Are your resistant to the concept of tithing? Do you consider it a suggestion rather than a command from the Lord? Some people rationalize withholding their tithe because their bank accounts are empty at the end of the month. Others justify not tithing because they see it as God taking money away from them. Perhaps others plan to tithe when the company gives them a bonus or a raise, but those times arrive, and they still do not tithe.
It is normal to be fearful when you have difficulty paying your bills and making ends meet, especially in this slower economy. Even if you typically can pay all your bills, you might worry you will not have enough extra cash to meet an unexpected expense for circumstances like extended sickness. Wishing for more money is not the solution.
The solution is to put your trust in God and follow His command to tithe. It may sound counterintuitive that tithing can be the solution to financial difficulty. However, tithing, combined with sound financial management, is the solution.
Tithing is an act of obedience. In Malachi 3:8, God chastised His people for failing to pay tithes. “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings.” God expected the Israelites to bring in one-tenth of all their crops and livestock to support the priest. He still expects Christians to give one-tenth of their income to support the work of their local churches. The apostles and other early Christians demonstrated this by supporting the ministry of Paul and other teachers and apostles.
Tithing and giving when prompted by the Holy Spirit demonstrates trust in God. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus promised His followers that they did not need to worry about their needs because God would always be faithful to meet them (Matthew 6:25-35). In the Bible, God gives us many examples of people who gave sacrificially in obedience, and God met their needs. Two examples are Elijah and the widow in 1 Kings 17 and Elisha and the widow’s oil in 2 Kings 4.
God promises to bless those who are obedient in tithing. In Malachi 3:10, God promises to richly bless those who tithe. God challenges us to trust Him fully and allow Him to demonstrate that He will always give back to us more than we gave to Him.
“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.”
God does not want you to live in fear of being unable to care for your family and meet your basic needs. He has promised to care for those who place their trust in Him. He has also promised that you shall not be in need. One of the most famous passages of Scripture is Psalm 23:1, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.”
If the Lord is truly your shepherd, you are under His protection, and He will meet your needs. If He is not your shepherd, He desires to be. He loves you and wants to offer you the forgiveness of your sins, eternal life, and His care and provisions while you are on Earth.
In Psalm 34:8, David wrote, “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man that trusts in Him.” David was in the midst of a trial, yet he recognized that the Lord is always good. He trusted God in all circumstances, and God blessed David in very many ways. I challenge you to trust God with your finances and to demonstrate that trust by paying your tithes and giving as led by the Lord.
To learn how to accept God’s free gift of salvation, please click “Basics of Salvation” from the menu bar. If you want to learn more about managing your money in ways that honor God and reduce your stress, my book Honoring God with Your Money is a great resource.
Susan's Reflections 