One of the wonderful tools that God gives us to; check, correct and maintain our alignment is tithing. God wants us to walk in perfect order (alignment) with Him, our brothers, and the Church but it is so easy for any of us to get off track, tricked, or deceived by life. With the sincerest of hearts we can wind up being sincerely WRONG and out of alignment. Unfortunately, too many people today are living out of alignment in one or more of the above areas yet, they sincerely believe they are where they are supposed to be. Somehow the enemy has been able to dupe, and rob them of what God has for them, all the while deceived into believing they are where God wants them. Because of the ease that any of us can be deceived (more easily than any of us would like to admit), God provides us with some amazing ‘tools’ to keep us out of deception and living in order. Tithing is one of those very powerful and necessary tools for our benefit.
When it comes to tithing (giving 10% of your income to the local church – Malachi 3:7-10) there are two reasons why people don’t do it. The first reason is easy to address, the second one has proven more difficult although not insurmountable. The first reason people don’t tithe is simply ignorance. They are honestly unaware that they were even supposed to give in such a manner. This usually happens with new Christians or people who have never been taught about tithing. If this is the case, it can be remedied in a matter of minutes as we examine, and then apply God’s Word. This is really a matter of the ‘head’ and people simply need to come to an awareness of how God would have them live and then live it out.
The second reason people don’t tithe is more difficult to address because, unlike the first issue, it is an issue of the heart. In this case people don’t tithe because of disobedience. They know the clear instructions of the Bible regarding our finances and they willfully choose to do something different. This reason has lately taken on various ‘spiritualized disguises’ as people attempt to explain their disobedience with a sense of higher learning or insight. Some will say that tithing is an Old Testament requirement and since we are now living in a New Testament period we don’t need to follow those instructions. While this may sound logical at first it doesn’t take into consideration the teaching of the Bible and Jesus Himself.
“Tithing”, returning 10% of our income to God, was introduced in the Bible several hundred years before it ever became a point of ‘law’ and it was introduced as a worshipful response to God (Genesis 14 & 28). Then when we come to the New Testament Jesus clearly affirms the tithe, ‘…yes you should continue to tithe……’ (Matthew 22:21, 23:23,Luke 11:42) even while He addresses the greater heart issue that must be maintained. Finally, the Apostle Paul further builds on this foundation by teaching us to give proportionally to our income (1 Cor. 16:2) and then going even further by calling us to ‘excel in generous giving’ (2 Cor. 8:7).
Very clearly the Bible affirms the principle of tithing as the starting point for our giving to God, and expects us to only increase from that point. So, while some might explain their lack of tithing with words such as ‘revelation’ and ‘new covenant’ let’s cut through the debate & deception and use the word that God would use – disobedience. I say this with a great desire to see our entire family living fully in alignment and experiencing the blessing and authority found in that place.
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