Must We Tithe? by Frederick Hoehn, copyright 2016, all rights reserved. Chapter 1 Tithing is giving one tenth of our income to the Lord. Here's some scripture from the Old Testament-- 8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you've robbed me. But you say, how have we robbed you? In tithes and offerings. 9 You are cursed with a curse, because you've robbed me, even this whole nation. 10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, so there'll be food in my house, and test me now with this, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open to you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, such that there won't be room enough to receive it." (from Malachi chapt 3) I have noticed that when people preach tithing, most of the scripture references are from the Old Testament. Another passage from the Old Testament tells us that if we don't give enough, it will hurt us financially.-- There are those who scatter and yet increase, and there are those who withhold more than what's right, but it tends toward poverty. (Prov 11:24) Paul the Apostle says we should give according to how God has prospered us.-- ___1 Corinthians chapter 16 1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I’ve told the churches of Galatia, you do the same. 2 On the first day of the week let everyone set aside, as God has prospered him, so there are no gatherings when I come. I believe every Christian ought to pray to God about tithing and giving. "...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." (Phil 2:12) Jesus said, "The law and the Prophets were until John (the Baptist), since that time, the Kingdom of God is preached." (Luke 16:16) So then, some things from the Mosaic law no longer apply. One of the things that no longer apply for us Christians is animal sacrifices. Another scripture tells us, "We're not under the law, but under grace." (Rom 6:14) "The law," of course, refers to the Mosaic laws of the Old Testament. There are lots of commandments in the Old Testament. Jesus summed them up with two commandments: 36 "Master, which is the great commandment in the law?" 37 Jesus said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it, you shall love your neighbor like yourself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." (from Matt chapt 22) I haven't found in the New Testament where we are told to tithe. But the passage above in 1 Cor ch 16 tells us to give. In vs 7 of the following passage, we are to give as we purpose in our hearts. 6 But this I say, he that plants sparingly shall also reap sparingly, and he that plants abundantly shall also reap abundantly. 7 Let every man give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly, nor because he must, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace to be abundant for you, so that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, will be abundant in every good work, 9 (As it is written, "He has dispersed abroad, he has given to the poor, his righteousness remains forever." 10 Now he that ministers seed to the planter both minister bread for your food, and multiply your planted seed, and increase the fruits of your righteousness,) 11 Being enriched in everything to all abundance, which causes thanksgiving to God through us. 12 For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings to God, 13 While, by the putting into practice of this ministration, they glorify God for your professed subjection to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution to them, and to all men... (from 2 Cor chapt 9) And let's not forget to ask the Lord to help us do a good job of purposing in our hearts, so that we don't miss the will of God by giving too little. Some might say that Jesus taught tithing-- "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith. You ought to have done these, and not to leave the other undone." (Matt 23:23) Here, Jesus is telling them that they should have paid attention to judgment, mercy, and faith, and He says, "I'm not telling you that you shouldn't have tithed." Jesus is saying there were other things they should have been paying attention to. But that's not the same as if Jesus were telling everyone to tithe. I heard of a poor woman, but she was a tither. Maybe she was also raising a child or more. As I recall, someone suggested to her, "With such a small amount of income that you have, you ought not to tithe." The woman answered, "No, I'm not going to stop tithing, that's the source of my income." And I believe no Christian should stop giving to the Lord. But here again, "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." (Phil­­ 2:12) There was this Brother, R. G. LeTourneau, who was in the business of building huge earth-moving equipment, such as you would find at large construction projects. He was giving a certain percentage of his income, and then he increased his percentage of giving. Then he increased it again. I heard that he got up to giving half of his income to the Lord, and I'm sure the Lord blessed him for it. I believe I've seen the name, LeTourneau, on some of those huge, yellow, earth moving vehicles, with tires taller than a man, a tall man. LeTourneau is also the founder of LeTourneau University in Longview, TX, a Christian college . Seems like it was LeTourneau who said, "God is my partner." He considered God to be his business partner. And where could you find a better business partner than God? But there is also the matter of where to give. Whatever percentage of our income we give, I believe we should ask the Lord where he wants his share of our income to go. If you're going to give to a church, is it a church that does things the Bible way? As I was growing up, I gave to the church that I attended in Southern Calif. But later, I found out that Christians are supposed to cast out demons. (Mrk 16:17,18) And that church, and