By- Ayo Awe-Joseph
Over time, I've heard many arguments about whether or not to tithe. The question we should ask is: what is the true position from the Lord's perspective?
To understand this matter accurately, we need to view it through the lens of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the ultimate authority over the Church.
Is Tithing an Old Testament Law?
Many people argue that tithing is an Old Testament law and not applicable to New Testament believers. Let's examine this mindset from Jesus's perspective:
“Do not think that I came to do away with or undo the Law [of Moses] or the [writings of the] Prophets; I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For I assure you and most solemnly say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke [of the pen] will pass from the Law until all things [which it foreshadows] are accomplished.”
From this text, it's clear that the Lord said He has not come to abolish the laws and the writings of the prophets but to fulfill them.
So, what is the law of tithing?
The law of tithing stipulates that the children of Israel must give a tenth of their income to the Levitical Priesthood in exchange for their service to God.
Numbers 18:19-32 states:
“I am giving to you, to your sons, and to your daughters, for all time to come, all the special contributions which the Israelites present to me. This is an unbreakable covenant that I have made with you and your descendants.”
The Lord told Aaron, “You will not receive any property that can be inherited, and no part of the land of Israel will be assigned to you. I, the Lord, am all you need.”
The Lord gave the Levites every tithe that the people of Israel presented to Him as payment for their service in taking care of the Tent of His presence. This rule was to be permanent.
In essence, this is not merely a law but a commandment. What makes these commandments significant is that they are meant to be in effect forever.
The Forever Effect
“I am giving to you, to your sons, and to your daughters, for all time to come, all the special contributions which the Israelites present to me. This is an unbreakable covenant that I have made with you and your descendants.”
When God speaks and says "forever," it should be clear to all students and citizens of the Kingdom of God that those words are irrevocable and cannot be voided.
Recognising this, Jesus Christ, whose mission was to fulfil the will of the Father, said:
"For I assure you and most solemnly say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke [of the pen] will pass from the Law until all things [which it foreshadows] are accomplished."
It should therefore be made clear that if God spoke in times past and made those words eternal, those words remain potent. The onus is on all who love God to surrender themselves and align with God's commandments, lest we make Him a liar.
All Things Which It Foreshadows
What is the foreshadow here? It is giving. The debate centers on how we should give and to whom. God spoke about giving to the Levitical Priesthood in compensation for their services in maintaining the Tent of Meeting. Let's put that into context.
In Luke 21:1-4, Jesus observed the rich putting their gifts into the treasury and saw a poor widow putting in two small copper coins. He said, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow has put in proportionally more than all of them; for they all put in gifts from their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
What exactly is the Lord illustrating here? He was speaking against the legalistic practice of giving 10% out of obligation rather than giving cheerfully out of love for God.
If someone like Bill Gates were a Christian, giving 10% of his income would be insignificant to him since he still has an abundant 90% left. He might feel self-righteous for fulfilling the law, but the widow who gave all she had out of her love for God demonstrated true giving.
Loving God with All
Jesus was addressing the issue of giving legalistically rather than cheerfully out of love for God. Giving should be a response of love, declaring God as our source and provider. Those who argue against tithing often do not have a giving heart.
The widow's mite illustrated the love for God. She gave all she had, even though she was only required to give 10%. Giving a tithe is the least a person can give out of a hundred, which is why Jesus praised the widow who gave her all.
Beyond Tithing
Money plays a significant role in our lives, often controlling us.
Matthew 6:24 says, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon [money, possessions, fame, status, or whatever is valued more than the Lord].”
Jesus taught that our love for God must take centre stage. We cannot afford to be proportional or transactional with God. We must see God as the possessor of all things, including our lives, and relate to Him with everything we own. He alone must take the centre stage of our hearts.
Jesus did not abolish tithing but called for a higher level of giving, where we give cheerfully, not transactionally, recognising God as the possessor of heaven and earth.
Kingdom Advance
Who to Give To
This is crucial, especially today, when there are many charlatans and self-seekers exploiting people. We must first settle in our hearts before committing to giving.
Giving must be purposeful, deliberate, and intentional. It should be directed toward ministries genuinely committed to turning people to God in the name of Jesus, not to denominations or people building empires and church enterprises.
The Mission
Matthew 24:14 says, “This good news of the kingdom [the gospel] will be preached throughout the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end [of the age] will come.”
We must focus on what God is doing on earth today: the advancement of His Kingdom. Giving should be aimed at expanding the Kingdom and preaching the gospel. This is the mission to which we must commit our resources wholeheartedly because it is God's business on earth.
God wants everyone to be saved and given the opportunity to hear the gospel of His Kingdom, which means reconciliation with Him. This is the mission that extends beyond tithing, to which we must commit our resources.