TITHING IS NOT OPTIONAL
I fully believe that Christians are not justified by the Law of Moses and should not lean on it for salvation. However, tithing as a principle was practiced even before Moses received the commandments or Laws on Mount Sinai. Abraham was the first example of a tither. Hebrews 7:6 mentions that Melchisedec, the priest of the Most High God, “received tithes of Abraham.” Though only one incident of Melchisedec receiving tithes from Abraham is mentioned (Gen14:20), we cannot rule out that Abraham gave tithes on other occasions also. Abraham’s grandson, Jacob could not have come out to make a commitment to tithe on a consistent basis to the Lord if his grandfather only tithed once and stopped there. Jacob made a lifelong commitment to tithe when he told God that, “of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee”Genesis 28:22. Abraham and Jacob lived approximately 400 years before Moses the lawgiver was born. They were living under a dispensation of grace and their tithing lifestyle cannot be ignored on the pretext that they were under the law since there was no law at that time at all. The New Testament describes Abraham, the tithing man of faith as, “the father of us all” (Romans 4:16), showing us that as born again Christians we have to emulate our father in the faith by tithing like he did. The book of Galatians shows us that the blessing of Abraham which includes salvation by grace through faith and prosperity can be received by every believer in Jesus Christ, “That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ”(Galatians 3:14). One of the benefits that Abraham received from his lifestyle of tithing was financial prosperity since the Bible clearly points out that, “Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold” (Genesis 13:2). Abram or Abraham’s financial prosperity can only be traced to his tithing lifestyle.
Tithing is simply defined as giving a tenth of all your increase to the Lord. The scriptures have shown us that Melchisedec the priest received the tithes from Abraham (Heb 7). In the Old Testament the Levites had the right to receive tithes from the Israelites according to the laws of Moses (Num 18:24). The Levitical priests were mortal but Melchisedec is described as immortal. Melchisedec’s priesthood is superior to the Levitical priesthood since the book of Hebrews states that Levi, Abraham’s great-grandson paid tithes to Melchisedec through Abraham since he was still in Abraham’s loins at the time (Heb 7:9-10). Since the Old Testament tithing system changed with the establishment of the New Covenant, the recipient of the tithe also changed. Someone else took up the office of the priesthood of Melchisedec, “even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec”(Heb 6:20). Jesus now continues to receive the tithe from Abraham’s children, those who have believed in Jesus Christ for salvation (Heb 7:8).
In a practical sense, the tithe is received by Jesus Christ through the Church and especially through the church leadership that includes the Apostles, Prophets and Pastors (Eph 4:11). Apostle Paul in stating his rights as a church leader and Apostle stated, “Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel” (1 Cor 9:13-14). In this scripture Apostle Paul compares the spiritual leadership under the Law that included the priests and Levites with the New Testament church leadership. Just like the Levites ministered in the temple and received tithes that were brought to the temple, as an Apostle and preacher, Paul had the right to receive the tithes from the church members. That same right belongs to the church leadership today.
The last nail that stops the mouth of all the tithe haters is what Jesus Himself mentioned about tithe, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone” (Matthew 23:23). In this scripture, Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for neglecting judgment, mercy and faith but at the same time commends them for being faithful tithers. Jesus clearly says that tithe is one of the things that a believer ought to do.
Behind the mask of being the “gallant defenders of the faith”, those who oppose tithe are actually bound by a selfish, miserly and stingy spirit that is inconsistent with the generous faith of the New Testament (Acts 4:34, 2 Cor 9:6-7). The motive that ought to prompt liberality in tithing as a service to God ought to be greater now than in Old Testament times, hence Christians ought to go beyond the ancient Hebrews in consecrating both themselves and their substance to God. A Christian who does not tithe is not a non-believer but is a disobedient child of God who is actually opposing the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ through withholding resources over which God has made them stewards to further the preaching of the gospel through the church.
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