Tithe: the tenth part of agricultural produce or personal income set apart as an offering to God or for works of mercy, or the same amount regarded as an obligation or tax for the support of the church, priesthood, or the like; any tax, levy, or the like, especially of one-tenth.
In the Old Testament, people’s means of exchange for goods and services were animals/crops. So, as an offering to God, they gave a tenth of their crops or animals to God. We, who live in today’s age, give a tenth of our money to God, because money is our new currency.
Gross: without deductions; total, as the amount of sales, salary, profit, etc., before taking deductions for expenses, taxes, or the like ( opposed to net): gross earnings; gross sales.
Salary: a fixed compensation periodically paid to a person for regular work or services.
When we pay our tithes to God via money, we pay out of our gross income, not out of our weekly/bi-weekly salary, or paycheck. Our gross is 10% of all our income, before deductions are taken out. We give out of our gross income, mainly because that is the total and original amount of money that we made during our work, and God wants the first-fruits (gross) not the leftovers (salary) of our labor. We pay tithes because it’s a commandment, but also out of faithful obedience, and as a sacrifice of praise to God. Knowing that God owns the cattle on the hill, the land and everything in it, and that it was He who has blessed us to prosper with our crops, livestock, or–in the modern day–money, when we pay tithes, we are only giving back to God what he has freely given to us. What ever job you have, God blessed you with that. Every good thing comes from up above. So why not bless him back, for what he has favored you with? By bringing the tithes into the storehouse (the Church), the tithes would be used to support the Priests, Levites (those without land), and to help the poor (widows and orphans). Paying tithes helps to advance the kingdom of God and it pays for whatever needs to be done in the ministry.
Psalm 24:1 The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it. The world, and all who live in it.
Psalm 50:9-12 I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine. If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it.
Therefore, though everything belongs to God anyways, we should be courteous enough to sacrifice or give back to him some of what he loaned us. It’s as if we were paying rent and showing him that he is worthy and having faith that he is able to give back to us, in accordance to our needs.
Leviticus 27:30-33 A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD. If a man redeems any of his tithe, he must add a fifth of the value to it. The entire tithe of the herd and flock—every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd’s rod—will be holy to the LORD. He must not pick out the good from the bad or make any substitution.
Deuteronomy 14:22, 28-29 Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year. At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year’s produce and store it in your towns, so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the aliens, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.
Don’t cheat God out of what’s his. He will curse cheapskates. –Malachi 1:14
Yes, I understand… some pastors and church members misuse the money….. but hey, when you put your money into the basket, you put it in God’s hands… What happens to the money is now between God and your pastor. YOU did your part obediently. Don’t worry about the pastor. God saw what you did with your pure heart and you will still get your blessing.
Make sure that you pay your tithes to God faithfully. Remember, it’s a commandment. But as it’s put on your heart, you can also give a freewill offering as well. Even if you don’t have much, give what you can, if you have to give. God loves a cheerful giver. And He will repay you for your deeds.
Offering: something offered in worship or devotion, as to a deity; an oblation, gift or sacrifice; a contribution given to or through the church for a particular purpose, as at a religious service.
2 Corinthians 8:12 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.
charity: generous actions or donations to aid the poor, ill, or helpless; something given to a person or persons in need
alms: money, food, or other donations given to the poor or needy;
Proverbs 3:27-28 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to act. Do not say to your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”—When you already have it with you.
James 2:14-17 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
1 John 3:17-18 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.
2 Corinthians 9:6-9 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: “He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.
Pay your tithes to be obedient to God, give offerings to be courteous to God, and be gracious to others with your alms and charity to extend your love towards or for them. Test God in this. He will bless those who give Him and other’s their rightful due.
Transparent For Christ Movement 