Malachi 3:10- 12

Never Say the “F” Word

As a young and newly licensed minister, I can remember being told jokingly the quickest way to lose all your “Amens” from a listening congregation is to preach on finances. Although the elder minister was telling a joke, I’ve found some truth in that statement over the years. Sometimes, money can seem paradoxical because, on one hand, we need it to survive, but, on the other, Jesus said don’t worry about daily provision (Matthew 6:25). This is not to that mention when you consider the statistic that over half of American families live paycheck to paycheck–BELIEVERS INCLUDED– with no savings or emergency fund, you would think most people, especially Christians, would be willing to listen, but it’s quite the opposite.

However, I’m not here to talk expenses and how much of your budget should go where. You won’t hear any advice on how to build your portfolio with stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. God has equipped many people in and out of the body of Christ to help you in that area. Generally speaking, if you live below your means and make sound investments, you should be on the path to a more prosperous future. But with keeping biblical success in mind, we must understand as believers in the kingdom of God that the first step to better managing our finances is to understand the principle of the tithe.

According to the Bible, to tithe means I bring God the first ten percent of my income that I receive from any legal, godly financial institution, whether it be government assistance, spousal support, investments, or your place of employment. In our case today, we’ll be talking about money, seeing as how it is the primary means of exchange for goods or services in our society. But in any case, like we read in the Bible, wherever there is increase (meaning income or goods gained), we are commanded by God to give him at least the first ten percent (Proverbs 3:9 KJV). We do this by giving to what Malachi 3:10 calls “the storehouse,” which today is our local church. When we give to God’s local church, these finances in turn should go toward helping the finance of spreading the gospel and all of the expenses that entails. When we do this, we are helping enlarge God’s kingdom on earth. So, when we give our tithes to our local church, it is our way of giving to God.

The Big Myth

Perhaps the biggest myth when it comes to tithes and offerings is the understanding that it’s under the Old Covenant; therefore, we no longer have to do it. This could not be further from the truth. First, let’s recognize that tithing was a principle instituted long before the Law of Moses. We can trace it back to Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel; perhaps the most recognizable lineage of the Old Testament is Abraham’s, and we read scriptural evidence that he and his grandson Jacob were tithers (Genesis 14:18- 20, 28:20- 22). As we make our way through scripture, God gives this principle of tithing as a law to Moses (Leviticus 27:30 NIV), and, even hundreds of years later when Israel was allowed to return to their land from Babylonian and Persian captivity, God uses Nehemiah, which is the last book of the Old Testament chronologically, to reestablish tithing in Israel (Nehemiah 10:35- 40). The last example I’ll give can be found in the New Testament. In the midst of rebuking the Pharisees for neglecting justice, mercy, and faith, Jesus admonishes them to tithe (Matthew 23:23 NLT).

When we grasp how the principle of the tithe can be found throughout scripture, it proves to us that it’s a principle we as believers should use to govern our financial and daily lives. There are numerous benefits to tithing, which include God opening the windows or floodgates and pouring out blessing; God rebukes the devourer, which are the things that try to eat up our finances, and, as a result, people will call us blessed (Malachi 3:10- 12). You can take the time to study all of the benefits for yourself. This month, I want to focus on what tithing says. This brings us back to the old proverbial phrase “money talks.” The original meaning says that money is a persuasive tool to get what you want, but that’s not what I mean here. I want you to understand what it says about you when you tithe.

1. Your tithe says you put God first.

I mentioned that tithing is a principle that believers should use to govern not only their financial lives but their daily lives. I meant by that although the tithing I’m writing about in this devotional is financial, we should use this principle to govern our entire lives. God always wants your first and your best. When we give God what’s first and our best, we’re telling him that He’s our priority and that we honor Him above everything and everyone else. This was the difference between Cain and Abel’s offering (Genesis 4:3, 4 NIV). The Bible says Cain brought God “some” of the fruits, while Abel brought God “fat portions from the firstborn of his flock.” Abel brought God the best and the first, while Cain brought God some of the leftovers.  Don’t overlook the phrase “in the course of time,” which leads me to believe Cain brought an offering whenever he got around to it. He didn’t offer God what was first. Read this next sentence carefully: Cain wanted to bring God just an offering, but he did not bring the tithe. God is pleased and enjoys when you bring extra offerings and special, financial love gifts due to your recognition of God’s grace blessing you with all you have, but that’s separate and should always be given in addition to the tithe. A smaller portion, less than ten percent or money to charity or a little money in the offering bucket every now and then cannot replace the tithe. The tithe is what belongs to God, so God is asking you to first give back to Him what’s His in the first place as an act of worship.

2. Your tithe says you recognize that all you have comes from God. Therefore everything belongs to him and you are the manager.

Psalms 24:10 says the earth and everything in it belongs to God. When you bring God the tithe, you recognize that it’s His, and it’s robbery to take and keep what’s not yours (Malachi 3:8). When we comprehend that everything belongs to God, it should humble us and help us understand that nothing we have is ours alone. We often say “I’m giving my money,” but, in fact, everything we have is God’s, and, with some of us, God is still asking to get back what’s rightfully his. Money is temporarily placed in our hands as managers, or what scripture calls stewards, to first advance God’s plan on earth. As managers, if we are faithful with what God has placed in our hands, we are entrusted with more (Matthew 25:23, Luke 16:10- 12). This is a dominant principle in the kingdom taught throughout Jesus’ ministry on earth. Stewardship doesn’t mean we constantly expect more, but it challenges us to ask what are we doing with what we’ve already been given.

3. Your tithe says you trust God to provide.

I’ve heard many people say, ”I want to tithe but I can’t afford it.” I jokingly respond, “You can’t afford it because you don’t tithe.“ When we don’t tithe, we open our lives to the curse of the devourer (Malachi 3:9, 11). When we tithe, we’re saying “God, I’d rather have a blessed 90% than a cursed 100% because I didn’t bring You the tithe.” Your tithe says, “God, I trust Your word when it says You will supply all my needs, (Philippians 4:19) and You are the God that provides” (Genesis 22:14).

4. Your tithe says you’re in covenant with God, and He has your heart.

God urged Israel to return to covenant with Him by bringing the tithe into the storehouse once again. God understands how important money is to our survival on earth. He knows if He has our money, He has our heart. Jesus taught this principle in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:21). If you love someone, you should have no problem giving to them. If you’re currently not tithing, it’s time to question whether God truly has your heart.

The Big Challenge

Usually, you’ll see me close each devotional with a challenge to do what you’ve read and studied. Keeping in that tradition, I close with a challenge to tithe– but pay close attention that the challenge does not come from me. Instead, it comes directly from God. In the Bible, we’re told to never put God to the test (Deuteronomy 6:16, Matthew 4:7) except when it comes to the tithe (Malachi 3:10). In this case, God challenges his people to test him. Take ahold of this: God is challenging you to challenge Him. He’s so sure that tithing will be to your benefit that He “double dog dares” you to do it. I understand for some of my readers ,this month’s devotional is a refresher course, but, for others, you’ve never heard and understood the principle of tithing quite this way. If you’re currently not giving at least ten percent of your income, will you accept the challenge?