Jan and I have never viewed tithing as a form of law but as a way to honor the Lord. In some circles, it’s popular to neglect, demean, or dismiss the practice of tithing, considering it an out-of-date practice from the Law. Posting what I am about to write will raise the hackles of some who have created reasons to abandon the practice.
Jesus said, “You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things” (Luke 11:42). Earlier in that same verse, the Lord defined those more important things: “What sorrow awaits you, Pharisees! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore justice and the love of God.”
The Pharisees had reduced tithing to a point of spiritual lunacy. They were tithing to gain spiritual superiority, but in doing so, they ignored justice, wielding their version of the Law without compassion. The Pharisees exhibited a loveless faith that was hard and cold. As Jesus said, they should not abandon tithing, but their interpretation of religious duty had polluted their giving.
Paul taught about giving. He said to “Give according to what you have, not what you don’t have” (II Corinthians 8:12). The word “according” is defined as giving in proportion. It denotes a measurement of giving.
Paul also addressed the heart of a giver, “Don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves a person who gives cheerfully. And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need, and plenty left over to share with others. As the Scriptures say, ‘They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever’” (II Corinthians 9: 6-7).
All areas of our spiritual life, including our finances, are about the generosity of our heart as we align our hearts with God’s heart. These are the more important things the Lord mentioned when He said to continue tithing, but never at the expense of exhibiting a generous response to those in need.
For Jan and me, tithing has become the baseline of our giving. Our giving supports God’s work in a local church and beyond. Our proportional baseline of giving has also been used by the Lord to prevent us from using our financial blessings as a way to get more of what we want at the expense of helping others.
As Paul instructed the Corinthians, we should never give under the threat of punishment or pressure. Years ago, when we began to tithe, I wondered if we could tithe. We soon found out that if we did our part, the Lord would be faithful to do His part.
When we give with a committed and generous heart, our giving will become “A sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God. And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:18-19).
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Garris Elkins
Featured Image by Alan Frijns from Pixabay
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