How to Fill Out the Tithe Envelope
Understandably, there are many who are unaware of the difference between tithes and offerings. Many – even seasoned members – are surprised to learn there is a difference.
Tithe is not used locally, like for church maintenance, Sabbath School supplies and so on. The offerings cover those needs, while the tithe goes to pay the salaries of conference-employed gospel workers. This is according to the direction of Scripture.
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Behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work which they perform, the work of the tabernacle of meeting. Numbers 18:21 NKJV
Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar? Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel. 1 Corinthians 9:13-14 NKJV
The tithe goes straight to the ministry, while offerings are in addition to the tithe. Occasionally local church treasurers will receive a tithe envelope that looks something like this,
Tithe: $200.00
Combined Budget: $100.00
Conference Evangelism: $100.00
Total: $200.00
The problem is the total should be $400.00. The person filling out the tithe envelope was thinking that he was to divvy up the tithe between the other categories on the envelope, but tithe is its own category. If one is only returning their tithe, it should look like this:
Tithe: $200.00
Combined Budget:
Conference Evangelism:
Total: $200.00
If you are returning tithe and offering, it would look like this:
Tithe: $200.00
Combined Budget: $100.00
Conference Evangelism: $100.00
Total: $400.00
Scripture makes a distinction between tithes and offerings.
“Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. Malachi 3:8 NKJV
So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7 NKJV
Malachi shows us offerings are in addition to the tithe. 2 Corinthians 9:7 tells us while the tithe that goes to the ministry is 10% of our “increase,” the additional offering is what we purpose in our hearts.
My father was a church treasurer for over 50 years, and he would occasionally receive tithe envelopes filled out by those who thought the tithe was divided into the other categories on the offering envelope. Other treasurers have mentioned it to me as well, though, of course, never mentioning names. Understanding how this can be confusing to some, when I give personal Bible studies on stewardship, I always make sure I carefully explain how the tithe is sacred to Gospel workers, and that the offerings are in addition to the tithe. I hope this explanation will be helpful to some.
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Hi, I would like to thank you for this post. Even though I knew the difference early on, growing up it always concerned me. Many I knew had a pretty different view of it. Because I was younger than they I was unable to explain. Your post explains the topic and would help someone understand it, if not take the initiative to learn more from the pastor. Please continue to write posts like this as the Holy Spirit guides you.
Thank you for this post. I am so tired of listening to Seventh Day Adventist members encouraging other members to send their tithes to the church and not to the conference. They argued that the church is the storehouse and that where they are getting their blessings from. I will be making copies of this post and share it with my brethren.
I've not always been faithful in tithes and offering even after growing up with a mother who instilled this in me long ago. This year, I hope to change that and return to how I was taught...and to do it cheerfully. Thanks for this article.
Thank you so much for explaining this in detail, and providing appropriate Bible verses that back it up. I followed the above method of giving tithe -- 10% tithe and I give what I purpose in my heart -- but I'm always disturbed each time I give, because someone taught me some time ago that I should give 10% for each. I pray God will strengthen me to honour him faithfully.
Mayowa, you can still be faithful if your offering is less than 10%, if that is what you feel God wants you to give. On the other hand, if He is prompting you to give more than 10% as an offering - beyond the tithe - then it would be faithful to give more. Each of us should give offerings as we have decided for ourselves, or as the Holy Spirit prompts us if that is the case, rather than according to how much someone tells us we should give. I do know that whatever offering you give will be a blessing for furthering God's work, and you will be blessed for giving it. I pray the Lord will guide each of us to give as we are able, and that we would see blessings pour down from heaven as we are faithful to what God calls us to do.
*To be clear, when I refer to offering, I am not referring to tithe, which is always intended to be 10%.
I slightly differ from the distribution you show in the envelope; instead, I go 100 tithes, 60 local churches, 20 conference evangelism, and 20 world missions. That way you are contributing to your local expenses, conference budget, and world missions.