Tithing or Tithes is of Faith
Many state that tithing is of the Law of Moses and that it is not New Testament teaching. I never preached tithing for twenty years, yet I gave my own firstfruits unto God. I have been asked to address this issue so I will. Let us reason together and rightly divide the word.
It always left a bad taste in my mouth to see how tithing was used by the prosperity preachers and the ones that make merchandise of God's people. None-the-less I needed to have this question about tithing answered for myself because it is very important to rightly divide and understand God's way, pattern, and order that his body is to operate in.
(Gen 14:20 KJV) And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
I thought for many years that tithing started under the Law of Moses, I was wrong! Tithes were first paid by Abraham who acted by faith. Although it is only mentioned that Abraham paid tithes one time unto Melchisedec, Abraham built many altars and offered many OFFERINGS unto God. Tithing (FIRSTFRUITS) is of faith just like the priesthood of Jesus Christ is after the order of Melchisedec, which is a priesthood of faith. The office of the high priest of God did not start under the Law of Moses.
If Abraham
paid tithes to the Priesthood of Melchisedec, and the High Priesthood of Jesus
Christ is after the same order, then we should pay tithes or give our
firstfruits unto God or Jesus Christ also. Tithing is of faith and not of the
law.
Isaac built altars also although it is just mentioned once. Isaac was very
familiar with altars and OFFERINGS (firstfruits)
and the ways of Abraham. Isaac himself remembered his trip to the land of Moriah
and the altar there. Isaac had to recall how God himself had furnished the
sacrifice. This faith was passed on to his son Jacob.
(Gen 26:25
KJV) And
he builded an altar there,
and called upon the name of the LORD, and pitched his tent there: and there
Isaac's servants digged a well.
Jacob when
he made a covenant with God vowed to pay his tithes unto God also. We know that
these tithes were sacrifices that were given unto God. The office of the High
Priest under the law did not exist at this time. I contend and know that the
word of God states the Priesthood of Jesus Christ is after the order of
Melchisedec. The word of God also states we are of the priesthood of Jesus
Christ, which is of faith. Abraham paid tithes unto Melchisedec that is in the
same order of the High Priesthood of Jesus Christ and I know everything that was
done was done by faith.
This verse alone proves tithing did not start under the law.
(Gen 28:20 KJV) And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, (Gen 28:21 KJV) So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God: (Gen 28:22 KJV) 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.
I am glad that the Law of Moses was fulfilled in Jesus Christ and not done away with. If it were not for the law and the fear of it by the unrighteous there would be total kayos throughout the land. Since people are losing their fear of the law, murder, robbery, adultery, lying, stealing, and etc. are overtaking our society. The law is for the unjust not the righteous. The unrighteous obey the law through fear of punishment but the righteous through faith abstain from breaking the Lord's desires. Therefore the law is fulfilled in them.
(1 Tim 1:9 KJV) Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers.
The giving of the firstfruits started in the very beginning with Cain and Abel. Offering for sins started under the law. Sin offering have nothing to do with the giving of your firstfruits unto God.
First fruits are important unto God. God wants to be first in all areas of our life. All of us, the saints, are the first fruit of our heavenly father. We are to place God before father, mother, husband, wife, children, or anything that is of this world. Abraham was going to offer up the very first fruit of his wife Sarah and himself. God offered up his son, which is the first fruit of his body. God himself offered up his first fruit, which was his only begotten son. We need to understand God's pattern of faith.
(Rom 8:23 KJV) And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
(Rom 11:16
KJV) For if the first fruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be
holy, so are the branches.
(James 1:18 KJV) Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we
should be a
kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
(Rev 14:4 KJV) These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are
virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were
redeemed from among men, being the
firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
God wants a people of faith. Jesus Christ despised the Pharisees that were not
of the faith of Abraham. Abraham was of faith!
(Heb 11:17 KJV) By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son.
The Pharisees were of their father Satan. Anyone that pays tithes desiring the worldly gain of this world is of Satan. If we seek the Kingdom of God first, God will supply our needs. The Televangelists that take the tithes of the true hearted of God and use them for worldly gain rob the almighty God. God will repay them and pass righteous judgment upon them.
God wants a body that supports his work first by meeting all of the needs of his body. In God's pattern tithing always met the needs of the body when done according to faith and not of the flesh.
(1 Tim
5:17 KJV) Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour,
especially they
who labour in the word and doctrine.
(1 Tim 5:18 KJV) For the scripture saith, Thou shalt
not
muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his
reward.
(Mat 22:21 KJV) They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them,
Render
therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things
that are God's.
