When I was a child, our church launched a building campaign so we could replace our decaying building downtown with a new and much larger building on the west side. Everyone knew the slogan “two by two” meaning we would give two times as much for two years. That is, we would “tithe twenty percent” for two years. But how do you “tithe” 20 percent, when the word “tithe” literally means “tenth”? (We learned to call it a “double-tithe.”)
People sometimes ask whether God requires a tithe from believers today. He clearly released us from the law. No one preaches we should keep kosher (and give up shrimp and catfish!). But God always required His people to give something back. Farmers would give the first fruits of the harvest. Ranchers would give the best of their sheep, goats, and bulls. And God even laid claim to the first born males among the human children:
“Every firstborn belongs to me. At the time I struck down the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I consecrated every firstborn in Israel to Myself, both man and beast.” Numbers 3:13.
Rather than take the firstborn male from every family, God takes the tribe of Levi in their place. Then the men are counted. “The total number of all Levite males is 22,000” 3:39. But the total number of firstborn males in the other 11 tribes was 22,273. So there were not enough male Levites to “redeem” the nation’s firstborn males.
“As the redemption price for the 273 firstborn Israelites who outnumber the Levites, collect five shekels for each person…” 3:46-47.
God has always asked us to give back. Who gave Israel fruit, grain, livestock, and children? God. Couldn’t He have simply given them 10% less? Yes. But God wants His children to actually do the giving.
Giving to God from what He has given us is the way we worship Him and show our gratitude. Whether you give 10% or more or less—give generously out of obedience.
“The Lord loves a cheerful giver” 2 Corinthians 9:7.
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