Does Tithing Only Apply To Agricultural Produce?

Tithing is a physical discipline intended to teach spiritual  principles: one of these spiritual principles is understanding that our physical possessions are not our own. Every piece of land, every animal, every plant belongs to God who created them, Psalm 50:10-12. He has given human beings control over all the earth's resources [have dominion, rule over etc]... but God retains ownership [refer to handout]

Tithing In the Old Covenant

When God acted to establish Israel as a nation on the world scene He gave them the land of Canaan. The territory belonged to God. He took it from its previous tenants and granted full use of its resources and bounty to Israel Deuteronomy 4:1. This gift of land was formalized in a covenant agreement between Himself and Israel [commonly called the old covenant or Mt. Sinai covenant]

Within Go’s covenant with Israel He gave  instructions regarding tithes and first fruits Leviticus 27:30-32 or Deuteronomy 14:22. The physical act of tithing was meant to acknowledge basic spiritual and eternal truths.

The people were to always offer a small percentage from the increase of their crops and herds back to God. This act would serve as a reminder that God was the true owner of these lands, plants, and animals. Even though Israel was given complete control over the resources of Canaan, God retained ownership Leviticus 25:23  tithes could be likened to rent paid by tenants. These offerings to God [the true owner] were to come first, after which, Israel could use the remaining portion as they chose Deuteronomy 26:1-15, Leviticus 19:23-25.

Some read these instructions and say they only itemize agricultural produce. The self serving conclusion drawn is that agricultural products are the only items subject to the tithe.

Does this mean people who made their living at a trade such as carpenter, or an accountant, didn't tithe?

The Economy of Israel

God's part in the covenant with Israel was a grant of land. Which He subsequently fulfilled. God also would provide blessings of good weather for crops and protection from invaders who wanted to take the land away from them.  The covenant picture of Israel was built on a foundation of all the good things this land would produce. The land would allow them to raise crops and herds. But is that meant to be the limit of items to offer a tithe from?

Re-read Leviticus 27:30, it starts off saying “all the tithe of the land”, then lists grain, fruit and herds as examples.

 Suppose a man of Israel was given a piece of land which had deposits of tin, copper, or gold which he then mines, shouldn't he first acknowledge God's prior claims to ownership with a tithe? Haggai 2:8.

What about processed goods that are not direct products of the field or herd but rather products created by human ingenuity derived from those crops or animals? For example: wine, oil, leather goods, or dairy. Note: tithing on oil and wine are specifically addressed in Deuteronomy 14:23.

The covenant language does not make specific reference to eggs, milk, or cheese, but shouldn't these be tithed upon as wealth gained from the land in the same way as wine and oil? What about textiles derived from sheep's wool or cotton plants? The language of the covenant was intended to provide a principle to be applied in all areas of life rather than a complete, exhaustive, 4,000 page listing of items subject to tithe. The principle was that Israel should offer up a tithe of all the wealth they were able to generate as a result of controlling the land.

God also told Israel that He was the one who gave them the power to "get wealth" Deuteronomy 8:18. The carpenter receives the power he has to swing a hammer from God. The accountant has the wit and understanding to tally numbers from God. Shouldn't they too acknowledge that God has given him the power to gain wealth?

Biblical Example of Tithing Outside The Sinai Covenant

Tithing was a practice long before the introduction of God's covenant with Israel. We have a biblical record of tithing at least  430 years before God’s covenant with Israel Genesis 14:16-20. Abraham, the father of the faithful, offered a tithe to God by giving it to the high priest Melchizedek.

The items of which Abraham offered a tithe were not agricultural, they consisted of a wide variety of stuff he was able to recapture from the kings of Shinar return to the people of Sodom, “all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah verse 11… I.e. moveable wealth, riches, stuff.

When Abraham came before Melchizedek to offer this tithe, Melchizedek spoke a blessing. This blessing pointed to the key spiritual principles of tithing later to be found in God's covenant with Israel:

1. First, God is acknowledged as the owner of all things in heaven and on earth
2. Second, God is acknowledged as the one who had given the person offering the tithe the power to get the goods he had “who delivered your enemies into your hand”

Abraham then gave Melchizedek, the high priest of God, a tenth of everything he had gained in the rescue operation. The physical act of giving the tithe provided a witness to the underlying spiritual principle at hand which Abraham knew and wished to acknowledge.

