WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT TITHING AND GIVING TO GOD
Introduction
I am writing this paper in response to public outcry both inside and outside the church. The saying goes that churches have converted to business enterprises where the bishop or the pastor is the CEO. Prosperity gospel has dominated the pulpit. It is important we all understand what the bible teaches about tithing and giving to God and the reason behind the giving. How should the funds be utilized? During the Old Testament times; all that was given in form of tithes and other donations was used for sustaining the ministry of the temple. The Levites and the Priests did not own land or business in which they could earn their livelihood. The needy were also taken care of from the proceeds. Similarly in the New Testament times; ministers of the gospel were taken care of and widows and orphans were considered in the distribution of what the church had collected from the members.
Ministers of the gospel today need to emulate Paul who never burdened the congregation. This is what he said “I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel.
Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.
I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:33-35)
Let us go through the scriptures together:-

Old Testament
Before the law
Tithe is first mentioned in Genesis 14:20
“And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all”.
Abraham’s nephew had been taken captive in Sodom. Abraham organized an army from his household servants and pursued the captors. He overcame them and rescued Lot and others with him. Abraham also brought back all the spoil. He met Melchizedek who blessed him and Abraham gave him the tenth of the spoil. Before this transaction there was no mention of tithes. What we know now is that two men of God are involved; Abraham and Melchizedek.
The next mention of tithe is in Genesis 28:22
“And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee”.
Jacob, Abraham’s grandson had a vision and promises to give God the tenth of everything he has if he goes and returns safely.
The law relating to tithing
Leviticus 27:30-34 “And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD's: it is holy unto the LORD.
And if a man will at all redeem ought of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof.
And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD.
He shall not search whether it be good or bad, neither shall he change it: and if he change it at all, then both it and the change thereof shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.
These are the commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses for the children of Israel in mount Sinai.”

Purpose:
The purpose of giving the tithe is stipulated in Numbers 18:26-32 and Deuteronomy 26:12
Numbers 18:26-32 “Thus speak unto the Levites, and say unto them, When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave offering of it for the LORD, even a tenth part of the tithe.
And this your heave offering shall be reckoned unto you, as though it were the corn of the threshingfloor, and as the fulness of the winepress.
Thus ye also shall offer an heave offering unto the LORD of all your tithes, which ye receive of the children of Israel; and ye shall give thereof the LORD'S heave offering to Aaron the priest.
Out of all your gifts ye shall offer every heave offering of the LORD, of all the best thereof, even the hallowed part thereof out of it.
Therefore thou shalt say unto them, When ye have heaved the best thereof from it, then it shall be counted unto the Levites as the increase of the threshingfloor, and as the increase of the winepress.
And ye shall eat it in every place, ye and your households: for it is your reward for your service in the tabernacle of the congregation.
And ye shall bear no sin by reason of it, when ye have heaved from it the best of it: neither shall ye pollute the holy things of the children of Israel, lest ye die.”
Deuteronomy 26:12 “ When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of thine increase the third year, which is the year of tithing, and hast given it unto the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled;”
Result (curse or blessing):
During the revival pioneered by Hezekiah king of Judah; we learn that refusal to pay the tithe had some repercussions. Looking at the following scripture, we learn that blessings came when they brought tithe to the house of the Lord.
2 Chronicles 31:4-10 “Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might be encouraged in the law of the LORD.
And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly.
And concerning the children of Israel and Judah, that dwelt in the cities of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of holy things which were consecrated unto the LORD their God, and laid them by heaps.
In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month.
And when Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed the LORD, and his people Israel.
Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps.
And Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok answered him, and said, Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the LORD, we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty: for the LORD hath blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store.”
New Testament
Jesus teaching
Jesus gave no direct command about tithing. According to the following scripture; tithing is okay but it is not the only thing; justice and love of God are very important in our daily life. “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.(Matthew 23:23). However, Jesus taught more about the relationship of our wealth and the kingdom of God.
Apostles teaching:
While giving is highly emphasized in the writings of the apostles; we do not find specific command for the newly converted Christians to tithe. This is what Paul says about giving: “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:6-7)
Purpose
The purpose of giving was to sustain the ministers of the gospel and caring for the needy. We note in Acts 4:34-35 “Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,
And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

Result (curse or blessing)
In His teaching Jesus said “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” (Luke 6:38). In the same tone Paul told the Corinthian Church that “God loves a cheerful giver”

Conclusion
In the Old Testament dispensation; tithing is contained the law. You must tithe (10�or else you are stealing from God- Malachi 3:8-10 “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
In the New Testament, Paul gives us a formula “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:6-7)
Finally brothers and sisters, having stipulated what the scriptures says about tithing and giving to God; let us examine ourselves. Christians have withheld giving generously and for that reason pastors and their finance boards have devised methods and tricks of raising money for the ministry. Unfortunately these methods are unbiblical and most of them motivated by greed and self enrichment. It is sad to say that in many occasions I have heard televangelist telling their listeners to plant a seed of 1000 dollars. They promise blessings such
as their mortgage being written off miraculously. Christians in their desperation for such blessings give this money to the televangelist (do you remember the story of cardinals selling indulgences in Europe? Christians paid enormous amounts of money to deliver souls of their relatives who had passed on from purgatory. They were desperate for salvation and for that reason church leaders exploited their situation). In another occasion I personally witnessed a televangelist in a national conference asking for 100 dollars from any Christian who would like to be anointed by the man of God. I was surprised that scores went to the podium for the anointing. They even extended credit to those who were willing but had no money. They can pay later. This is ridiculous and deviation from truth. When such methods and tricks are employed, Christians withhold their giving even more. What shall we do?
-Christians should give generously to support the work of the ministry. Pastors and bishops need your support.
-Those who preach the gospel of prosperity (which is crown without the cross) should stop to overburden their congregation with luxurious living.
And now may God’s light shine upon us all. Amen.
Rev. Dr. John Mwaniki
Ezradevotionalministries.com