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10250 North Freeway @ West Road
Houston, Texas 77037
Tel: (281) 447-8484
KEEPING HOUSE FOR
THE LORD
Written by H. Frank Fort
This material is copyrighted and may not be copied or reproduced without the express written permission of the Berean Baptist Church.
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House for the Lord,
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LESSON #19
"Giving" No. 4
In this
lesson we shall conclude the subject of giving as to our "things". I
shall make no effort to prove that tithing is required of us simply because it
was required by law, for many things were done under law that we are not
required to do. It has been shown, however, that tithing was done before the
law, and we shall seek to prove now, that it ought to be done, since the law.
Murder was punished before the law was given Gen.
4:8‑13, and when the law was given this crime was forbidden and
punished according to it's precepts Ex.
20:13, Num. 35:30. Thus many
things were condemned in principle before the law, which were, upon it's
introduction, defined and punished under law, and which, though that law be
"abolished", are still condemned "under grace" James
2:11. Giving of one's means has always been God's way of supporting the work
of evangelizing the world.
Under the law
there were two annual tithes, and on the third year, there were three. Notice:
·
The Lord's tithes Num. 18:21‑24. God says of this tithe: "I have given it
to the Levites to inherit". The Levites gave a tenth to Aaron and family Num.
18:26‑28.
·
The festival tithe" Deut. 14:22‑27. This was to pay the expenses of going to the
appointed place to keep the appointed feasts, which is mentioned in Deut.
12:5‑7. "The Passover", and "Feast of Tabernacles"
involved a week, each, and a shorter period for "the Feast of Weeks".
The second tithe was designed to meet the expenses of these feasts.
·
"The Poor Tithe" Deut. 14:28,29. Every third year this additional tithe was given for
the purpose stated in the passage above cited.
Keep
in mind that all these tithes were paid by a nation to meet the expenses of the
moral and civil responsibilities of that nation. We do not pay tithes now for
the support of our civil government, but may be required to pay less, or as in
the present case, more. All three tithes above mentioned are referred to in the
Apocryphal book of "Tobit". This book is not inspired, but does give
the history of what Israel did in the case referred to. In (Tobit 1:6‑8,
we read, "I alone went often to Jerusalem at the feasts, as it had been
ordained to all Israel by an everlasting decree, having the first fruits and the
tenth of mine increase, and that which was shorn; and I gave them at the Altar
of the priests the Sons of Aaron. The tenth part of all my increase gave I to
the Sons of Levi, who ministered at Jerusalem. The second tenth part I sold
away, and went and spent it each year at Jerusalem; and the third I gave unto
them for whom it was meet, as Deborah, my father's mother had commanded
me.)" This was written about 190‑175 B. C., showing the custom of
that day, and explaining the three tithes we have before referred to. We have
another testimony from the Jewish historian, as to what the Jews practiced
during the time of Christ up to the destruction of Jerusalem in A. D. 70. Quote:
"Beside these two tithes, which I have already said you are to pay every
year, the one to the Levites, and the other for the festivals; you are to bring
every third year a tithe to be distributed to those that want; to women also
that are widows, and to children that are orphans (Henry Lansdell "The
sacred tenth"). Thus Tobias, and Josephus, testifying as to the three
tithes and their purposes as mentioned in the Word of God. We now have these
responsibilities:
·
"The Lord hath ordained that they
which preach the Gospel should live of the gospel" 1 Cor. 9:14. Thus support for the ministry is ordained
·
"Render to Caesar the things that
are Caesar's" Mk. 12:17.
This was said
with reference to "tribute to Caesar" vs.14.
When Paul referred to civil power, he said, "for this cause pay ye tribute
also" Rom. 13:6. But some will say, prove this "tribute" to be money.
Well, Christ proves it in Matt.
17:24‑27, "The Kings of the earth take…tribute…take (a piece
of money) and give unto them for me and thee".
·
"Let him labor, working with his
hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth"
Eph. 4:28. Again, "Visit the
fatherless and widows in their affliction" James 1:27, 1 Tim. 5:3.
How are these
responsibilities to be met? The answer is Religiously, by the tithe, civilly by
taxes. Formerly, Israel did this under law, through the means of three tithes;
now we do it by one tithe and taxes. We tithe as citizens of a heavenly Kingdom,
in relation to its demands. We pay taxes as citizens of an earthly government in
relation to its demands. Israel was not subject to any law outside of the
Covenant, which God made with them, except when by chastening, due to the
breaking of that Covenant. They were delivered into the hands of their enemies,
and then they discovered that it was more expensive to be subjected to their
enemies, than to be submissive to their God. So we may all learn.
The
question may be raised, Why not three tithes now? Keep in mind that before the
law, neither Abraham nor Jacob mentioned three tithes, but a tithe, or tenth;
this seems to be according to a principle which, when ignored by Cain in
"dividing" what he offered, constituted that failure a
"sin". Let us, however, see why three tithes are not required now.
·
Israel was a nation and subject only to
the Lord when in His will, thus she did not have to pay tribute to a civil power
outside herself, as we do today. We hold citizenship in two Kingdoms.
·
The spiritual Kingdom makes demands,
which financially, are to be met in the tithe of its subjects.
