Where should tithes be given
- Simone-Christelle NgoMakon
- 3 days ago
- 11 min read
Osibirega, pillar! Onkwáho, brother (sister) of JESUS!
God says: “Because you have remained silent, I will answer: I will speak of you and on your behalf. Because you love Me, I will attach My name to yours. Because you have deprived yourself, I will fill you to the brim. Because you have welcomed the stranger, I will bring the nations to you. Because you have fed the orphan, your descendants will never lack bread. Because you have defended the oppressed, I will defend your cause. I stand as your guarantor. Your reward will be great. I command blessings to follow you. I command the wise to instruct you. I command kings to welcome you. I command the light to be with you. I make you known among those I love, before the crowd and the world come to know you. You are blessed and anointed for what I am calling you to do. Never doubt it, my child. Just a little while longer, and your equipment will be complete.”
Where was the tithe given before and during the Levitical Law?
Where should one give one's tithe under the New Covenant?
Where should one give one's tithe? Wherever God leads you to repentance, nourishes you, guides you, equips you, asks it of you, or establishes you.
❖ (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.
❖ (Proverbs 3:9-10, NKJV) : Honor the Lord (give glory) with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase (income); So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.
❖ (Luke 11:42, NKJV) : “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass by justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone."
❖ (2 Corinthians 9:7, NKJV) : So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of [f]necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
❖ (Ezra 1:4-5, NKJV) : And whoever is left in any place where he dwells, let the men of his place help him with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, besides the freewill offerings for the house of God which is in Jerusalem. Then the heads of the fathers’ houses of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and the Levites, with all whose spirits God had moved, arose to go up and build the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem.
Last Tuesday, I led an online discussion in English about personal finances with brothers and sisters in Christ. Someone asked where we should give our tithes. In this article, I’d like to share my answer and a summary of the others’ contributions.
In my previous article on tithing and the one on the offering of firstfruits, I explained the origin of tithing and why I tithe. I would like to remind you that the (Levitical) law did not establish tithing; rather, it made it mandatory for the Jewish people so that they could all benefit from it. Giving the firstfruits is a divine principle that predates the Levitical Law by a long time.
School is mandatory from a certain age up to another in almost every country. This is because we know how important it is to have a basic education. There are things we ask children and teenagers to do. But later, when they become mature adults—once they have understood their purpose and importance—they do them on their own, without being asked. They often even go beyond what was asked of them. For me, that’s how the principle of tithing works. Jesus abolished the law (the Levitical system), but He did not nullify the divine principles. Tithing is the minimum we are called to give to God.
Everyone is free to act according to the revelation of Scripture and their own conviction regarding the Lord. As we know, He instructs and makes Himself known to those who seek Him. As for me, tithing is an act of love, gratitude, reverence, faith, and above all, an act of worship. Because the Lord will always appreciate offerings made with a willing heart, because He will always bless (in one way or another) the one who gives, and because the order of Melchizedek will always exist through Jesus, I encourage you to tithe—and give more if possible. Because we are under grace and not under the law, I will never judge you if you do not do so.
This article is for those who are wondering where to give their tithes. Those who are wondering if tithes should be given exclusively to a church. Those who are wondering if they can be given to multiple churches, to servants of God, to ministries, associations, and Christian institutions. If these questions do not apply to you, then this article is not for you.
God Himself does not need money. He is omnipotent. However, on earth, the Kingdom needs our contributions just as a government needs taxes from its citizens. Everyone is free to give according to their convictions and resources.
God gave His life for your salvation. His life is priceless. If you think that voluntarily giving at least 10% of your income for the expansion of the Kingdom is excessive, then this article is not for you. If that’s the case, we understand that you don’t feel called to do so or that you feel you don’t have enough to give. We do not judge you. In return, we hope you understand that we give out of love, gratitude, and conviction (without coercion). May the peace of Christ be with you.
Where was the tithe given before and during the Levitical Law?
Abel offered the firstborn of his flock to God (Genesis 4:4). The Bible does not give us the exact details. However, we can assume that it was on an altar. Abraham gave his tithe to Melchizedek, priest of God and king of Salem (Genesis 14:18–20). It is not written that Melchizedek was the one who asked Abraham to give him the tithe. I therefore venture to think that the initiative came from God and Abraham.
Jacob promised God that he would give Him a tithe of all his income (Genesis 28:16–22). However, the Bible does not tell us where or how he gave his tithes. From what we know from Scripture, tithes were given on an altar to God or to a priest of God.
Let's read a few verses:
❖ (Deuteronomy 12: 11-14; 17-19, NKJV) : " 11 then there will be the place where the Lord your God chooses to make His name abide. There you shall bring all that I command you: your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the heave offerings of your hand, and all your choice offerings which you vow to the Lord. 12 And you shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you and your sons and your daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levite who is within your gates, since he has no portion nor inheritance with you. 13 Take heed to yourself that you do not offer your burnt offerings in every place that you see; 14 but in the place which the Lord chooses, in one of your tribes, there you shall offer your burnt offerings, and there you shall do all that I command you. [...] 17 You may not eat within your gates the tithe of your grain or your new wine or your oil, of the firstborn of your herd or your flock, of any of your offerings which you vow, of your freewill offerings, or of the heave offering of your hand. 18 But you must eat them before the Lord your God in the place which the Lord your God chooses, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant, and the Levite who is within your gates; and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God in all to which you put your hands. 19 Take heed to yourself that you do not forsake the Levite as long as you live in your land.
