Tithing to the Lord - A Biblical Perspective
The subject of tithing, like any discussion about money, can cause trauma and anxiety for some people. The minute the subject of money comes up in church many people are ready to run for the exits or dive under a pew!
When you talk about giving tithes to the Lord, you can almost hear the groans and feel the sighs. This is extremely unfortunate in light of all the wonderful promises God makes to His people regarding financial blessing and prosperity. Even so, national surveys indicate that only between 11-13% of Christians tithe. This is a sad state of affairs indeed!
Why is there so much negativity around the subject of giving? In part, I guess the average person has come to feel punchy, suspicious and resentful about all the gimmicks and manipulation, mixed with a pinch of panic and pressure to give, give, give! Such is not the biblical approach to the subject of giving and tithing.
Instead, the Bible encourages giving, because giving glorifies God and unleashes a powerful principle that changes peoples' lives. Put succinctly, it goes like this: "Alter your altars and you can alter your life." What do I mean by an altar? An altar is a place of worship. It's a place of sacrifice. It's a place of commitment and consecration. Every person has an altar. Every person is motivated to serve whatever god is worshipped at this altar. It is the control center deep within you - that source of emotional excitement that turns you on, that stimulates you and inspires you. In our culture, money is that altar for millions.
Although our culture strongly advocates the philosophy that our money is our own and what we do with it is no one's business, the Bible conveys a different picture. Now, it may be true that what we do with what we earn is our business, but in the Bible we discover the principle that not all the money we bring home belongs to us! According to the Bible, a tenth (or tithe) of our gross income belongs to the Lord. If we fail to return it to Him, we cut across the pattern God has established in His word to protect us and to provide for us financially!
Most people who neglect to tithe are usually unfamiliar with just how clear the Bible is on the subject. Of course, there are those who knowingly elect to ignore God's advice regarding tithing, but many people who do not tithe have simply not heard how explicitly the Lord spells out the concept as a foundation for financial security.
Unfortunately, as we mentioned earlier, the subject of tithing and giving has been badly distorted by constant appeals for money by various church organizations and preachers who sometimes exert unfair and ungodly pressure to get people to give. Our distaste for these extremes tends to make us reluctant to follow even the biblical pattern clearly outlined in Scripture for the tithe.
Likewise, uninformed believers attempt to justify their disobedience to God's required tithe by claiming some sort of personal exemption. This man-made denial of the principle of tithing has spread among believers in many circles to the point where everyone has a different opinion about what is right and what is wrong about tithing. In the confusion of it all, giving just doesn't take place.
As the Senior Pastor of South Valley Community Church, I refuse to contribute to this state of confusion by either pressuring you with constant appeals for money, or by sitting passively by while some believers confuse themselves and others with misconceptions about the importance of the tithe. I believe that the Bible gives us a blueprint for wise financial management. I believe this blueprint works, and I would be remiss if I did not urge you to honor God by giving Him the "firstfruits" of all your increase!
I believe that the Bible clearly teaches us that one tenth of our gross income is to be returned to the Lord via our local church. That way our congregation, and those who minister in it, may have adequacy to minister without an ongoing sense of panic and dread about financial resources.
Hopefully, the following questions and answers will help to clear up any confusion you might have on this subject. Additionally, my prayer is that faith will arise in your heart as a result of hearing God’s Word and you will discover the joy of tithing and giving to the Lord.