The place of giving in the gospel. Tithing was never meant to be a way to pay our debt to God. It has always been a training exercise to cultivate a generous and God-centered heart. The word 'tithe' means "a tenth part," meaning 10 percent. For Israel, however, tithing was really a start. There were three 'thithes' collected from Israel--one to support priests and Levites (Number 18:21), another for a sacred celebration (Deuteronomy 14:23), and a third--collected only once every three years--to support the poor, orphans, and widows (Deuteronomy 14:28-29; 26:12-13)