Deu 14:22 “You shall tithe all the yield of your seed that comes from the field year by year.
Deuteronomy 12:6 and there you shall bring your burnt offerings and your sacrifices, your tithes and the contribution that you present, your vow offerings, your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herd and of your flock.
Deuteronomy 26:12-15 “When you have finished paying all the tithe of your produce in the third year, which is the year of tithing, giving it to the Levite, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, so that they may eat within your towns and be filled, then you shall say before the LORD your God, ‘I have removed the sacred portion out of my house, and moreover, I have given it to the Levite, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, according to all your commandment that you have commanded me. I have not transgressed any of your commandments, nor have I forgotten them.
Leviticus 27:30-33 “Every tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is the LORD’s; it is holy to the LORD.
The purpose of tithing; to build an honor and reverence for God. The paraphrase in the Living Bible puts it plainly: The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives. (Guzik)
The whole appointment evidently was against the covetousness, distrust, and selfishness of the human heart. It promoted friendliness, liberality, and cheerfulness, and raised a fund for the relief of the poor. They were taught that their worldly portion was most comfortably enjoyed, when shared with their brethren who were in want. If we thus serve God, and do good with what we have, it is promised that the Lord our God will bless us in all the works of our land. The blessing of God is all to our outward prosperity; and without that blessing, the work of our hands will bring nothing to pass. The blessing descends upon the working hand. Expect not that God should bless thee in thy idleness and love of ease. And it descends upon the giving hand. He who thus scatters, certainly increases; and to be free and generous in the support of religion, and any good work, is the surest and safest way of thriving. (Henry)
The sacrificial meals were to be held before the Lord, in the place where He caused His name to dwell (see at Deuteronomy 12:5), that Israel might learn to fear Jehovah its God always; not, however, as Schultz supposes, that by the confession of its dependence upon Him it might accustom itself more and more to the feeling of dependence. For the fear of the Lord is not merely a feeling of dependence upon Him, but also includes the notion of divine blessedness, which is the predominant idea here, as the sacrificial meals were to furnish the occasion and object of the rejoicing before the Lord. The true meaning therefore is, that Israel might rejoice with holy reverence in the fellowship of its God. (Keil)
Giving is important, tithing is commanded, and generosity is blessed. I must admit, at times, I am discouraged by all of the requests for money by mega church outreach radio ministries. They use worldly marketing ideas. They offer, “for free”, a book or booklet for a donation, they want you to join their purpose, they want to have your support. Don’t get me wrong, many of these ministries have outreaches that give food and shelter, protect the sanctity of life, and disaster relief. This is good. However, what would happen if people of the local church tithed and gave offerings to their local church and ministries for outreach. I would think there would be more local growth and outreach.
Some of the ministries ask support for the sermons and teaching that is broadcast on radio. I find few that preach the whole Word of God. They preach / teach in nice comfortable shallow concepts that make a person comfortable rather than convicted of sin. This is their approach; Are you hurting – God, Are you troubled – God, Are you having marital problems – God, Are you having financial problems – God, Are you needing a miracle – God, Are you having problems at work – God, … These are all about you and what you can get from God. Where is the Teaching / Preaching about sin? Where is the Preaching / Teaching that convicts a soul to repentance? Where is the Preaching / Teaching that dives into the holiness of God? Where is the Preaching / Teaching that rightly explains God’s wrath, anger, judgment……? Where is the Preaching / Teaching that declares Sin?
Far too many pastors / teachers preach about what you can comfortably “get” and speak in comforting words that neither convict or lead a person to evaluate themselves in light of the holiness of God past the Gospel of Jesus Christ and eternal life.
Far too many “Christians” are lukewarm and shallow because of this. Far too much of the world and its pleasures and what it deems important are finding ways into the church. Why??? Studying God’s Word is neglected. Why??? Far too many Christians go to church to listen to a sermon and there is no studying in their lives apart from this. Why??? Far too many Christians are confused about worldly events and cultural norms. Why??? Far too many Christians feel they are “being” Christ-like because they listen to Christian music channels all day. Why??? Why has the Christian life taken on a “look” that resembles exactly what the lost are doing???
Could it be that there is only focus on what you can get as blessings from God and never challenging the heart, mind, and soul to reflect on the holiness of God and the sinfulness of sin? When is the last time you were convicted by God’s Word and repented? When was the last time you actually studied God’s Word to learn how you might honor and glorify Jesus Christ?
If we are not studying and preachers and teachers are not proclaiming more than comfortable messages, how are we ever to grow in knowledge and understanding of sin and the holiness of God that leads us to repentance? How is the heart to be searched and the thoughts examined if God’s Word is not being used as the light into them?
The Christian life is not about checking the box to giving, attending church, listening to Christian music, etc… it is bout growing in the understanding and knowledge of God so that in every thought, word, and deed Jesus Christ is honored and glorified. Growing requires effort, steadfastness, commitment, faith, patience, determination, and purpose. There is no way to gain this understanding and knowledge through osmosis or neglect or complacency.
Paul said it like this; though you ought to be teachers by now, you are in need of being taught.
