A lot of people are wrong. No, I am not talking about politics or your opinions about, well, pretty much everything. I know I am not always right. God keeps us humble that way.
Many people in the church world are flat wrong. You may have heard it, but you may not realize it is false. You know you do not agree with it, but struggle to explain why. It may just seem off.
For far too many you are wrong and you are happy being wrong. I am not speaking to those outside the Christian faith, but those within it. Your being wrong seems right because you highly value relationship with God and people, but nevertheless you are still wrong. For others it may genuinely be a lack of faith. Still others simply have heard a statement and attached to it, thinking, “yeah, that seems right.” Like most topics in the world, we may know just enough Scripture to think something seems right, but not enough to show us we are wrong.
So, today, I am here to tell you, You Are Wrong!
I am talking about the taboo subject. No, it is not sex or communication problems. It is not about our struggles with anxiety and or mental illness. No, I am not speaking of how the church needs to do a better job of ministering to families touched by special needs (we are one of those). Dare I go here? I do because you may be wrong.
Are you ready? Do you have your big boy pants on, and your steel toed boots strapped on tight? Here it is. Tithing is Biblical, both in the Old Testament and the New Testament. For some of you, your blood pressure just shot up too high, and you are listing all the reasons I am wrong. But I am not wrong.
Most of us have heard the statement, “tithing is an Old Testament principle, so I do not have to do it. That is under the law. God just wants us to be generous.” Yes, God does want you to be generous. Even in an Old Testament context, tithing was not the end, but the beginning. So, yes, be generous. But you are wrong about tithing.
Let me show you in Scripture. Jesus is telling the religious leaders of his day that they are strict, legalistic, in the tithe, “For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens.” Jesus goes onto say, “but you ignore the more important aspects of the law-justice, mercy and faith.” (Matt 23:23) It is true that when we tithe, we are to do so in the right attitude and not neglecting the fact that how we treat people matters.
This in no way changes the important Biblical principle of tithing. Here is what Jesus says at the end of verse 23, “You should tithe, yes, but do not ignore the more important things.” (emphasis mine) Do you catch that? You should tithe…but also. Jesus is not removing the tithe but elevating the attitude in which we give. In other words, if we give 100% of our tithe every time but then treat people poorly, our tithe means nothing. Jesus often elevates an action to the motivation, see the Beatitudes, “You’ve heard, but I say” statements.
If you believe you do not need to tithe, you are wrong! Tithe and treat people well. Tithe and have mercy. Tithe is an act of faith.
When I was 16 years old, I had my first car and my first job. Cars take gas and gas takes money. So, this is a good set-up. In our denomination, students give toward a missions focus called Speed The Light. I made my pledge and knew it would be a sacrifice to meet it. I only had enough money to tithe, give the STL pledge, and put gas in my car. Let me tell you, as a 16-year-old, it was easy to spend that extra cash on clothing or food. God taught me a lesson. When I gave my tithe and pledge, my gas lasted 2 weeks. When I did not give, it only lasted a week. My driving was the same, but my giving was different.
Next month I will turn 49. I can testify that throughout my life, when we had little or when we had much, God has provided for us every single time. Malachi tells us to “test” God in this. See if He is not faithful. Faithfulness is a commitment that must go beyond the temporary strain. The enemy does not want you to give. Stay committed give the tithe. Give offerings as you are able. Do not be wrong in this.
I will not be wrong when I say God will be faithful. He will bless you. Not all of those will be monetary.
Don’t be wrong!
Through Time 