Stewardship & Tithing

(1) Reasons for Giving

In studying the various scriptures that deal with ‘tithing’ or ‘giving’, there are a few common reasons there why we should give. Of course, this does not just apply to monetary giving, but also to the offering of time, and the sharing of talents.

The Bible recommends that we give to the work of God’s Kingdom for at least three major reasons:

a. This is a very healthy and practical way of responding to all which God has given us; from our very lives and the created environment in which life is sustained, to the very personal efforts of God to relate to us, save us, and draw us into participation in the church.

b. The spirit of generosity is such an important part of our expression of being fully human, and defeating the power of self-centredness. To live strictly within the parameters of self, and to hold everything under individual ownership … depreciates our soul, for we were created to be relational beings – living out our lives in one another’s company. This is part of that “…what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life?” thing that Jesus taught.

Besides this, life does not bring forth equal bounty to all people; therefore there is often the need to help out, support, lift burdens … and generally to be generous towards those in need.

c. To enable God’s Spiritual Kingdom on Earth to grow and flourish. Whether this was the spiritual well-being of the people of Israel promoted in the Old Testament, or the fellowship and mission of the church founded by Jesus’ first disciples in the New Testament, God’s work needs to be invested in … if God’s will & purposes are to be addressed.

(2) Good Stewardship

This all comes down to what is often called ‘good stewardship’. This is firstly an understanding of, and then secondly the practice of, properly handling with integrity all that has been entrusted to us – ie. time/whole of our life; talents, abilities, spiritual gifts; & resources > material possessions, income, monetary reserves, assets.

A major part of following Jesus … is to have a proper attitude to all these areas of our life. We are not all called to become (materially) impoverished and embark on a mission in the streets. But we are all called to invest our earthly treasures in such a way as to build a dividend in heavenly treasures; or if you like … we are all called to invest everything we have been given toward the maximum benefit of God’s Kingdom – which means a sharing with the work of God, and, a sharing into the needs of other people … in such a way as they can experience God for themselves (as we have done).

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21).

A “steward” is a person entrusted to manage another’s property. The best example of this … is the responsibility humankind was given to look after all of God’s creation in Genesis 1:28. Human beings have been entrusted to manage all of God’s blessings on earth. ‘Good’ stewards will take this responsibility seriously and manage all of God’s provision well. Whereas we shouldn’t ever ignore the environmental aspect of this, we should also take seriously what this means for our (Christian) discipleship and everyday decision-making; repeatedly asking the question ... “How can I manage my [financial] affairs in the most Godly way?”

(3) The Hebrew Tithe

In Genesis we have texts that show that both Abraham (then Abram) and his grandson Jacob both offered tithes to the priest, or God, in response to God’s presence & blessing in their lives (14:20, 28:22).

The Law of Moses, recorded in Leviticus, mandated the tithe – which meant an offering to God of a tenth of a person’s income from the land or farming. Read 27:30-33 >

"All tithes from the land, whether the seed from the ground or the fruit from the tree, are the Lord’s; they are holy to the Lord. 31If persons wish to redeem any of their tithes, they must add one-fifth to them. 32All tithes of herd and flock, every tenth one that passes under the shepherd’s staff, shall be holy to the Lord. 33Let no one inquire whether it is good or bad, or make substitution for it; if one makes substitution for it, then both it and the substitute shall be holy and cannot be redeemed."

The not inquiring “whether it is good or bad” (v.33) refers to not just giving the least valuable tenth; what was required was more of a random offering across all of the new offspring. The manner of tithing livestock was as follows: the owner counted the animals as they passed out to pasture, and every tenth one was given to God; in this way there was no possibility of just selecting inferior animals for tithing.

Numbers 18:21-24 has shown that this tithe, at least at one time, was utilised to support the ministry of the Levites amongst the people of Israel >

"To the Levites I have given every tithe in Israel for a possession in return for the service that they perform, the service in the tent of meeting" (v.21).

These ‘Levites’ would not have the time to farm any land or earn any other income, as their functions and service within the community would consume all their time and energy.

Verse 24 > … "I have given to the Levites as their portion the tithe of the Israelites, which they set apart as an offering to the Lord".

