The Preacher’s Notebook

The Paper and Electronic Pulpit of the First Baptist Church of Mineral Springs, NC
(Delivered by E-mail and Us Postage Through Subscription as an Extension of the Pulpit Ministry of this Church)
Dr. Terry W . Preslar – PO Box 388 – M ineral Springs, NC 28108
(704)843-3858 – E-Mail: preslar12@windstream.net
Copyright (C) 2007. Terry W. Preslar All rights reserved.

Vol. I August, 2007 Issue 1

What Is the Tithe

The Tithe is a portion of one’s earnings, usually one tenth, that are given
to those who perform the work of the Lord since it belongs to the Lord (Lev.
27:30-33).
The first religious act recorded in the Bible is the offerings of Cain and
Abel in recognition of the duty to offer a portion to God. It appears that Cain
failed to rightly divide his offering. A study of ancient peoples reveals the
fact that many peoples set apart a tithe as their offering to express gratitude,
invoke favors or avoid disaster.
We know that some of the patriarchs offered tithes and inasmuch as
others had divine approval it is most probable they did also. The tithing plan
was incorporated in the Levitical system, it required that one or more tithes be devoted to religious and
charitable purposes. The tendency was for priest to lay greatest stress upon method, while the prophet
stressed motive – both were and are important.
Upon the return from exile the Pentateuchal system was recognized as the standard of religious
obligation and was reinstated. Between the Old and the New Testament times the observance became greatly
complicated and amplified by the teachings of the rabbis. The practice was rigidly and conscientiously
observed by the Pharisees in the times of Christ.
Jesus lived and labored in a pious Jewish home, they observed the Jewish customs. Jesus himself
commended the Law which included the observance of the tithe. He never repealed, abrogated or abridged
its observance. He called for a devotion far beyond that of the tithing Jew. He lived what He taught.
In Pentecostal times the Christian, under the Leadership of the Holy Spirit, brought their possessions and
put them in a common fund to care for an emergency situation. They did not stop at a tithe.
Paul approved of the tithing plan for the regular work of the church but special needs called for
additional offerings. He taught that Christians should make their offerings regularly, proportionately,
worshipfully, cheerfully, voluntarily, and prompted by love. He taught that Christian liberality was a grace
to be cultivated rather than a requirement to be grudgingly met.
The writer of Hebrews (I believe him to be Paul) believed that Christ in glory receives tithes from His
followers as truly as every earthly priest received tithes from their people.
No early Christian writer objected to tithing unless it was because he thought it was too little for a
Christian to contribute to the Lord’s work.
No reason has been discovered in the Bible why any Christian should give less than a tithe, but many
Biblical reasons are given why he should give more. The tithe should be the minimum not the maximum
of Christian giving.
The teaching of the Bible from beginning to the end is that God is the sovereign owner, we are stewards

-1-
of all we possess, we should contribute at least a tenth of our increase to the Lord’s work and use the other
nine-tenths in a way that will meet divine approval. The Christian steward tries to live and love as Jesus did.
Jesus was the perfect steward.
Stewardship is a glorious doctrine and experience says that it is a blessed way of life. There have been
many of the past to lead the way in this path, their names are legion. I am sure you might add others to this
list:
John D. Rockefeller, the world’s largest contributor to religion, education, medical research, and for
humanity in general began to tithe when a small boy and tithed the first dollar he earned.
William E. Gladstone, probably the world’s greatest statesman, tithed and urged his son to do the same
as the best plan for rightly handling his income.
William Colgate whose gift led to the founding of Colgate University was advised by an old sea captain
to make a good soap, give an honest pound, and set aside a tenth of every dollar earned for God.
Joy Cooke upon whom Lincoln leaned for financial help during the War Between The States began
tithing as a lad.
Mrs. Russell Sage who has contributed so many millions to philanthropic causes began tithing when only
a child.
Chester Ward Kingsley, great Boston banker and philanthropist, heard his pastor pray: “Lord give me
a hand to get and a heart to give...” He at once began to tithe, then more than tithe, and in his lifetime gave
away more than half a million dollars (in those days a dollar was much more than it is now).
Harvey S. McLeod of Troy, N.Y. when he was converted asked his pastor how to make the most of
himself for God. “Tithe,” said his pastor. McLeod did so and helped scores of young men to get an education
and won hundreds to tithing stewardship.
H.Z. Duke of Texas began as a tither and increased his contributions until for several years before his
death he gave to the LORD’S work practically his entire income.
James L. Kraft, the cheese man, says he had reached the brink of bankruptcy when it suddenly came to
him that he had left God out of his life and business. Immediately he repented, took God into partnership,
began to tithe, and things got better, and kept on getting better. Now his business is the world’s largest
cheese company and he gave his time without price going all over the world urging men to take GOD into
partnership and do business for God.
Time would fail to tell of William E. Dodge, M.W.Baldwin, the locomotive man, A.A.Hide of
mentholatum fame, Charles R.Brown, former dean of Yeal, J.H.Anderson the princely merchant of
Knoxville and a hundred others who began as tithers and went forward in happy, helpful, hilarious giving
to Christ and His work.
There is so very little in the Bible about any Other plan for church support and so very much about
giving. It seems to be a fundamental of Christian doctrine that God’s children should start to meet the Bible
requirement for Stewardship with the Tithe (10% of gross income) and offerings (at least as much as the
Tithe). Christ’s words were simple, clear, concise, of universal application and eternal duration. Recall a few
of His precepts with reference to material possessions and our duty. The words of the Lord Jesus are
abundantly clear on the subject of giving: “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed
down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure
that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” (Luke 6:38) (See Matt.6:21, 24-25, 33; 7:12; 17; 10:8;
Mark 12:17; Luke 6:38; 8:37; 12:15)
Truly, “Never man spake like this man.” When Jesus touched upon any subject he said the first word and
the last word. We can never get beyond His teachings.
Certainly these precepts of our Lord are sufficient to show that he expects his followers to be faithful
stewards, to be prompted by the highest motives, and to go far beyond the mere legal requirements of giving
as taught in the Old Testament. We find these truths to be evident in the life of the saved.

-2-
This Periodical is printed by Gospel Publishing and Colportage, a ministry of the First Baptist
Church of Mineral Springs, NC, and is designed for education, evangelism, and edification. If we may
assist you in knowing more about Christ and the Christian life, please write us without obligation: First
Baptist Church of Mineral Springs PO Box 388, Mineral Springs, NC 28108 (704)843-3858
Psalms 107:2 S É S Romans 12:1-2
These Sermons are used through the subscription to an E-Mail list maintained by Bro. Preslar
(preslar12@windstream.net) and are the copyrighted property of Dr. Terry W. Preslar. This document is
part of a growing collection that is part of the Fresh Waters Digital Library. Re-distribution is allowed
with this restriction: This document must not be disassembled or reverse engineered and all pages must
be distributed together. This material may not be used in any commercial manner. All files in this series
are in the PDF file format and can be read with the free pdf reader from Adobe called Acrobat Reader
(now in version 8 for Windows – It is recommended that ver. 5 or above be used). It is hoped that this
restriction will not hinder the effective use of this sermon/essay in the teaching and preaching of this
document. – The Editor

“...when thou comest, bring with thee...the books,

but especially the parchments. (2 Tim. 4:13)
Psalms 107:2 S É S Romans 12:1-2
P.O. Box 388 Mineral Springs, N.C. 28108
1(704)843-3858
E-Mail: preslar12@windstream.net

First Baptist Church

PO Box 388
Mineral Springs, NC 28108