Why Tithing is the First Step into Ministry
by Pastor Dag Heward-MIlls
Tithing, unlike other freewill offerings, demands ten percent of your life. It is therefore the first real contribution that you make towards the work of God. Most other offerings you make are an insignificant fraction of your income. The tithe takes away ten percent of everything you have done and earned for yourself. This is why tithing is the first serious step towards the things of God.
Tithing therefore puts you in real contact with the work of the ministry. Ten percent of your life is committed to help the things of God. Indeed, there is no greater blessing than the blessing of being called to work for the Lord. No amount of money could ever compare with the privilege of working in the ministry.
Tithing takes you much further than mere financial harvests. It takes you into the realm of the high calling to ministry. This is the job that very few human beings will ever have the opportunity to do.
1. Tithing is your first step to the obedience of minor instructions that will prepare you for weightier matters of ministry. Jesus described judgment, mercy and faith as “weightier matters.” This implied that tithing was not as important as mercy, judgement and faith. Tithing is a minor instruction as compared to mercy, judgement and faith.
If you are not faithful with the minor issues, how can you be trusted with “weightier matters”? When you pay your tithes you pass the test of demonstrating faithfulness with minor matters. You also demonstrate that you are ready to take up the weightier matters of ministry.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cumming, AND HAVE OMITTED THE WEIGHTIER MATTERS OF THE LAW, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Matthew 23:23
2. Paying your tithes is your first step towards understanding God’s pattern for ministry. God’s pattern for ministry is that the Levites should be supported through the tithes of the people whilst they busy themselves with God’s work. This is the pattern that was set by Moses and it is the pattern which is used by the New Testament church.
Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year. And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; THAT THOU MAYEST LEARN to fear the Lord they God always. Deuteronomy 14:22-23
3. Paying your tithes is your first step towards respecting the ministry. Paying tithes is your first chance to show respect for the things of God. It is your first chance to show respect for ministers and their calling. Many Christians do not respect the ministry; that is why they do not want their children to be priests or pastors. I have watched how Christian families send their favorite children to universities to become doctors and lawyers but send their mentally- retarded children to the Bible school. These are all signs of disrespect. In their sub-conscious mind they think that some people are too intelligent to become priests.
Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year. And thou shalt eat before the Lord thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the first-lings of thy herds and of thy flocks; THAT THOU MAYEST LEARN TO FEAR THE LORD THY GOD ALWAYS. Deuteronomy 14:22-23
4. Paying your tithes is your first step towards understanding the inner workings of ministry. How do churches survive? How are pastors paid? How do pastors’ families survive? The tithe is the answer to all these questions. Every time you pay your tithes, you demonstrate an understanding of these intimate aspects of ministry.
For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? 1 Corinthians 9:9
5. Paying your tithes is your first step towards a real contribution to ministry. Perhaps one day you will work full-time for the Lord. But until then, your tithe is your first real contribution to the ministry. Your tithe represents ten percent of your time, effort, work and money. It is a very substantial contribution to God’s work.
And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field. Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place. Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries. Nehemiah 13:10-12
6. Paying your tithes is your first step towards appreciating the work of a priest.
AND THIS SHALL BE THE PRIEST’S DUE FROM THE PEOPLE, from them that offer a sacrifice, whether it be ox or sheep; and they shall give unto the priest the shoulder, and the two cheeks, and the maw. THE FIRSTFRUIT also of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the first of the fleece of thy sheep, shalt thou give him. For the LORD thy God hath chosen him out of all thy tribes, to stand to minister in the name of the Lord, him and his sons for ever. Deuteronomy 18:3-5
7. Paying your tithes is the first step towards a covenant. God had a covenant with Aaron in which Aaron became a priest forever. The covenant stated that Aaron’s descendants would be priests who would have no inheritance but the Lord.
Every time you pay tithes, you demonstrate your understanding of God’s covenant with the priesthood. This prepares you for your own covenant of ministry with God.
And thou shalt anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister unto me in the priest’s office.
And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, This shall be an holy anointing oil unto me throughout your generations. Exodus 30:30-31
All the offerings of the holy gifts, which the sons of Israel offer to the Lord, I have given to you and your sons and your daughters with you, as a perpetual allotment. It is an everlasting covenant of salt before the Lord to you and your descendants with you.“
Then the Lord said to Aaron, “You shall have no inheritance in their land nor own any portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance among the sons of Israel. Numbers 18:19-20 (NASB)
by Dag Heward-Mills
by the best selling African Author Dag Heward-Mills
Tithing, unlike other freewill offerings, demands ten percent of your life. It is therefore the first real contribution that you make towards the work of God. Most other offerings you make are an insignificant fraction of your income. The tithe takes away ten percent of everything you have done and earned for yourself. This is why tithing is the first serious step towards the things of God.
