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Tithing Yes or No?

by Rick King  
3/21/2016 / Christian Living

Tithing Yes or No?
By: Rick L. King
March 21, 2016

The subject about tithing has come up lately in my circles. Many say that tithing is of the law and we are no longer under the law so we are not required to tithe. Others say that tithing is to be done. Well, after praying and seeking the Lord I believe both are correct and here is why.

Tithing is recorded in the Old Testament. It was a legal requirement. Why did we have legal requirements? The law was enforce for our protection. Mankind tends to want to do things that are not good for them. We have natural laws to protect us and others. Just like a speed limit. Many don't like it because it restricts how fast that they can drive. If there were no limits there would most likely be many more wrecks and deaths. So it is for our good though we may not like it in our flesh. Many quote this scripture:

Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Romans 6:15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

So scripturally we are not under the law. Yet here is the twist to this.

Jesus said:

Mathew 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.

When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior we are no longer under the law.

Galatians 5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

The key here is being led by the Spirit. Many Christians are led by their flesh and not by the Holy Spirit. According to the above scripture if you are not led by the Spirit then you are still under the law.

1Samuel 15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

Galatians 5:14 says For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Instead then of a legal requirement we now are under a love requirement. If we love someone do we not do anything that we can to support them? If we truly love the Lord then wouldn't e want to be obedient to everything that He asked of us? If we are hurting or in need wouldn't we do what we could for our self to eliminate the problem? If we are attending a church and what is going on is so of God that we are thrilled to be a part of it wouldn't it make sense that we would want to support the work? We don't have to support it but we would want to, correct? One who is a true Christian and has the love of God in their heart will have a giving nature. They will want to support the work of the ministry of the Holy Spirit. They will want to support a person that is flowing in God's Spirit and touching and changing lives. Out of love they will want to please the Lord in every way that they can. They will want to help those that are feeding the hungry or helping the poor as this is what Jesus does. Scripture says:

1 John 3:17 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?

The above scripture is very important as we can tell who really has the love of God in them. I know many so called Christians that are missing the most basic fruit, love. They are religious and may quote the Word much better than I yet they show no love or compassion for others and their whole walk seems to be about themselves alone. That is really sad to me. They are missing the true joy and blessing that comes with being a Christian and having a relationship with the Lord.

Scripture says in John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Love gives to others in need. God sacrificially gave His only Son as the world was in need. The world needed a Savior. It needed a way to be able to come back to God. Did God have to do this? No He did not. He did this because He loved His creation and wanted to help them. An interesting point is that God made an investment in mankind. It cost Him his Son for awhile to make it but He ended up with a great return. Look how many have been saved, healed, and delivered? Without God and His love and Him giving sacrificially this would never have happened. Tithing is an investment. It invests in other people. It invests in the working of the Holy Spirit through individuals or churches. Can you say that when you go somewhere that you know is of God and lives are being changed that you have no desire to give and help? You are not under legal requirements to help but you want to because it is bearing some really good fruit. Love has now become the motive to give or tithe whatever you wish to call it. Any person or ministry that is of God, that is anointed of the Holy Spirit, or is led by the Holy Spirit and bringing forth good fruit should never have to be concerned about not having the resources to continue. God's work should never have to be stopped because of money. Many ministries die mainly because they have no anointing and are preaching a wrong gospel or are doing it for the wrong reasons. I am talking about ministries that are called and anointed of the Lord as there is a major difference.

There is a blessing when we act out of love and give or tithe to others. We obey the leading of the Holy Spirit when he asks us to give or we sacrifice many blessings from the Lord.

Luke 6:38 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.

When we give the Word says that it will be given back to us. Many give to get back and this is the wrong motive if it is to get back to build your own kingdom and have pleasures for self. The motive should be that if you get back then you will have more to give. You will never go without by giving. There is nothing wrong with using some of the return on self but it should not be the primary reason for giving. Love is not self-pleasing. Love always puts others first. Love is not selfish. When you love and have experienced what happens then you will know what it means. The joy in being able to give and help a ministry or person is so far greater than the joy that you get when getting something for yourself.

2 Corinthians 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

People are not really cheerful if they are forced to give out of necessity to fulfill the law. They are cheerful because they give because it is in their heart to give and help. That is where the joy is. They enjoy doing what the voice of the Lord requests of them as they desire to please him.
So the bottom line is that we are no longer legally required to tithe or give but we are required through love for our own good and the good of others. We are blessed of God when we do this. It is now written on our heart to love and to give. I always seem to go back to this scripture:

Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

If we are really crucified with Christ, then Christ living in us is the one living through us and therefore is always giving, as it is His nature. He gave His life that we might live. That is the ultimate tithe or gift out of love.

John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

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