This shows that when a tithe or offering is made to God, what it is designed to be used for, is the work (or ministry) of God through those that are called into service.

These Levites, having received the tithe of the Israelites, had to then tithe themselves in support of the priests in their ministry to the people. The Levites’ tithe was to come from the “best” of all they had received from the Israelite tithe (Numbers 18:25-29).

J.L. Mays writes, “… undergirding all these specifications is the belief that those kept from earning their own livelihood by reason of their consecration to sacred duties are to be maintained by use of part of the offerings brought to God”.

Everyone’s involvement in the tithe was God’s way of perpetuating the development of the spiritual life of the people.

There were also other offerings (or alms/charity) commanded from the people of Israel for other special purposes as well (like supporting the poor).

(4) The Practice (or non-practice) of the Tithe

There is conjecture regarding how well or consistently this tithing was practiced.

We know that Nehemiah (13:10-11) had occasion to remonstrate with the people concerning the lack of tithing toward the Levites >

"I also found out that the portions of the Levites had not been given to them; so that the Levites and the singers, who had conducted the service, had gone back to their fields. So I remonstrated with the officials and said, ‘Why is the house of God forsaken?’"

Then there is the preaching from the prophet Malachi (3:6-12) which reflects his (& God’s) view on when the tithe had been ignored >

"For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, have not perished. 7Ever since the days of your ancestors you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’ 8 Will anyone rob God? Yet you are robbing me! But you say, ‘How are we robbing you?’ In your tithes and offerings! 9You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me—the whole nation of you! 10Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house, and thus put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing. 11I will rebuke the locust for you, so that it will not destroy the produce of your soil; and your vine in the field shall not be barren, says the Lord of hosts. 12Then all nations will count you happy, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts."

We should note the following:

· “I the Lord do not change” (v.6) reminds the hearers/readers that there has been no change in God’s desire to care for His people; any loss of relationship has come as a result of the people ignoring God’s ways & neglecting their responsibilities;

· “you have turned aside/Return to me” (v.7) again indicates a fracture in the people’s relationship with God, caused, as we find out in verse 8, by their unwillingness to tithe, such that God sees them as robbing Him (and thus robbing God’s work);

· there seems to be a connection between the people’s willingness to tithe, and God’s ability or availability or willingness to protect the production of their crops (v.10-11); the prophet here seems to connect God’s blessing on the people’s efforts toward income gathering, with their readiness to contribute to God’s “storehouse” of resources – especially note the magnificent vision of verse 10.

The words of Malachi seem to connect well with Proverbs 11:24 >

"Some give freely, yet grow all the richer; others withhold what is due, and only suffer want."

Not that we should give for what we might receive in monetary terms, but rather we give - to open the window to God’s spiritual blessings (and wherever that leads us in the vibrant journey of life – perhaps seen in terms of inner peace, new purpose, spiritual joy, family stability or helpful friendships; blessings that may become available soon, or perhaps some years from now).

The Apostle Paul supports this thinking where he thanks the church at Philippi for the financial aid they gave him while on a missionary journey, saying to them, "Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the profit that accumulates to your account", and then defines that 'profit' to their 'account' in these terms – "And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:17, 19).

(5) Giving in the New Testament

The only passage in the New Testament that explicitly mentions ‘tithing’ does so in a rather backhanded way – Matthew 23:23 >

"‘Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. It is these you ought to have practiced without neglecting the others".

Here Jesus criticises the hypocrisy of going to the extreme of tithing herbs from the back garden, whilst ignoring the more weightier matters of promoting justice, challenging injustice, as well as understanding and applying grace.

However, this passage does still show that tithing was a continuing dynamic within Jewish religious activity, and seems to gain support from Jesus as a worthy and correct practice, i.e. it is not to be “neglected”.

But, certainly you would also have to say that Jesus took the basis of religion beyond the written law toward the true attitude of the heart, eg. "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:21).

Jesus pointed out that often money was the ‘sticking point’ that got in the way of proper & fulfilling relationship with God; for example “the rich young ruler” who knew and practiced the ‘commandments’, but couldn’t see past his wealth to actually fully embrace God & neighbour in his life (Matthew 19:16-22 & parallels); also Jesus having to teach that you couldn’t serve two masters – God and money – the material lure of money was as voracious & powerful as was the spiritual lure of God (Matthew 6:24).

