Is Tithing Relevant for Modern Day Christians?
If you’ve been around the church for a while, I’m sure you’ve experienced a sermon or two about tithing.
While most pastors are very genuine and intentional about helping their congregation understand the biblical calling to generosity, there are still many ministries out there who abuse and manipulate this lesson in order to swindle more money out of you. I find that this kind of manipulation is common within churches who preach the prosperity gospel.
Tithing statistics show that giving to the church has been on a decline. Because of the lies, manipulation, and misunderstanding around tithing it seems as though many church goers have used these as an excuse not to give to their home church – saying that they don’t trust the church to use the funds wisely. However, you shouldn’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.
There is still a lot of good that can come from regular tithing and in fact, we really do have a biblical calling to generosity. It’s one of the primary characteristics of a good financial steward!
When tithing was originally established as a law it was to be able to provide for the Levites who worked in the temple as well as for those who had trouble providing for themselves like the widows, and poor.
To the Levites I have given every tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service that they do, their service in the tent of meeting
Numbers 18:21
When you have finished setting aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied
Deuteronomy 26:12
We don’t have the same kind of temple and law system like they had back then thanks to Jesus coming to fulfill the law – so there technically is no need to tithe today. However, this does not give us a free pass to neglect Jesus’ call to be generous people.
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
1 John 3:16-18
So if Jesus fulfilled this law and we technically no longer need to tithe what is the purpose of tithing today and is it still relevant?
Here’s the big list of money topics in the Bible, and here is a list of over 100 Bible verses about money.
3 Main Purposes of Tithing as Modern Day Christians
1. To support those who proclaim the gospel
God may not need your money, but the church does, and God wants to use you to help pay the bills, and to build His Kingdom.
Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.
1 Corinthians 9:13-14
Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.
Galatians 6:6
The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages.”
1 Timothy 5:17-18
The principle to support ministries is biblical and something that you and I are called to do. It is so important to be generous with your offerings to your home churches as well as kingdom building ministries.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33
While there are a lot of fantastic non-profits out there, you do have a biblical responsibility to seek first the Kingdom of God in all areas of your lives including how you use your money. Meaning that you should pour your donations into Gospel advancing ministries.
Ministries and churches need your support to keep the lights on, to pay their amazing staff well, and to run events and programs to be able to offer them for free to the public.
2. Tithing tests your heart.
Tithing is a test of obedience to see if you will obey. God wants to know where your heart is at.
It was the late Billy Graham who said that if he had a few minutes with you checkbook, he would be able to see where your heart is at.
While practically your donations go to support ministries, there is a much deeper purpose to it than funding the electricity bill. Generosity towards others is an expression of loving God!
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matthew 6:21
Tithing is still very important and relevant for us today as believers because it is a way that you can visibly put God first in your life. When you are provided your income, God is examining your heart to see what place he has in it. Because remember he was the one who provided it for you.
And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.
Deuteronomy 8:18
In fact, when you choose NOT to be generous and give two things that are true…
- You do not trust God’s promise to provide for you.
- Matthew 6:31-33 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
- Matthew 7:11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
- You do not have the love of God within you.
- 1 John 3:17 – If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?
- James 4:17 – To him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.
I know that this sounds really harsh, but that is why the Bible has so many warnings against the love of money (see 1 Timothy 6). You see, many of us (including myself) suffer from the Love of money because when we trust our wealth to provide us security, comfort, and fulfillment more than we trust God for those things we are letting our finances rule over our hearts.
3. Tithing frees your hands up to accept God’s abundance
The beautiful thing about generosity though is that it is truly the key to unlocking and experiencing the abundance that God desires for you! Because when you give money it frees your hands up to receive something better.
Those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed
1 Samuel 2:30
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
2 Corinthians 9:6-8
Tracking our net worth is important, but what has even greater importance is tracking your giving for the sake of encouraging you to become more generous.
God gives you and I the financial resources we have so that we can participate in Kingdom building activities – like supporting our home churches, amazing ministries, as well as to do good for those around us like taking a single mom and her kiddos out to dinner, hosting a block party to get to know those who live near you, buying groceries for someone who just lost their job, or providing a meal for that college student who attends your church.
Using and giving your money freely like this breaks your heart out of the captivity of loving & trusting your money more than God. That is why we tithe.
Conclusion
While tithing is not a deal-breaker or an act needed in order to gain salvation, Jesus still encourages and calls us to be generous people. We will never be saved by our good works (ie tithing), but good works should flow from us when we are truly saved and have the holy spirit within us.
If you desire to be able to be more generous but struggle with your personal finances, I would love to invite you to check out my coaching and mentorship program, Redeeming Your Finances where you will learn excellent money management skills that are rooted in the Gospel so you can free your money up to pursue your unique calling!
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