We are featuring an excerpt from an important new book called What the Bible Says about Tithing & Giving: It’s Different Than You Think by haverim Clif Payne, one I highly recommend you head over to Amazon and buy. He writes clearly and presents fresh insights based on a facility with the sacred scriptures and their Hebraic foundations. One of my favorite chapters (6) is where Clif convincingly shows how Jesus answers the age-old question: “If I tithe, do I tithe before taxes or after taxes?” His answer is both surprising and satisfying.

His new book has a wealth of endorsements from trusted names like Dr. Marv Wilson and David Bivin, who wrote, “If you could have just one book in your library on tithing, this would be the book.” I agree.

Introduction

Nothing is dearer and more personal to most people than their money. It is said that “money is the root of all evil.” This is actually a misquote from 1 Timothy 6:10, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”(1) It is not money, but the love of money that is the root of all evil.

Money is powerful, and power can be used for good or evil.

So it’s no wonder the Bible has a lot to say about money. However, just as the Bible is often misquoted and misunderstood, so too, many people do not have a clear understanding of what the Bible says about money and possessions. This is understandable because what Scripture says concerning money and possessions is scattered throughout the Bible, and there isn’t a single section that explains it all. Also, Scripture is written in the context of the Biblical world, which is more than two thousand years removed from our world, and can be difficult for the modern reader to piece together.

This book was prompted by a friend who had questions about Biblical tithing, offerings and charity to the poor. As I shared what I had come to understand in over forty years of study, he asked me if I had ever written these insights down. When I responded no, he said, “You need to write this down. People need to know this.”

This book was further prompted by a recent event in the church in America. A prominent minister declared that his teachings on tithing were wrong and stated there existed no tithing in the New Testament. This has caused much confusion among some in the church. It is my hope that this book will contribute to greater clarity and understanding of what Scripture teaches us about our money, our possessions, and our stewardship of what God has given us. May it serve to draw us closer to God and help us to become more active in serving Him and His kingdom.

A note about the unusual style of this book. Most books, when referencing Biblical passages, cite a scripture and expect the reader to look up the passage later. Experience has taught me that far too many people never take the time to read the referenced text for themselves. So in this book I have included the referenced passages so the reader can examine for themselves what the texts are saying.(2) I want this book to be text focused. This is a book of what the text says, as well as what understanding can be drawn from historical sources that elucidate the text of scripture.

This book is not intended to be an exhaustive scholarly study of everything that can be said on the subject, but I have endeavored to be thorough so that the reader may have a good foundation of what the Bible teaches us about money, offerings, and charity. It is my hope that this book may bring greater clarity and understanding to what the Bible teaches us about tithing, giving, and the way we steward all that God has given us and how we apply this in our daily lives.

(1) Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
(2) There may be a few exceptions where the passage is very long.

Chapter 1: The First and Last Principle

The first principle of giving in scripture is found in the first book of the Bible, Genesis 4:3–7. This principle is important and foundational because it underlies every aspect of our giving unto God.

And in the process of time, it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD. Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.

So the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”

Note that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground.

But Abel brought the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. In other words, Cain brought some of what he possessed while Abel brought his best and offered to God the first and finest of what he possessed. God was displeased with Cain, and Cain became angry and jealous. This led to the murder of his brother Abel. When God is not first and foremost in our lives it opens doors to desires that can misdirect and lead us in paths contrary to the will of God.

When we give offerings unto God, we should remember that we are only returning to Him a portion of what belongs to Him. He is the creator and source of all things, spiritual and material, and everything we possess derives from Him. We are merely stewards of those bestowed possessions. As Scripture additionally says:

The earth is the LORD’S, and all its fullness,
The world and those who dwell therein. – Ps. 24:1

If I were hungry, I would not tell you;
For the world is Mine, and all its fullness. – Ps. 50:12

But who am I, and who are my people,
That we should be able to offer so willingly as this?

