Expert: Cooper P. Abrams III - 11/8/2005

Question
Many teach that tithing is required today. What I wonder is why isn't today's teachings about the tithe consistent with the biblical teachings about the tithe?

For example, the tithe was ONLY of the INCREASE of the fields, orchards, vineyards, herds and flocks, NEVER a tenth of people's wages earned in EXCHANGE for their time, labor and skills.

Others say that the tithe predates the Law with Abraham. This too is troublesome to me. If Abraham giving a tenth of the spoils is a lasting principle to be followed, then why didn't anyone after him, at least until after Christ, follow that principle?

For instance, Numbers 31 is a prime example of spoils. Only 1/500th of the spoils was given to the priests and 1/50th to the Levites, neither of which is anywhere near 1/10th. If what Abraham did is a lasting principle, then why didn't the Lord have Israel follow that principle in that section, or anywhere else in scripture for that matter?

Thanks

Darrel

Answer
Hi Darrel,
  Thank you for your question.  Sorry to be so slow to respond, but I have the Flu and it has slowed me down some.  
2 Cor. 9:6-7 gives instruction to the believer in this age as to giving.  Christians are not under the law of Moses and therefore OT required tithing which was actually taxes is not required.  We are not a nation, but believers who assemble and work in the Lord's name.
  There were two types of offering in the OT.  One was taxation to provide for the tabernacle and the priests who ministered unto the Lord and the other was a free will offering which was not reguired.   Following is a message on giving in the OT which explains this.   I hope you find it useful.   I have two messages on the subject.  1. Giving in the OT and 2. Giving in the NT.
   I am sending the first one and  if you would like the other please write and will will send it as well.

OUR MONEY CAN GLORIFY CHRIST

  Part I  Giving in OT

INTRO: This message is part of a series on giving.  The first part deals with general principles dealing with money and then giving in the Old Testament and with giving as the New Testament.     A part from the Gospel message of salvation...I wholeheartedly believe this is one of the most important truths in God's word.

  Pastors are often criticized for preaching on money and giving.    Maybe some preachers do so for wrong reasons....however I do not.     I was talking with a man just last night who said that one of the greatest joys he has as a Christian is giving to the Lord.   He said when he learned the principle of giving it changed his life.

  That is my desire and I believe God has lead me to preach  the biblical truths on giving because I have a responsibility to teach the whole counsel of God.  That includes the very important doctrine of giving.

  I challenge each of us here this morning to study the Old and New Testaments see how that giving a thanksgiving offering to the Lord was a vital and necessary of offering acceptable worship to the Lord.

  I would hope that each of us would listen with an open and obedient heart and follow in your Bible what God wants us to know.

  1. Many misquote (1 Tim 6:10) and say money is the root of all evil, but Bible actually says is the love of money is the root.  It refers to the sin of covetousness.  It means to covet something that belongs to someone else.  

   Each of 10 commandments can be broken because of money.  Some look for pleasure and find sorrow and pain.

  2. The offerings and  how Christians use money/gives in a church can be like a thermometer to indicate how much the members are obedient or love their Lord.

  3. Regularly people ask - “What does the Bible say.  How much is a tithe?  Do Christians tithe?  Does one give on the gross or net?”  

  Years ago shortly after I began to preach I  generally accepted what I was taught but did not really  search scriptures!

  4. I have found that many Christians are not well rounded spiritually because of they are not handling money as God instructs us.

     a. Some know how to give and are disobedient.
     b. Some do not know honesty what Bible says about giving.

  5. Satan purposes to defeat a Christian in this area and is often very successful in this.   

     a. I believe if a person does not come to grips with the issue of money they will never grow and mature in Christ. They will spiritual remain a baby.
     b. Babyhood is OK for a while new born infants, but after a few years is embarrassing to still have to have a bottle and wear diapers.  
     c. Baby food is good for infants, but it is not pleasing to mature adults.   So much better is meat and potatoes!   

  6. Questions about money for Christian.

     HOW DO WE:

        EARN IT.
        FEEL ABOUT IT
        SPEND IT
        GIVE IT
        DETERMINE THE AMOUNT.

I. How should a Christian feel about money?

  A. Not to love it (1 Tim. 6:10)

  B. Not to trust it. v17

     1. To trust money more than God is idolatry!
     2. Our trust is in God's power alone. Matt. 6:24  You can't serve God and mammon or money.
  
  C. Not to seek to be rich.  (1 Tim. 6:9)

  1. They who seek to be rich fall into temptation!  Money can be a snare - many foolish & hurtful lusts.    On the radio yesterday I heard that 4 out of 5 couples who win a lottery will soon divorce.  

