There are many reasons why Christians tithe today, but it was never doctrine in the original Church. I know, in Malachi, the Jewish Nation was warned through the prophet that they were robbing from God if they didn’t tithe (Malachi 3:8-12). But are Christians?
Malachi was writing to the Jews. He was writing to a people that were still under the Law of Moses. Tithing is a law of Moses that was not being kept in the days of Malachi (Leviticus 27:30-34; Deuteronomy 14:22-29). To teach, preach or pay tithes now because you think it is necessary is to say that not all of the law of Moses was fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
“I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come
by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” Galatians 2:21
“This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the
works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish?
having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?”
Galatians 3:2
“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law,
but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus
Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and
not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall
no flesh be justified. Galatians 2:16
“For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he
is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect
unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen
from grace.” Galatians 3:3,4
There is no getting around it, tithing is a part of the Levitical law of Moses. The Apostles never preached nor taught tithing as doctrine. The first Christians were known to give much more than the tithe -- at the start, they gave it all (Acts 2:45; 4:37). How often has that been done within the last 2,000 years? Don’t say we can’t; we don’t want to. The more a person gives for the kingdom of God, the more they will receive of spiritual riches (and I don’t mean worldly riches).
Beginning with Jesus’ teachings, here are some of the lessons taught for giving in the Church of Jesus Christ:
“Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow
of thee turn not thou away.” Matthew 5:42
“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 [How can we do that when
we’re tithing?]; That thine alms may be in secret; and thy Father
which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.” Matthew
6:1-4
“Jesus said unto him [the rich young ruler], If thou wilt be perfect,
go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt
have treasures in heaven.” Mark 10:21
“And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people
cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in
much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two
mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples,
and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow
hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:
For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want
did cast in all that she had, even all her living.” Mark 12:41-44
“Him that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none;
and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.” Luke 3:11
“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
“The laborer is worthy of his hire.” Luke 10:7
“Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” Luke 12:15
“Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Luke 12:33-34
“And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.” Acts 2:44,45
“And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that aught of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. And with great power gave the Apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus; and great grace was upon them all. 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.” Acts 4:32-35
“It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35
“He that giveth, let him do it with simplicity.” Romans 12:8
“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. And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.” I Corinthians 16:1-3
“Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness. 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 nor of necessity; for God loveth a cheerful giver.” II Corinthians 9:5-7
“Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.” Galatians 2:10
“Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.” Ephesians 4:28
“But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. 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.” I Timothy 5:8;16-18
“Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The laborer is worthy of his reward.” I Timothy 5:17-18.
“Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?” James 2:5
“If a brother or sister be naked and destitute of daily food, 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 2:15-16
“But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” I John 3:17
“And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity [the love of God], it profiteth me nothing.” I Corinthians 13:3
If a person wants to pay tithes, it’s not wrong. But, don’t do it because you think it is necessary. It’s a part of the law of Moses. (Many people have their male babies circumcised these days. They do it for health purposes, not because of the Law of Moses.) The principles of tithing may be found in the books of Genesis, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy; but, these principles of tithing were never taught to the Body of Christ by the Apostles. The Apostles did not neglect to instruct the Church on giving, as the previous scriptures point out. So, it’s hard to believe that they wouldn’t mention tithing at all with so many lessons on giving -- that is, if tithing was being taught in the first Church. According to the Word of God, it wasn’t. After the Church was born on the Day of Pentecost, there is only one place that the tithe is mentioned in the New Testament and that is in the Book of Hebrews. Whoever wrote the book of Hebrews was not teaching people to tithe in the seventh chapter where the tithing passage may be found. He was teaching on the high priesthood of Jesus Christ in relation to Melchisedec’s priesthood.
If you are teaching people that they should be tithing, you are teaching from the Law of Moses and are teaching something that the first Church never taught Her believers. You are indirectly saying that all of the law was not fulfilled when Jesus died on the cross -- tithing was the one ordinance that wasn’t nailed to the cross (Colossians 2:14). Just a warning, I personally wouldn’t teach for doctrine something that wasn’t taught as such by the apostles.
Now, you may have a personal vow to God, like Jacob did (Genesis 28:22) concerning tithing, that’s between you and God. (Just remember ... “When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay” Ecclesiastes 5:4,5.] Abraham was the first person recorded in the Word of God to tithe; but, as far as we know, it was a one-time thing with Abraham (Genesis 14:20). The fact is, according to the Word of God, tithing was never taught as doctrine in the Church. The letter written by the Apostles and elders of the Church, when a group of Jewish Christians tried to tell the Christian Gentiles that they needed to be circumcised shows us today that believers were not to follow teachings other than the Apostles’: “For as much as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment” (Acts 15:24). In a like manner, the Apostles gave no such commandment that we are bound to tithe today.
In I Corinthians 9:1-18, Paul taught about how to support the ministry, “Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple: and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.” Yet, Paul, himself, did not use this privilege, “But I have used none of these things” (I Corinthians 9:15; also see I Thessalonians 2:9 and II Thessalonians 3:8). Paul was teaching that Christians should support their ministers, yet he didn’t mention that it was by tithing.
Also, don’t give to God in hopes of doubling your money. Giving unto the Lord isn’t like playing the stock market. There are many “prosperity” doctrines floating around today. God will give you riches for giving to His kingdom, but most likely it will be riches that aren’t tangible or monetary. God has greater riches than money to bestow upon His people. Beware of ministries that teach a “prosperity” doctrine. “If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment, let us be therewith content. But they that will be [it's their will to be rich] rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. (I Timothy 6: 3-11)
Another Apostolic example of living for the Lord in relation to money is the example of Peter when he healed the lame man at the temple. Peter said to the man after the man asked him for alms: "Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength." (Acts 3:6-7) How many preachers today can say, "Silver and gold have I none"? How many ministers want to be able to say those words? I would say it is quite the opposite. We have "ministers of God" who have their Madison Avenue stock portfolios, their Mercedes Benzs, their diamond rings and their mansions made with hands: do you really think they have the power of God as Peter did, as Peter who forsook all worldly treasures for the kingdom of God? The kingdom of God is not in wealth, it's not in looks, it's not in any worldly standards; the kingdom of God is in power (1 Corinthians 4:20). Remember "What is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God." (Luke 16:15)
Whatever you decide to give to the Lord, whether it is tithing or giving it all, the gift should come from the heart. “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:3