By Salt 106.5 Network Sunday 21 Apr 2024Finance and BusinessReading Time: 3 minutes

Tithing. Sounds old fashioned just to mention it so what has it got to do with me nowadays?

Key points

• The word “tithe” is taken from a Hebrew word that means “tenth”.
• There is an element of us coming towards God and showing God how serious we are, by the fact we are making that offering.
• Listen to the full conversation in the listener above.

Isn’t it some Old Testament money thing that went out when Jesus came along?

Or are those Christians correct who maintain that tithing must continue?

The latest episode of Money: Faith and Faith podcast gets stuck into all these tithing queries.

Pete Burrows is an accountant for small business and individuals with Lower Russell and Farr.

He and Hope Mornings’ Ben McEachen try to sort out tithing – and what’s it got to do with any of us.

What is tithing?

The word “tithe” is taken from a Hebrew word that means “tenth”.

As recorded throughout the Old Testament, tithing is an established principle of giving away one tenth of what you have (such as income or produce).

In particular, the tithed amount goes towards God, his representatives or institutions.

The word “tithe” is taken from a Hebrew word that means “tenth”.

Comb through Leviticus or Deuteronomy to see how, for example, the Levites (priests) were supported by tithes.

Also, the tithed amount was “first fruits”.

The 10 per cent was taken out first, as a fitting tribute to God. The tithe was not pulled together once every other bill or expenditure was covered.

While tithing is intimately linked with Moses handing down God’s law to his people, the first appearance of tithing in the Bible happened before that.

Check out Genesis 14:18-20 where Abraham’s interesting exchange with King Melchizedek has him give “a tenth of everything” to this mysterious ruler.

Should you tithe?

No and yes.

Followers of Jesus are not expected to live under the Old Testament law.

Jesus fulfilled it (Matthew 5) and liberated us from it (Galatians 3-4).

The New Testament does mention tithing in relation to Christian giving or supporting God’s work.

However, the principles of tithing certainly remain compelling.

There is an element of us coming towards God and showing God how serious we are, by the fact we are making that offering.

What “seems to make the difference” with considering tithing is how it upholds giving your first and best to God.

“We say with our mouths that we are Christian but – as I say to my clients – are you willing to put your money in that?” Pete said.

“Put your money where your mouth is,” Ben said.

Pete added: “I don’t think you are ruled out of heaven if you don’t tithe… [but] it is an element of us coming towards God and showing God how serious we are, by the fact we are making that offering.”

Listen to the full What is Tithing and Do I Have to Do It? episode in the player above or wherever you get your podcasts.

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