I was reading through Romans 4 today, and a few thoughts popped into my head about a couple of verses that I’d like to share.
Romans 4 teaches us that Abraham was justified by God because of his faith in God.
What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
Romans 4:3 (NIV)
Paul also declares, “to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation” (Romans 4:4 NIV). As we continue through Romans 4, the issue of circumcision comes up.
Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness. Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before!
Romans 4:9-10 (NIV)
When I read these verses, I thought about tithing and the law. Some people say we shouldn’t tithe because it’s part of the law fulfilled by Christ. However, just as Abraham was justified by his faith before the coming of the law and circumcision, he also tithed before the law.
And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
Genesis 14:20 (NIV)
This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.
Hebrews 7:6 (NIV)
Therefore, when a Christian tithes, they aren’t trying to fulfill the law. That’s already been done.
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”
Matthew 5:17 (NIV)
In Romans 4:4, Paul brings up the issue of wages for working versus faith. Wages are given as an obligation, Paul says. While there is no obligation for a gift. If we were to tithe because it’s part of the law, we’d receive whatever our work was worth; Not just for the tithe, but for everything we do in trying to fulfill the entire law. However, since we cannot fulfill the law, our works would be wasted. However, if we tithe out of thanksgiving, that’s completely different. If we do it out of faith, then that’s good too!
Well, that’s all I have today. Thank you for stopping by! I pray this day finds you well.
Four-Calendar Café 
Thank you for sharing this message with us. We give because we love God. We have faith that He will bless our finances that we may have to help those in need. God is good. God bless you. Keep sharing God’s Word. Stay safe.
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God bless you, Shaunelius and thanks for stopping by!
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Greetings,
It’s has been a while. I do hope all is well….
First, I need to share what I’ve learned about this “tithing” issue. I at first for a long while believed and gave according to the 10% tithing scheme. Actually we were to give 10% of our NET income worth to the “churches” I had attended through the years.
However over time I started questioning this practice, because I was seeing an injustice concerning this “demanded” tithing program. Why? Because I knew person’s who were struggling with their “other” living expenses, and saw how the “Pastor’s and other “employees” were living. I saw pastor’s living in expensive homes with everything paid for, I saw the high expenses of large outlandish church buildings and the expenses with it. The “school” busses, the Christian schools, and expensive musical instruments, high tech sound systems, etc…..
It was bothering me a great deal, because this “false teaching” was adding burdens unto the poor. I took it to the Lord and asked Him about this issue, this all occurred back in the 90’s. As I read the scripture’s, the Holy Spirit opened His word to me, and I began to see how this 10% was of the OLD Testament, and the usual scriptures given to support this “tithing scam” is the same as what you have presented.
Now this happens due to us being “ignorant” of the Lord’s Ways, due to a “traditional teaching belief” taught by men who follow old tradition’s. What you do not realize is while you used Heb 7: 6 to validate your belief, which in the KJV states:
Heb 7:6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.
The NIV wrongly translates this with a “tenth” included in the verse, which is a falsehood. That is why I stay away from the NIV version. To continue, what you need to understand is that Abraham did give Melchisedec a tenth as quoted here is scripture:
Heb 7:2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
Abraham did this AFTER the war: Heb 7:1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
Now in Heb 7: 4 it states: Heb 7:4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.
So we see Abraham gave a ONE time 10% tithing gift to Melchisedic of the SPOILS from the slaughter! It was NOT from his personal property and riches.
I pray the Lord will give you understanding regarding this slight error in not using all scriptures in context to give a true and correct picture what is expected from believer’s.
Also let us not forget that Paul also inform churches to give to the poor believer’s in Jerusalem as the Lord had blessed them. It was not always with money, but also food, clothing etc.,
So as we grow in the Knowledge of the Lord and His Ways, His truth sets free His children from those, who are laying heavy financial burden’s upon them, which Lawfully they are not to carry.
The Lord bless you….
In His Love…
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Thanks for stopping by. It has been a while.
When I first became a Christian, I had a problem with tithing. I said that it was because it was from the law. However, the real issue was that I considered “my” money, mine. However, all the money in the world belongs to God. Anything that I have is something He’s given to me.
The purpose of this post on tithing was to point out that the idea of giving 10% was done before the law and that it was done out of faith. It wasn’t done by the law. Whether or not Abraham did it one time, as we read in the text. I believe that he gave a tenth out of faith.
Paul informs us that everything not done in faith is a sin (cf. Romans 14:23). Now, if a person wants to give 5%, 10%, 20%, etc. of their paycheck or whatever out of faith then that’s great! If they are discerning and acting in faith then there’s nothing wrong with that. God loves a cheerful giver.
On the other hand, if a person gives because they are following the law, or for any other reason than faith, it’s a sin.
I agree 100% with you that there are people who falsely teach that Christians must tithe. I don’t teach this. My experience has been that giving has blessed me. The blessing comes from a changed heart because that’s what needed to change.
God bless you, my brother.
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I understand, however I did not get that from your posting, God will guide you in what to give, and the Lord will also inform you to stop giving if a church organization are not building according to His foundation. We can not support anyone who is not building according to the Lord’s Way of conducting so-called Church. As your particular church that you attend.
I’ve looked into your “church organization” and it is an Apostatized organization.
Pentecostal is a fake representation of the Gospel, I know I once attended one, and the Lord undid everything I did learn from them.
Your church organization supports the “Lilly” foundation and that foundation is of the Anti-Christ spirit, One World Order, and it pushes their medical agenda.
Plus all the “garbs” and the traditions carried out by them is not of the Holy Spirit.
I am praying for you…….
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