Jesus said: make friends for yourselves by means of the mammon of unrighteousness, so that when it fails, they will receive you into the eternal dwellings. (Luke 16:9 NASB) The poor Christians, to whom we give now, will, in the New Jerusalem, welcome us. Everlasting life is very dependent on how we treat the mammon of unrighteousness, or money. And: what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matt 17:26)
Love of money can cause a man to be barren spiritually. Jesus said: the deceitfulness of riches choke the word and he becometh unfruitful. (Matt 13:22)
Riches are a powerful force to keep us from the kingdom of God. Jesus said: It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. (Matt 10:25) Rich men should pray for grace to be saved, for without divine help salvation for them is impossible: but not with God: for with God all things are possible. (Mark 10:27) They need grace, both to be generous with that portion of their riches they should give away, and to have faith in God, rather than in that portion of their riches God allows them to keep.
There can be good, wealthy Christians, but they do not trust in their riches, nor is their thought preoccupied with amassing more wealth. So how much should a Christian give away, and how much are they permitted to keep, to enjoy God’s blessing upon them?
Paul argues that ministers of the word of God should be supported by the church, saying: 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. (1 Cor 9:13,14)
Under the Old Covenant, one of the twelve tribes, the tribe of Levi, was dedicated to serving God. They were not given as much land for cattle as the other eleven tribes. Instead they were to be given: all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for the service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation. (Num 18:21) All in the other eleven tribes, rich and poor alike, were to give them a tenth of all. God said: all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s . . . And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock . . . the tenth shall be holy unto the Lord. (Lev 27:30-32)
It seems to me that today there should be the same proportion serving the Lord today as there was under the Old Covenant. That is, about ten per cent of the congregation should be serving the Lord, and tithing enables this. Most churches have less than this, but Jesus said: The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. (Luke 10:2) The limiting factor in sending missionaries is not willing labourers, but the funds to support them. There is thus a need for increased giving, and the tithe, or tenth, is the value universally mentioned in the Scriptures.
Lest we think that tithing has been cancelled with the ceremonial law of the Old Covenant, we should consider that giving tithes to support the work of God is more like a moral law than a ceremonial law, and the moral Law of Moses still applies.
But to decide the matter, Abraham, our example of faith, paid tithes to Melchizedek, who was a type of Christ. (Gen 15:18-20) And it is written of Melchizedek: Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. (Heb7:4) As Jesus is: a priest after the order of Melchizedek (Heb 7:17), we should give tithes today to the church of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jacob also gave tithes.
To those who refuse to pay tithes, God says: 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. (Mal 3:8-10)
A tithe is a tenth of income; but is this before or after tax? People pay taxes to the government, and the government uses this money to provide services for the taxpayer. The average taxpayer receives as much from the government as they pay in taxes. Therefore the average person should pay, as a tithe, ten per cent of their gross income. But wealthy people pay a lot more in tax than they receive from the government in services. Therefore they should calculate their tithe as ten percent of somewhere between gross and net income.
Not all income was tithable. Plunder from war was given to the Lord as either one part in five hundred or on part in fifty on an occasion described in Num 31:27-30. Not that this is directly relevant to Christians, as they do not make holy war today. An inheritance received, also is not tithable.
In addition to tithing, God’s work may require further giving, for buildings and other resources, or for other labourers. When Moses built the tabernacle: the Lord commanded, saying, Take ye from among you an offering to the Lord: whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering to the Lord; gold, and silver, and brass and . . . (Exod 35:4,5)
And again, when the temple was built by Solomon, David said: because I have set my affection to the house of my God, I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver, which I have given to the house of my God . . . Even three thousand talents of gold . . . Then the chief of the fathers and princes of the tribes of Israel, and the captains . . . offered willingly, and gave for the service of the house of God of gold five thousand talents. (1 Chron 29: 3-7)
In the New Testament, a similar example of giving was that of the centurion, of whom it was said by the Jews: he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue. (Luke 7:5) Perhaps because of this, God rewarded him with true faith. Jesus said of him: I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. (Luke 7:9)
Today God’s temple is His people (1 Cor 6:16); so there is no need to beautify the meeting hall as a temple. Sometimes too much money is spent upon buildings. But more money could well be spent on books and teaching resources in poor countries.
