Tithing - God's Plan for Provision, Work in the New Testament

To completely answer the question, “If you don’t believe in tithing, then how does the church fund the pastor, bills, programs, witnessing, etc.?”, the Bible definition of work must be clearly understood. Much pertinent information has already been gleaned from the Old Testament, but the New Testament defines the term further. Who worked, who works, and who should work?

The New Testament reveals that Christ worked –

He was the “son” of the carpenter, and did learn the carpenter trade as a young man. His work changed when He entered His Father’s ministry full time. At that point the only work that is shown throughout the remainder of the Bible is spiritual works in the physical realm, that is miracles, healings, conquering Sin, Death, and Hell. Christ called all of these works, and they proved the Father and Son’s Divinity as well as power on the earth and in the heavens.

The New Testament reveals that Christ’s followers worked
The Bible only tells us details about a few of Christ’s specific followers. We know the names of the inner 12 Disciples, but do not know work details about all of them. One may assume that most of them were fishermen, because the big trade around Galilee was fishing. We cannot say for sure about all, but we do know that Peter, James, John, and Andrew were fishermen. It is likely that Philip, Thomas, James “the less” , and Thaddeus were also fishermen. Matthew was a tax collector. Bartholomew, though only a theory, may have been from a royal lineage. Simon the Canaanite was a Zealot (an anti-Roman sect). It is unknown what Judas did for work, but Christ’s chosen replacement, Paul, was a trained lawyer (Pharisee), who traded his status for tent-making. Other New Testament figures include Luke, the doctor, and Priscilla and Aquilla Paul’s fellow tentmakers.

From these two groups relevant information regarding work is found throughout the New Testament. I am only going to use a few of the relevant passages to save space. Some of the passages are restated in more than one place, so it is not necessary to quote all instances of work.

Christ called what He and His Father were doing work. The Pharisees obliged and said that Christ was working on the Sabbath.

John 5:17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.

Jesus worked to prove the Father.

John 14:10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and
the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

14:11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.

14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

Jesus worked to prove man’s sin, and to fulfill prophecy.

John 15:24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.

15:25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.

Jesus finished the work He was called to do.

John 17:4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

Romans 9:28 For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.

Christ’s work endures.

Acts 5:34 Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;

5:35 And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.

5:36 For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.

5:37 After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.

5:38 And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:

5:39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.

Acts 20:33 I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel.

20:34 Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.

20:35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the
words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

I Corinthians 3:13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.

3:14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

3:15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

God calls His followers to specific work. This is for all believers, not just a select few. (cf. John 15).

Acts 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

Work to supply your needs. This is key. We have seen so much about work in both Old and New Testaments. But Paul puts a bottom line on why work in the Epistles. His first mention of why work is in I Corinthians 4, and then he will show how work is commanded to all that are in the church. And why all should work.

I Corinthians 4:10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.

4:11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;

4:12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:

4:13 Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.

4:14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.

4:15 For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

4:16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.

Paul simply did not worry about the side issues of life. He was more concerned about spreading the gospel. That does not mean that Paul did not work. He did work, and he knew that working would provide food and clothing. Shelter was not a worry, as the well-known I Timothy 6:8 states, “And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.”, no shelter is mentioned. Christ tells his followers to not worry about these things, but that He will provide in Matthew 6:25. Christ did not mean don’t work, and just expect life’s necessities to just show up. He wants us to work, and He will take care of the rest.

Paul spoke at greater length about spreading the gospel in I Corinthians 9.

I Corinthians 9:1-27

9:1 Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?

9:2 If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.

9:3 Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,
9:4 Have we not power to eat and to drink?
9:5 Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

9:6 Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?

9:7 Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?

9:8 Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?

9:9 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?

9:10 Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.

9:11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?

9:12 If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but
suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.

9:13 Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?

9:14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

9:15 But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.

9:16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!

9:17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.

9:18 What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.

9:19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.

9:20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under
the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;

9:21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I
might gain them that are without law.

9:22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
9:23 And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

9:26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Some claim that Paul is issuing a command that “ministry” workers should be paid. Paul does no such thing! If he were issuing this command, then Paul would have followed through with this mandate to establish a precedent. He instead chose not to establish this mandate, though he certainly had that authority. Paul said to take wages would be a hindrance to the gospel’s furtherance. He does restate Old Testament passages regarding the Temple, but this was a specific work, Levitical Priesthood, for specific people, Levites. He is using the Old Testament to make a spiritual point concerning Christ’s finished work. Christ promised to take care of His servants, but He did not specifically state how
He would meet those needs. He did not set up a system in the New Testament in which man would take any credit for meeting those needs, other than work. Furthermore, Paul is not reestablishing Old Testament Temple practices. Earlier in the same Epistle Paul stated that the Christian is now the Temple of the Holy Ghost, and the Priest is Christ, which further reveals that Paul’s reward is not physical, but spiritual in nature. Christ’s provision, though physical at times, is always spiritually fulfilled. Therefore, Paul did not want to stand in the way of God’s great supply, though, as an Apostle Paul could rightly claim such authority. He would have received provision from men, but at the expense of spreading the Gospel!

What about the collection that Paul organized in I Corinthians 16?

16:1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.

16:2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

16:3 And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.

16:4 And if it be meet that I go also, they shall go with me.

This was a one-time deal for a specific group of people. There were no recurring offerings being taken for the church at Jerusalem, nor were there bank accounts to store such abundance. Paul does mention that he asked Galatian churches as well as Corinthian churches to take
up a collection as there was a need. Not everyone was commanded to give, only those who had prospered by God’s hand (which could have been everyone, but did not have to be). Paul did not want to endure the collection process. He wanted to come, gather and go to deliver what was collected. This was needed to be done because of the Roman Empire’s stance against the Jews during this time (note Acts 18:2, and then Paul’s later reference of Priscilla and Aquilla in the same chapter). There is no doubt that the church is to bear one another’s burdens, or to give as a need arises. This is done through working, and then giving when that need arises, not from a weekly tithe put into a bank.

Paul also discerns between old and new man issues in Ephesians 4. One of those issues is concerned with working.

4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

The Christian is to work in order to take care of himself, as well as those who need when an issue arises. But God provided work for mankind to provide for his as well as other’s needs.

By the time the reader arrives at Thessalonians work has been well established as God’s plan, but Paul issues a command regarding work. First he mentions working in I Thessalonians as part of a larger context.

4:11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;


This is physical work, not spiritual work. Paul did both physical as well as spiritual. He used the physical to meet the spiritual needs. (cf. Acts 20:33-36).

One Final passage, there are so many more passages, but these few references should have supported the point clearly – that is, God ordained that man should work. From that work should man enjoy the fruit.

II Thessalonians 3:7 For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;

3:8 Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:

3:9 Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.

3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

3:11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.

3:12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

3:13 But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.


3:14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.

3:15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
Paul and his fellow-laborers in the ministry had jobs that they worked. That is how they supported themselves, not through taking the tithe from churches. Interestingly enough, Paul met many people through his work, for instance Aquila and Priscilla, that he would have not otherwise met by sitting in a Pastor’s office collecting wages “doing the Lord’s work”, while playing Freecell. (I do not speak sarcastically, but from experience). Work, God commands it, and if one would rather not work, then II Thessalonians 3:10 commands that he not eat. Verses 14 and 15 state to exhort and admonish, which is why this series was written.