TITHES AND
OFFERINGS: WHAT ARE THEY TO BE USED
FOR?
THE TITHE WAS FOR THE
MINISTERS OF THE HOUSE OF GOD
Neh 10:35-39 And to bring
the firstfruits of our ground, and the firstfruits of all fruit of all trees,
year by year, unto the house of the LORD: Also the firstborn of our sons, and
of our cattle, as it is written in the law, and the firstlings of our herds and
of our flocks, to bring to the house of our God, unto the priests that minister
in the house of our God: And that we should bring the firstfruits of our dough,
and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil,
unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of
our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes
in all the cities of our tillage. And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with
the Levites, when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites shall bring up the
tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the
treasure house. For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring
the offering of the corn, of the new wine, and the oil, unto the chambers,
where are the vessels of the sanctuary, and the priests that minister, and the
porters, and the singers: and we will not forsake the house of our God.
Num 18:21-23 And, behold, I
have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance,
for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the
congregation. Neither must the children of Israel henceforth come nigh the
tabernacle of the congregation, lest they bear sin, and die. But the Levites
shall do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they shall
bear their iniquity: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your
generations, that among the children of Israel they have no inheritance.
The Levites were the priestly tribe that took care of the
“ministering” for the Lord in relation to the Temple/Tabernacle and the people
of God (Jews). They did not have jobs on
the side to take care of all their needs/wants.
They lived off the people of God.
[Interesting to note, these priests were also to tithe: they gave a
tithe of “the tithe” ] The priests were
busy every day performing the tasks of the Temple/Tabernacle. They had different job duties as per what
family they were from. Our ministers of
the House of God today are pastors. They
don’t (shouldn’t) have jobs on the side.
The people of God are the church folk.
The pastors are busy ministering unto them via the word, prayer,
counseling, helping, administering, etc.
Some churches have multiple pastors and they each will have a different
job duty. The tithes of a church are to
go to take care of the priests of God…the pastors. Specifically their material needs: food,
clothing, shelter; but it would be reasonable to include transportation,
medical/dental insurance, and some spending money for incidentals that come
up. If a church doesn’t take care of
these items, then often the pastor feels forced to meet them by getting
“secular” work. This takes away from his
duties with the church and will only hurt the church…not help her.
THE TITHE GOING TO THE
PRIESTS BEGAN WELL BEFORE THE LAW WAS GIVEN
Gen 14:18-20 And Melchizedek
king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most
high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most
high God, possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God,
which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of
all.
Heb 7:1-6 For this
Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham
returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; To whom also
Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of
righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of
days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest
continually. Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch
Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. And verily they that are of the sons of
Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take
tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though
they come out of the loins of Abraham: But he whose descent is not counted from
them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.
Abraham, about 500 years before the Law was given, gave tithes to
the priest of the most high God, Melchisedec.
Many will try to reason that tithes are just for those “under the
Law”. Was Abraham under the Law? Was Jacob (Gn 28:22)? Today, we are not under the Law either. Our priests are pastors. The same predicament faces them as the O.T.
priests: how to survive while being busy
ministering to the people of God? It is
a logical, reasonable expectation to meet the needs of the one who is
ministering “full time” unto you. All
church members are in effect “minister”, but is understood that they will be
limited in what they can do because of the “work” they have to do outside the
church to bring in money that can be used to support those that are not
“limited” (or at least aren’t suppose to be limited). If “all the tithe” is deemed “too much” for
the pastor(s), then I think it reasonable to vote on what should be done with
the remainder. But, remember, the elders
that rule well are worthy of “double honor”.
Don’t just “barely take care of your pastor”. He should be “very well taken care of”….if
indeed you love him (even if you don’t for that matter).
It is important to note that the tithes were not used for
buildings, benevolence, or buses. How
then were these funded? By the
“offerings”.
THE NEW TESTAMENT SPEAKS OF
TAKING CARE OF THE PASTOR(S)
1 Cor 9:1-18 Am I not an
apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my
work in the Lord? If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to
you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord. Mine answer to them
that do examine me is this, Have we not power to eat and to drink? Have we not
power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the
brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to
forbear working? Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth
a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and
eateth not of the milk of the flock? Say I these things as a man? or saith not
the law the same also? For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not
muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for
oxen? Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is
written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth
in hope should be partaker of his hope. If we have sown unto you spiritual
things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? If others be
partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not
used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of
Christ. 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. But I have used none of these things: neither have I
written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for
me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void. For though I preach
the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe
is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! For if I do this thing willingly, I
have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is
committed unto me. What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the
gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my
power in the gospel.
