The modern understanding of an obligation to tithe in certain churches is not in keeping with either the New Testament nor even the Jewish law of the Old Testament. The original commmandment to "tithe" or set aside a tenth of the produce every year is rehearsed in Deuteronomy 14:22-29. Every year a tenth of the harvest was to be set aside, and two our of three years that tenth was to be consumed by the family that had produced it in thanksgiving and celebration before the Lord. Every third year the tenth was to be shared with the Levites and the poor in the land. In the New Testament of course, tithing was not ever commanded at all for the church. The New Testament does enjoin generous giving, for example 2 Cor 9:7 "So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver." (NKJV) The instruction to share cheerfully, as each purposes in their own heart, is pleasing to God, but the New Testament never connects that kind of obedience with material rewards. Although many who are greedy for contributions have constructed an imaginary link between "tithing" and material rewards, God made no such promise to Christians. On the contrary, Christians should give with no expectation of material return. The motivation should be love and obedience, not an expectation of gain.
|