that denomination doesn't seem to cast out demons. So my giving doesn't go there anymore. Chapter 2 I met brother Reuben in Texas. He was bilingual, English/Spanish. There was a Spanish language church in the area. I asked Reuben what the sign meant on the front of the church, "Pare De Sufrir." It meant, "Stop suffering." Well, I'm for that, and I believe in divine healing just like in the New Testament. Even in the Old Testament, they had divine healing, for it is written, "I am the Lord that heals you." (Exo 15:26) Reuben said he had attended that church for a while. But then he stopped going to that church, because they would seat people at that church according to their giving. Apparently, the people who gave more had better seats up front. But that's very much contrary to scripture. ___James chapter 2 1 My brothers, don't have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 2 For if a man with a gold ring comes to your assembly in fancy clothes, and a poor man in dirty clothes comes in also, 3 And you have respect to him that wears the fancy clothes, and say to him, "Sit here in a good place," and say to the poor, "Stand there, or sit here under my footstool," 4 Aren't you then partial in yourselves, and have become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, hasn't God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have despised the poor. Don't rich men oppress you, and bring you before the judgment seats? 7 Don't they blaspheme that worthy name by which you're called? 8 If you fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbor like yourself," you do well, 9 But if you have respect of persons, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as sinners. 10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. (from James chapt 2) So then, what they were doing at that church was contrary to James chapter 2. Furthermore, to seat people according to their giving would require that the church know what each person has given. In view of the fact that Jesus said, "When you give, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing," (Matt 6:3) how then did the church know what the people were giving? The people should have been taught to give anonymously, as Jesus said to do, and if that's not taught and not allowed at a certain church, then that's the wrong kind of church. Don't give to the wrong kind of church, ask the Lord where he wants his money to go. Someone might ask, "Well then, why doesn't the Lord shut that wrong church down?" The answer to that is in the Parable of the Tares and Wheat-- 24 He spoke another parable to them, "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who planted good seed in his field, 25 But while men slept, his enemy came and planted tares among the wheat, and went his way. 26 But when the blade had sprung up, and produced fruit, then the tares appeared also. 27 So the servants of the householder came and said to him, Sir, didn't you plant good seed in your field? So why do we have tares? 28 He said to them, An enemy has done this. The servants said to him, do you want us to go and gather them up? 29 But he said, No, because while you gather up the tares, you'll also uproot some of the wheat with the tares. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, gather together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn." from Matt chapt 13) A tare is a kind of false wheat. Tares are weeds. Notice vs 28--30, in removing the tares, some of the wheat would be destroyed, so let both grow together until the harvest. The Lord gave me that several years ago when I prayed to him about a certain church that I had gone to. There was a young Christian woman that I had dated a little. Several years later, we had a phone conversation. We talked some about churches. She said something about the church she was then going to. I asked whether they had the signs following of Mark 16:17,18. She answered with an inappropriate scripture. She quoted Jesus when he said, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign." (Matt 12:30) That's comparing apples to oranges. Two different things. When Jesus said that, he was talking to the Pharisees, who wanted a sign to prove that he was the Messiah. But I was already a Christian. I had already accepted Jesus as Messiah and Savior. No, I was inquiring about the qualifications of that church. A proper church is supposed to have the signs following of Mrk 16:17,18. 17 "And these signs shall follow those who believe, in my name they'll cast out devils, they'll speak with new languages, 18 They shall pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it won't hurt them. They shall lay hands on the sick, and they'll recover." (Mrk 16:17,18) We have to rightly divide the word of truth, and at that moment, she wasn't doing so. But I expect that she'll probably make it to heaven, and Lord, please help her to get to heaven, and her family, in Jesus' name. Regarding this passage in Mrk 16:17,18, Dr. Norvel Hayes said that the Lord told him that those were the most important words that ever came out of His mouth. And if those are Jesus' most important words, then why is it so hard to find a church that has those signs following? A matter of wrong priorities? A matter of ignorance of the Bible? A matter of churches trying to be men-pleasers rather that God-pleasers? The Lord will judge his church. I take exception to the Seventh Day Adventists. Maybe they're good people. Maybe they're going to heaven. But I believe they're too legalistic regarding the Mosaic laws. They say that church should be held on Saturday (the seventh day). And yes, there's Old Testament scripture to support that. And one of the Ten Commandments is about the seventh day: 8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shall you labor, and do all your work, 10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord