Tithing: Is Tithing a Commandment of the New Testament?

TITHING: 'Is tithing a commandment of the New Testament?'


1. INTRO - WHY GOD WANTS US TO GIVE?

Whenever God asks us to do something, He does it with a purpose. When Jesus asked the rich man to sell his treasures and follow Him, He said so not to make him homeless but to make him realize that no one can earn God's grace by keeping the law and of course the rich man failed to keep the law by coveting riches. God's Purpose comes before His Plan and His intent comes before the content. 


2. PURPOSE OF GIVING:

From the beginning, God instigated giving for these two reasons. Scriptures over and over affirm these 2 as the ultimate purpose of giving: 

1. ACKNOWLEDGING GOD FIRST  
2. TRUSTING GOD WITHOUT ANY DOUBT

1. Acknowledging God first: Acknowledging God is being thankful and grateful to the One who gave us everything we have in the first place. From Able all the way to the widow's offering, God paid close attention to the heart and not at the quantity offered. If we truly acknowledge that everything we have is from God, we would be so grateful that we will give so much and never stop giving. 

2. Trusting God without any doubt:- Trusting God is where we fail or fall short. Particularly trusting God with our finances. Little do we realize that giving works like the law of gravity. If we drop an object if falls irrespective and likewise when we give, God gives double portion in return or even more. The Bible says, "If you give, you will get! Your gift will return to you in full and overflowing measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use to give-- large or small-- will be used to measure what is given back to you." (Luke 6:38). Giving is an act of faith and when we give we place our trust in the Lord. When Jesus invited the rich man to follow Him, the rich man refused and turned his back because he trusted his wealth more than the Lord. Where are we placing our trust? Where will our hearts be, on the perishable treasure, or on the everlasting God who is to be treasured so vehemently?  


3. GIVING IS ABOUT BEING GENEROUS:

In the Bible, giving has always been about generosity. So, it's not just 10%, but how much we could give generously. I know a person in Christ who started giving 10% of his salary and pledged to increase 1% every year to his giving. After 40 years of experience, he is currently giving 50% of his salary generously for the Kingdom of God. Nobody could have studied and understood the Old Testament better than Apostle Paul. But, yet Paul never commanded or urged any of the churches to tithe. Instead, in all his letters to the New Testament Churched he only mentions of giving generously (2 Cor 9:6), liberally (2 Cor 8:20), willingly (2 Cor 8:12), cheerfully (2 Cor 9:7), eagerly (2 Cor 8:10–11). Never he mentioned tithing, not even once. Because he understood that it is not about tithing but only about generously giving. 
  1. Generosity brings blessing (Luke 6:38)
  2. Generosity brings glory to God (2 Corinthians 9:12,13)
  3. Generosity is an expression of love (2 Corinthians 8:2–2)
  4. Generosity is an art to excelled (2 Corinthians 8:7)
  5. Generosity is an act of faith, a willingness to serve cheerfully (2 Corinthians 8:12, 2 Corinthians 9:7)

4. TITHING IN THE NEW TESTAMENT:

In a nutshell, Tithing is not a commandment in the New Testament and even if it be a law, the Law can condemn a Christian who has already been declared righteous by God Himself, because we are under grace. It was never God's intent to make us follow Him out of fear (of condemnation) but only out of love (freely without condemnation) for Him. The Bible is very clear that giving should never be out of compulsion and people who portrait giving as a Law to be obeyed will only instill reluctance and a giving out of grudge. Apostle Paul is totally against it. "Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Cor 9:7)
  1. Tithing cannot earn God's grace (Luke 18:9–14)
  2. Tithing cannot condemn a believer. It is not an NT law. (Hebrews 7:18,19)
So, the answer to the question " தசமபாகம் கட்டாயமா?" is "NO". And to stat the obvious accurately, "பத்தில் ஒரு பங்கு மட்டுமல்ல, அதற்கும் மேல் கொடுக்க வேண்டும்." Remember 10% is a good start that God instigated in OT so we learn the art of giving generously. So, unless we give more than that we have not learned God's intent and desire. Take a moment to think, how much you are giving? only 10% or just as our the Lord intended, more than that?


5. TO WHOM SHOULD I GIVE?

When we give we give to the Lord by giving through God's people and people who are in need. If God doesn't instigate tithe as a commandment then He is not going to instigate that tithe should be given only to a particular group of people or church. Instead, God wants us to give to people who are in need to the best of our abilities. Apostle Paul said, "This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God" (2 Cor 9:12). Having said that, it is our duty to support the church we attend and not stop giving. I have made myself a decision to at least given 10% to the church I attend to and anything I could above that 10% to the people who are in need. I do this because, I personally want to follow the example of our father, Abraham. Even before Law (Torah) was given through Moses to the Israelites, Abraham made it a point to give to Melchizedek (Heb 7) and he did not stop at that. Abraham gave abundantly to many and was one of the most generous people we could see in the Bible and I want to be like him. How good would it be if each one of us follows the footsteps of our father of faith, Abraham? 

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With Love and Prayers
Bro. Anand

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