ILLUS: CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The world's first glimpse of Jack Whittaker, winner of the richest undivided lottery jackpot in US history, was of a boisterous, happy-go-lucky guy in a big cowboy hat who loved his family, work, and God, and promised to share his good fortune with the church and the poor.  He took his winnings in a lump sum of $113 million after taxes, and at a news conference in which he came across as a jolly saint, he promised to donate one-tenth to his church and contribute to other causes.  Within a year he was arrested twice for DWI.  He was also arrested for assaulting a bar owner and order to attend AA meetings.  
He had a half million dollar stolen from his SUV while parked at a strip joint and police said he had become a high stakes gambler.   This was just the beginning.  He life is miserable.

  Some however do adjust to having great sums of money, but to the largest percentage it brings troubles.

  D. We are to seek the Lord.  "Seek Ye first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you."  Matt. 6:33

II. How should we get it?

  A. Not steal it.  Let him who stole...steal no more. Ephesians 4:28.

  1. It is stealing to get it by borrowing and not paying back.  Psalm 37:21 It is wicked to borrow and do not pay back.
  2. It is stealing too, to not to pay your debts.

  B.  Not to Defraud anyone.   James 5:4 Taking advantage of someone you hire!   

     1. Overcharge or don't pay interest you owe.
     2. Not to gamble.  No clear Scripture that says don't do it.
        a. Really no scripture is necessary. Principle; is:
        b. Gambling....or an appeal or chance - is in incomparable with the sovereignty of God.   It is taking from others without earning it.   

III. How can you make it?

  A. Work for it (This is a good way)
  
     1. Six days shall thy work on the seventh rest.
     2. Let him not steal - but Labor!  2 Thess. 3:10 1 Thess. 4:11

  B. Make wise investments.  Parable s the wise servants invested the talents and made more.  Matt. 25:27

  C. Receive gifts..."brought" in New Testament is the word “propimpo" means financial support.

IV.  How we spend it?

  A. Provide for your family!  

     1. 1  Timothy  5:8... God says that if a man not  provide  for his family he's worst than an infidel!

     2. Provide for needs of those around you. 1 John. 3:17  "But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?"

     3. Neighbor is those you know and meet, especially the family of God.



  B. Pay your debts!

     1. Now! There was a widowed woman in the Old Testament who helped Elisha.   The prophet told her to go and borrow pots and fill them from the one pot she had.   God preformed a miracle and from the one pot she filled all the other pots she had.   Elisha then instructed her in 2 Kings 4:7.. To go see what you have and pay her debts, then live on the rest.   The principle is that you pay your debts first.

     2. Rom. 13.8,   "owe no man anything but love."  Does not mean you are not to borrow - you are to pay what you owe.

  C. Save it!

     1. Proverbs 21:20 “There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.”   The wise save...the foolish spend all they get and never have anything.

     2. Proverbs 30:25 “The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer”

V.  How we use our money is a test of our spirituality and relationship to the Lord.

  A.  Every dollar the Lord gives you is an opportunity to glorify him.

     1. Remember message on Thanksgiving?
     2. It glorifies God to thank him for what you receive.
     3. In fact you cannot properly worship God without an attitude of thanksgiving!
     4. A proper attitude of being thankful to the Lord is accompanied by a desire to show one's gratitude.  That gratitude is in returning to the Lord a portion of what He gives us.  It shows our appreciation to give to Him in supporting His work.

     The opposite is also truth.  To not return a portion is to display ingratitude.

  B. Opportunity to honor Him in Giving back a portion of it to Him.

     1. Prov. 3:9...honor the Lord with the first fruits.  Clearly God is telling us not to give from what we have left, but to give to Him from the first.   
     2. On the first day of week bring our offering to the Lord...(Sunday)

  C. God gives us the opportunity to receive reward when you give it to support the work of the Lord.   He blesses those who allow themselves to be used to do God's work.

     1. This is the real issue.
     2. However, if you don't give...you can receive no blessing.   
     3. Our physical and spiritual well fare is effected by how we give.  It's tied together.   God says in Hebrews 11:6 that we cannot please God apart from faith.     Romans 1:17 says the just shall live by faith.    Therefore giving involves trusting the Lord for our physical and material needs.   He has promised to provide for us...we then in faith believe Him and take Him at His word.

     4. Psalm 37:25 ....righteous man's children will not be begging bread.

VI. How are we to give?  What does the Bible really say?

  A. Today is day of Hard sell in many churches and it is the rule on for the TV evangelists.

     1. Our mails are full everyday with appeals for money.

     2. Pictures of child with swelled out belly.

ILLUS: In Vietnam...I can not remember how I got involved with it...But went to a Vietnamese orphanage.  I took pictures of babies at death's door, starving to death.  My mother and her church sent food and supplies.      
                            3. These appeals are to compassion.   Some give you something in return.  Giving to radio ministry, because he sends you  a book.   Note I'm not saying its wrong for them to give literature.   

