Question 1

What does the bible say about giving to the Lord, tithing and offerings?

Accepted Answer

Below are just a few verses about tithing and generosity. Throughout the Word of God, we see a recurring theme of how important it is to honor God with our resources and caring for those who are in need. Tithing, by giving 10% of your resources, is not a legalistic obligation. It is an expression of love to God, given from the thankfulness and trust in your heart for God’s provision. Tithing is an act of worship that invites God’s blessings as it encourages a lifestyle of generosity and compassion. A genuine love for God produces compassion for His children. The weak, lonely, lost, hurting, and marginalized, are just some of God's children who are in need. When we give our tithes or offerings willingly, cheerfully and with compassion, out of the resources that God has provided, it not only pleases God, it is also evidence of your transformed heart. We are reminded that justice, mercy, and love are more important to God than giving a percent of what is already His. (Malachi 3:10, Leviticus 27:30, 2 Corinthians 9:7, Proverbs 22:9, Proverbs 28:27,  Proverbs 11:24, Acts 20:35, Luke 18:12, Matthew 23:23, Luke 11:42)

Question 2

What is tithing about?

Accepted Answer

Malachi 3:10 encourages believers to faithfully bring their tithes into the "storehouse" of God, which is our local churches. This verse invites us to test God as we honor Him with our tithes. If we tithe, He promises to bless us and provide for our needs. (“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 there will not be room enough to store it.” Malachi 3:10)Paul reminds us in Acts 20:35, that in giving we are more blessed than when we receive. When we help the weak and the marginalized who are needy and vulnerable, we receive the joy that comes from selfless generosity. It is a way to live out Christ's teaching and love. (“In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:35)

Question 3

Where does the 10% tithe come from?

Accepted Answer

Leviticus 27:30 establishes the principle of tithing, which means giving a tenth of what God has given you, either in income or produce, back to the Lord. What we are given by God is His anyway, so that tithe is considered holy, set apart for Him. We honor God when we tithe. We are acknowledging that it is the LORD who has provided all our resources. (“A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.” Leviticus 27:30)2 Corinthians 9:7 says all of our giving, whether tithes or offerings, should be given with a willing heart, not out of compulsion or obligation. Proverbs 11:24 shows the principle of sowing and reaping in generosity. When we give freely, we often receive even more blessings from God.

Question 4

Is tithing a religious ritual?

Accepted Answer

Jesus Himself criticized the religious leaders for their pride and hypocrisy in the way they were tithing, yet neglecting the things that are more important to God - justice, mercy and faithfulness. (“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.” Matthew 23:23)In Luke 18:12 the Pharisee is boasting about his religious rituals, including tithing, but his heart is filled with pride and not a true love or devotion for God. Tithing alone is not what God wants from us. He wants an authentic relationship with us, and a humble heart. Jesus reprimands the pharisees again in Luke 11:42 for the legalistic approach they were taking with tithing. Although the pharisees were tithing their 10%, they were not giving out of their love for God, or their desire for justice, or with the compassion and righteousness that would be pleasing to God. ( “Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue, and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.” Luke 11:42)

Question 5

If I give that much away, what if I don't have enough to live on?

Accepted Answer

As believers, we can trust that God will provide for all our needs as it says in Philippians 4:19. We know that God will never fail us but supply our needs according to his wisdom and in His time.We believe that giving is a spiritual discipline that should be cultivated as well as other virtues, such as faith, knowledge, and love. Paul talks about the "grace of giving" in 2 Corinthians 8:7, as an opportunity for us to show the transforming power of Christ’s grace in our lives.

Question 6

How does tithing demonstrate the kind of relationship God wants from us?

Accepted Answer

James 1:27 says that "true religion", a religion that is pleasing to God, involves caring for the marginalized and vulnerable. We believe our giving should go beyond financial tithe to real and sincere acts of compassion and justice. We are to live in a way that reflects the character and heart of our Savior, Jesus Christ. In Proverbs 19:17, the Word says that giving to the poor is like lending to the Lord. When we show kindness and generosity to those in need, we are giving back to God Himself. God is faithful and He promises to reward us for our compassion. His reward may be through material blessings or spiritual blessings, but He will fulfill His promises.

Question 7

What does it mean that giving tithes or offerings is a blessing?

Accepted Answer

When we are generous towards others, especially the poor and needy, as it says in Proverbs 22:9, God says we will also be blessed. ("The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor.” Proverbs 22:9)
Again, in Proverbs 28:27, it says when we generously give to those in need, we will lack nothing. But if we don't share what God has given us, we may experience negative consequences in our lives. Paul reminds us in Acts 20:35, that in giving we are more blessed than when we receive. When we help the weak and the marginalized who are needy and vulnerable, we receive the joy that comes from selfless generosity. It is a way to live out Christ's teaching and love.

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