Paul here shows this church in Corinth some important things about
the man of God (pastor). A) The apostle’s
(pastor) authority and spiritual power (1-5).
B) The rite to “forbear working” outside the church (6). C) The reasonableness of “living off of the
gospel”(14), “sowing spiritual things and reaping carnal things”(11),
“ministers of the altar, partake of the altar”(13), “not muzzleing the mouth of
the ox”(9), “he that ploweth, should plow in hope”(10), etc.. Paul was careful with this baby carnal church
and did not “require” this but strongly urged them to do it. He didn’t want to “abuse his power”(18). He considered it better to not be taken care
of by the church and go on preaching the gospel and then dying, than to not
minister unless monies were given. Many
Missionaries are guilty of the latter!
1 Tim 5:17-18 Let the elders
that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, 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 labourer is worthy of his reward.
Deut 25:4 Thou shalt not
muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn.
This “double honour” is not fully clear but seems to point to how
well you take care of the “elder” in his carnal things. For, verse 18 is dealing with the “carnal
things”. I don’t think it is referring
to being all the more “respectful” of the minister. So, what does “double” mean? It means twice as much. Twice as much as what? Twice as much as is customarily given. So, if the pastor who ministers in the word
and doctrine normally would need $30,000 per year to live as does the other
members, then $60,000 would be twice that.
Most members will say that “he doesn’t deserve that”. Well, maybe he doesn’t. It is due him if he “rules well”. If he is doing a good job and the members are
very glad to have him, then it is reasonable to give him (them) this “double
honour”. If not, then so be it.
OFFERINGS ARE EXPECTED BY
GOD
Mal 3:8-12 Will a man rob
God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes
and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this
whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be
meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I
will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that
there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer
for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither
shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of
hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome
land, saith the LORD of hosts.
Not giving an “offering” is considered by God “robbing” Him; i.e.
forcefully taking what is someone else’s.
Most folk in a good church will tithe.
But few give beyond the tithe on a regular planned basis. Maybe this is why so many are “not
blessed”…i.e. “cursed”. I am trying to
deduce what this verse is actually teaching:
the blessings can be claimed if “all” bring in their “tithes”, but does
not mention the “offerings”; However, if
they tithe but leave off the offering it appears that they can be “cursed” for
“robbing” God. Surely the key point
about offerings is that they are expected by God.
The “neat” thing about the offering, versus the tithe, is that the
offering is not a set amount or percentage…it is just simply an
“offering”…maybe even just one dollar. There is no limit to an offering, but there
is for a tithe. It amazes me why people
won’t just simply regularly give an offering out of the kindness of their
heart.
Luke 21:1-4 And he looked
up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. And he saw also a certain poor widow casting
in thither two mites.And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor
widow hath cast in more than they all:
For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of
God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.
Furthermore, an offering is a New Testament teaching. It seems to be based upon a heart felt desire
to give (gifts). Also, God grades the giving of offerings on more of a
‘percentage’ giving basis; the widow gave “all” she had and was said to have
given “more” than the others who actually put in a higher amount of money. And, it shows that being “poor” is not an
excuse to not giving an offering.
THERE WERE MANY DIFFERENT
TYPES OF OFFERINGS THEY GAVE
Deut 12:6 And thither ye
shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes,
and heave offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill
offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks: (“choice vows” in vs 11).
Burnt Offerings were for “self-dedication” to the Lord. Sacrifices were typically “Sin” and “Guilt”
offerings to restore fellowship. These
offerings “cost” the giver in that it was an animal that they put a lot of time
and money into and would typically be worth quite a sum of money. Heave Offerings were given as a special
“tithe” of the best of the land and animals.
One tithe may be burdensome, but consider giving two or even three
tithes? A Vow Offering is given when a
serious commitment to the Lord is made, i.e. a vow, and shows just how serious
you really are. The Freewill Offerings
were given basically associated with special material needs, i.e. the Tabernacle
or Temple buildings. The Firstlings (or
Firstfruits) Offerings were given as a token of generosity and thankfullness
from God’s blessings upon you and were given of those firstborn animals or
first “fruits” from the early harvest.