Tithing therefore puts you in real contact with the work of the ministry. Ten percent of your life is committed to help the things of God. Indeed, there is no greater blessing than the blessing of being called to work for the Lord. No amount of money could ever compare with the privilege of working in the ministry.
Tithing takes you much further than mere financial harvests. It takes you into the realm of the high calling to ministry. This is the job that very few human beings will ever have the opportunity to do.
1. Tithing is your first step to the obedience of minor instructions that will prepare you for weightier matters of ministry. Jesus described judgment, mercy and faith as “weightier matters.” This implied that tithing was not as important as mercy, judgement and faith. Tithing is a minor instruction as compared to mercy, judgement and faith.
If you are not faithful with the minor issues, how can you be trusted with “weightier matters”? When you pay your tithes you pass the test of demonstrating faithfulness with minor matters. You also demonstrate that you are ready to take up the weightier matters of ministry.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cumming, AND HAVE OMITTED THE WEIGHTIER MATTERS OF THE LAW, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Matthew 23:23
2. Paying your tithes is your first step towards understanding God’s pattern for ministry. God’s pattern for ministry is that the Levites should be supported through the tithes of the people whilst they busy themselves with God’s work. This is the pattern that was set by Moses and it is the pattern which is used by the New Testament church.
Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year. And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; THAT THOU MAYEST LEARN to fear the Lord they God always. Deuteronomy 14:22-23
3. Paying your tithes is your first step towards respecting the ministry. Paying tithes is your first chance to show respect for the things of God. It is your first chance to show respect for ministers and their calling. Many Christians do not respect the ministry; that is why they do not want their children to be priests or pastors. I have watched how Christian families send their favorite children to universities to become doctors and lawyers but send their mentally- retarded children to the Bible school. These are all signs of disrespect. In their sub-conscious mind they think that some people are too intelligent to become priests.
Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year. And thou shalt eat before the Lord thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the first-lings of thy herds and of thy flocks; THAT THOU MAYEST LEARN TO FEAR THE LORD THY GOD ALWAYS. Deuteronomy 14:22-23
4. Paying your tithes is your first step towards understanding the inner workings of ministry. How do churches survive? How are pastors paid? How do pastors’ families survive? The tithe is the answer to all these questions. Every time you pay your tithes, you demonstrate an understanding of these intimate aspects of ministry.
For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? 1 Corinthians 9:9
5. Paying your tithes is your first step towards a real contribution to ministry. Perhaps one day you will work full-time for the Lord. But until then, your tithe is your first real contribution to the ministry. Your tithe represents ten percent of your time, effort, work and money. It is a very substantial contribution to God’s work.
And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field. Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place. Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries. Nehemiah 13:10-12
6. Paying your tithes is your first step towards appreciating the work of a priest.
AND THIS SHALL BE THE PRIEST’S DUE FROM THE PEOPLE, from them that offer a sacrifice, whether it be ox or sheep; and they shall give unto the priest the shoulder, and the two cheeks, and the maw. THE FIRSTFRUIT also of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the first of the fleece of thy sheep, shalt thou give him. For the LORD thy God hath chosen him out of all thy tribes, to stand to minister in the name of the Lord, him and his sons for ever. Deuteronomy 18:3-5
7. Paying your tithes is the first step towards a covenant. God had a covenant with Aaron in which Aaron became a priest forever. The covenant stated that Aaron’s descendants would be priests who would have no inheritance but the Lord.
Every time you pay tithes, you demonstrate your understanding of God’s covenant with the priesthood. This prepares you for your own covenant of ministry with God.
And thou shalt anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister unto me in the priest’s office.
And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, This shall be an holy anointing oil unto me throughout your generations. Exodus 30:30-31
All the offerings of the holy gifts, which the sons of Israel offer to the Lord, I have given to you and your sons and your daughters with you, as a perpetual allotment. It is an everlasting covenant of salt before the Lord to you and your descendants with you.“
Then the Lord said to Aaron, “You shall have no inheritance in their land nor own any portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance among the sons of Israel. Numbers 18:19-20 (NASB)
by Dag Heward-Mills
by the best selling African Author Dag Heward-Mills
