Christians are often concerned about 'stewardship' The question may be along the lines of Must a Christian give one-tenth (i.e., a tithe) of income to the church? Should you?
The concept of the tithe derives from the Old Testament practice of the obligation to "tithe increase" for God's service - for example, Deuteronomy 14:23. The concept pre-dates Moses, and a form of it was practiced by Abraham (some three hundred years earlier) and Jacob. In the new nation of Israel the tithe was paid to the authorized Levitical priesthood for their own material needs and for their work in the Tabernacle and the Temple (Numbers 18:20-24). The notion of a tithe was also known to nations other than Israel.
With the passage of three and a half thousand years the details of the tithe have become somewhat obscure. However, the principles remain clear - certainly in "old covenant" terms.
Although disputed, many Bible students consider that there were, in Israel, three separate tithes. The first tithe was that mentioned above - for the priesthood. A second tithe was for the individual to support attendance at the great festivals held in Jerusalem. And every third year and sixth year in seven there was a third tithe - given to alleviate poverty in the land. Given human nature it's unlikely they were strictly adhered to!
The obscurity arises from the detail: who tithed? what was tithed? how was it distributed? was everything tithed? For example we're told that every tenth animal was for God. So, what if you had only nine? Was the upkeep and cost of their home excluded? And food? What is increase? We can but guess!
New Testament
In the time of Jesus the tithe was a legal requirement for all Jews. For example, he told the Pharisees that they should even indeed tithe "mint and anise and cummin" (Matthew 23:23) - simple herbs.
So how does the Old Testament tithing law apply to Christians?
There is no separate 'doctrinal statement' on tithing in the New Testament. There are, however, certain principles deriving from the Old Covenant regulations which, coupled with the "new wine" of faith in Christ, allow us to develop a "doctrine of Christian giving", or Christian stewardship.
The tithes were for the purposes of: support for divine service, support for personal festival attendance, support for the needy. The same principles are applicable today. There is a work for God to be done, Christians need to attend the Festivals, and we still have the needy among us - single parents, destitute, disabled etc. All need to be cared for. Good stewardship shows how.
A Key Principle
An important principle is derived from the "Sermon on the Mount". In dealing with other aspects of the Law, Jesus explained that the Christian life is not confined by the Law, but goes beyond it. With adultery, for example, he shows us that Christian behavior cuts more deeply than just the sexual act - it is in the heart. The same with violence - even anger transgresses the law of "You shall do no murder".
So, too, with our resources: all - whether material or spiritual talents, or our property, or our money, or our time - all belong to God, and we are but stewards. All is to be used to God's glory. We serve wholeheartedly and joyously as we are able! Giving is a "heart thing". We give in response to, and to acknowledge, God's bounty liberally poured out upon us, and in thankfulness for His overflowing mercies. Our giving is not confined by any concept of a strict legal tithe.
Sharing our substance, for the Christian, is a delight. It's an expression of our inner state of thankfulness. Jesus also addresses this in the "Sermon on the Mount". As we "lay up treasures in heaven" (Matthew 6:20) we display our commitment to serving God rather than mammon, and to shutting our eyes to covetousness (vv.21-24; Colossians 3:5; Ephesians 5:3). Again, sacrificial giving expresses our readiness to trust our loving Father for every material need (vv.25-34, Proverbs 10:3).
A Royal Priesthood
Another fundamental principle - often overlooked - is that the priesthood has now changed. No longer (since the Temple service ended in 70 A.D.) is it Levitical, nor is it any form of institution. But it is us, as partners of Christ (Hebrews 3:14, Revelation 5:10) - whose ministry replaces the Levitical priesthood!
Every Christian is a member of a "royal priesthood" (I Peter 2:9). As such it is our personal responsibility, on the basis of the above principles, to use all our natural talents and our spiritual gifts and all our resources in the service of God. It's not a responsibility we can pass on to others. Each of us is commissioned to total commitment to the service of our Saviour. Christianity is no soft option!
Joint Effort
Of course, if you personally are clearly not in a position to do a personal work (age, illness, family etc) then you must decide who you consider is to be trusted to wisely use your resources. Though all of us are obligated to diligently pray for the advance of the work of God!
You may decide that your financial gifts are more effectively used in co-operation with others of like mind. This could be to support a joint project - eg a magazine or an 'evangelist' or other form of outreach that you deem to be personally helpful, or someone or some organization you consider to be doing an effective work for God.
A contemporary example is that local assemblies and individuals around the world contribute to the publishing costs of this our outreach magazine New Horizons, to the distribution of thousands of pieces of literature and to finance our various support programs. Pooled resources properly used are usually more effective than individual effort.
