Selected Scriptures
Probably when you were raising your children they sometimes asked the question, “Why?”, when you told them to do something. The instruction you gave them, though direct, possibly didn’t explain the reason for it and they were curious about its need. Or, it could reflect a well-known childish stall tactic used to challenge parental authority. Either way, I’m sure there were times when the only explanation needed was that you were the parent and obedience was expected, not requested.
Really, that’s all we need to know about God’s command that we give back to Him out of our financial resources. Simply put...we should do it because He says so!
However, God graciously gives us several underlying reasons to be obedient to Him in this significant area of our lives. Actually, to withhold your generosity, in light of these biblical explanations, is akin to shooting yourself in the foot. You’re not wounding God when you fail to honor Him with your resources. After all, the entire wealth of the world belongs to Him, anyway. He isn’t poor! The one you are hurting by your disobedience is really yourself.
Since God has given us these biblical motivations for giving monetarily to His work, let’s consider some of them to learn why we should tithe.
1. Because tithing acknowledges our stewardship.
Let’s look deeper into the matter of tithing...which means giving 10% of your income to God. It has been said that, “Tithing was commenced by Abraham (Genesis 14:20), continued by Jacob (Genesis 28:22), codified by Moses (Leviticus 27:30-31), commanded by Malachi (Malachi 3:10), commended by Jesus (Matthew 23:23), and consecrated by Paul (1 Corinthians 16:2).” If that’s the case, who are we to cancel it?
The Jewish nation actually gave three tithes to the Lord, in addition to other free-will offerings. There was a tithe to support the priests and Levites (Numbers 18:21). Another tenth was given for the worship ceremonies and festivals (Deut. 12:11, 17; 14:23). And, a third tithe was received every three years to support the poor, orphans and widows (Deuteronomy 14:28-29; 26:12-13). That means the Israelites were actually giving approximately 23% of their income each year back to the Lord. As I mentioned earlier, none of these tithes takes into account any other free-will offerings they also gave to God.
What this tells us is that the Jewish nation practiced a deliberate generosity with God. For them...tithing was the floor, not the ceiling. It was the place to begin, not the place to end.
John Ortberg refers to tithing as, “... [the] training wheels when it comes to giving. It’s intended to help you get started, but not recommended for the Tour de France.”
Some argue that since tithing was under the Law and grace removes us from the Law, it’s no longer necessary to give the tithe. Stop and think about that assumption for a moment. Do you really think first-century Christians thought to themselves, “Isn’t this great? Now we’re free from the Law so let’s give less than the Law required?” Such reasoning makes no sense at all in light of the incredible grace they had experienced through Jesus Christ.
I think instead the early church was so overjoyed by God’s grace that they wanted their giving to far exceed what they gave under the Law.
And, let’s not make the mistake of thinking that Israel’s tithes were just a way to fund their religious system and feed the needy. It was also their way of acknowledging God’s ownership of everything and their stewardship of those resources.
Why should we tithe? Because God has been so gracious in saving us from our sin that we want to give back to Him as an expression of our gratefulness. And, to acknowledge that we recognize everything that remains belongs to Him, also, to be managed by us for His glory.
Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. (1 Corinthians 4:2; cf. Luke 16:1-10)
2. Because Heaven becomes our priority.
When it comes to crime, they sometimes say, “follow the money” because it will eventually lead you right to the criminal. It’s also true that if you “follow the money” you’ll soon find out what people really love in life.
In our materialistic society, I think we should periodically be asking ourselves, “How much do we really need in life and when is enough going to be enough? Most people agree that it’s wise for a person/couple to save six months of basic expenses in case of an emergency. It’s also wise to save for your eventual retirement and toward your kids’ college education. The Bible indicates that God is also committed to providing our basic necessities of daily life. But, unless we intentionally prioritize God in all our expenditures, He’ll always be considered last...if at all.
You might be surprised how creative some people get when it comes to finding supposed loopholes in giving back to God. One man said, “If my kids are really the Lord’s, then I can count the money I spend on their food and clothing and college tuition as falling into the ‘good steward’ category. If I use my home for hospitality and hosting small group, then the same goes for furniture acquisition and home makeovers. I use my computer for Bible study and my phone to store worship songs, so those items are stewardologically deductible, too.” What he really means is...I’m not giving anything to the Lord’s work, at all.
Dr. Adrian Rogers once said: “a faith that hasn’t reached your wallet, probably hasn’t reached your heart.”