The ones of the world make merchandise of whomever they can. It is essential to know the ones that are truly of the body of Jesus Christ and those that truly labor first in the work of the Lord Jesus.
Jesus told the Pharisees that they should have paid tithes
(Mat 23:23
KJV) 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.
The Pharisees omitted judgment, mercy, and FAITH. Jesus stated
that they should have paid tithes but without righteous judgment, mercy, and
faith it meant nothing. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were fathers of
FAITH.
If the Pharisees would have been the children of Abraham they would have done
these works by faith as Abraham did them. Tithing must be of faith for without
faith it is dead works, which only bring curses upon the cursed. As James
stated: "show me your works without your faith and I will show you my works
by my faith.
Many within the body of Jesus Christ need help. There are widows and poor within the body, sick, old, and etc. The body of Christ Jesus can use the firstfruits of it's members to take care of God's work.
(Luke 18:22 KJV) Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.
(1 Tim 6:18 KJV) That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate.
How many widows need help? How many children need to be fed and clothed? How many men of God that truly labor need help? Do you not know that the early church supplied help to the body? If the saints had not given then the true widows could not have been relieved. Do you not know that the Jews had been taught to give tithes (firstfruits)? Jesus taught that it needed to be done by faith. Jesus taught that he fulfilled the law and did not do away with the giving of the firstfruits.
(Mat 5:17 KJV) Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
(1 Tim
5:16 KJV) If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them,
and
let not the church be charged; that it may
relieve them that are widows indeed.
The church was
expected to help the true widows, and orphans and to support the carrying of the
gospel unto others. The Pharisees of today still give their tithes but where are
the true saints of faith? Please think on Matthew chapter 25 that is below.
(2 Cor 9:7 KJV) Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
A true man of God understands the pattern that God has set forth. He understands what the first fruit of his labor is. A man of God gives of faith not grudgingly or of necessity. God established the pattern of the firstfruits and the paying of one tenth so that all shared equally and that it made it hard on none. It is God's pattern that the body should share the load.
A man of God knows the principals of God and his ways. A man that loves Jesus Christ rejoices in the ways of the Lord and hears his voice. They know that the laborers need support and God's ministers need to live. They rejoice in giving by faith. They make sure that before they take care of their own needs that the first fruit of their blessings from God go toward the needs of the body.
Before a true hearted man of God can apply the blessings of God unto himself he must do the works of his heavenly father, which is:
(Mat 25:34 KJV) Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: (Mat 25:35 KJV) For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: (Mat 25:36 KJV) Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. (Mat 25:37 KJV) Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? (Mat 25:38 KJV) When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? (Mat 25:39 KJV) Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? (Mat 25:40 KJV) And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
(Acts 20:35 KJV) I have showed 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.
It is so sad that so many do not follow the pattern of God and apply their firstfruits toward the Lord's work and his body. The Lord made us first when we were last and worthless. God puts his bride first because she is so precious to him. How can we love him if we do not put our first fruits toward him? I love to hear him say, " Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."
Do you have pure and undefiled religion?
(James 1:27 KJV) Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
(James
2:14 KJV) What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he
hath
faith, and
have not works?
can faith save him? (James 2:15 KJV) If a
brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
(James 2:16 KJV) And one of you say unto them,
Depart
in peace, be ye warmed and filled;
notwithstanding ye
give them not those things which are needful to
the body; what
doth it profit?
(James 2:17 KJV) Even
so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being
alone.
When is the last time
that you have helped the widows and the orphans?
Support the Pastors that spread the word of God and find the widows and
orphans in your area and help them. In the pattern of God tithing
represents your firstfruits unto God. If everyone gave their firstfruits toward
taking care of the widows, orphans, and spreading the word of God the body of
Christ Jesus would not be poor in many ways. Is it not sad that, as a whole,
the beautiful church buildings and pastors homes are more important than helping
the ones in need?
I have never built a natural church building. If a building is built it should supply the need of a congregation and not be extravagate. Remember God does not live in buildings made with hands it is only a gathering place. God lives within his people. There are many homes that are sufficient for small groups to meet in. Let us spend what the Lord gives us on the temple that God is building, which is a temple not made with hands.
(Exo 22:29 KJV) Thou shalt not delay to offer the first of thy ripe fruits, and of thy liquors: the firstborn of thy sons shalt thou give unto me. (Exo 22:30 KJV) Likewise shalt thou do with thine oxen, and with thy sheep: seven days it shall be with his dam; on the eighth day thou shalt give it me.
God's people know what firstfruits are for by faith! They belong to God and I will not rob him. This is the will and the pattern of the Lord God, which is Jesus Christ. The Lord never changes his ways.
(Heb 13:8
KJV)
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and
for ever.
God bless,
daniel
