Over the past month or so I have sat in church and heard a sermon series on “Let Freedom Ring.” The preacher went on and on about our freedom in Christ Jesus and how we own nothing for the gift. Grace is a gift freely given and on and on. He also said we cannot pick and choose laws, we are either under grace or under the law. The same man preached that he believes in tithes and not only that but that we cannot expect blessings from God if all we pay is a tithe – we must go beyond the tithe to get blessings. What a crock! How is it that we cannot pick and choose law, except for tithes? How is it that we cannot receive blessings until we pay above and beyond the tithe? Did Jesus fulfill the law and the prophets or not? Are we to be thankful for our blessing or expect them because we pay God for them? Is it a store we visit where everything is marked down 89%, so we get a real bargain – pay 1% over 10% and it is yours. I am sure that is not what the preacher was trying to say.

There are blessings associated with giving, but that is not the reason to give. We have been given to, that is the reason for giving – not as a payment for but out of love and thankfulness. Tithing is a law. Anyone that believes it is not has never read or understood the first three or four books of the Bible. First fruit giving is a law. Anyone that believes it is not has never read or understood the first three or four books of the Bible. Jesus Christ fulfilled the laws. If we are under one law then we are under them all and not under grace. It is not law for someone to choose to give ten percent to the church, mission or outreach, but it is law for the church, mission or outreach to claim ten percent as an obligation (debt owed to them). In Numbers 18:21 it is written, “Behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work which they perform, the work of the tabernacle of meeting.” Put that with Numbers 18:20 and you see that it was prophesied to Aaron that Jesus (the Word of God speaking to Aaron) was to fulfill the law of tithing, “You shall have no inheritance in their land, nor shall you have any portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance among the children of Israel.” In that the Word of God became Jesus, (John 1:1) He said He was the tithe. In Hebrews 8:13 Paul writes that, “In that He says, ‘A new covenant,’ He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.”

It is not correct to say, “Blessings from God do not start until you go beyond the tithe.” In Genesis 13:14-17 God promises Abram, “I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth” and God grants him lands. That is before Abram gave ten percent of the spoils of war to Melchizedek (Gen. 14:20). God blessed Abram before Abram gave anything to Melchizedek. It is of note that the ten percent was not given out of Abram’s increase (not according to the law of tithing). Abram took nothing from the spoils for himself. It is also not correct to say that tithes predates law because of the ten percent Abram gave to Melchizedek. To say that, we must also say animal sacrifice offerings predate law (read Gen. 22). Can we pick and choose?

Do not misunderstand what is written here. Giving is the way of God. But counting our giving and measuring our gifts from God to be sure we have given our ten percent, and above if we wish to be blessed, is not in alignment with the gospel of Jesus Christ. If we give with expectations or as a payment, we give Satan the chance to say, “See God isn’t giving back to you for all you do for Him.” If we give out of thankfulness and not law, we praise God with our giving. If we do not expect, then we are thankful when God blesses us.

We are to have faith that God will bless us – we are to expect good things from our Father, but not based on a payment we have made. We are to expect good things from our Father based on A PAYMENT ALREADY MADE BY OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. Yes, we are to share in everything good with the one that teaches us (Gal. 6:6). We are to give to the needs of others (1 Tim. 6:18). We are to give, but not out of obligation to law. To the overseers God has written, “Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away” (1 Peter 5:2-4). We are all to expect good things – out of love and not out of law.