Why We Should Tithe

Money issues always seem to get our attention.  Financial issues continue to be the number one cause of divorce in the United States.  Many couples find themselves fighting over how to handle the money that comes through their household.

We need to go to God’s Word to find out His perspective on our finances.  The first mention of giving to God goes back to Genesis when Abel gave God the first and best portion of his flock.  Later in Genesis, Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek, long before the Law was established.  After God gave the Law, the Israelites were commanded to give a tenth or tithe of all they possessed.

You may be thinking, “We are no longer under the Law so we are not obligated to tithe.”  Let’s examine this from Jesus’ standpoint as He talks about money more than any other subject in the scriptures. Jesus points out in the New Testament that He came to fulfill the Law not to destroy it.  In fact, He says in Matthew 23:23, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith; these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.”  Jesus repeats this same thought in Luke 11:42.

I have a hard time understanding why people fight this principle.  It is an essential key to financial prosperity which most of us spend our lives striving for.  The greatest financial decision anyone can make is to tithe to your local church.

John and I have tithed all of our married life on all income from all sources. This has never been an issue with us.  We have never regretted giving to God because He has never failed to meet our needs.  We have not always had all our wants supplied, but our needs have always been met.  The return is far above what we have ever dreamed.  The blessings have not always been financial, but we have been blessed with health, family, personal peace and a host of other things as well. Tithing has not made us rich, but it has made it possible for God to supply all of our needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus.
Most couples who find themselves in financial difficulties do not tithe. And most couples who disagree with this principle have never tithed regularly. Tithing has no “purchasing power” within itself, for we tithe out of obedience, not as an “investment.” Tithing doesn’t get you more money, it opens “the windows of heaven, and pours you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it” (Malachi 3:10).

You see, when we don’t tithe, we are in disobedience. God tells us in Malachi 3:8-9 that we “rob” from Him when we don’t tithe and give offerings.  So if financial difficulties come, we literally tie God’s hands from blessing us because He cannot go against His Word. We stifle the flow, not God.

Here is our philosophy:  We do not have to tithe. We get to!  God does not need our money. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills! (Psalm 50:10)  His desire is to get money to us so that He can bless others through us.

Actually, everything we have comes from God anyway.  It all belongs to Him. We are only giving back to Him ten percent of what is His in the first place.  He allows us the privilege to be good stewards of the other ninety percent. That’s seems more than gracious to me!

– Doris Knoles

Maxim of the Moment

You can’t go forward looking backwards. - Tommy Barnett