Question: Could you please provide me with a somewhat precise definition of the term "increase" as it relates to tithing and offerings? I seem to be having great difficulty finding a definitive explanation of the word no matter where I look. Would you direct me also to specific references which would elucidate this term and provide current day relevance?

Thank you!

Peter

Answer: Dear Peter,

The exercise of determining a precise definition of "increase" is not one that Plain Truth Ministries agrees with, for we believe that Christian stewardship is a matter of the Christians heart-felt response to the grace given to him/her by God. One could say that the Bible speaks of Christian stewardship as a matter of giving all that we are – mind, body and soul – to God, for Jesus bought us with a price and we are not our own. Christian stewardship involves our time, talents and treasures – all our resources given to the work of the Kingdom of God. But the specific amount/number/percentage of our time, talents and treasures is not specified – unless one were to say that ALL of our time, talents and treasures are now given to God – and in one way of looking at this question, that perspective would be right.

In that light, "increase", as it is used in the old covenant tithing requirement, becomes an accounting nightmare and a legalistic dilemma. Does one tithe on the net or gross pay? Does one tithe before or after expenses? Some argue that the term "increase", as used in the old covenant, is an agricultural term, based upon the amount that the land produced after all expenditures of labor, irrigation, fertilizer, harvesting, etc. were deducted – so that the increase is only that amount realized after all investments are deducted. All of this is interesting, but is academic for the Christian, having no practical or salvific meaning – as God does not require a tithe, but in some very real sense, all of us and all of our resources. We freely decide what we give in offerings (some use the word "tithe" in the Christian sense to speak of what a believer gives freely to the work of the kingdom).

In Christ,

Greg Albrecht