Lesson Two

“‘A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.’ Lev.27:30 [NIV].

The second lesson in learning how to give more is to intentionally return to God what belongs to God. You have to deliberately give back to God what belongs to God. You have to be deliberate about your tithing. The tithe does not just fly out of your account, have you noticed? You have to be deliberate in paying it. ‘Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house…’ Mal.3:10 [NIV]. God says the whole tithe, not a part or half, the whole tithe. The tithe belongs to God. You don’t give your tithe; you pay it because it belongs to God. Some folks have said tithing is Old Testament. ‘You shall be the head and not the tail. You will be blessed going out and coming in. Blessed will be the increase of your kine and the fruit of your body’. Are these blessing you are claiming not in the Old Testament [see Deuteronomy 28]? I call that convenient selection.

Some people say tithing is the Law and we are no more under the Law. We are under grace. When you talk about the Law there are five things the Bible calls the Law. Firstly, it could be the first five Books of the Bible – the Pentateuch [Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy]. Secondly, it could be referring to what is known as the moral law, which is the Ten Commandments. ‘Thou shall not…’. Thirdly, it could be talking about the civil law or the ceremonial law. The ceremonial law is the law of cleansing and preparation of the shedding of the blood of bulls and goats – the protocol of access. And the civil law is specific for the nation of Israel. It is the law that governs the civility of social engagement in the land of Israel. Fourthly, it could be the whole of the first part of the Old Testament, what Jesus refers to as the Law and the Prophets. The Old Testament is largely divided into the Law and the Prophets [from Isaiah forward]. Fifthly, it could be the whole Bible [Josh.1:8]. When Jesus came and fulfilled the Law, what exactly did Jesus make irrelevant? Largely it is the ceremonial law – the law of access to God. The law of the establishment of connection to heaven. That is what Jesus came to fulfill and He set aside the old so that He can bring about the new. That is the covenant that was replaced.

Prayer: Father, I ask for the grace to intentionally return to You what belongs to You, in Jesus Name.