May 22, 2005

TITHE, OR AS WE PROSPER?

1 Corinthians 16:1-5

 

   After Jacob had gotten the birthright from Esau, Rebekah, with Isaac's consent, advised him to “flee to Laban my brother in Haran ,” where he was to take a wife. During Jacob's journey he spent a night in Bethel and felt the presence of God with him there. Jacob vowed to give God a tithe of all that God would give to him if He would bring him back to his father's house in peace. Thus the tithe became a recognition and an expression of thanks to God for His care of the patriarchs, both Abram and Jacob.

   Moses' law required the eleven tribes of Israel to pay tithes to Levi as part of the latter's inheritance. Levites were then to pay tithes to the priestly family of Aaron. Tithing began as Israel entered the land of promise. While eating manna in the wilderness, there was nothing to tithe. The tithe was to be exacted upon the crops and live stock as God blessed the nation in this land flowing with milk and honey.

   Israelites were to take their tithe and eat much of it during their feasts at Jerusalem , the place where God placed His name, and share with Levites. The law spelled out every detail of the who, when, where, how and why of tithing, in even more detail than the Sabbath.

   Therefore it is all the more unimaginable that Christians during this dispensation of God's grace should entertain the thought of having any part of tithing. The grace of God that brings salvation is our teacher. Not once in all Paul's letters to the Gentiles and the church, the body of Christ, did he use the word tithe. Our giving to the Lord is to prove our love, to be cheerfully given as He has prospered us, and “according to our ability” (Acts 11:29).