Genesis 28:20-22 offers another biblical reference to tithing long before the covenant with Israel. Jacob, the grandson of Abraham, vows to faithfully tithe to God!

Jacob had been sent to a distant land by his father Isaac to find a suitable wife, but probably also to keep away from his brother Esau who wanted to kill him. One night during his journey Jacob encountered the reality of God during his sleep. Jacob was profoundly moved by the experience and vowed to become a dedicated man of God.

The physical act Jacob intended to do as a sign of this spiritual awakening and new found commitment to God was to tithe! Jacob vowed to return to God a full tenth of ALL that God gave him. At this stage of his sojourn Jacob could only assume he would be a wage earner until he saved enough money to buy his own land and animals. Yet, Jacob vowed to give a full tenth of ALL he received from God. This would include whatever wages he earned until he could afford fields and animals of his own.

Jacob's vow also addressed the spiritual realities the physical act of tithing represented.

1. Jacob acknowledged that God would provide for him, they were God's to give since God owned all things in heaven and on earth
2. Jacob's act of tithing would serve as a confirmation of his personal dedication to God; He would acknowledge YHWH as the true Creator and owner of all things
3. Jacob's tithe would go to support God's house [symbolized by the rock]

Not only the act, but an understanding of the spiritual realities behind the physical discipline of tithing was already in place long before the covenant at Sinai between God and Israel.

Abraham, the father of the faithful, understood tithing to include everything he gained by the skill of his hands. His faithfulness in tithing was not limited to crops and animals. Jacob, the father of all Israel, understood his tithing commitment to encompass ALL that God gave him and was not limited to crops and animals.

Why Did Abraham Tithe?

Abraham believed God was WHO & WHAT He said He was.  Abraham believed YHWH was the Creator and owner of all things in heaven and on earth. He said "I have sworn to the LORD God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth..." [Genesis 14:22]. Abraham understood and believed this important spiritual reality.

Abraham also chose to express this faith by what he did. Abraham's faith was active along with his works, and [his] faith was completed by his works James 2:22-24.

Tithing was one of the ways Abraham expressed his faith. He chose to honor God with all his possessions.

How Does Any of This This Matter Under The New Covenant?

Scripture speaks of the covenant God made with Abraham as one based on the promise of God and the faith of Abraham. Galatians speaks of the new covenant as being built upon the principles of that original covenant God made with Abraham Galatians 3:7-9.

430 later God made another covenant with the children of Israel at Mount Sinai. This covenant was in addition to, not in place of, the previous covenant with Abraham. The Mt. Sinai covenant was added as a temporary way to deal with sin so man might draw closer to God Galatians 3:15-19b:

1. a system of sacrifice to atone for sin
2. a priesthood to act as intermediaries between a Holy God and unclean people
3. a clean and holy temple wherein God could be present with these unclean people and accept their sacrifices

That system lasted about 1,500 years starting around  1440 BC. and was terminated in 33 AD. After which, a better way to deal with sin was provided... namely the perfect sacrifice of Jesus.

When the Mt. Sinai covenant was terminated the older covenant God had previously made with Abraham over 4 centuries earlier was still valid and the NC is built on that foundation. The foundation of God's promise and the faith of Abraham. A faith which expressed itself through righteousness acts.

Galatians 3:14 it is by this same faith that we receive God’s promise. Under the New Covenant we do not have a promise of land, but a promise of His Holy Spirit, a down payment of life everlasting.

Walk as Abraham Walked

Genesis 26:5 The father of the faithful expressed his faith through what He did.

Of all that we have recorded of Abraham's doings... noteworthy among them is honoring God, the owner and possessor of all things, with a tithe.

Galatians 3:29

John 8:39

Conclusion:

Tithing is among the works of righteousness God has set before you to do. So, do it in faith as Abraham did.

Tithing did not begin nor end with the covenant at Mt. Sinai.

Tithing is not a quirky old covenant law only related to agricultural produce.

Tithing is a way for the faithful and righteous to show honor toward God with all their possessions.