Tithes and Offerings: Do They Still Apply Today?

As Christians, we are expected by God to really want to give, to give freely, and to acknowledge that giving truly is better then receiving. However our modern culture tells us something totally different and we often find our selves caught between world logic, and God's design for true Christian giving.

It is incredible how controversial tithing has become. A simple practice of keep up to 90% of your income and giving a simple 10% has sent Christians all over in a tail spin. It should be evident from this that we truly seem to put ourselves first. Now, do I tithe 10% all the time, actually it's a practice I just started to let God work on me with. The funniest thing about it is, this is the first time in my life where I have almost no income and have a problem paying bills. Yes, that's when God called me to start tithing. I can honestly tell you that I have been blessed month after month by our Lord who has consistently provided my food, shelter and necessities. I know it's because I have put in the practice of tithing, there is no other explanation for it

But, back to the very principal of tithing. If we capture and cultivate the idea that whatever we give, God blesses us back with even more, we will trample the old thoughts of "we just don't have enough". See, our Lord doesn't want his people w to be in a constant state of lack, it doesn't give glory to Him. Yes, we may have seasons where we are in lack, usually this is a learning experience, but how and when we come out of it actually depends on how quickly we submit the process to God and allow his principals to rule in our life.

Do you know in Malachi 3:8-11 promises you that if you give God your tithe, he will bless you so abundantly that it will go above and beyond the measure in what you have given. It is all right there in your Bible (NIV) version reads : 8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse-the whole nation of you-because you are robbing me. 10 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 you will not have room enough for it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the LORD Almighty.

So we see that if we hold on to our money for fear of loosing it, we actually miss Gods abundant blessings and in reality end up losing it anyway because we stay in a state of lack. However if we let it go, give it up, we receive even more then we put out. That can also be confirmed in scripture in Mark 34 Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. 35 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. As you can see, this text doesn't clearly relate to giving or money, however it shows you the very character of God, don't hold on to anything, including your own life, because you will lose it! Isn't that our fear when it comes to tithing, we hold on to that 10% because we feel if we lay it down, it's gone and we can't make our bills, but because we, as in Malachi, rob God, we end up truly losing it and stay in a pattern of lack, due to our selfishness and inability to trust God to bless us.

Another potent scripture that touches on an important principal, is Proverbs 11:18 18 The wicked man earns deceptive wages, but he who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward. This is the basic Principal of sowing an reaping. What we sow, we will reap. If we sow in to our home church, we will let God run through our lives, amounts of blessings in return, if we give when it's needed, we will be given whatever we need.

As it is written in Matthew 6:25-34 25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

You see, when ever we seek Gods kingdom first, which is His word, His ways, His teachings, he will, no matter how impossible it may seem, provide for us all we need. When tithing is taught in church, many listeners have the "here we go again" pastor need a new car attitude. If you feel the fiances are not being spent wisely at the church you attend, maybe they blow their budget on things that you feel could go somewhere else, express this. If it is not welcomed, find a church that you feel takes it's earnings and treats it as good stewards. But do not withhold tithing because you can't seem to let go of it. God wants to richly bless us, will you let him?

If this comes from me an not your pastor, will you examine your motives? Will you look in your check book and see where the extra 10% is going? Will you commit to God 10% to His works in the place you are most spiritually fed, and declare victory over your finances for trusting Gods words? I ask, what will you be giving this Sunday? Watch the Lord greatly bless you, it is His desire. It is His word!