Also, our giving certainly - and perhaps primarily - includes donations toward the legitimate expenses (including appropriate remuneration for those who serve the assembly) and outreach projects of the local assembly that we attend.
Buying Salvation
Another key is that we are free individuals not under the thumb of any other human being or organization. As such we are each personally responsible to exercise our freedom in giving - how much, to whom, for what purpose etc. It is each Christian's personal responsibility to ensure that what we give is used faithfully and carefully by the recipient.
We are responsible before God who knows our hearts - and both our needs and the depth of our wallet!
What pleases God is a heart dedicated to Him and indwelt and guided by His Spirit. Mere external behavior isn't necessarily evidence of a converted heart. Nor is the amount we set aside for the work of God a factor in whether or not we will be saved (though some would have you believe it is!). Our salvation is a free gift extended through God's love and our Saviour's willingness to die for us. We can not buy salvation!
On the other hand a stingy and mournful approach to God and to giving can distort our life, inhibit our zeal and cause us to dry up spiritually (Proverbs 11:24, 26) Wrote Paul: "He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully" (II Corinthians 9:6). It could conceivably lead to our spiritual demise.
Importantly, the discipline of consistent Bible-based giving and sharing of our resources is a key to a growing trust in God to supply very material need according to His sure promises.
The spiritual principles underlying all our giving are those of joy and thankfulness and sacrifice. Joy that we are privileged to be called by God - with a stake in eternity. Thankfulness that we know Him and are known to Him and grateful for the abundance of His overflowing mercies and daily provision for our material and spiritual needs. And a readiness to sacrifice for the Saviour who sacrificed all for us.
Daily Needs
Out of this thankfulness, then, all God's people delight to return to God His bounty to use to His glory.
Some brethren, however, need to be restrained from giving! For it is a further principle that we are expected to adequately care for, among others, our own daily needs and those of our family (I Timothy 5:15, II Corinthians 12:14, Ephesians 6:2, Mark 7:11). Likely, that's why it was the tenth animal that was tithed - if you didn't have as many as ten animals a tithe wasn't expected! Though, of course, this did not deny the opportunity to give voluntarily of their substance.
Even our carnal human governments recognize the need we have for some non-taxable income! So even for those who believe in a strict legal tithe the implication of this is that if you are not obliged to pay tax you may, of course, donate - but need not feel obliged to "tithe" your small - perhaps fixed - income. What we give, then, is a matter of individual judgment, taking note of our personal responsibilities.
Other Giving
Another Christian obligation is the necessity of funding our ability to worship (Hebrews 10:24-26). It is important to our spiritual growth, and a Biblical instruction, that we fellowship, worship, and be instructed from God's Word by attending the annual Festivals and Sabbath meetings when at all possible. The second tithe principle is to finance this and to help us to afford it - for ourselves, and where possible to help other brethren. This implies that we carefully manage our income, budgeting for this purpose.
Care for the Needy
A further constraint on our giving is that there will always be those among us who for some reason are restricted in their finances, even destitute. The principle of the third tithe is that we care for such - in a special way for those who are of the Body of Christ (Galatians 6:6-10).
Those of us who are in employment will already be contributing for this purpose through their social security payments - currently, in Britain, a whopping 12% of gross salary year in, year out! For us, the giving of a third tithe is in a sense obsolete, replaced by a generous willingness to share our resources with those in need - over and beyond obligations imposed by a profligate government! Each local assembly, indeed, should have a fund dedicated to this end.
Heart Religion
Christian giving, then, is a personal matter between each of us and God. It is a matter of the heart, flowing from the working in us of the Spirit of God who is the source of every material and spiritual blessing.
There is no external coercion, there can be no legitimate demands from men - and no privileges granted for being 'a good donor'! All our resources flow from our loving, caring Father in heaven. He delights to see His children sharing this same attitude (II Corinthians 9:7).
In the intent of the hymn I surrender all - our giving is not driven by a legal formula but by our willing and joyful and total dedication of our entire being and resources to our Creator, our Saviour, our Provider.
In sum, our commitment to Jesus Christ should energize us to dedicate all our resources in a balanced way to his service.
Let's joyfully honour God and our Saviour with the firstfruits of our substance and of our increase (Proverbs 3:9)!
To comment on this article or request more information, please contact James McBride by e-mail at the comment form below.
For PDF or mailed copy, see CGOM. Excerpt from New Horizons Issue 34, July/August 2002. Edited by James McBride of the Churches of God, United Kingdom.
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