Tithe comes from the word teogotha which means one tenth. Tithing therefore naturally means giving one tenth of what you have. So that begs the question: why tithe?
Hospitality In The Modern World
This idea of one tenth comes from the book of Genesis. Jacob has a dream and then vows to give God one tenth of all that God gives him.
“And this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.”
~Genesis 28:22
Because God’s chosen people are descendants of Jacob, God then tells Moses a command that a tithe must be given to God:
“ ‘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. Whoever would redeem any of their tithe must add a fifth of the value to it. Every tithe of the herd and flock—every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd’s rod—will be holy to the Lord. No one may pick out the good from the bad or make any substitution. If anyone does make a substitution, both the animal and its substitute become holy and cannot be redeemed.’ ”
~Leviticus 27:30-33
God’s people were supposed to give God the best of what they had, not just one tenth.
But since most of us are not born descendants of Jacob, are we required to give? I don’t think so. But God says a lot about what happens to those who choose to give back to him.
God promises to bless those who give the full tithe and curse those who do not.
““Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—your whole nation—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 there will not be room enough to store it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty. “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty.”
~Malachi 3:8-12
Now that Jesus has been our sacrifice, we are no longer obligated to sacrifice animals to atone for our sins. Jesus is our scapegoat. (Lev 16:20-28) All the sins that ever were and ever will be were laid on him. (Romans 5:18)
Although we are no longer obligated to sacrifice animals without blemish to be set apart and holy, we are still commanded to give to God what is his.
“Then Jesus said to them, “Give to Cesar what is Cesar’s and to God what is God’s.” And they were amazed at him.”
~Mark 12:17
We should be respecting God and giving out of our love and devotion to him.
We are commanded to give with a cheerful heart, not out of obligation or because we feel like we have to.
“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 Corinthians 9:7
Instead of giving because we are supposed to, give so that we are cheerful . God will reward you for your gifts.
God promises that he will make us rich so that we can be generous.
“You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.”
~2 Corinthians 9:11
