What is the tithe?

It is 10 percent of all income.  What is an offering?  Any amount given beyond the tithe.

This definition is essential.  Without it, givers can be misled into thinking that any amount is a “tithe” and that anything given is an offering.  No.  Tithe is the Lord’s, and when we give back the tithe, we are only returning what is His already.  He then allows us the privilege of moving beyond the tithe by presenting to Him an offering of love out of a heart of gratitude.

The Prophet Malachi sets forth these principles in great clarity:  “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.  Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty,” and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and  pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.” (Malachi 3:10)

The storehouse is your place of worship.  The tithe is described as “whole” tithe.  The prosperity of God’s house is linked to the tithe.   The promise of blessing when givers are obedient is profound.  And this is the only place in Scripture where God says “Test me.”

While Jesus affirmed the tithe principle in Matthew 23:23,  He goes on to establish the necessity of other acts of obedience that accompany responsible Christian living.  In fact, the New Testament goes beyond the Old Testament in its reminder that everything belongs to the Lord.  Or, put differently, the tithe is the starting point, and greater generosity is to be expressed through offerings.

You will find that it is impossible to “out give” God.

Richard Dresselhaus, Interim Lead Pastor