your God, in it you shall not do any work, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, your manservant, nor your maidservant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger that is inside your gates, 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day, so the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. (from Exo chapt 20) But when Jesus summed up the commandments with two commandments, he said nothing about the Sabbath Day. I grew up going to church on Sundays. Was it my idea to change church day from Saturday to Sunday? Of course not. That happened long before I was born, and there is Bible precedent for that. 19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them, and said to them, "Peace be to you." 20 And when he had said that, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad, when they saw the Lord. 21 Then Jesus said to them again, "Peace be to you, as my Father has sent me, so I send you." 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Ghost." (John 20:19--22) So then, way back there in the book of John, they were having church on Sunday. ___James chapter 1 1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes that are dispersed around, greetings. 2 My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into various temptations, 3 Knowing this, that the testing of your faith works patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, so you'll be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God for it, who gives to all men liberally, and won't find fault, and it shall be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven by the wind and tossed. 7 For let that man not think that he'll receive anything from the Lord. 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. 9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted, 10 But the rich, in that he is made low, because as the flower of the grass he'll pass away. 11 For the sun has no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withers the grass, and the flower of it falls, and the grace of the fashion of it perishes, so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways. 12 Blessed is the man that endures temptation, for after he's been tested, he'll receive the crown of life, that the Lord has promised to those who love him. 13 Let no man say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God," for God can't be tempted with evil, nor does he tempt any man, 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it produces sin, and sin when it's finished, produces death. 16 Do not err, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, nor shadow of turning. 18 He chose to father us with the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits of his creatures. 19 So, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, 20 For the anger of man doesn't accomplish the righteousness of God. 21 So, lay apart all filthiness and the unnecessary naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like a man seeing his natural face in a mirror, 24 For he sees himself, and goes his way, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But whoever looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues in it, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. 26 If any man among you seems to be religious, and doesn't bridle his tongue, but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is for nothing. 27 Pure religion and undefiled before God the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. ___James chapter 2 1 My brothers, don't have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 2 For if a man with a gold ring comes to your assembly in fancy clothes, and a poor man in dirty clothes comes in also, 3 And you have respect to him that wears the fancy clothes, and say to him, "Sit here in a good place," and say to the poor, "Stand there, or sit here under my footstool," 4 Aren't you then partial in yourselves, and have become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, hasn't God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have despised the poor. Don't rich men oppress you, and bring you before the judgment seats? 7 Don't they blaspheme that worthy name by which you're called? 8 If you fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbor like yourself," you do well, 9 But if you have respect of persons, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as sinners. 10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For he that said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not kill." Now if you don't commit adultery, yet if you kill, you've become a breaker of the law. 12 Speak in such a way, and do, as those who'll be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that has shown no mercy, and mercy rejoices against judgment. 14 What does it profit, my brothers, though a man says he has faith, and doesn't have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister needs clothes, and lacks daily food, 16 And one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you don't give them the things that are needed for the body, what good is that? 17 Even so faith, if it doesn't have works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yes, a man could say, "You have faith, and I have works, show me your faith without your works, and I'll show you my faith by my works." 19 You believe that there is one God, you do well, the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But don't you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Wasn't Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see how faith worked with his deeds, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness, and he was called the friend of God." 24 You see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise also wasn't Rahab the prostitute justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26 For like the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. ___James chapter 3 1 My brothers, don't be many masters, knowing that we'll receive the greater condemnation. 