A gift, probably in addition to their tithes, was given to the apostle Paul by the Philippians. Paul thanked them, saying: Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. Not that I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. Paul told them that their gift was like an Old Testament sacrifice: an odour of sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God. And Paul promised them: my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Phil 4:15-19)
Under the Old Covenant, the Israelites were commanded: At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates. And the Levite (because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee,) and the stranger and fatherless, and the widow which are within thy gates, shall come and shall eat and be satisfied; that the Lord thy God may bless you in all the work of thine hand which thou doest. (Deut 14:28,29)
This was an additional tithe to that for God’s servants, the Levites. Being set aside only every third year (although probably stored also for other years,) it constituted one thirtieth of income. It was given to Israelites, and to strangers, who by coming to live in Israel, were acknowledging the wisdom and power of God.
But although Paul writes that we should do good: especially unto them who are of the household of faith, we should also: as we have therefore opportunity . . . do good unto all. (Gal 6:10) Giving to such charities as World Vision may be a good way to do good to all. To do good to those of the household of faith may require more communications between churches in affluent countries and those in poor countries.
Although this Old Covenant percentage of income is no longer prescriptive, it may be instructive as to a minimum amount that an average person (the rich should give more) should give. Although some of this amount is already given and diverted to the poor through taxation, Christians should perhaps give most of this thirtieth, to account for the fact that the government’s priorities are not necessarily God’s priorities.
The New Testament doctrine of giving is needs based and sacrificial for whole hearted disciples who will rule. I do not think that it contradicts the Old Testament doctrines of wealth or giving, but it shows more clearly the duty of care which applies to all.
The apostle John writes: 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? (1 John 3:17) And John the Baptist said that true repentance is: He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and him that hath meat, let him do likewise. (Luke 3:11)
An example of such a need was when: Agabus . . . signified by the spirit that there should be a great dearth throughout all the world, which came to pass in the days of Cladius Caesar. Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judea. (Acts 11:28,29)
Concerning such giving Paul says: 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 or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things may abound to every good work. (As it is written: He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth forever.) (2 Cor 9:1,6-9)
These church collections were used for Christians in other churches. A Christian’s first responsibility is to his family; his next responsibility is to other Christians; and after that he has a lesser responsibility to the heathen.
During such times of need, it may be necessary for many to sell some possessions. Jesus said: 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)
No one should be compelled to give. Jesus said: 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. (Matt 6:1) But the church in general should be encouraged to give at such times. For such giving there is a reward both in heaven and on earth. I believe that Christ’s promise is literal when He spoke of money bags in heaven, as I believe that this life is modeled on the life to come.
As for the reward on earth, Solomon writes: There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. (Prov 11:24) And again: He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again. (Prov 19:17) And Jesus said: Give, and it shall be given unto you; good mesure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. (Luke 6:38) This promise of abundant compensation is from our Lord, Himself.
Another time of need was at the birth of the church, when foreign Jews, who had come to Jerusalem to keep the feast of Pentecost, stayed on for a while to be taught, after their conversion. These had no means of support, as they had not planned to stay on in Jerusalem after the feast.
But the Jerusalem believers provided for the foreign believers. They: sold their possessions and goods and parted them to all men as every man had need. (Acts 2:45) And: as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold . . . and distribution was made to every man as he had need. (Acts 4:34,35)
At this time the Lord would have called upon many to make the same sacrifice which he called upon the rich young ruler to make: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven. (Luke 18:22) He would have shown them his will by making them aware of the need. But this is a non-typical example at an extraordinary time. Usually the Lord only calls upon us to give a portion of our wealth away, but how much?
Zacchaeus is a more typical example of how much a rich man should give away. He: was chief of the publicans (tax-collectors), and he was rich. (Luke 18:2) He probably had considerable wealth. At his conversion he said to Jesus: Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. (Luke 19:8) After he had given he may still have been reasonably wealthy, and possessed a good deal more than the average Jew.
I believe that those today with wealth comparable to Zacchaeus, should also, as need arises, give perhaps half their possessions away, either to the poor or to the church. Those with more wealth than this should perhaps give more than half their goods away. Rich men with less wealth than this could perhaps give less than half away. Although I believe that the richer a man is before giving, the greater proportion he should give away, the greater also will be the wealth he can retain in absolute terms.
But how can we compare wealth today with that when our Lord was on earth? Should we consider absolute wealth, or comparative wealth with those in the country we are living? These are difficult questions and I will not attempt to answer them. Instead prayer is to be commended, and the Lord will put upon the heart the amount to be given, as you see the need.
Those who love money more than God are not Christians, as we cannot serve two masters. But to those who repent of selfishness Jesus Christ says as He said to Zacchaeus: This day is salvation come to this house, forasmuch as he also is a son of Abraham. (Luke 19:9) And Paul writes to Timothy: charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy . . . that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to share . . . Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. (1 Tim 6:17-19)