Tithing Is No Quick Fix

August 4, 2009 by EnnisP
Filed under: Giving, Making Money, Philosophy

Often tithing proponents promise all kinds of blessings to anyone who gives a tithe: prosperity, health, happiness, success and who knows what else. They also make a scene when anyone receives an unexpected monetary increase after giving their first tithe payment. They sound more like travelling salesmen offering cure-all elixirs. When someone suggests they may not be right they become bombastic pronouncing curses on those who fail to give. These extreme methods provide a lot of fuel to those who oppose tithing.

There is some truth to the “tithing=blessing” concept but the way it is presented is usually distasteful. It smacks more of opportunism than a sincere effort to work with and relate to God. Seems more like a pill you take for a head ache or an injection for the flu, things you do occasionally, following which you expect an immediate result. The thought is “if I give a tithe for so many days, I will get ten times more for the rest of my life, beginning tomorrow.” That isn’t an accurate representation of tithing.

Tithing is a life-style option not an occasional treatment for financial ills. You can’t do it just once and expect a result and tithing alone will not solve every problem. It is very much like good physical health. To achieve it you must maintain good sleep patterns and take vitamins and exercise regularly and maintain a consistent diet. The formula for physical health has many parts. You must include all of them consistently and regularly throughout life. Departure from this plan must be the exception not the rule.

Financial health is very much like that also. If I want to be secure financially there are many things that must be included in the formula:

I must do honest work to earn the money.
I must live below my income (not keep up with the Joneses who probably aren’t as secure as they seem), avoiding debt whenever and wherever possible.
I must pay my bills on time.
I must save some regularly to be prepared for unexpected financial down turns and eventually retirement.
A resourceful person will attempt to develop multiple and diverse streams of income. A wise person sees their job only as a means to an end.

You may not accumulate wealth rapidly using this plan but progress will be consistent.

And please understand that financial security is not a sin. Rather, it should be the goal of every person, particularly Christians. The more independence you achieve financially the better able you are to serve God freely and generously. You will probably be more effective. People are drawn to those who are genuinely secure.

Many Bible greats were quite wealthy: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Job and David in the Old Testament and Joseph, Barnabas and Lydia in the New. All the Israelites increased in wealth greatly when they left Egypt. Paul had very little and worked hard to support his own ministry but, while incarcerated, he depended heavily on those with money. Poor is not a fruit of the Spirit. When possible, every Christian should work toward financial independence.

But financial independence does involve a partnership with God. Following Job’s great trial the Bible says, “the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before” (Job 42:10) and he was a very generous man. The Bible often connects “generosity to God’s causes” with “God’s material blessings on your life.”

That doesn’t mean God will deliver you from the consequences of financial irresponsibility. Tithing or any other form of giving is not a panacea for self inflicted financial woes. Tithing, however, is a way to express your dedication to God in spite of fluctuations in financial status, which are inevitable. In fact, tithing is the easiest way to maintain your giving even in times of trouble. When my income goes down the tithe amount (10% of the income) goes down with it. And, when trying to turn your financial mistakes around, there is not doubt God can and will enable you to give your tithe during the recovery period, if you ask for His guidance.

Here is the point. God is the most important partner in any person’s life. He is to be honored in every way, even financially, consistently. Any kind of giving that does not stipulate an understood amount leaves everyone guessing. Guess work is not a reasonable approach to your relationship with God. He is no less important than any other part of the budget. He must be included consistently and regularly and tithing is the best way to accomplish that.

Anyone who suggests tithing is a cure-all for mismanagement of your finances is distorting the truth. Anyone who suggests you can put your finances in order without tithing is misrepresenting the facts. Anyone who tries to get ahead without tithing is making a mistake.

What do you THINK!AboutIt?

In Tithing, Douglas Leblanc provides much more than a narrow discussion on a traditional issue. It isn’t the same old arguments presented the same boringly technical way.

Instead, and probably because he is “no theologian or exegetical writer,” Douglas has found an intriguing way to cut to the real heart of the issue. He shares the experiences of eleven different couples and one lone Monsignor, all of whom endorse tithing for a very similar reason: selflessness.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Comments

3 Comments on Tithing Is No Quick Fix

Russell EArl Kelly on Wed, 5th Aug 2009 12:47 am

Tithing is a LIE-style which cannot be supprted by any New Covenant principle.

EnnisP on Wed, 5th Aug 2009 6:49 am

What New Covenant principle encourages us to call each other liars?

Aubrey on Fri, 23rd Apr 2010 12:24 am

I really don’t like the so called work from home guru’s they just screw the newbie’s and make money themselves.There are hardly a people who suggest some real recommendations and it is truly welcomed.

Speak your mind...
and oh, if you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!