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What percentage of our income does the Lord claim as His? It’s in the Bible, Leviticus 27:30, NKJV. “And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD’s. It is holy to the LORD..”

Tithing is a way of teaching us that God must be our first priority. It’s in the Bible, Deuteronomy 14:22-23, TLB. “You must tithe all of your crops every year. Bring this tithe to eat before the Lord your God at the place he shall choose as his sanctuary; this applies to your tithes of grain, new wine, olive oil, and the firstborn of your flocks and herds. The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives.”

We are to return the tithe to God first—before we start spending money on other things. It’s in the Bible, Proverbs 3:9, TLB. “Honor the Lord by giving him the first part of all your income.”

In the Old Testament, the tithe was used to support the priests. It’s in the Bible, Numbers 18:20-21, NKJV. “Then the LORD said to Aaron: “You shall have no inheritance in their land, nor shall you have any portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance among the children of Israel. “Behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work which they perform, the work of the tabernacle of meeting.

Christ endorsed tithing. It’s in the Bible, Matthew 23:23, NKJV. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.

How does Paul say the gospel ministry is to be supported? It’s in the Bible, 1 Corinthians 9:13-14, TLB. “Don’t you realize that God told those working in his temple to take for their own needs some of the food brought there as gifts to him? And those who work at the altar of God get a share of the food that is brought by those offering it to the Lord. In the same way the Lord has given orders that those who preach the Gospel should be supported by those who accept it.”

Returning the tithe to God helps us remember that He is the owner of everything. It’s in the Bible, Psalm 24:1, NKJV. “The earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein.”

God is the source of all our wealth. It’s in the Bible, Deuteronomy 8:18, NKJV. “And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.

God asks us to give voluntary offerings for His work—in addition to the tithe. It’s in the Bible, Psalm 96:8, NKJV. “Give to the LORD the glory due His name; bring an offering, and come into His courts.

God says we rob Him if we don’t give tithe and offerings. It’s in the Bible, Malachi 3:8, NKJV. Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘ In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings.

God promises to richly bless us if we are faithful in tithes and offerings. It’s in the Bible, Malachi 3:10, NKJV. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,” says the LORD of hosts, “ If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.

We should give to God’s work willingly. It’s in the Bible, 2 Corinthians 9:7, NKJV. “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver..”

We should give in proportion to the blessing God has given us. It’s in the Bible, Deuteronomy 16:17, NKJV. “Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God which He has given you.

For more information see:

• Giving
• Sacrifice