❖(Deuteronomy 14: 28-29, NKJV) : " 28 “At the end of every third year you shall bring out the tithe of your produce of that year and store it up within your gates. 29 And the Levite, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you, and the stranger and the fatherless and the widow who are within your gates, may come and eat and be satisfied, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.
❖ (Malachi 3:10, KJV) : " 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.
Under the Levitical Law, tithes were given to: provide for the needs of the Levites, maintain and build the temple, celebrate the mandatory festivals, and support widows, orphans, and strangers in need. The tithe was either given to the Levites, to the temple, or distributed as food to widows, orphans, and foreigners in need. GOD decided where the tithe should be given, to whom it should be given, and how it should be given.
Where should one give one's tithe under the New Covenant ? Where GOD leads you to repentance, nourishes you, guides you, equips you, calls you, or establishes you.
❖ (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.
❖ (Leviticus 27 : 30, french version) : Every tithe of the land—whether from the crops of the land or the fruit of the trees—belongs to the LORD; it is set apart for the LORD.
❖ (Luke 11:42, NKJV) : But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass by justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.
❖ (1 Corinthians 9:13-14, NKJV) : Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar? Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.
❖ (1 Timothy 5:17-18, NKJV) : " Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”
🙂 JESUS rebuked the Pharisees for neglecting justice and love. He did not rebuke them for tithing. On the contrary, he told them that justice (integrity) and love should accompany their tithes. GOD the FATHER said under the covenant that all tithes belong to him. Did He ever say that tithes belong to us under the New Covenant? The answer is no.
I don’t understand why some people say that JESUS CHRIST is against tithing. Aren’t we reading the same Bible? tithing is a personal choice. Those who aren’t convinced they should tithe shouldn’t tell those who do that they are under the Law. There are those who give, those who give more than a tithe, and those who do not tithe. Let each person act according to their convictions and resources.
Some people say that the early Church did not practice tithing, but rather voluntary giving. Either they are saying one thing and its opposite, or they need to clarify their statements. Giving voluntarily means giving without compulsion or regret, with joy and conviction (2 Corinthians 9:7). How is this incompatible with tithing? Whether one tithes or not, whoever gives regularly with joy is pleasing to GOD.
Where should one give one's tithe? Wherever God leads you to repentance, nourishes you, guides you, equips you, asks it of you, or establishes you.
Our answers :
Since the tithe belongs to GOD, He is free to do with it as He pleases. It is up to Him to tell each person where to give their tithe. It is His money, deposited in our bank accounts. He can tell some to give it here, others there, elsewhere, or both at the same time. He can do so whenever and however He chooses.
Tithing should not be done out of religious duty, sentiment, under intimidation, or as a spiritual transaction. We do not tithe out of fear of going to hell or with the intention of asking GOD to do something in return. Grace cannot be bought. Giving tithes is not done to receive a prophecy or to activate a spiritual gift.Tithing should not be done because of pressure from a so-called pastor who harasses and threatens people morning and night. Neither should people tithe to a church or organisation that does not teach the truth or practises idolatry.
GOD desires our salvation, our consecration, our restoration, and our commitment to the Kingdom. JESUS calls us to be disciples, to support those who make disciples, and to make disciples ourselves. Therefore, tithes may be given to churches, ministries, and men and women who are expanding the Kingdom.
As ambassadors of CHRIST, we are also called to support acts of compassion toward those who are in distress or in need. However, the Great Commission to make disciples is superior to acts of compassion. That is why tithes should primarily be given to churches, ministries, and organizations that win souls, train, and support disciples.
Because the Bible is the most important book, I encourage you to make occasional donations to an organization that publishes or translates the Bible. Thousands of people have given of themselves so that we can read this book freely. There are still thousands more who are risking their lives so that others can read it.
The tithe should be given where GOD leads you to repentance, nourishes you, guides you, equips you, asks you to give, or establishes you. This refers, therefore, to the ministry or local church that brought you to CHRIST. Then, to the ministry or church through which you are taught, strengthened, and/or serving. It is where you first receive your spiritual nourishment, even if it is online.
Abraham gave his tithe to Melchizedek. Those who preach the Gospel should be honored and supported first and foremost (though not exclusively) by those who are edified by their ministry. GOD may therefore lead a person to give their tithe—or a portion of it—to a specific person or ministry.
Tithes should primarily be given to one's local church or local ministry. The Levites lived in 48 cities scattered throughout the territories of the other tribes. Each tribe provided for the Levites in its own cities.
Priority does not mean exclusivity. But if you never give your tithe to your local or online church—or to the ministry that serves you (or your minor children) in the role of a local church—then there is a problem. Either that church (or ministry) is not your local church, or it is no longer your local church.
If you've just arrived in a city, a country, or a church, give your tithe where GOD was nourishing you spiritually until He leads you to your new church (when you're convinced that's where you belong) or tells you to do otherwise.
Not all Christians belong to a local church. A local church can be digital. A ministry that fulfills the role of a local church is considered a local church. For example, ministries dedicated to people in prison, the blind, the mute, and people living in countries closed to the Gospel or on military bases.
If you can’t give to the local branch, give to the trunk (headquarters). GOD will find a way to get it to the branch. Not all local churches are yet officially recognized as local churches. Not all local churches or local ministries are autonomous from the apostolic center or headquarters (single fund, communicating vessels).
** Osibirega = Good morning in Lunyankole (Uganda)
** Onkwáho = Good morning in Lakota (USA)
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