Understanding The Law Of Tithing

Hi, Jesus loves you.

What is tithing? Are we to tithe in this present dispensation? These and many more are the questions bugging the hearts of many Christians. And this post is aimed at answering these questions and throwing some light on this spiritual law of tithing.

And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD’S. It is holy to the LORD. And concerning the tithe of the herd or of the flock, of whatsoever passes under the rod, the tenth one shall be holy to the LORD.

– Leviticus 27:30, 32 (NKJV)

Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings – Malachi 3:8 (NKJV)

But woe to you, Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass by justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone – Luke 11:42 (NKJV)

Tithing is a spiritual law of God that is recorded in the scriptures. The issue of tithing is one topic that many people would desire not to discuss. But it is one topic you should understand well enough to decide whether to obey it or not.

What is tithe?

Tithe is ten percent of all your increase and it belongs to the Lord. It is holy to Him (Leviticus 27:30). In the time of the scriptures, the people were mainly farmers, both of crops and animals, and so the tithe was described based on seeds and livestock. However, the principle remains the same: tithe of all your increase (Deuteronomy 14:22).

So, if you are a salary earner – ten percent of your income; a business person – ten percent of your profit; and a farmer – ten percent of your harvest or increase in livestock. And if you need to turn it into money, I believe it’s accepted.

Tithe is either ten percent of all your increase or it is not tithe at all. Anything less than ten percent is an offering.

Scriptural origin of tithing

Tithe was first mentioned in the scriptures in Genesis 14:18-20, when Abraham gave Melchizedek king of Salem a tithe of all, after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him.

Is it under the Laws of Moses?

Tithe came before the Law of Moses and so will not be classified originally under the Law of Moses. However, this spiritual law was made clearer under the laws of Moses (Leviticus 27:30-32). And more lights were shed on it in Malachi 3:8-12

Is it a New Testament Law?

The Old Testament truly has most of the scriptures on the spiritual law of tithing but the New Testament also has some scriptures that back it up. In fact Jesus Christ approved of it in Luke 11:42 when He was rebuking the Pharisees. He told them that they should have attended to justice and the love of God without leaving tithing undone.

Also, since tithe belongs to God and He lives forever and is the same God in the New Testament, tithing is part of the New Testament. And Jesus Christ a Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek (Psalm 110:4), I believe receives it in heaven while mortal men receive it here (Hebrews 7:8).

Is it still necessary?

God said in Malachi 3:8 that people rob Him in tithes and offerings. Therefore not paying your tithe is robbery to God. And robbery invites the flying scroll into your life for total destruction (Zechariah 5:1-4). And if your desire is to obey God then tithing is one of instructions of God you need to obey.

Furthermore, since the work of God must continue and supplies must be available (Malachi 3:10), tithing is still necessary.

Where do you pay your tithe?

All tithes are to be taking into the storehouse (Malachi 3:10). And your storehouse is where you get most of your spiritual nourishment. Your local church fits in as your storehouse; that is where you will run to for any immediate help. Your local church is always there for you anytime and anywhere: for spiritual, emotional, physical, material and financial needs. Therefore, it is ideal for you to pay your tithe in your local church.

Benefits

Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” says the Lord of hosts; “And all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land,” says the Lord of hosts – Malachi 3:10-12

Malachi 3:10-12 give a list of the benefits of tithing and it’s as follows:

1. Over flowing blessings
2. The devourer gets to be rebuked by God for your sake
3. Preservation of your harvest or profits
4. Fruitfulness
5. Honour and fame

In addition, from Deuteronomy 14:22-23, tithing helps you to learn to fear God.

A tenth of your increase is not your own, it is the Lord’s and it is holy to Him. If you will understand that ninety percent is what is yours and that God put the remaining ten for Himself, it won’t be difficult for you to pay your tithe. Whatever you have you received from God (1 Corinthians 4:7), so have the fear of God to give Him what is rightfully His.

As rightly put by a man of God, your paid tithe is what makes the other ninety percent meaningful. When you give God a tenth of your increase, God ensures that the remaining ninety percent are preserved and used well.

When you don’t pay your tithe you open the door for the devourer to steal, kill and destroy. That is when series of challenges will crop up: your hospital bills increase, you lose money or thieves will steal from you, or repairs will keep coming up. Whichever way you will pay some money. God says give me ten and if you don’t the enemy will surely take more than that.

If you don’t pay your tithe, things will become tight for you. But when you pay it, doors will open up for you. God will open the windows of heaven and pour you a blessing that you will not have enough room to receive it.

I remember a testimony a friend shared with me some years back. A farmer planted cotton and when it was time for harvest the cotton didn’t open up. The time for harvest was fast going and the cotton still didn’t open up. So this Christian farmer went to a man of God who asked him if he pays his tithes and he said yes. The man of God asked him to bring a proof of his tithing, which he did. They took it to the farm and the man of God lifted it up and reminded God of Malachi 3:8-12 and asked God to rebuke the devourer for the sake of the farmer as His word had said. The next day, the farmer went to the farm and lo and behold the cottons were open and ready for harvest. Praise God!

Conclusion

Tithing is basically an instruction from God for our own benefit. It actually gauges your walk with God. Do you love the Lord enough not to withhold His own share of your increase? Always remember that though man receives it here, it is actually acknowledged by God in heaven. Man may fail you but God will never fail you. Gods said in Malachi 3:10, “Try Me now in this”. Just try God in this, obey God and tithe all your increase from today and your story will change for the better.

Ngozi Nwoke

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Image by John C Bullas