Lesson 16

So, What About Tithing?

 

In Genesis chapter 4, God established the system of tithing and offerings as a means of keeping balance and accountability with mankind. The balance desired and the benefits achieved were not for God’s benefit, but for man’s benefit. God’s motives have always been in the best interest of the mankind He created.

 

God said in Jeremiah 29:11-14, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall you call upon Me, and you shall go and pray unto Me, and I will hearken unto you. And you shall seek Me, and find Me, when you shall search for Me, with all of your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the Lord; and I will turn away your captivity --- “

 

God is talking to Israel at a time when they were in serious trouble. They had been unfaithful and rebellious to God and the end result was, they ended up in captivity and under persecution of their enemy.

 

Why Would These Old Testament Scriptures Apply To Us/You/Me Today?

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Because, God’s principles of Promise and provision to His people, have been consistent, beginning with Adam and Eve until the Rapture occurs, and on into eternity.

 

God said in Hosea 4:6, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge—“. Our lack of knowledge, in regard to God’s grace, mercy, promise and provision have gotten us into similar circumstances like God’s people were, hundreds of years ago. We haven’t learned and practiced His principle of tithing, and giving, and simply learning to live within our means, not trying to keep up with the Jones’. Not learning to be content with what we have.

 

So our captivity today would be, not understanding and practicing, God’s
principles of money and time management and not tithing. Most of us have buried ourselves in debt. It is a FACT, that, Ninety percent (90%) of marriage and family related problems are on financial related issues.

 

Let Us Review Some Old Testament Scriptures On Tithing.

 

God began the principle of tithing with Adam and Eve. Cain and Abel, their two sons, had the same responsibility to tithe as their parents did.

 

When it came time for them to tithe, Cain chose to give to God his way, rather than following God’s specific instructions. God did not accept Cain’s offering and Cain became very angry and jealous of his brother, because God had accepted Abel’s offering. Cain killed his brother because of his own lack of understanding in regard to God’s instructions and his own selfish ways.

 

Continuing in the Old Testament, we see that Abraham paid (a tenth part) tithes to Melchizedek, also known as, the King of Righteousness, and after that the King of Salem, which is the King of Peace. Genesis 14:20 and Hebrews 7:2.

 

Jacob made a pledge and said, “And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and all of that thou shalt give me, I will surely give the tenth unto thee”. Genesis 28:22

 

Israel was instructed to tithe, and they were told that the tithe belongs to the Lord. They were also instructed, as to where to bring the tithe. The tithe was God’s provision for His priest and other workers, to full fill the needs of His Temple. The Priest did not receive a portion of land for them selves when God was delegating land in the Promised land. Their part was handled through the tithe. In Leviticus, God designated the tithe to supply His house and the needs of His workers in the house. God refereed to the tithe as being the workers inheritance.

 

The Tithing Principles Did Not End With The Law.

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Under the New Covenant, the provision for God’s house is still the same. The Lord said, “A worker is worthy of his hire”. The tithes paid to the Church, were designed by God to pay His servants for their work. This is how God covers the needs of His preachers, pastors, evangelist, secretaries, and all of the others that are in service to the Lord.

 

There is a special promise and blessing to those who tithe.

 

“Bring ye all the tithes into the store house, 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”. Malachi 3:10

 

The book of Deuteronomy in the Old Testament is referred to as the Blessing and Cursing warnings from God. He is saying if you follow my instructions, you will have my provisions and blessings in every area of your life. If you refuse My instructions and guidance, then curses will come upon you and you have chose to take yourself out from under My protection and provision. You will pay a price for making your own uninformed decisions.

 

How do we receive God’s blessings and have balance in our life?

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We must learn to live within our means, putting our priorities in order, as to our needs, and our wants, etc. We are instructed to be good stewards of our time and money so that we may be able to tithe. All things that pertain to us, increase and balance out in relation to our growth in the Word and spiritual maturity. (APPLICATION OF THE WORD)

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God loves a cheerful giver. Our attitude of contentment and trusting the Lord, is the source of TRUE PEACE AND JOY, learning to be content with what we have.

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• We should first ask the Lord to forgive us, of our lack of understanding concerning tithing. I John 1:9

• The book of James says, “If any person lack wisdom, let him pray to the Father and He will give him wisdom liberally”. James 1:2-6

• The book of James also says, that we don’t know how to pray, because we want to satisfy our lust with our prayer request. James 4:3

• We should take a NEW LOOK at, who we are, and what we want and what our priorities are, and then ask the Lord to help us put our priorities in the correct order.

• Find a good money management program and put it into operation.

• Destroy virtually all your credit cards and pay off the balances as quickly as possible.

• Continue to ask God for the wisdom to manage your finances.

• Ask God to help you to begin tithing.

• The “First Fruits” imply, tithing off of the gross income, which is a simple 10%.

• Prepare you budget on of the remaining 90% of your income.

• In the New Testament, Jesus spoke of the tithe and said, “we should tithe”. Giving to the Lord is part of, laying up for ourselves, treasure in heaven. Matthew 6:19-20

• Paul talked about, gathering the tithe on the first day of the week.

 

Learning God’s principle of giving, helps us to understand, that we are a part of His plan, and a co-laborer with him. Then we can become the cheerful giver Paul talks about in I Corinthians 9:7.

 

In Philippians 4:19 we are instructed, “GOD WILL SUPPLY ALL OF OUR NEEDS, ACCORDING TO HIS RICHES IN GLORY”.

 

In II Peter 3:18, we are told to “GROW IN GRACE AND IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST”.

 

LEARN TO TRUST THE LORD FOR YOUR NEEDS.