It shouldn’t surprise you when people get upset when you talk about tithing! The fact is, you’re speaking about the things they hold most dear. If your heart is fix on Heaven, you have no problem being challenged to invest in eternity. It’s what you love most...it’s where your heart is. But, if you have to rearrange your financial priorities to give to God, then it’s evidence your heart is fixed elsewhere. That creates a conflict within you that usually spills over onto others when someone talks about the biblical use of money.
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21, 33; cf. Colossians 3:1-2; 1 John 2:15)
“Where your pleasure is, there is your treasure; where your treasure is, there is your heart; where your heart is, there is your happiness.” --Augustine
3. Because giving expresses our trust.
Imagine being on a beach as you begin to make an elaborate sandcastle. Now, think of this sandcastle as your life: your job, your accomplishments, your achievements, your bank account, your stocks, your home, etc. As you finish, you step back to look at your beautiful creation and the life you have built for yourself. Just as you do, the waves begin to lap at the base of your castle. Soon they are systematically destroying it, as you watch all you’ve worked for, all you’ve poured your life into, completely leveled. You cry out, "Stop. That’s my castle" and try to stop the waves. But, the ocean is way too powerful and persistent.
Sandcastles illustrate well the temptation that faces all of us today. We fall into the belief that our sandcastles, built on the shores of this life, will last forever, only to discover that in a moment they can be undermined or destroyed. If we’re not careful, we’ll start trusting in the things themselves, rather than the powerful God that gives us all things.
It’s been said, "Money will buy you a bed but not sleep. It will buy you books but not intelligence, food but not an appetite, a house but not a home, medicine but not health, amusement but not happiness, religion but not salvation--[money will buy you] a passport to anywhere in the world...except to heaven."
Is there an antidote for the temptation of trusting in “uncertain riches?” Absolutely! It is to be generous in your giving to God so your trust will be in Him and not in your “sandcastles.”
“Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.” (1 Timothy 6:17-19; cf. 1 Timothy 6:10; Luke 12:16-21)
4. Because generosity assures our blessing.
The most common objection I hear from people that have never or seldom tithed is, “I just don’t have enough money to tithe.” They’ve either been told or wrongly led to believe that giving means losing what they give away to God. But, the scripture is clear that when we give to God, He returns the blessing by giving back to us.
It’s hard for me to watch as people procrastinate about giving to God because they think they won’t have enough left if they give to His work. Doesn’t everyone know the most basic law of the harvest? We only reap from what we’ve sown. What we keep to ourselves can never bring a return. This is one of the primary reasons I believe God challenged His people to “try” Him in the realm of tithing.
“Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” Says the Lord of hosts; “And all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land,” says the Lord of hosts.” (Malachi 3:8-12)
I once read the remarks of a couple who decided to trust God with their tithe. The man said, "I heard about (tithing) but we decided we couldn’t afford it. Then as time went on and our troubles grew, we talked it over, prayed about it and decided to try it. Now a couple of years later we agree it was the best thing we could have possibly done. We are out of our problems and glad we began tithing. God seemed to bless and prosper us."
Pay careful attention to what Luke 6:38 says. Unless you give, it can’t be given back to you.
“Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” (Luke 6:38)
“Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.” (Proverbs 3:9-10)
“I have tried to keep things in my hands and lost them all, but what I have given into God’s hands I still possess.” --Martin Luther
5. Because scripture commands our obedience.
Ok, Ok! If you don’t get any of the other points, if for no other reason, you ought to tithe simply because God says so. Listen to Jesus’ words, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” (John 14:15) He doesn’t have to give us any other reason to tithe, except that He’s our Father and we’re His children. How foolish it is for us to talk about loving God when we don’t obey His commands. You’re the only person that loses in that equation!
Here’s an important truth for all of us to remember: what we give away for the cause of Christ, we keep forever. What we hoard for ourselves, we lose forever.
“But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:6-7; cf. 1 Corinthians 16:2)
A Wycliff Bible Translators publication tells the story of a missionary named Sadie Sieker, who served for many years as a house-parent for missionaries’ children in the Philippines. Sadie loved books. Though she gladly loaned out some, others she treasured in a footlocker under her bed. Once, in the quiet of the night, Sadie heard a faint gnawing sound. After searching all around her room, she discovered that the noise was coming from her footlocker. When she opened it, she found nothing but an enormous pile of dust. All the books she had kept to herself had been lost to termites.
Don’t miss the truth of this story...it’s what you give away that you keep and what you keep that you lose! Only what you invest in the Kingdom of God will be “laid up” in eternity.
