Is it really all yours?

Alden Ho/Jefferson Christian Academy

A story is told of certain rich man who invited a churchman to lunch, and they went to a popular restaurant. The waiter was very efficient, and the service was good.

As they rose to depart, the churchman observed that his host laid some coins under the edge of his plate. And the waiter, who stood by, smiled happily; which, being interpreted, meant the tip was satisfactory.

Now, with such customs, all are familiar, and this parable enters not into the merits or demerits of tipping.

But the churchman began to meditate on these coins. Well he knew that the proverbial tip must be at least a tithe (this was written some time ago), lest the waiter turn against you. And it came to him that few people so honor their God as they honor their waiter. For they give unto their waiter the tithe, but they give unto God whatsoever they think they can spare!

Verily, doth man fear his waiter more than he fears his God? And does he love God less than he loves the waiter? Truly, truly, a man and his money are past understanding!

What is tithe?

The word “Tithe” literally means, one tenth, or a tenth. Sadly, most Christians don’t tithe. In fact, only about 3% actually do. As a whole, Christians give less than 3% of their incomes, and some say that tithing is an old testament thing, and it isn’t relevant anymore.

The Bible says, And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s. It is holy to the Lord (Leviticus 27:30).

Is it necessary to tithe?

Malachi 3:8-10 says, Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation. Bring ALL the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this, says the Lord of hosts, If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.

What is a faithful tithe? Let’s look at this from a slight different perspective.

If your wife sleeps with another man. Is she faithful to you?

If your husband looks at another woman with lust in his heart. Is he faithful to you?

If you don’t faithfully return your tithe, are YOU being faithful to God? 

As did Abraham, they are to pay tithe of all they possess and all they receive. A faithful tithe is the Lord’s portion. To withhold it is to rob God. Every man should freely and willingly and gladly bring tithes and offerings into the storehouse of the Lord, because in so doing there is a blessing. There is no safety in withholding from God His own portion.

What about if you are so deep in debts?

A better question would be, how do you regard our obligations to God, who gives us life and breath, and all the blessings we enjoy? Would you have your indebtedness to God continually increasing? Would you rob Him of the portion which He has never given us to use for any other purpose than to advance His work, to sustain His servants in the ministry? 

This story will help to illustrate the point. An ambitious young man who told his pastor he’d promised God a tithe of his income. They prayed for God to bless his career. At that time he was making $400.00 per week and tithing $40.00. In a few years his income increased and he was tithing $5000.00 per week. He called on the pastor to see if he could be released from his tithing promise, it was too costly now. The pastor replied, “I don’t see how you can be released from your promise, but we can ask God to reduce your income to $400.00 a week, then you’d have no problem tithing $40.00.

Can you return tithe anywhere you want?

Deuteronomy 12:13 says, Take heed to yourself that you do not offer your burnt offerings in every place that you see; but in the place which the Lord chooses, in one of your tribes, there you shall offer your burnt offerings, and there you shall do all that I command you.

Is tithing a Salvation issue?

If stealing wrong and will land you in prison, then robbing God will also have grave consequences as well.

Those who claim to be Christians, and yet do not return a faithful tithe are after the order of Achan’s sin, who embezzle the Lord’s goods, and appropriate for the use of their families those things which should go to the treasury of the Lord’s house, will not be left without judgment at the hand of God.

Better to be faithful with 90%, than stealing with 100%!