“But woe to you Pharisees! For you pay tithe of mint and rue and every kind of garden herb, and yet disregard justice and the love of God; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.”
These are the words of Jesus. He didn’t discount the act of tithing, as some suppose, but He put it into right perspective. A tithe is giving 10% of your income to the work of God. Jesus said these Pharisees should have paid the tithe, but with works of love.
The Message Bible says: “I’ve had it with you! You’re hopeless, you Pharisees! Frauds! You keep meticulous account books, tithing on every nickel and dime you get, but manage to find loopholes for getting around basic matters of justice and God’s love. Careful bookkeeping is commendable, but the basics are required.”
Another way to look at tithing is to see that it is limiting the use of your money. God wants you to make decisions over only 90% of your money and not 100%. Even in the Garden of Eden, God limited the fruit that Adam and Eve could decide to eat. Likewise, God wants you to limit how you respond to others to only actions of love.
I am to give tithes of what I earn but I am also to do deeds of love and kindness.
- Reading Plan A: Thessalonians 3
- Reading Plan B: 2 Corinthians 10
- Reading Plan C: Isaiah 56-58; 1 Thessalonians 3
by Tim Davidson
Excerpt permission granted by
Word of Faith Church & Outreach Center
Called to the Body of Christ as a pastor and teacher, Tim Davidson pioneered Word of Faith Church in Bismarck in 1980. He served as its Lead Pastor for 35 years and now serves as Founding Pastor. Pastor Tim has pioneered 6 churches in North Dakota and now serves as Regional Director for Rhema Ministerial Association International. Teaching believers foundational truths from God's Word is his passion.
He has authored 3 yearly devotion books that are used both here and overseas to help believers become "rooted and grounded" in their faith.
God is now calling Pastor Tim to share the treasury of wisdom and knowledge God has given to him with other pastors and churches.