The instituting of the tithe or tithing as a means of caring for the livelihood of the Levites is an illustration of God’s care for those who devoted all their time to His service [Num 18:21, 24]. The Levites, in turn, were to make their own contribution by offering a tenth part of the tithes they received [verse 26].
In this way, the whole congregation of Israel had a part in the upkeep of the nation’s spiritual life. No more equable and adequate distribution of communal responsibility has yet been devised. The Lord’s use of arithmetic has stood the test of time.
The value of the tithing system is reflected in its longevity. It was known in Abrahamic days [Gen 14:18-20], it was practiced by Jacob (Gen. 28:20-22], it was incorporated into the economy of Israel at the time of the Exodus [Lev. 27:30-33].
But a century is a long time in human reckoning. Spiritual fervor grew slack, apostasy set in, and one of the early casualties was monetary support of religion.
Five centuries, with all their vicissitudes, passed after the Exodus, and the practice of tithing fell on evil times until Hezekiah became king of Judah in about 725 B.C. and recalled his people to the faithful support of the Temple, its services, and its priests. The Babylonian captivity just over a century later (586 B.C. and onwards) struck a bitter blow to Judah’s religious practices, and it took Nehemiah’s strong leadership to recall the exiles to the faithful support of the priesthood when they did return to Jerusalem by 445 B.C.
But human memory is weak, and after a few years, Malachi had to appeal to the nation to “bring…..the tithes into the storehouse” [Mal. 3.10]. In the New Testament are historical references to past payments of tithes [Heb. 7:4-9], but Christ’s own mention of the custom takes the form of rebukes to scribes and Pharisees for their meticulous calculations for tithing while neglecting the exercise of weightier Christian virtues [Matt. 23:23; Luke 18:12]. In so doing He was not condemning the tithing system but emphasizing a still higher duty – that of showing true Christian charity.
Christian face the same question that faces all religionists: How shall we finance the cause we have espoused? Apart from a few exotic plants, nothing lives on air alone, and even the simplest of human organizations need some support. No system yet devised can equal the even distribution of responsibility that is the genius of the tithing plan.
It adheres to the scriptural principle of proportionate responsibility, “according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not,” or, as the N.E.B. more simply expresses it: “God accepts what a man has; he does not ask for what he has not” (2 Cor. 8:12). Where much has been given, much is expected (Luke 12:48); but the common sin covetousness often leads the rich to give proportionately much less of their wealth than the poor give of their pittances, as Jesus pointed out to His disciples as they saw the poor widow give “all that she had” (Mark 12:41-44).
The early church had ample opportunity to practice what its founder taught. Many Christians in Judea were reduced to extreme poverty, and Paul appealed for help to other congregations. The Macedonian believers responded generously, not because they were wealthy, but out of “the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty,” and thereby inspired other more affluent groups to liberality.
This moved the apostle to recall the greatest instance of giving: “Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes, he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich” (2 Cor. 8:9). Hard must be the heart and tightly closed must be the purse that remains untouched by this supreme example of unselfish generosity!
Throughout its two-thousand-year history, Christianity has seen its adherents struggle to resolve the problems raised by wealth and the possessions it brings. In its early days, the question was settled by the members’ having “all things common” (Acts 2:44) and by the itinerant and selfless nature of their leaders’ lives, which prevented their becoming rich.
But, as the church grew older more of its members, were drawn from the moneyed classes, and accumulation of wealth often weakened their dedication. There were periodic calls for a return to primitive godliness, and at intervals, charismatic leaders tried to bring their followers back to New Testament simplicity. St. Francis of Assisi (1182?-1226) was notable for his renunciation of wealth and his vows of complete poverty. But the struggle continued and is with us today.
The Son of Man, poor as He personally was during His incarnation, did not condemn wealth or require all of His followers to renounce it. The balanced Christian ethic has recognized the responsibilities and pitfalls that come with riches and has emphasized the right use of money and possessions for the good of one’s fellow creatures and the propagation of the gospel. It has approved voluntary poverty that springs from religious motives and discouraged avoidable poverty that is born of fickleness, extravagance, drunkenness, gambling, and other unchristian habits.
Behind the church’s attitude to her members’ financial standings has been her Master’s dictum, “A man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth” (Luke 12:15), and His counsel, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matt. 6:33).
The Lord wished to share with all His followers His concern with priorities – the advancement of the kingdom of God and the possession of God’s righteous character. When these two essentials are cared for, “all these things” – food, drink, clothing, the necessities of life that money buys – will be given us. Countless Christians have proved the Lord’s promise to be true.
Below is a study on tithing shared by Pastor Doug Batchelor of Amazing Facts.
Related:
Man Stuck In The Mud (King Herod Perplexed by Jesus) – CD Brooks Sermons
I hope you have been blessed by this post on tithing. Please share your observations in the comments section below.
