Are you stealing from God? Do I steal from God? What is tithing all about? Should we do it? And why?

First, what is a tithe?

A tithe is a tenth of your increase. What is your increase? For most of us in first world countries, our increase is our wages from employment. It could also be interest income from investments, business profits, or any number of other sources of income. Any income you receive should be counted when determining your tithe. Whether you calculate your tithe from your net income or gross is between you and God. Give what God has placed on your heart to give.

• “And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s. It is holy to the Lord… And concerning the tithe of the herd or the flock, of whatever passes under the rod, the tenth one shall be holy to the Lord.” Leviticus 27:30, 32
• “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house. And try Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” says the Lord of hosts; “And all the nations will call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land,” says the Lord of hosts. Malachi 3:8-13
• “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.” Matthew 23:23
• Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase; so your barns will be filled with plenty; and your vats will overflow with new wine. Proverbs 3:9-10

Why do we return a tenth of our increase to God?

God owns everything, because He created everything.

• In the beginning, God created… (Genesis 1:1)
• “For every beast of the field is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.” Psalm 50:10
• The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,” says the Lord of hosts.” Haggai 2:8
• The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein. Psalm 24:1

Because all that we have comes from God.

• “God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is the Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things.” Acts 17:24-25
• “Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power and the glory, the victory and the majesty; for all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours: Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and You are exalted as head over all. Both riches and honor come from You, and You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; in Your hand is to make great and to give strength to all.” 1 Chronicles 29:11-12
• “And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.” Deuteronomy 8:18

And because God promises immeasurable blessings in return.

• “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house. And try Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not
  destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit
  for you in the field,” says the Lord of hosts; “And all the nations will
  call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land,” says the Lord of
  hosts. Malachi 3:10-13
• “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Matthew 6:33
• I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread. Psalm 37:25

Where should we return our tithes, and to whom should they go?

• “Behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work of the tabernacle of meeting.” Numbers 18:21
• “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house. And try Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.” Malachi 3:10
• “Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the tithings of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar? Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.” 1 Corinthians 9:13-14

How should we give?

We should give willingly and with a cheerful heart. God does not force us to do anything, otherwise we would not have free will. But He asks us to return a portion of what is His, not because He needs it but because we need that reminder of Who really owns what we have.

• “But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:6-7