by Pastor Herbert Williams Ntelemuka
Key Scriptures: Proverbs 3:9-10; Deuteronomy 1:11
“Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.”
What are tithes?
The word “tithe” in the Hebrew is “maser” and in the Greek is “dekate”, which means the “tenth part“. God expects us to give one-tenth to Him and He lets us keep nine times more than what we give.
Tithing has been practiced since the beginning of time by worshippers of the one true God as well as pagans. Today, when we mention the term “tithes” we are referring to money. However, it was not always this way. In times gone by tithes meant more than just giving money.
- Leviticus 27:30 states: “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 unto the Lord.” In other words, the tithe was the tenth part of the land (crops and fruit).
- According to Leviticus 27:32 animals were also tithed because the law stated that every tenth animal to pass under the rod when the shepherds or owners of the herds counted them would be given to God.
- The reason why food and animals were given as tithes was due to the fact that the nation of Israel was basically a farming nation. As a result, they paid their tithes in the form of produce or animals. If a person lived a long ways from the storehouse, they were allowed to convert their tithes into money and bring it to the storehouse.
We must be careful not to confuse tithes and offerings; they are not the same. Although both are part of God’s financial plan for the Church, they have different purposes:
- Tithes are for the continual support of full-time ministerial staff.
- Offerings are for the various needs of the church. i.e. maintenance, paying bills and financing different programs.
Tithing is not a gift we give to God, it is an obligation to pay. In Matthew 23:23, Jesus told the Pharisees that we “ought” to pay our tithes. The tithe is God’s perfect plan for supporting the ministry. Offerings should be given over and above the tithe as God prospers us.
Who pays tithes?
In Genesis 14:17-20 we find Abraham and his army of three hundred and eighteen servants returning from a battle where they rescued Lot from the enemy. When Abraham meets Melchizedek, a priest of the most high God, he tithes. This is the first record we have of anyone paying tithes.
In Genesis 28:12-22, many years later, we find Jacob, Abraham’s grandson fleeing from his home and his angry brother. That night, while Jacob slept he had a vision. In it he saw a ladder that reached heaven and on it he saw angels going up and down the ladder. The Lord spoke to Jacob that night and gave Him some promises. When Jacob awoke, he set up a pillar and named the place Bethel, or the house of God. Jacob then promised God that when he returned to his father’s house, he would give Him the tenth of all he had.
Look at the continual line of progression: Abraham and his children paid tithes. In Jesus day, the Pharisees, who were Abraham’s children were still paying tithes. And today, we as the spiritual children of Abraham need to pay our tithes (Galatians 3:7; John 8:39).
It does not matter if you are young or old, rich or poor, as a child of God, it is your responsibility to TITHE! Tithes are a part of your increase. If you want to be blessed of God, then give Him your best, not what is left(2 Corinthians 9:6-8).
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