Tithes. Principles. Practice
Raw text
God accepted the concept of a percentage as belonging to Him. He adopted the percentage of the tithe, which is 10%. At the time of the law, God decided to separate the portion that belongs to Him as a specified percentage, serving as a leveler for everyone. This ensures that the burden is not disproportionate, regardless of whether one is the richest or the poorest; it remains the same percentage for all. It does not increase or decrease one’s wealth. However, a person who is already the poorest in the world cannot avoid this obligation due to their poverty. Withholding it because of poverty will only increase their poverty.
The principle of divine provision applies to all without discrimination: he who gathered much had nothing over, and he who gathered little had no lack. This principle indicates that he who gathered much had no surplus, and he who gathered very little had no deficit. Neither surplus nor deficit; the manna sufficed for all. God had already determined that the tithe would be a leveler. The tithe is not increased by virtue of abundance nor decreased by virtue of lack; it remains the same percentage of all that one has. God made this decision to ensure that the food in His house is not at the mercy and discretion of the people, but rather a covenant responsibility. This was His choice, and it was not a bad or destructive choice.
Jesus stated, “I did not come to do away with the law; I came to fulfill it.” The commandment “Thou shalt not kill” does not disappear from the law, nor does “Thou shalt not covet.” The command to love the Lord your God with all your strength and your neighbor as yourself remains unchanged. If anything, grace demands more than the law, not less. Grace can require a percentage higher than 10%, not lower. The command “Thou shalt not” has been extended; if you hate your brother, you are killing him in your heart. The command “Thou shalt not commit adultery” has been extended; if you look at someone lustfully, you have already committed adultery with them in your heart. The standards of grace are higher, not lower.
If anyone wishes to adjust the percentage of the tithe, it can only be higher, not lower. God will not accept less from anyone. He is not interested in copy-cutting; He looks at the heart. The first person to give an offering was Cain. He understood the principle of giving to God without any law requiring him, making it commendable. Abel recognized this and, out of a heart of love and appreciation, gave a more perfect offering, which God accepted. Both gave without a requirement or demand; it was a freewill offering. However, one was more accepted than the other.
When it comes to the tithe, is there a need in God’s house? Is there a need to pay rent, buy land, build, furnish the church, power the church, buy equipment, pay staff, or pay instrumentalists? Does the church office require funding? In those days, food was the primary concern—food, clothing, and other essentials. If the tithe is in money, that is acceptable as it aligns with current practices. One of the roles of tithes is to minister to the poor. Many churches have benevolence and charity departments. They often pay medical bills for the needy, school fees for those who cannot afford them, and help with rent for those in need.
God does not want to leave it to people’s discretion what the minimum should be, but He allows the maximum to be at their discretion. Can this be abused? Of course. The children of Eli abused the offerings, and the children of Samuel abused their positions in the temple. Should we, because of abuse, abrogate what belongs to God? No, we cannot. Is there a need for the tithe? Yes. You may call it a tithe or any name you like, but what is the need? Does God consider Himself the rightful and legitimate covenant owner of a percentage of all that comes to you? Yes, He does. Does the principle of the first fruit still exist? Yes, it does. It is a natural act of worship.
Is the way the first fruit is framed unwholesome and uncharacteristic of God? Yes, certainly. That is an oppressive interpretation of it, but the principle will never die. The law is imperfect; “Thou shalt not kill” and “Thou shalt not steal” still stand. It would be interesting to revisit the Ten Commandments to see what they entail. However, the Ten Commandments do not encompass the entirety of the law; the law is much broader. What has been done away with is the letter of the law, not the spirit of the law.
Why is the law given? It is provided as a minimum standard to demonstrate what is unacceptable and what must be done. Where there is no law, there is no offense against the law. The law establishes offenses, and offenses are punished. Are there still offenses today? Yes. Are offenses still punished? Yes. The principles never die; they endure and live forever. The letter is dispensable and has been dispensed with.