CONTROVERSY XII: What about Tithing?

(This is a new article series that I am "trying out" with my readers. These are intended to be thought-provoking. Please see their Intro Article: Jan. 26, 2008)

Some have thought that the promise of material blessings for Israel if she tithes (Mal.3:8-12) applied to that nation, not to other nations today. They have argued that the principle for the Church is that she should given generously to God as He leads, which would incur a reward from Him, BUT, that the “tithe” is a different issue. In other words, God will not withhold financial blessings from the Church for “not tithing.”

Yes, God does appreciate and desires a cheerful giver (ref. 2 Cor. 9:7), but the principle of the tithe is prevalent throughout Scripture. God desires to be the first in our lives; we are to love the Lord with all of our hearts, minds, bodies, and strengths.(Deut. 6:5) We cannot serve two masters; we cannot love God and money (ref. Matt. 6:24)...but how do we know we love God first or over something (like money) if we are not willing to give Him our firsts (like a tithe)?

God established the principle of a tithe in the Garden of Eden. The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil was the one tree that God designated as "off-limits" to Adam. Adam could eat of everything else, just not what God designated as His. When Adam partook of the tree, sin entered into the world.

Samuel was Hannah's tithe to the Lord of her first-born. She dedicated this "first fruit" of her womb to God, and God blessed her with five additional children. (1 Sam 2:21)

Jesus was, in a sense, God's tithe. He was the First born of many brethren (ref. Rom. 8:29) and He was sacrificed as an offering for the atonement of sin.

The principle in Mal.3 is to put God first in our lives, including our pocketbooks. God commands that we serve Him and Him alone, and there's no greater indicator of our faithful service than to give Him that, which is so precious or useful to us; in this case, the first fruits of our labor.

I have learned that Tithing is a very sensitive issue in the Church because it involves money. There is nothing wrong with having money, but if it begins to take precedence over God, that's when it becomes an issue. Our God loves us so much and is jealous for us (ref. Ex. 20:5; 34:14) and He will do anything to prevent His relationship with us from losing its fire and intimacy. If that means financial blessing when we tithe or financial withholding when we don't, then you can bet that God will do that. It's a promise in His Word. (Mal. 3:8-12)