A Reply To A Twitter Question

On twitter I was recently asked how much I give in reply to me telling a preacher that his 25% is 5% short at minimum of obeying the commands in the Bible on tithing.

As was shown in a previous post here, there are three different tithes that the Bible mentions. 

In years 1-6, we have Maaser Rishor the first tithe, or the Levitical tithe. According to Numbers 18:24, this tithe was given to the Levites who could not themselves own any land, as they were not given any agricultural land like the other tribes. 

Also in years 1-6, we have Maaser Sheni the second tithe, also known as the Festival Tithe which was eaten in Jerusalem by it's owner. 

Then in years 3 and 6, Maaser 'Oni the third tithe, or the poor tithe was given. It is possible that this tithe replaced the second tithe in these years, but I cannot feel certain that this is the case based on what the second tithe was for. 

So in years 1-6 we have 20% for the total tithe and in years 3 and 6 an additional tithe for a total of 30%. Let us also remember that Leviticus 27:31 and Deuteronomy 14:24-25 each mention the possibility of a man redeeming his tithes for money and how Lev. 27:31 indicates he has to add to the money the fifth part? 

So, back to the question I was asked. 

How much I give is between God and me. I will explain why this is and why this is how it should be for every believer. 

We should never try to impress other people with our giving. If we do we already have our reward. Giving needs to be a private matter. We should not seek recognition for the things we do. Jesus says in Matthew 6:1-4, "Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly." We should seek the approval of God and not the glory of men.

The believer is to give because giving is a command of God. In 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 we read, "Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come." We see they were to make a regular collection every first day of the week.

Because of everything God has given us, including His Son to die for us, we should be anxious to give back to Him. In 2 Corinthians 8:12 we read, "For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not." God expects us to give what we are able to give.  How can our love for God be real unless it is expressed in our obedience and our giving?  Our giving is an expression of love, and act of praise, and sacrifice to God. 

How we give is an indication of where our priorities are. Jesus says in Matthew 6:19-21, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Where is your heart?

Since we can't out-give God, we should at least be liberal in our giving. As we read in 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, "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." Our giving is to be planned. We should not give because we feel we have to give. Nor should we resent that we need to give to please God. We should be glad that we can give to the Lord.