Ten Percent


Some people are confused about tithing because they've read or heard a Bible teacher says that the” tithe” was of the law and that it doesn't apply to the church today.

I think that every Christian would undoubtedly say that we should serve God with all we got - give Him 100% of us – "He gave it all for us, so we should give our all for Him."

However when it comes to the practical act of actually giving to Him real dollars in this real world many are not that enthusiastic.  Giving God 10% through the local church seems too much, too hard, or too legalistic – "that was Old Testament law; now we are under grace" some would claim.

But prior to the law, Abraham established the tithe (10%) as the standard for giving to God.  After rescuing his nephew (Lot) from the armies that took him captive, and having defeated them and taken their stuff (booty) he offered to God 10% (Gen. 14:20).

How do we know that this marked a standard to be followed by God's people for all time?
  • His grandson Jacob promised to give God 10% of all the wealth he would accumulate in Haran (Gen. 28:22)
  • 10% was made part of the law of Moses (Lev. 27:30)
  • Jesus Christ reaffirmed the tithe while also exalting the values of compassion (Luke 11:42) 
10% is the biblical standard of giving in any era. 

Paul reminded believers that just as the priests and Levites received their living from the people’s giving, so the churches’ leaders were to earn their pay from the giving of the saints.

13 Don't you know that those who work in the temple get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? 14 In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.
1 Cor. 9:13-14

Notice the words “In the same way”.  Just like in the Old Testament the tithe was used to support God’s ministry, so in the church-age it is to be used to support Christ’s ministry and his ministers.

10% is the biblical standard to show devotion, worship, and love for God and provide for the practical demands of moving forward His kingdom. 

Popular posts from this blog

Humility

Prov 12:1 says "he who hates correction is stupid." As I read this verse this morning I was reminded of the new series we are preaching on at the Rock: "Greatness - The Way Up is Down". Jesus said "...whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all." Mark 10:43-44 So if we want God to exalt us and be men and women of influence, we must humble ourselves (bring ourselves low) in our relationship to God and others. Prov 18:12 reads "Before his downfall a man's heart is proud, but humility comes before honor." What does a humble man look like? At a minimum a humble man: is Teachable (allows others to mold his life) is a Servant (serves others both physically and spiritually) is Submissive (submits to proper authority - both divine and human) Puts Others First (doesn't grab the biggest and best slice of pizza first) Seeks Advice (doesn't think or act like he's a "
Read more

Pseudo vs. Real Transformation

The Life You’ve Always Wanted by John Ortberg (My Thoughts) Chapter 2 Pages 30-34 – “…if we are not marked by greater and greater amounts of love and joy, we will inevitably look for substitute ways of distinguishing ourselves from those who are not Christians.” This is called “pseudo transformation” – fake transformation that focuses on outside appearances rather than interior change. This is why: Jesus focused on the heart – the center of mankind. The greatest commands were to Love God and Love People. Paul said that if we can do great and miraculous deeds but don’t have love we are nothing (1 Cor. 13). John said that “Everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love.” (1 John 4:7-8) If we focus only on exterior deeds to determine spirituality, we will harm ourselves by buying into pseudo-transformation rather than what Jesus wanted – real transformation of the heart (loving God and loving people) which expresses itself by doin
Read more

God's Looking for a Few Good Men

As I was reading through Job this morning I began to realize how deep this man's character was. His integrity and uprightness came from the core of his inner being - and he knew it. When his friends misdiagnosed his suffering as a result of his wickedness and secret sins he responded to their verbal accusations by saying: "I will never concede that you are right; I will defend my integrity until I die. I will maintain my innocence without wavering. My conscience is clear for as long as I live." Job 27:5-65 NLT As I kept reading I noticed the righteous character of Job (especially as seen in chapters 29 and 31). Job was a man: of compassion of justice who would not lust after women who was honest (without deceit or falsehood) who was faithful to his wife who treated his employees with dignity and fairness who helped the poor, the widow, and the fatherless who trusted God for his security and not his wealth who did not worship any other god who did not hold grudges nor
Read more