What About This "TITHING" Thing?

One on-going indictment leveled against many churches is their constant pleas for money.  Specifically, the subject of tithing often comes under scrutiny.  Sadly, a lot of shame-based teaching surrounds this important practice. 

Many suggest that those who don’t tithe come under a curse.  They support their premise using a passage from Malachi 3:7-9, “Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them.  Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty.  But you ask, ‘How are we to return?  Will a mere mortal rob God?  Yet you rob me.  But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’  “In tithes and offerings.  You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me.  Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse…’”

 I personally tithe because I love giving into earth’s greatest enterprise—the Kingdom of God!  Yet, I struggle with the negative, shame-based approach many leaders take when it comes to this wonderful privilege.  A lot of guilt surrounds church offerings!  It’s easy to get caught up in the negative cycle of reminding people what they’re NOT doing, instead of giving them positive, Christ-honoring reasons to respond to gospel directives.  Shaming people always pushes them away.

Yes, I believe tithing is biblical.  Both the Old and New Testament validate it. However, I think we need to perhaps re-think our shame-based approaches.  Let’s re-explore what Malachi was REALLY saying regarding tithing.  Who was God referring to when He talks about curses?  The prophet’s stinging indictment and question for Israel was, “Will a man rob God” (3:8)?

Allow me to explain God’s reason for the question.  Israel had become arrogant and rebellious.  Their withholding of tithes and offerings was one of seven indictments Malachi brought against the nation.  Each time the Lord addressed a specific issue, the Israelites became “disrespectful” and even arrogant.  Each response sounded like a spoiled, disrespectful kid, who was back-talking his parent.  Look at each one:

1:2 – “I have loved you,” says the Lord.  But you ask, ‘How have you loved us?’”

1:6 – “If I am a father, where is the honor (respect) due me?  It is you priests who show contempt for my name.”  But you ask, ‘How have we shown contempt for your name?’” 

1:7 – “You have defiled me.”   ‘But you ask, ‘How have we defiled you?’”

2:13 – “Another thing you do:  You flood the Lord’s altar with tears.  You weep and wail because he no longer looks with favor on your offerings or accepts them with pleasure from your hands.  You ask, ‘Why?’” (then the Lord talks about divorce).

2:17 – “You have wearied the Lord with your words.”  ‘How have we wearied him?’ you ask.”

3:13 – “You have spoken arrogantly against me,’ says the Lord.  Yet you ask, ‘What have we said against you?’” 

Do you sense the disrespect?  God uses Malachi to expose ungodly, rebellious attitudes in the nation.  The people were disobedient because they were hard-hearted.  They were acting like spoiled children, demanding their way.  God used the prophet to expose ungodly motives. 

This chapter, like any Bible passage, must FIRST be properly dissected according to its original background and intention.  To pull these indictments out and apply them to today’s church without learning what they meant to the original hearers, can lead to a travesty of biblical interpretation.

To be sure, God’s Spirit still exposes attitudes run amuck in our lives.  However, much of our teaching is accompanied by shame-based approaches that fail to “tell the whole truth.”

Remember, not all who withhold their tithes and offerings are arrogant or rebellious.  Some who don’t tithe operate in fear, or perhaps just need positive instructions from God’s Word regarding the beauty and power of giving.  I remember how difficult it was for me to tithe after I came to the Lord.  The math just didn’t make any sense to my natural mind.

I’m so glad the Lord was patient with me.  When I stepped out in faith and started giving one-tenth of my income to the Lord, I came to understand not only the beauty of tithing but the power and protection it affords me:  “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.  Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.  I will prevent pests from devouring your crops…”   (3:10-11).

Do you struggle with tithing?  Ask the Lord to help you.  The benefits are too wonderful to allow shame-based teaching to keep you from enjoying God’s provision, power and protection in your life!  I pray you’ll “test the Lord.”  He’s willing and able to prove the legitimacy of tithing your income.  I have enjoyed watching the Lord bless the remaining 90-percent!