Today, these are specifically employed in our worship, but set a
principle that is in the heavenlies, which is to give offerings to the Lord to
show self-dedication, remorse for sin, thankfullness for God’s blessings,
willingness to help with the material needs of the ministry, and seriousness of
commitment to God.
OFFERINGS ARE USED FOR
BUILDINGS
Ex 25:1-9 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak
unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every
man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering.
And this is the offering which ye shall take of them; gold, and silver, and
brass, And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair, And
rams' skins dyed red, and badgers' skins, and shittim wood, Oil for the light,
spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense, Onyx stones, and stones to be
set in the ephod, and in the breastplate. And let them make me a sanctuary;
that I may dwell among them. According
to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern
of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.
Ex 35:29,36:3,5-7 The
children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the LORD, every man and
woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the
LORD had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses. And they received of Moses all the offering,
which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of the
sanctuary, to make it withal. And they brought yet unto him free offerings
every morning. And they spake unto Moses, saying, The people bring much more
than enough for the service of the work, which the LORD commanded to make. And
Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the
camp, saying, Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of
the sanctuary. So the people were restrained from bringing. For the stuff they
had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much.
Here we see the Jews bringing in “willingly” an “offering” (not a
tithe)(a “free-will offering”) for the specific purpose of helping to build the
new Tabernacle building. Applying this
to today, the building mortgage or rent, utilities, maintenance, furniture,
etc., needs to come from the offerings (not the tithe). Offerings are above and beyond the
tithe. Some church members don’t even
tithe, much less give an offering. Many
tithe and are content therewith. But, if
a church followed the Biblical guidelines on where the tithe goes, people would
surely give, for they would want their building taken care of. Most churches’ financial status’ would not
allow them to give all the tithe to the pastor.
They have “overinvested” in the building(s), expecting the tithe to take
care of it.
It is very wise to have a “Building Fund” set up in a savings
account. And, to send a portion of “non-tithe” General Account offerings to
it. You can also send a percentage of
the General Account monies (including tithes) if the pastor(s) is financially
well taken care of already. However, if
‘push comes to shove’, then the tithe needs to by default go to the pastor(s)
and then offerings by default can go to the next important line item…the
building(s).
MISSIONS GIVING IS DIFFERENT
THAN THE TITHE
1 Cor 16:1-3 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. [Also see Php 4:15-19 and 2Cor 9:5-8]
Here we see that Paul had given “orders” for Mission’s
giving. Each church was to take up a
collection for the “saints”…here the needy saints were those at the church in
Jerusalem. This church was in need. I term “Missions” as any “church” (other than your own) that is in
need. These churches are what is suppose
to be getting the gospel in these other places…whether far away in Africa, or
right down the road at the next town.
You are not able to reach them, but they can. The Lord’s Day is when they brought these
Mission offerings in to the church’s treasury.
“Everyone” of them were to bring something. It was based on how God prospered you. I say that this would be a percentage. If you say it is not, then you can give what
God prospered you with…all of it. It
states “as” here; this is a proportional
giving idea. A good plan is to give at
least 1% to Missions. Faith Promise
Pleges are a “neat” idea, but not scriptural.
“As needed / as able” Missions giving is talked about in 2 Cor 8,9. But, here it speaks of percentage giving,
weekly.
2 Cor 8:3-4,14 For to their
power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of
themselves; Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and
take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.But by an
equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want,
that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be
equality:
This is “as needed / as able” Missions giving. Each church was to give to the churches they
know of that were in need. They gave as
they were able to. Financially
prosperous churches gave more, and those lacking gave less…but they all gave…by
an equality. Those who were lacking
often soon became those truly “in need” and received great financial blessings.
BENEVOLENCE OFFERINGS
In the New Testament there are several passages that teach on
Benevolence offerings. These are simply
giving monies (or specific items) to help with someone’s needs (especially
those of your church family).
Luke 6:30-38 Give to
every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask
them not again. And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them
likewise. For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners
also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you,
what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. And if ye lend to them
of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to
sinners, to receive as much again. But love ye your enemies, and do good,
and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye
shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to
the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.Judge not,
and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned:
forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: 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.
Anyone
who implies that they are in need, you should give something to…yea, even if
they are your enemy. Of course, you need to be careful that it is a legitimate
need. Also, show deference to those in
your church family first and foremost.
Doing this will cause great blessings to come back to you. This type of giving is the only one that this
passage’s promise can be claimed for.
Give it a try.
Pastor David Warner
Faithful Baptist Church
Omak,Washington
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