What is the difference between tithes and offerings?

What is the difference between tithes and offerings? We're going to answer that question.

When trying to distinguish between tithes and offerings, it is important to first understand the concept of tithing.

Christians today often think that what they give to their local church is a tithe, when in reality it is an offering.

Christian tithing is a misnomer because Christians are under no obligation to fulfill the command to tithe as given to the

Israelites as part of the Mosaic Law. The tithe was a requirement of the law in which all

Israelites were to give 10 % of everything they earned and grew to the tabernacle. The New Testament nowhere commands or even recommends that Christians submit to a legalistic tithe system.

Paul states that believers should set aside a portion of their income as an offering, but this is not a tithe.

God expected the Israelites to honor him by giving the first fruits of what he gave to them. 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 unto the Lord. Giving the 10 % tithe was commanded of the Israelites and therefore an obligation.

When Christ died on the cross, he fulfilled the requirements of the law and made the mandatory 10 % tithe obsolete.

To continue to insist that it is still in effect today is to nullify, at least in part, the sacrifice of Christ and return to the idea of justification by works and law keeping.

The first fruits offering found its fulfillment in Jesus. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

An offering is that which is freely given by Christians to the work of the Lord, the local church, and or ministries and missions.

But offerings are far more than simply the check that we write on Sunday. We are to offer much more to God than our monetary resources.

Romans 12 .1 exhorts us to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God as part of our worship.

Romans 6 .13 gives the reason for offering ourselves because we are those who have been brought from death to life and as such we are to offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.

God is not nearly as interested in our monetary offerings as he is in our submission and obedience.

The truth is that he doesn't need our resources to accomplish his plans and purposes.

After all, he owns the cattle on a thousand hills and needs nothing from us. What he desires, however, and what he values is the heart that overflows with gratitude and thanksgiving to the

God who saved us and who gives us all things, knowing our needs before we even ask.

Such a heart gives generously, willingly, and cheerfully in response to the love and grace that abound in Christ.

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