Tithing Is No Quick Fix
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. Read more
Tithing – The Real Motive
Some people tithe only to meet needs and the needs they give to are only the ones they are personally concerned about. Tithing, however, was never intended to meet a need. Tithing is a way of expressing your commitment to God, of developing a relationship with Him on a personal level, and showing solidarity with the people with whom you worship. Tithing is relationship driven not need driven.
The fact is, whatever you see as the need, and there are many, will never be fully met. Jesus said we would always have the poor with us. Your giving and mine will never totally eradicate the problem. Giving money isn’t the only or even best way to solve this problem anyway. Read more
Tithing – Neither Sacrifice Nor Charity
For some people tithing appears, at least on paper, to be a great sacrifice. They think they will not be able to survive financially without that money. But tithing is never said to represent a sacrifice or even a loss. This is one area in which God promises to bless us abundantly. In fact, we are told to put God to the test on this matter.
Malachi 3:10 says,
Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house, and prove me (test or try me) now herewith, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
In no other way are we allowed to test or try God. Jesus referred to this at “tempting” God and said it was not to be done, generally speaking. Only in the matter of the tithe are we not only allowed to test God but also encouraged to do so. Read more
Tithing Develops Life Skills
Tithing encourages us to develop skills for managing financial resources but only if we don’t try to mange the tithe.
We often say that everything we have really belongs to God and I agree with that statement but the tithe belongs to God in a way the other 90% does not. The tithe is not mine to manage. The only thing I can do with the tithe is turn it over to God at the very first opportunity. Read more
Tithing Catalyzes Solidarity
Solidarity does not exist only with the commitment of one person. It is a thing of beauty demonstrated when a group of people move in unison. It is not an easy thing to achieve. If it were, they wouldn’t award Olympic metals for synchronized swimming.
It requires a lot of discipline to develop and much courage to execute. The military counts on getting it right at basic training so fewer people die in battle and it also multiplies the total effect. Small groups of soldiers have been known to fight off forces several times their size because they fought in unison courageously. There is great power generated when a group of people, large or small, act in unison. Read more
Tim Pepper - Beautiful Frustration