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The Tithe and Tithing

Nehemiah discovered that the house of God had been forsaken. The Levites had to go back to working in the fields to provide for themselves. Provision for the house of God was contingent upon the Levites doing the work. They had quit because the tithe wasn’t being given to the house of the Lord. Nehemiah rebuked the rulers for their negligence, the tithe was restored, the Levites left the fields and went back to work in the house of God as God had ordained.

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“I also realized that the portions for the Levites had not been given them; for each of the Levites and the singers who did the work had gone back to the field. So I contended with the rulers, and said why is the house of God forsaken” (Nehemiah 13:10-11)?

It was never God’s intention for men and women to work secular jobs while in the ministry (bi-vocational). They are to be provided for by the tithe (Numbers 18:21). The house of God is neglected when the ones He has called cannot devote all their time to the ministry.

We do not use the tithe today as God originally intended. We give our tithes to pay for all the expenses of the church, but the tithe was originally given to support the ministry and ministers. Their tithe and additional offerings were used for general expenses. Can you imagine all that could be done for God if His tithe was set apart for those called to minister full time?

Eight Facts about Tithing

1. Tithing is a principle set forth by God. The tithe was instituted by God through Abraham before the law existed. Abraham gave a tithe to Melchizedek while the law was still in his loins (Genesis 14:20 and Hebrews 7:5-10).

   If the principle of tithing existed prior to the giving of the law, it stands to reason it would continue after the law was abolished. The law merely picked up the principle that God had already setup before the law existed.

2. The tithe belongs to the Lord. The tithe is God’s not ours. “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” (Leviticus 27:30). All we have belongs to God. We are merely stewards of what is His – caregivers over what He has entrusted us with. The fact that He allows us to keep ninety percent is overwhelmingly gracious of Him.
3. Not to tithe is to rob God. If the tithe belongs to the Lord, when we withhold it we are stealing from Him. “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation” (Malachi 3:8-9).

   God will have what belongs to Him. You can be sure of it. We will pay our tithes somewhere. If we fail to give it to the house of God to which it belongs we’ll give it elsewhere. We’ll give it to the devourer. We’ll give it to the plumber, mechanic, electrician, etc..

   “I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts” (Malachi 3:11). If we’ll tithe we have the promise of God that he’ll rebuke the devourer.

4. Tithes are the first-fruits of what is to come. Israel was to bring God the first-fruits (tithe) of the harvest. They did this in anticipation of a full and plentiful harvest. When we give God the first of what we make, we do so in faith expecting a full harvest from our labors. Therefore, tithing is a principle of faith and not law.

   Notice, it’s the first-fruits and not what we have left after we have paid everything else. This makes tithing an act of faith, which God always honors (Hebrews 4:2, James 2:17-26). We honor God when we give Him the first-fruits of our income/harvest. “Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of all thine increase” (Proverbs 3:9).

5. The tithe belongs to the storehouse. We are to bring the tithe to the storehouse so there will be food (provision) in God’s house. We give our tithe so that the priest (pastor/minister) is able to adequately prepare spiritual food for your dining pleasure. The tithe goes to the priest enabling him to have time to prepare properly for your spiritual diet. That is why the tithe is to go to your local church or the place you get fed spiritually.

   If you do not have a local church at this time, your tithe should go where you are getting your spiritual nourishment. The same is true of some pastors who are being fed spiritually by other ministries. Your tithe should go where you’re being fed. You should be giving your tithe to the ministry and spiritual covering that feeds you.

6. Tithing releases God’s blessing. There is something about God’s children stepping out in faith and trusting Him with their commitment to tithe that releases God’s blessing. It’s not law or works, but faith. We are expressing faith by trusting God with our finances and all we have, believing He will bless us with the full harvest of our labors. God promises us, as we give in faith and obedience, to open the windows (floodgates) of heaven and bless us until there’s no longer room to receive it.

   We should tithe expecting an increase. When we honor Him with the first-fruits of our increase, God causes an abundance of increase to come our way, materially as well as spiritually and emotionally. “So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine” (Proverbs 3:10).

   It’s interesting that this is the only place in the Bible where we are actually challenged to test God. I challenge you that if you have never tithed begin to do so now. You may say, “I can’t afford to tithe.” You can’t afford not to. Begin tithing and see if God will not bless you beyond your greatest imagination.

7. Tithing releases God’s favor. When we begin tithing in faith and obedience we’ll see God’s favor manifest in a myriad of ways. God will cause His favor to be shown in our dealings and relationships. We’ll be given favor with our employers, in the market place, and even our enemies.

   “Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not” (Malachi 3:18).

8. Tithing releases spiritual revelation. Jesus said, “If you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon (money), who will commit to your trust true riches” (Luke 16:11). When we are faithful to God with our tithes and offerings (finances) He opens the heavens with spiritual revelation into our hearts, spirits and minds.

   When we withhold the tithe the heavens become brass and the revelation of God scarce. It’s interesting that when Malachi prophesied this to Israel concerning the tithe, they failed to obey, and God was silent for 400 years until John the baptist came on the scene.

The house of God is neglected when the ones He has called cannot devote all their time to the ministry (Hebrews 5:4). The tithe is what God has designated to provide for His house. We must begin to obey God and stop allowing His house and those He has called to be neglected.

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