TEACHINGS

The Two Tithing Systems

Summary:

When things go wrong in our lives, we should evaluate whether we are dishonoring God in some way. God is always concerned about the condition of our hearts. We should ask ourselves continually, “Does God’s Word weigh heavy in my life? Am I doing things because I love God or because I feel obligated?” While He expects us to honor Him through obedience, He also wants us to obey Him because we love Him

A.     Those who honor God will be honored by Him, but those who despise Him will be lightly esteemed (1 Samuel 2:30).

1.       We honor God by honoring His Word, which means His Word weighs heavily in our lives. 

2.       We cannot honor God without knowing His Word. 

3.       To despise God’s Word means to not consider it when making decisions.

B.     There is honor that comes from God only—the blessing, which causes us to be successful in life (John 5:44). 

1.       The blessing is an empowerment or an enablement. 

a.       We must be in pursuit of the blessing.

b.       Joseph was a prosperous man because of the blessing.

C.     Honor the Lord with your substance and the first fruit of all your increase (Proverbs 3:9, 10).  

1.       To honor God means to obey Him.

a.       God told Adam and Eve they could eat of all the trees in the garden, except one (Genesis 2:16, 17).  

b.       This is an illustration of tithing. God instructs us to give a tenth of what He gives to us.

D.     There are two systems of tithing:

1.       Tithing under the Abrahamic covenant.

2.       Tithing under the law. 

a.       Abraham gave his tithe because he loved and appreciated God, not because of any law (Genesis 14:11-23).

b.       This took place 500 years before there was a tithing law.

E.      The covenant between God and Abraham is an everlasting covenant (Genesis 17:1, 7).

1.       God made a covenant with Abraham and his seed, Jesus (Galatians 3:16-29).

a.       We are heirs according to the promise because we believe in Jesus.

b.       The law carried with it a curse; if the commandments were broken, a curse followed (Leviticus 27:30-34, Numbers 18:24, 26, Deuteronomy 12:6, Malachi 3:6-9).

c.       Because of Jesus’ blood sacrifice, we are now redeemed from the curse of the law.

d.       Jesus became our High Priest, who receives our tithes out of love.

e.       We can do what Abraham did.

a.       For every victory God gave him, Abraham gave his tithe out of love, honor, and appreciation (Hebrews 6:20).

f.        Jesus is our Melchizedek, our High Priest, of today. When we bring our tithes to the Church, we bring our tithes to Him (Hebrews 7:1-17). 

F.      Jesus said He didn’t come to do away with the law but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17).

1.       We are not slaves to the law; however, we should not disregard it either.

a.       Love is the fulfillment of the law (Romans 13:10).

b.       Tithing is a love action.

c.       We tithe because we love God and appreciate the things He does for us every day.

d.       Our tithing benefits us. When we give our tithes with a cheerful attitude, God blesses us. 

 Scripture References:

(1 Samuel 2:30; John 5:44; Proverbs 3:9,10; Genesis 2:16,17; Genesis 14:11-23; Genesis 17:1, 7; Galatians 3:16-29; Leviticus 27:30-34; Numbers 18:24, 26;Deuteronomy 12:6; Malachi 3:6-9; Hebrews 6:20; Hebrews 7:1-17; Matthew 5:17; Romans 13:10)