Tithing Every Three Years

[Andrewn]

Does the Bible command tithing yearly or only every 3 years. In Deuteronomy we read:

Deu 14:28 At the end of every third year bring the tithe of all your crops and store it in your towns. 29 This food is for the Levites, since they own no property, and for the foreigners, orphans, and widows who live in your towns. They are to come and get all they need. Do this, and the Lord your God will bless you in everything you do.

Deu 26:12 “Every third year give the tithe—a tenth of your crops—to the Levites, the foreigners, the orphans, and the widows, so that in every community they will have all they need to eat. When you have done this, 13 say to the Lord, ‘None of the sacred tithe is left in my house; I have given it to the Levites, the foreigners, the orphans, and the widows, as you commanded me to do. I have not disobeyed or forgotten any of your commands concerning the tithe.

 

[Oldmantook]

Does the Bible command tithing yearly or only every 3 years. In Deuteronomy we read:

Due 14:28 At the end of every third year bring the tithe of all your crops and store it in your towns. 29 This food is for the Levites, since they own no property, and for the foreigners, orphans, and widows who live in your towns. They are to come and get all they need. Do this, and the Lord your God will bless you in everything you do.

Due 26:12 “Every third year give the tithe—a tenth of your crops—to the Levites, the foreigners, the orphans, and the widows, so that in every community they will have all they need to eat. When you have done this, 13 say to the Lord, ‘None of the sacred tithe is left in my house; I have given it to the Levites, the foreigners, the orphans, and the widows, as you commanded me to do. I have not disobeyed or forgotten any of your commands concerning the tithe.

First of all, the Bible never stated to tithe money. Notice the verses state to tithe "crops." The tithe was provided in order that people could eat. Do you seen anything wrong with the way tithing is practiced in today's churches tied to "money."

 

[AMM]

Yes.

There were actually multiple tithes commanded for the Ancient Israelites. Some of that went to feed the poor, some to feed the Levites/priests, some for other purposes. This Wikipedia page provides a good overview of it.

Note that we who live under the New Testament are not obligated to donate any specific portion of our income (whether money or crops or something else). Rather we are to give cheerfully and as we have decided according to our conscience: How much should we donate?

 

[Christ is Lord]

I believe tithing is a personal matter. If the Lord impressing upon your heart to do that then by all means.

 

[AvilaSurfer]

If you don’t like tithing, you could just follow Jesus’ words and sell it all and give away the proceeds.
I think I’ll stick to my 10%.

 

[Andrewn]

First of all, the Bible never stated to tithe money. Notice the verses state to tithe "crops." The tithe was provided in order that people could eat. Do you seen anything wrong with the way tithing is practiced in today's churches tied to "money."

I never thought of this before. Do you suggest buying food and donating it instead of money?

 

[Andrewn]

Note that we who live under the New Testament are not obligated to donate any specific portion of our income (whether money or crops or something else). Rather we are to give cheerfully and as we have decided according to our conscience: How much should we donate?

I believe tithing is a personal matter. If the Lord impressing upon your heart to do that then by all means.

Yes, this is the EO way but it generally results in low donation levels. Evangelicals pastors, OTOH, push for tithes (10% / yr) + offerings to the local church + donations to different ministries & missions.

 

[Christ is Lord]

I never thought of this before. Do you suggest buying food and donating it instead of money?

Give what the Lord impresses upon your heart to do. I believe a true Christian will be happy to give. What I don't like about tithing is that some people think to themselves "well I gave 10% that's enough" and can lead to a spirit of selfishness IMO.

 

[Andrewn]

If you don’t like tithing, you could just follow Jesus’ words and sell it all and give away the proceeds. I think I’ll stick to my 10%.

Lately, I've been thinking a lot of the Lord's difficult commands, including the one you refer to and including things like cutting off one's arm and leg. The Church never promoted keeping any of these commands, except the command against divorce.

I've come to the conclusion that these apparently impossible commands, while reflecting the true heart of God, cannot be expected from human beings. But they should be the object of constant meditation of our hearts and our striving to follow them, if not physically then at least psychologically.

 

[Oldmantook]

I never thought of this before. Do you suggest buying food and donating it instead of money?

I can't tell you what to do but if you read the New Testament passages on giving - they never mention the tithe. They do mention giving out of a cheerful heart and taking up a collection in order to meet the needs of the needy saints. I suppose a collection could mean anything useful to those in need including money. If you know of a family in need of food, I see nothing wrong with buying them groceries. In doing so you are meeting a real need - giving out the generosity of your heart.

 

[Andrewn]

Give what the Lord impresses upon your heart to do. I believe a true Christian will be happy to give. What I don't like about tithing is that some people think to themselves "well I gave 10% that's enough" and can lead to a spirit of selfishness IMO.