For all things come from You,
And of Your own we have given You. – 1 Chr. 29:14

“The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,” says the LORD of hosts. – Hag. 2:8

These verses illustrate that God is the creator and source of everything that exists. When we give to Him, we are only returning to Him what is already His. In giving to God, we acknowledge Him as the source of everything that exists and that all we have comes from Him. Our gifts and offerings should be the best we can give in respect and honor of our great God. Therefore, the first Biblical principle of giving is to offer your finest, first and foremost, in respect to our great God.

The same principle is illustrated in the last book of the Hebrew Bible, the book of Malachi 1:6–14.

“A son honors his father, and a servant his master.
If then I am the Father,
Where is My honor?
And if I am a Master,
Where is My reverence?”
Says the LORD of hosts
To you priests who despise My name.
Yet you say, ‘In what way have we despised Your name?’

“You offer defiled food on My altar,”
But say,
‘In what way have we defiled You?’
By saying,
‘The table of the LORD is contemptible.’
And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice,
Is it not evil?
And when you offer the lame and sick,
Is it not evil?
Offer it then to your governor!
Would he be pleased with you?
Would he accept you favorably?”
Says the LORD of hosts.

“But now entreat God’s favor,
That He may be gracious to us.
While this is being done by your hands,
Will He accept you favorably?”
Says the LORD of hosts.
“Who is there even among you who would shut the doors,
So that you would not kindle fire on My altar in vain?
I have no pleasure in you,”
Says the LORD of hosts,
“Nor will I accept an offering from your hands.
For from the rising of the sun, even to its going down,
My name shall be great among the Gentiles;
In every place incense shall be offered to My name,
And a pure offering;
For My name shall be great among the nations,”
Says the LORD of hosts.

“But you profane it,
In that you say,
‘The table of the LORD is defiled;
And its fruit, its food, is contemptible.’
You also say,
‘Oh, what a weariness!’
And you sneer at it,”
Says the LORD of hosts.

“And you bring the stolen, the lame, and the sick;
Thus, you bring an offering!
Should I accept this from your hand?”
Says the LORD. “But cursed be the deceiver
Who has in his flock a male,
And takes a vow,
But sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished—
For I am a great King,”
Says the LORD of hosts,
“And My name is to be feared among the nations.”

God does not want our leftovers, or what is blemished or stolen.

He desires the first and finest that we have to offer. One wouldn’t honor a dignitary or a beloved family member with blemished or tarnished gifts. That would be disrespectful. Scripture teaches, from first to last, that when we bring God what we have left over after we have consumed what we want or give Him that which is insignificant to us, we show Him disrespect. And while He is our loving Father, He is also the King of the Universe. He deserves our best.

This principle is also exemplified in the firstfruits offering, where a portion of the first and best of the new crop is given in thanks to God: The best of all firstfruits of any kind, and every sacrifice of any kind from all your sacrifices, shall be the priest’s; also, you shall give to the priest the first of your ground meal, to cause a blessing to rest on your house. – Ezekiel 44:30

So too, all offerings given to God must be without blemish—in other words, the best we have. As it is written in Proverbs 3:9–10:

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.

In 2 Samuel 24:24, King David said to Araunah that he would not accept his property as a gift, nor will I offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God with that which costs me nothing. The point here is that what was offered to God must have value to the one giving the offering. That which has little value to us has little value to God.

The author of Hebrews 11:5 writes, By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks. It was not the quantity but the quality of the offering that pleased God. To give God our best and to give it first and foremost is the primary principle and the first principle of giving illustrated in the book of Genesis. In like manner, this same principle is used in the book of Malachi. Therefore, from beginning to end, from first to last, the paramount principle is to give God your best and give to Him first and foremost.

(3) The Scriptures also known as the Old Testament. The Old Testament is written in Hebrew with a few verses in Aramaic, in contrast to the New Testament written in Greek.
(4) See Lev. 22:20 Whatever has a defect, you shall not offer, for it shall not be acceptable on your behalf.
(5) Lev. 22:22: Those that are blind or broken or maimed, or have an ulcer or eczema or scabs, you shall not offer to the Lord […]. This is Torah, and the priests should have known this, and yet they chose to offer what the Lord had prohibited.

* Read the table of contents and more about this book here on amazon.