2 For in many things we offend all. If any man doesn't offend in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. 3 See, we put bits in the horses' mouths, so they'll obey us, and we turn around their whole bodies. 4 Look also at the ships, which though they're so large, and are driven by fierce winds, yet they're turned around by a very small helm, wherever the captain wants. 5 Even so, the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. See how great a matter a little fire kindles! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of sin, so is the tongue among our members that it makes dirty the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of animals, and of birds, and of snakes, and of things in the sea, gets tamed, and has been tamed by mankind, 8 But no man can tame the tongue, it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless God, the Father, and with it we curse men, who are made after the likeness of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be. 11 Does a fountain send out at the same place sweet water and bitter? 12 Can the fig tree, my brothers, produce olive berries? Or a vine, figs? So no fountain can yield both salt water and fresh. 13 Who is a wise man, possessing knowledge among you? Let him show out of a good lifestyle his works with meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, don't glory, and don't lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom doesn't descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be reasoned with, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is planted in peace by those who make peace. ___James chapter 4 1 Where do wars and fightings among you come from? Don't they come from your lusts that war in your members? 2 You lust, and don't have, you kill, and desire to have, and can't obtain, you fight and war, yet you don't have, because you don't ask. 3 You ask, and don't receive, because you ask wrongly, so you can consume it on your lusts. 4 You adulterers and adulteresses, don't you know that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world is an enemy of God. 5 Do you think that the scripture says for nothing, "The spirit that lives in us lusts to envy?" 6 But he gives more grace. So he says, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he'll run away from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and cry, let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he'll lift you up. 11 Don't speak evil about each other, brothers. He that speaks evil about his brother, and judges his brother, speaks evil about the law, and judges the law, but if you judge the law, you're not a doer of the law, but a judge. 12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy, who are you that judges someone else? 13 Go on now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we'll go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and make a profit," 14 Actually, you don't know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is a puff of steam, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away. 15 For you ought to say, "Lord willing, we'll live, and do this, or that." 16 But now you rejoice in your boastings, all such rejoicing is evil. 17 Therefore to him that knows to do good, and doesn't do it, to him it is sin. ___James chapter 5 1 Go on now, you rich men, cry and howl for your miseries that shall come on you. 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your clothes are moth eaten. 3 Your gold and silver are rusted, and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh like fire. You've heaped treasure together for the last days. 4 See, the wages of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which you've kept back by fraud, shouts, and the shouts of those who've reaped have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabbath. 5 You've lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton, you've nourished your hearts, like in a day of slaughter. 6 You've condemned and killed the just, and he doesn't resist you. 7 Be patient therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and has long patience for it, until he receives the early and latter rain. 8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is getting near. 9 Don't grudge against each other, brothers, so you won't be condemned, see, the judge stands at the door. 10 Take, my brothers, the prophets, who've spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. 11 See, we count them happy that endure. You've heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord, that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. 12 But above all things, my brothers, don't swear, not by heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath, but let your yes be yes, and your no, no, so that you don't fall into condemnation. 13 Is anyone among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is anyone merry? Let him sing psalms. 14 Is anyone sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord, 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up, and if he has committed sins, he'll be forgiven. 16 Confess your faults to each other, and pray for each other so you'll be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man is does a lot of good. 17 Elijah was a man subject to the same kind of passions that we are, and he prayed earnestly that it wouldn't rain, and it didn't rain on the earth for three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. 19 Brothers, if any of you strays from the truth, and someone converts him, 20 Let him know, that he that converts the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.