·
The laws of this world, which impose
taxes which are to support their prosecution to the good of all concerned. We
are subject to both, thus financially obligated to both, one by tithe, the other
by taxes
·
The second tithe, however, as paid by
Israel, is not needed now, by Christians, because we do not have to go to some
place as a gathering point for all Christians, and spend several weeks,
involving great expense, as did Israel
·
The third tithe is not now laid up
every three years for the poor as under law, but according to 1 Cor. 16:1,2, "Upon the first day of the week".
Here
one of the things for the lying up is enjoined, is "for the saints
"that is, "relief" in view of destitute circumstances. In Acts 11:29, we read, "the disciples, every man according to his
ability", while in 1 Cor. 16:2,
we read, "every one of you…as God has prospered him". Certainly
"ability" depends on what "God has prospered him", but what
does this mean? Does it mean according to our concept of prosperity? If it does,
then we are the judges also, of our "ability". Such reasoning will
never reach "every one of you". Most will reason I am not able to
tithe. I believe that God's word teaches that we are not able to refuse and get
away with it. It could be that those who say that they are not able are in that
condition because they have failed to exercise the "ability", which
God has given them.
The
Bible says "every man according to his ability" Acts 11:29, "as God has prospered him" 1
Cor. 16:2. Now let us look at this subject in the light of two things:
·
The spirit of the giver
·
Let us consider the spirit of the
giver. It is written, "God loveth a cheerful giver" 2 Cor. 9:7. No one can thus give who does not consider that which is
given a very small thing compared to the things received. Notice: "Every
man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or
of necessity" 2 Cor. 9:7. Here
the adverb "so" modifies, not the amount one gives, but the spirit in
which he gives it, "not grudgingly". Some one will say, Well, I don't
tithe, but what I do give, I give cheerfully. But the "cheerful giver"
whom God honors, is not the person who gives what he gives cheerfully, but who
gives what God teaches him to give cheerfully. There must "be first a
willing mind" 2 Cor. 8:12, and
then "a performance according to that a man hath" 2
Cor. 8:11,12, and this method is to the end "that there may be
equality" 2 Cor. 8:14. There is
equality only when "every man" assumes his responsibility according to
"that a man hath". What one has, he has received if he thinks as a
Christian ought to think; thus as he has received, to that extent God has
prospered him, and to that extent he is to "perform". "Every one
of you…as God hath prospered him" 1
Cor. 16:2, "not grudgingly" 2
Cor. 9:7, but gratefully and cheerfully. One who can do this has defeated
covetousness which is idolatry, from which Christians are to keep themselves, 1 Jon. 5:21.
·
the principle of equality in giving
·
Now we consider the amount to be given
as a Christian duty. One who is willing to go beyond thus shall certainly be
blessed commensurate with the good done through such liberality. One is not
considered a liberal giver merely because he tithes. The liberality depends on
one's giving as measured by one's possessions. Read Mk. 12:41‑44. Here, certainly, "all that she had"
was a greater example of liberality than that evidenced by "many that were
rich", for theirs was out "of their abundance". The amount they
gave was far greater, but their "much" was less than her 1/4 cent in
the light of the things possessed. The basic duty is clearly set forth.
"Melchizedek, the King of Salem, the priest of the most high God" was
a type of Christ, "to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all" Heb.
7:1,2. Notice also, "Levi also who receiveth tithes, paid tithes in
Abraham. For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchizedek met
him" Heb. 7:9,10. Whatever Levi did under law, he typically did in
Abraham before the law; hence the giving under law was according to the
principle of giving before the law. Speaking of the Levites receiving tithes
during the law, we read, "here men that die receive tithes; but there he
(Melchizedek as typifying Christ) receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that
he liveth" Heb. 7:8. The
"he" here is Christ, for it is he only that is "a priest
forever" Ps. 110:4,
Heb. 6:20, Heb. 7:17, 21. Thus Christ in the person of Melchizedek,
received tithes. Now notice:
·
Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek, a
type of the priest that continueth, that is, Christ. Heb. 7:4. "Levi also…paid tithes in Abraham" Heb.
7:9
·
Levi paid tithes actually, however, to
Aaron the High Priest, "The Levites…offer…unto the Lord of all your
tithes…to Aaron the priest. Num.
18:26,28. The Levites represented the children of God, as "priests in
this dispensation offering to Christ who fulfills the Aaronic office in the most
Holy Place, thus the tithe we give is in support of the spiritual and moral
duties of Christians.
·
The principle, which Abraham practiced,
and Israel perpetuated under law, we continue under grace, which enables each
one to give in such a way as to equally share: the responsibility according as
we are prospered.
Every other
item of worship is described in "the faith once delivered unto the
saints", it is unreasonable to suppose that God has left it to the
individual's reasoning in the matter of giving, since lie hasn't left anything
else to the reasoning of the human mind. The tithe has, in the two dispensations
preceding this, been the standard of support accorded the truth. We believe, for
the reasons given it to be the will of God for this one. Abraham, "the
father of all them that believe " Rom.
4:11, paid tithes to the type of the
priest "who ever liveth" Heb.
7:25. The Levites who typified the children of God as worshippers in this
age, paid tithes to Aaron, the type of the priest in connection with the work
Christ is now doing for us, and thus "unto the Lord” Num. 18:26,28. And we are to pay tithes in carrying on the work of
the Lord, and thus it being his work, we really pay tithes "unto the
Lord".
Prepared by
H. Frank Fort, Minister
Berean Baptist Church
Houston, Texas.
Dec. 12, 1956.
"It Does Make a Difference What You Believe"