Malachi 3:10 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.”

The whole question of tithing is a matter of trust. Do we really trust that God is our supply? If we do, then tithing is no big deal, because we know He has plenty to meet our needs, however much we give back to Him. However, if we think, or rather, feel emotionally, that we’ve got to supply for ourselves, then tithing will be a struggle. It is never a matter of God needing what we give; that is a logical absurdity. Rather, it is the privilege of being used by Him to supply various needs around us, in the Church first of all but also through the church to many. Many people balk at tithing, claiming it is Old Covenant and inappropriate for Christians, since we are under the New Covenant. If such people are actually giving away over 10% of their income to those in need, I don’t care what they call it, and I’m not sure God does either. However, such objections are most often motivated by greed, or at least by a failure to trust, as I’ve just said. The whole Bible commends and encourages generosity, and Paul wrote one of the strongest encouragements to giving in 2 Corinthians 8:1-15. There may be others, but this verse in Malachi is the only one that comes to mind where God tells us to test Him. That’s a pretty bold challenge. God is certainly able to meet it, if we will accept it.

I was raised to tithe, back from when I first received an allowance. However, I got away from it when I got away from home, thinking of everything in my wallet or my bank account as “mine,” and not really considering the issue. It was not until I was married and our second daughter had been born that I was spiritually to the point that God chose to convict me on the issue. Money was really tight, and we always seemed to have more month left at the end of the money. Eventually we wanted to tithe, but didn’t see how it was possible, because like most people, we were thinking about it backward, as something to be given in gratitude after it was left over. After several months of not having a tithe left – or sometimes, any money at all – at the end of the month, we decided to bite the bullet and give a tithe as soon as I was paid. That month, we actually had a small surplus! That’s been over 40 years ago now, and I can state definitely that God has been faithful. We certainly aren’t rich by American standards, but some people think we are because of all that God has supplied for us in various ways. We don’t stop with the tithe, but seek to remember that we are simply stewards of all that is in our hands – and our bank accounts – and use it in obedience to God. As a pastor, I desire that everyone in this church tithe, and more, not for the sake of the church but for their own blessing. Back when I was attending a Baptist seminary I saw statistics of how much money would be involved if every member of a Southern Baptist church were to tithe, and it was staggering. It was obvious then, as it is today, that only a small percentage tithe. It challenges me as to what God wants to do in and through His Church, if we will only trust Him.

Father, thank You for Your perfect faithfulness. You know the hesitation I have at preaching about money, yet I am reminded that I am short-changing the believers by failing to do so. I ask for guidance and anointing as to when and how to do it, so that together we may move in all that You desire and intend, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!