  Many radio, TV ministries, use the crisis method to raise money.   If you do not send today, this ministry will end and you will be responsible.   Our  reason for giving should be better.

     4 No church would have to have a special fund drive if the people were giving according to God's word and how they are blessed.

     5. Church is under a hard sell.  We shouldn't have to do this.  Voltaire said about Protestantism: "It's a less expensive form of Roman Catholicism."

     6. How should the church get its money?

  B.  Is tithing the answer?

ILLUS:  Survey on giving come to the conclusion:  "if every one in church in American were reduced to welfare income the church and made to tithe 10% the church would suffer a 35% increase  in income."

  1 Corinthians 9:6-15

  1. New Testament giving is not of cohesion or trickery.
  2. It is to be done freely...not of necessity...cheerfully.
  3. "Asar" 30 times used.  It simply means a tenth part of something.

     The example in the OT is that the tenth was both a freewill offering and a required offering.   Let us look at some examples.

     1. Genesis 14:20.   Freewill offering of Abraham  not required.
      2. Lev. 27:30-32   the offering was TAXES   They appraised what each man was worth and taxed him on the "ESTIMATION" money given to priests for up keep of government.

     Deut.12:6, 11, 17   Up keep of temple and Levites (Temple should not be compared to church)   Know not that  your not your bodies are the temple of God!

     Deut. 12: 17   A distinction is made between tithes, freewill offerings or  heave offerings 14:23,28

        Upkeep of Levites and temple.  Levites were full time spiritual and governmental leaders.

        Deut. 26:12...Some reasons upkeep of Levites  
        2 Chron.. 31:5,6,12   v4....for the Levites

        Neh. 10:37,38,  Temple rebuilt and Neh. called for the taxes or tithes to keep up Levites and temple.

        Neh. 12:44....for priests
        Neh. 13:5,12...same

        Amos 4:4...warning against giving tithes to the up keep of false worship centers of Gilgal and Bethel.

        Mal. 3:8,10...Note distinction is made between tithes and offerings.

        Hebrews 7: 4,8,9   It  is establishing the priesthood of Christ after Melchizedek!  

        Matt. 23:23  People paid Temple tithes  but ignored special things

        Luke 11:42. Refers to the hypocrisy of the Pharisees.

        Luke 18:12  Pharisee gave tithes and prayed.  God, I am glad I'm not like that old publican.

     Giving tithes does not make one spiritual.   It is the reason and attitude behind the giving that is important to God.    A true child of God gives from a heart of gratitude.  A truly spiritual person gives because he is already spiritual.         

VIII.  What about tithing (10th) the word is "Masser" in Hebrew.

  A. Two kinds of giving in the Bible.

     1. Required       
     2. Free will
     3. They are always they are side by side.

  B. First tithe in OT Gen. 14:20 Freewill gifts.

     1. Many use this as a base for New Testament giving.  They conclude that because Abraham gave before the Law, then the tenth was required before and after the Law.   Note the circumstances.

        a. It was before the law.
        b. Giving to Melchizedek as priest and King of Salem later Jerusalem.
        c. Gave a 10% of spoils of his conquest.
        d. Giving the tenth was also practiced by pagans gave they gave 10% to their gods.
        e. No command to give any amount!
        f. Abraham gave willingly as a act of respect, and honor.  He did not have to give.
        g. The New Testament says we are not under the Law.

     Gal. 5:18, "But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law."

     2. Genesis 4:  Cain and Able...sacrificed unto God.              One fruit - one animals.

        a. Genesis 4:4 Abel brought a firstling lamb -  That principle is always present.  The first and best.
        b. No indication here of a tenth!

     3. Genesis 8   Noah was not required to give, but he gave a sacrifice not a tenth!

     4. Genesis 12 Abraham made an offering to God.  No amount, no percentage.

     5. Genesis 13.  Abraham gave a tenth (Heb. 7:2)

        a. No record he ever gave a tenth again.
        b. He gave a free will offering of one tenth, out of gratitude.

     6. Jacob in Genesis 28:22...Promises to give a 10%

        a. This was not a good offering!  Tried to bribe God.

        b. v20...If God will do for me I'll give a tenth

        c. It was a volunteer amount and offering!

        d. Not a requirement.  