I can't tell you what to do but if you read the New Testament passages on giving - they never mention the tithe. They do mention giving out of a cheerful heart and taking up a collection in order to meet the needs of the needy saints. I suppose a collection could mean anything useful to those in need including money.

Looks like we all agree, here. We are to follow our conscience, a principle which would also apply to the question of who should receive the donations.

 

[Oldmantook]

Looks like we all agree, here. We are to follow our conscience, a principle which would also apply to the question of who should receive the donations.

Totally agree. When I've given something in the past to a needy family as the Spirit prompts, the look on their face is priceless and makes my heart cheerful.

 

[AvilaSurfer]

Lately, I've been thinking a lot of the Lord's difficult commands, including the one you refer to and including things like cutting off one's arm and leg. The Church never promoted keeping any of these commands, except the command against divorce.

I've come to the conclusion that these apparently impossible commands, while reflecting the true heart of God, cannot be expected from human beings. But they should be the object of constant meditation of our hearts and our striving to follow them, if not physically then at least psychologically.

Cutting off appendages may seem impossible, but 10% to church and charity certainly is not.

 

[Andrewn]

Totally agree. When I've given something in the past to a needy family as the Spirit prompts, the look on their face is priceless and makes my heart cheerful.

Amen.

 

[Andrewn]

Cutting off appendages may seem impossible, but 10% to church and charity certainly is not.

I was referring to Christ's commands in the NT.

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

Does the Bible command tithing yearly or only every 3 years. In Deuteronomy we read:

Deu 14:28 At the end of every third year bring the tithe of all your crops and store it in your towns. 29 This food is for the Levites, since they own no property, and for the foreigners, orphans, and widows who live in your towns. They are to come and get all they need. Do this, and the Lord your God will bless you in everything you do.

Deu 26:12 “Every third year give the tithe—a tenth of your crops—to the Levites, the foreigners, the orphans, and the widows, so that in every community they will have all they need to eat. When you have done this, 13 say to the Lord, ‘None of the sacred tithe is left in my house; I have given it to the Levites, the foreigners, the orphans, and the widows, as you commanded me to do. I have not disobeyed or forgotten any of your commands concerning the tithe.

I don't see any requirement about tithing in the New Testament.

 

[Andrewn]

I don't see any requirement about tithing in the New Testament.

This is surprising to hear from a Pentecostal. In my experience Pentecostals strongly push for yearly tithes + offerings. This is neither in the NT nor in OT, from what I see. Even if it was in the OT it would be part of the ceremonial laws, which are no longer in effect.

Did you say that you currently attend a Reformed church?

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

This is surprising to hear from a Pentecostal. In my experience Pentecostals strongly push for yearly tithes + offerings. This is neither in the NT nor in OT, from what I see. Even if it was in the OT it would be part of the ceremonial laws, which are no longer in effect.

Did you say that you currently attend a Reformed church?

In all my years as part of Pentecostal churches I have never heard of yearly tithes. I know that some individual members spoke of their Sunday offerings as "tithes" and have religiously kept to the 10%, but that is their choice and not a Scriptural requirement that I can see. Otherwise the offering has been announced as "tithes and offerings:.

There is a long story connected with my departure from the Pentecostal movement in 1978, and since I have been involved with Anglican and Baptist churches, but for the last 20 years have been a member and elder of a reformed Presbyterian church, but have retained my basic continuist theology.

 

[Andrewn]

Otherwise the offering has been announced as "tithes and offerings:.

Point made.

for the last 20 years have been a member and elder of a reformed Presbyterian church, but have retained my basic continuist theology.

I attended Pentecostal / Charismatic churches for years. So, theologically I'm a Charismatic Anglican even though my current church is neither Charismatic nor Anglican!

 

[PizzaAddict]

Does the Bible command tithing yearly or only every 3 years. In Deuteronomy we read:

Deu 14:28 At the end of every third year bring the tithe of all your crops and store it in your towns. 29 This food is for the Levites, since they own no property, and for the foreigners, orphans, and widows who live in your towns. They are to come and get all they need. Do this, and the Lord your God will bless you in everything you do.

Deu 26:12 “Every third year give the tithe—a tenth of your crops—to the Levites, the foreigners, the orphans, and the widows, so that in every community they will have all they need to eat. When you have done this, 13 say to the Lord, ‘None of the sacred tithe is left in my house; I have given it to the Levites, the foreigners, the orphans, and the widows, as you commanded me to do. I have not disobeyed or forgotten any of your commands concerning the tithe.

Perhaps it's written third year because on 7th year they had to never gather crops and let land rest ( to replenish the soil minerals ) and 50th jubilee they had to do it aswell so two years in a row no crops and third he tithe .

Not sure about this one you need to dig into this just a tip from me .