Tithing Our Way to Victory

Once upon a time there was a one-dollar bill and a one hundred-dollar bill who were friends. While residing together in a wallet one day they began to share their recent experiences. The One-dollar bill said to One hundred-dollar bill, "What have you been up to? Where have you been lately?" One hundred-dollar replied, "I've been all over the world. I've been having the time of my life. I've sailed on great yachts, visited the most incredible palaces, and toured the world with the rich and famous. How about you? Where have you been?" One dollar sheepishly answered, "Church."

Christian Americans don't tithe. Some do, of course, but overall we give God about 1.8% of our income and nowhere near the 10% mark.[1] I firmly believe this lack of giving is a major reason why America is declining and the Church is losing ground in cultural reformation and effective evangelism.[2] Tithing is a major key to turning these trends around. While not neglecting our other weapons of spiritual warfare, we can tithe our way to victory.

Where did I get this line of thinking? In I Samuel 8, God tells us that civil government should operate on less than 10% of our income. This is because biblically, government has a limited role and should operate with limited income. Our current government is out of control and has usurped responsibilities that should be those solely of individuals, churches, and the private sector.

Likewise, the Church, if it is to do what God calls it to do[3] needs the full10% God requires. God designed it that way. We give Uncle Sam 30%, 40%, 50% or more of our incomes and we give God 1.8%. What's wrong with this picture? Is it any wonder we are losing our freedoms? This imbalance of priorities should be a clear warning of something gone terribly awry.

I will further submit that if we were giving God His 10% in the first place, government would not be getting up to 50% of our incomes. It would also be considerably smaller as it should be. It is because the churches have not been able to fund its mission that it has, over time, capitulated many of its responsibilities. This is beyond tragic.

Many today think that tithing is an Old Testament law and no longer is required. And, not surprisingly, most of these same people don't tithe. They throw the one-dollar bill in the plate each week and feel they have done their duty. If we look at our checkbooks and see where we spend our money we will quickly see who or what it is we put first. Is God first in your life?

My first question is why, since we now have a New Covenant,[4]a better one, that we should we give less to God than under the Old Covenant? This has never made sense to me. Let's think this through. God gave us His son. He wiped out our debt of sin and opened the gates of heaven to us. He has supplied abundant promises and provisions for a victorious life. So, we respond by withholding His tithe. Shouldn't we be even more grateful in the New Testament era and shouldn't this gratitude inspire us to give even more than what was required under the law?

God said in the Old Testament[5] that when His people didn't tithe they were actually robbing Him. God used the word "rob" not me. This is a serious charge. Personally, God would be the last person that I would want to rob.

To my knowledge, there is no place in Scripture where God suspended or eliminated the tithe. Tithing is assumed in the New Testament.[6] There was no need for God to restate everything that had been previously established in the Old Covenant. Unless New Testament Scripture specifically changed or modified a former law or concept, it remains valid. Murder is still a crime. Homosexuality is still a sin. Beastiality is an abomination. None of these things have changed. It is assumed in the New Testament era.

God hasn't changed the spiritual and material benefits of tithing either so why in the world would we ever choose not tithe? God promised tithers in Malachi 3 that He would open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing on them that they could not contain. In addition, He promised to rebuke the devourer. This promise is for us as well.

I had to really weigh this proposition out in my mind. I'll let you listen in to my thinking. "Let's see. Do I want God to open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing that I cannot contain and have the devourer off my back? Or, do I want to forego the blessing and get devoured?" Why would anyone accept the latter choice? But most of us do. How do I know? We don't tithe. Even those who don't tithe will usually agree that you can't out give God so what's the problem?

The Malachi 3 passage is the only place in Scripture where God asks us to test Him. He actually challenges us. God is so anxious to bless us and prove that He can be trusted. In the New Testament this truth is clearly stated. Luke 12:32 states, "Fear not little flock, for it is the Fathers' good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. (ESV)"

I may be in the minority here but I truly believe that when we don't tithe, God allows the devourer take it from us anyway. So, in effect we all tithe. The difference is that some of us give our 10% or more by choice and obtain the blessings and relief from the devourer. The rest of us have the devourer collect the tithe and get nothing in return. This really is a no-brainer isn't I?

I don't have the space here to give my personal testimony but God has always, always, always, been faithful to me financially[7] and in every other way. I believe it is partly because I have tithed my whole Christian life. I've never regretted it.

In closing, I want to make the point that tithing is not just something we should do. Tithing is a tool. Tithing is a weapon.[8] Paying the tithe and fully funding our churches gives them the needed funds to fight the good fight. The fact is they cannot do all that God requires of them without the tithe. I know we all like to wait for a sale, but the tithe is always 10%. Let's all fully fund the work of God and receive all the blessings in the process. Let's tithe our way to victory.

Think about it. Assuming my 1.8% figure is correct, and if we all began to fully tithe, every church and Christian organization would have its income increase 555%[9] overnight. Wouldn't that be nice?

Note: Pastors, or any interested party, feel free to copy this article and distribute freely. I've presented this message in many churches and it has always been well received.

[1] I've heard figures anywhere from 1.8% up to 3 or 4%. Regardless, we are way shy of where we should be in our giving to God.

[2] I cannot think of a single arena of cultural engagement where Christians are consistently winning.

[3] It is the Church, for example, not government that should be taking care of the poor and helping educate our children in support of the parents.

[4] The entire book of Hebrews makes this very point.

[5] Malachi 3:8-12.

[6] II Corinthians 9:5-8 is often used by tithe opponents as proof that the tithe is now voluntary. The passage does not even address the tithe. In context Paul is talking about a voluntary gift beyond the tithe, an offering if you will. Offerings are voluntary.

[7] God does not always bless financially so I don't want to leave the impression that this is a hyper-faith proposition. Sometimes God has given me back a hundred fold on my giving, literally. Other times He has healed a relationship, kept my refrigerator alive way past life expectancy or had people donate needed services to me. How He blesses is up to Him. The bottom line is He is faithful and you can't out give Him.

[8] There are two excellent books that greatly expand on my points: Tithing and Dominion by R.J. Rushdoony and Tithing and the Church by Dr. Gary North.

[9] I get the 555% by dividing the full 10% by 1.8%. Also, I am assuming that current-giving trends would continue. In actuality para-church organizations are here by default. If the churches were doing all they should, para-church organization would not be needed.