     7.  Pre-Mosaic (Before Moses and Mt. Sinai)  time there was no requirement.

VIII.   Required  Giving.  Genesis  41:34  (only reference before Moses)

  1. Joseph, as instructed by God, as the a rule in Egypt instructed the Egyptians to give a fifth of all they raised.

     First Federal income tax required a fifth to guard against famine.

        a. Fifth was 20%  
        b. This was a requirement of God to Pharaoh.
        c. Note: God told Pharaoh to tax the people!  Federal taxes author was God!
        d. Required giving was God's plan to fund a federal government.

   2. OT Pre-Mosaic giving.  Scriptures indicate two kinds of giving.

     a. required
     b. Freewill no requirement.

V. Required Giving from Moses to Jesus.

  A. Required. Lev. 27:30-31  For the upkeep of the Levites and the tabernacle worship.

     1. Note the verse says that tithe of all is the Lord's

     2. If he fails to pay it this year he adds a fifth part the next year or 20% penalty.

     3. 10% of everything.  You gave a 10th of actually fruits.  You could have given money, but it cost you and addition 20%.  No exchange for animals  INFLATION

     4. Note v33  Not to search or pick and chose over the offerings.  Gave the best.

     5. The offering was giving to the priests for the ministry of the Lord.

        a. They were the government theocracy
        b. The Levites were paid by the government.
        c. It was taxation.

  B. Required, Deut. 12:6-17 there is another tithe.

     1. 10% more every year called feastable tithe.
     2. Social tithe   To promote unity social responsibility

  C. Required Deut. 14:28 Welfare tithe.

     1. Every three years a 10%.
     2. Poor tax.

   D. Total required giving was 23%

     1. That is Old Testament  tithing.   This was not a free will offering out or gratitude, but required.    God commanded it, thus the giver was to give as unto the Lord, with the right attitude of obeying God and doing their fair share.

     2. It was never just 10%  it was 23% (1/3) plus!

     3. Also, the farmers were not totally glean their fields.    The also paid a 1/2 shekel temple tax.

     4. The Sabbatical year which was every seventh year.  Ex. 23:10-11.  Israel was not to cultivate land,  but six years and let the land lay fallow every seventh year.

     This was the year of Relief. Deut. 15.  All salves and bond servants went free, and went back to original owners and debits were forgiven.

  E. Note this was not giving to the Lord freely!  This was taxation!

     1. Required giving in Mosaic era is taxation.
     2. Amount 25%

XI. Freewill giving in Mosaic Period.

  A. Question:  If you ask how much....you missed the point   There is no stated amount.

  B. They gave the first fruits to the Lord.  Lovingly in obedience.   Got told then how to give if they wanted to.  God left it up the individual.   

  It was in reality a test and an opportunity to worship God and show outwardly one's love for God.

        1. First part of crop they gave it all.

        2. It was a test of living by faith    What if flood or drought comes?  No matter, I'm investing with God.

        3. No actual amount is stated.

        4. Numbers 18:12.  All the best of oil and wheat. It was an act of faith.

        5. The only requirement was that it be the best.  Do you think it would be an act of gratitude and thanksgiving to give God less than the best?

  C. Proverbs 3:9.

        1. Promise of living by faith.
        2. Give the first fruit with out calculation, out of love and gratitude.
        3. No specific amount voluntary.
        4. Free will giving.
        5. Tithing was never OT Giving to God.  Tithing is taxation Giving is with out requirement.

     D. Proverbs 11:24 Grace in giving.

     1. Sow generously reap the same.
     2. Sow conservative  and it tends to bring property!
     3. V25 liberal soul prospers.

ILLUS: Verse28 woman in hospital W/S, NC. with stomach cancer $10,000 a year for just food.   She lived by faith.

OT Principle:  God gives an increase of that which is given.

     1. You reap what you sow.
     2. Some have hard time why give sparingly.
     3. Liberal giver is blessed, not one who is selfish.
     4. Give a dollar get a dollars reward.



  E. Exodus 25:1-2 gives us the Old Testament Principle.

     1. Giving willingly!
     2. With the heart!
     3. Amount is not important but the heart attitude is       4. Give what you feel is right.
     5. Principle give to God reap benefit or keep and lose it!
     6. 1 Chron. 29:9  Building of the temple.  "The people gave willingly, with perfect heart."

        a. David rejoiced!
        b. Gave because their hearts were set to glorify God!

  F. Moses had to stop the Israelites from giving when the tabernacle was built.

CONCLUSION:

Giving to the Lord was always presented as done in freedom with out requirement from a righteous heart.

Note Principe:  We give in faith trusting God. He then honors faith.

Heb. 11:  "with out faith it is impossible to pease God."

Many a believer has remained an immature Christian because he would not learn to live trusting God.

---------I hope you find this helpful.  If you have further comments or question please write.

Cooper Abrams
http://bible-truth.org