important to God. In Matthew 6:21, Jesus says, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
This verse tells us that our hearts will follow our finances. So if we want our hearts to be focused on God, we need to be generous with our money.
When it comes to giving offerings, the Bible is clear that we are to give cheerfully and generously, as well as sacrificially.
In Acts 4:34-35, we see that the early Church was very generous in their giving, ” That there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.”
This passage shows us that the early Christians were not only generous in their giving, but they were also willing to give sacrificially. They sold their possessions and gave the money to those who had need.
When we think about giving offerings, we should be generous and sacrificial in our giving. We should also be mindful of the needs of others, and give accordingly.
The Bible is clear that giving is important to God. He wants us to be generous with our finances, and He blesses us when we give. Let’s be intentional about giving back to God, and watch as He works in our lives!
Is It A Sin Not To Pay Tithes?
No, it is not a sin not to pay tithes. However, the Bible does teach that giving is important to God, and He blesses us when we give generously.
“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” – 2 Corinthians 9:7
When we give to the church or to other Christian organizations, we are being obedient to God’s Word and He is pleased. He also blesses us in return.
“And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” – 2 Corinthians 9:8
So while it is not a sin to not pay tithes, it is something that is important to God and He blesses us when we do it.
Is Tithing A Law?
The Lord has established the law of tithing to help His people be financially independent and to support the Church. The law of tithing is: You must pay one-tenth of your income to the Lord. ( Deuteronomy 14:22), Malachi 3:8, Numbers 18:26, Nehemiah 10:38, Numbers 18:21, Genesis 14:20)
The Lord gives us many blessings, and He wants us to show our thankfulness by giving back to Him a portion of what He has given us. Tithing is an act of worship that helps us keep our priorities in order and remember that the Lord is our true source of blessing.
The law of tithing is found in the Old Testament, and the Savior reaffirmed it during His earthly ministry. In the New Testament, we are taught that we should not give grudgingly or out of a sense of obligation, but rather we should give cheerfully and generously (2 Corinthians 9:7).
While the law of tithing is not specifically mentioned in the New Testament, the principles of giving are taught throughout the scriptures. The Savior taught His disciples to “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:19-20).
He also said that it is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). These principles apply to our giving today, whether it be of our time, our talents, or our resources.
The Lord has promised us that He will bless us as we obey His laws, and that includes the law of tithing. As we pay our tithes and offerings, we are showing our faith in the Lord and His promises. We also receive the blessings of financial independence and support from the Church.
So, is tithing a law? Yes, it is a law that the Lord has established to bless His people. As we obey this law, we can receive the blessings of financial independence and support for the Church.
What Does Jesus Teach About Tithing?
Tithing is an Old Testament commandment that was given to the Israelites. In the New Testament, Jesus speaks about tithing in the context of giving to the poor and needy.
He says in Matthew 23:23, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.”
What Jesus is saying here is that while it is important to obey the Old Testament laws, such as tithing, we should not neglect the more important things in life, such as justice, mercy, and faithfulness.
He also teaches us in Luke 11:42, “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.”
Again, we see that Jesus is not doing away with the Old Testament laws, but He is emphasizing that we should not neglect the more important things in life.
So, what does Jesus teach about tithing? He teaches that it is important to obey the Old Testament laws, but we should not neglect the more important things in life, such as justice, mercy, and faithfulness.
While tithing is not a commandment for Christians today, we should still be generous in our giving, especially to those in need. As Jesus said in
Matthew 5:42, “Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.”
This passage shows that giving to others, whether it be through tithes or simply giving to those in need, is something that is important to Jesus. As Christians, we should follow His example and be generous in our giving.
One of the most important things we can do as Christians are to be generous in our giving. This doesn’t necessarily mean that we have to give money to the church every week, although that is certainly a good way to be generous.
It can also mean giving of our time or talents to help others. It can mean giving to charities or other organizations that help those in need. Whatever way we choose to be generous, we should do so with a joyful heart, knowing that we are helping others and glorifying God at the same time.
Generosity is one of the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), and it is something that should be evident in the lives of believers.
“By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, 23 gentlenesses, and self-control. There is no law against such things.”( Galatians 5:22–23 The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV))
If we are not generous, it is a good indication that we are not walking in the Spirit. However, if we are walking in the Spirit, then generosity will be one of the natural outcomes.
So, let us be generous in our giving, knowing that it is one way we can please God and show His love to others.
