Planting for an Abundant Harvest

A Brief Bible Study on Tithing
(an excerpt from the Living the Abundant Life© Seminar)

God's Word about general use of His gifts

First, we must understand that all material goods belong to God.

Psalm 24:1: The earth is the LORD'S, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;

1 Chronicles 29:14: Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.

So, if we are handling God's money, we need to be responsible to Him for its use.

1 Corinthians 4:2: Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.

Luke 12:48: From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

God's Word about a specific amount of money

The Lord states a specific amount to be used a certain way.

Malachi 3:8-12: "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse--the whole nation of you--because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the LORD Almighty. "Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land," says the LORD Almighty..”

Under law or grace?

The tithe was established before the Law was given and continued after Jesus came.

Genesis 14:18-20: Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand." Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

Matthew 23:23: "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices--mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.” (emphasis ours)

Also see Hebrews 7:1-10, Genesis 28:20-22, Luke 11:42, 1 Corinthians 16:2

Robbing God

Withholding the tithe is robbing God. Read again Malachi 3:8. Does this sin prevent our salvation? Only the sin of rejecting Jesus as Savior prevents salvation. May we go on sinning in other areas? We may, but as a result, we will never experience much of the Lordship and power of Jesus Christ.

Other reasons to tithe

1.    Honor the Lord, recognizing His ownership of your lives: Proverbs 3:9.

2.    It is part of the learning process. Deuteronomy 14:22 ff.

3.    It is evidence of your love for God: 2 Corinthians 8:7-8

4.    It is good business. Malachi 3:8-15, Proverbs 3:9-10

5.    Tithing keeps us from coveting money. 1 Timothy 6:9-10

6.    It provides for God's work. Matthew 6:21

Your present finances have nothing to do with your ability to tithe.

But you say, "I can't tithe." You are exactly right!

Romans 7:18: I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.

John 15:5: “Apart from Me you can do nothing."

It is only by His power that we can carry out any of His commands.

2 Corinthians 12:9: But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

2 Thessalonians 1:11: With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.

2 Peter 1:3: His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

Also study 2 Corinthians 3:5, Isaiah 40:29-31, and Ephesians 1:18-19.

The mechanics of tithing:

  1. Tithe on gross pay. (It is all “increase.”)
    Deuteronomy 16:15: ... God will bless you in all your harvest and in all the work of your hands, and your joy will be complete.

  2. If you have a business, tithe on gross profit.
    Deuteronomy 14:22: Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year.

  3. The entire tithe should be paid to the church where you worship as undesignated offerings.  Nehemiah 10:37-38

  4. Do not be trapped by attempting to "work your way up to" a tenth of your income. Follow the clear directions in the Word. Remember what happened to King Saul when he decided to follow only part of the Lord’s instructions.
    1 Samuel 15:17-23: Samuel said, "... The LORD anointed you king over Israel. And he sent you on a mission, saying, 'Go and completely destroy those wicked people, the Amalekites; make war on them until you have wiped them out.' Why did you not obey the LORD? Why did you pounce on the plunder and do evil in the eyes of the LORD?" [Saul answered] "But I did obey... The soldiers took sheep and cattle... in order to sacrifice them to the LORD..." But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice... Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king."

  5. Each congregation should then tithe on its undesignated contributions received, to support the broader church organization above it. Numbers 18:26-29, Nehemiah 10:37-38

Conclusion

Christians live the abundant life by looking up to God rather than focusing on the problems in our daily existence. A Christian business man in Dallas, wealthy owner of a chain of drugstores, had a special ministry. He would talk with families who were struggling financially, challenge them to tithe faithfully for one year, and promise to pay back the amount of their tithe if they felt God had not blessed their obedience. He was well able to repay them — but he never had to! God always kept His promise to bless them.

As St. Paul wrote, “we walk by faith, not by sight.”  (2 Corinthians 5:7) Tithing is indeed a matter of faith. It is one of the most exciting steps you will take in your walk with the Lord, and it is one you will never regret.

This Bible Study was adapted from materials included in the
Living the Abundant Life© Seminar,
which teaches Christians how to apply
Biblical principles to personal and family finances.