And Jesus did promote a revolutionary attitude of goodness towards others, especially those who had found themselves on the fringes of the community.

Jesus himself provided the perfect example of generosity to others:
· in his availability to those in need of his healing hand
· in his blessing of the gift of the five loaves and two fish, multiplying them into an endless feast for the hungry, and
· in his teaching about the importance of being neighbourly, epitomised in the parable of the “good Samaritan”.

Jesus also commended sacrifice … like in the case of the poor widow whose two small copper coins were viewed more favourably than those offerings made from abundance. And, Jesus actually provided the ultimate example of sacrificing for the good of God’s Kingdom, by giving up his very life to initiate what has become God’s church on earth.

Having experienced Jesus in our lives, we are free to respond to God’s love and goodness by returning to God’s work on earth a tithe of our income, not because of the letter of any law, but because our heart has been changed towards the needs of others. Where once we might have been focussed on ourselves, we are now centred on God’s purposes, and the Holy Spirit is developing generosity and sacrifice within us.

We can then turn to Paul in 2 Corinthians 9, where we see some helpful principles concerning our giving:

· Verse 6 > "The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully."

The more we are able to give, the greater the blessing is likely to be – not in a personal nor material sense, but in a Kingdom & spiritual sense. As people give generously to God (and therefore to the work of the Church), and as the Church decides together to invest that giving into developing ministry into the community, bountiful outcomes are likely!

Tithing brings a great opportunity, for it is one of the most practical acts of worship – it both praises God, and provides gifts of grace for other people. As we pray over the tithes and offerings that come forward, may they be multiplied like the loaves and fishes, so that the benefits are spread broadly over all those who hunger and thirst for God, and also to those whose spiritual void remains as yet untouched by the Holy Spirit … and we know that all of heaven rejoices when a child of God finds their way home. There can be no better investment than this! And, God continues to trust us in being wise investors into His Kingdom.

"11You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us; 12for the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God."

We learn in these verses (11f) … that the generous giving of His people, leads to much thanksgiving to God – meaning that all those touched by the service and ministry funded by the tithing have been enabled to join the worshipping throng.

American author Haddon Robinson observes: “In society, you give to an art museum so you can have your name on the new wing, but in God’s family, you give to please your Father in heaven. The question is not ‘What do I get out of it?’ but ‘What does God get out of it’?”

· Verse 7 > "Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

We should get our heart right about our giving (by praying & thinking all this through), so that we won’t be reluctant or regretful about this giving, but rather give spontaneously and happily.

Tithing, so that the church will be adequately resourced to address its vision and mission, is the responsibility of all members and participants; making such contributions is just part of being family, and part of being the interconnected ‘Body of Christ’. The ultimate mindset however, is to see tithing or giving, not so much as a burden or a chore, but as a privilege … a privilege to reinvest the blessings of God given to me … toward significant ministry to others.

This text could be misconstrued to suggest that if you can’t give cheerfully, then you shouldn’t give. No! This verse is really guiding us to find the right (Christlike) attitude in our current and future giving!! Part of this attitude is an acknowledgement that as we are generous to the needs of others, God will provide for our own needs (vs.8-10) >

"And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. 9As it is written, ‘He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures for ever.’ 10He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness."

(6) Conclusion

Tithing, and giving to the work of the church, might be a new concept for some. Others might be struggling with their faith, let alone giving to God! Some others might be struggling under the weight of great debt or responsibility [the earlier comments about being ‘good stewards’ may need to impact us if this is the case].

However, you actually can’t afford to ignore this area – as Malachi pointed out, it may be the very area that is holding you back from fully experiencing God’s blessing in your life. At the very least, you need to pray about this, search out the word of God, seek guidance as necessary, and begin to give of yourself afresh.

As the helpers gather up the tithes and offerings from the congregation week by week, the returns in those pots are a testimony to our faith and the constancy of our commitment. We are telling God, the church, the community, and the world, that our loyalty remains in place.

Samuel Young wrote, “Christian giving is getting involved in the Kingdom enterprise because we love God first and then our neighbour as ourselves” (“Giving & Living – Foundations for Christian Stewardship”, p.30).