Serious believers all over the world are asking legitimate questions about
tithes and offerings These questions must be answered in order for a person to
give up their hard-earned money in faith.
Common Questions:
1. Is tithing New Testament?
The apostle Paul said that he worshipped God according to his fathers and
believed all the things that were in the law. (Acts 24:14) Jesus said, "Not one
jot or tittle of the law will pass away." (Matthew 5:18.)
All of the truth of the Old Testament is true. It is not however, our source of
righteousness. It does not make God love us more. Doing the things in the law
can never give us what Jesus died to give us.
2. Am I robbing God when I do not tithe?
Yes, but He still loves you.
3. Will I go to hell for not tithing?
No you won’t, but someone will. It takes money to get the gospel to the world.
4. Will God curse me if I do not tithe?
Galatians 3:13 says that Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law. Our
failure to tithe or do anything else will not put us back under the curse. God,
who sent His own Son to redeem us from the curse, will certainly not violate the
death, burial and resurrection of Jesus because we fail to obey some part of the
Word.
5. Why is 10% so important?
God did not just randomly pull a figure out of the air. It takes about 10% of
the income of a group of people to provide adequate ministry to the families
involved.
6. What should the tithe be used for?
First and foremost the tithe is used to provide for those involved in the work
of the ministry. (Malachia 3:10) It is impossible for those who minister to do
so if their needs are not met.
Next, the tithe is used to bring meaningful ministry to the local church body.
It costs money to bring worthwhile ministry to children and teens. The church
has to compete with MTV, video games and all sorts of multimedia.
Statistics show that children who do not become disciples by the age of 14 will
probably never walk with God. A great portion of finances is required to provide
staff and programs to which children of this generation will respond.
The Bible pattern was that finances for outreach and buildings should come from
special offerings. Those who minister the word should not be robbed to meet
these needs.
7. Is the tithe 10% before or after taxes?
That is a matter to settle in your own heart. Whatever you decide do it
faithfully with joy and thanksgiving. Don’t do it begrudgingly.
8. What’s the point in tithing?
Tithing is an expression of our love and trust for God. He gave all He had for
us. He sent His Son, Jesus, to become our sin, take the curse of the law,
conquer sin and obtain righteousness. Giving is one of the ways we have of
expressing our love for God.
Tithes and offerings are also an expression of trust. We all want God involved
in our finances, but we don’t want to trust Him. Through our giving our heart is
expanded in our ability to trust Him in this area. Refusal to give is a clear
expression that we do not trust God’s word in the area of finances and
provision.
Failure to tithe and give would be tantamount to praying, "Father I do not trust
you and I do not want you involved in my finances. I prefer to live by the sweat
of my brow, rather than to be empowered by your grace, Amen!"
Tithes and offerings are also one of the places that we express our concern for
the world. God’s Word says that He gives us the power to get wealth so His
covenant can be established in the earth. (Deuteronomy 8:18) God wants us to be
channels through which He can pour His love out on the world.
9. What benefits do I get from tithing?
The benefits of tithes and offerings are many when they are done in faith and
love. God works from the heart. His capacity and power for wealth can only flow
through a generous heart. The word grace means, power, ability or capacity that
works through the heart. God wants us to have His capacity for wealth and
success.
We can only get the grace to receive what we get the grace to give. As we
develop a generous heart, we are simultaneously developing a heart that has the
capacity to receive. Giving, in love and faith develops a heart of generosity in
us.
Many people seek God’s ability to prosper, but never experience it. The secret
to real, abiding prosperity is found in generosity. The generous or "liberal
heart" as the Bible calls it has the ability to see how to prosper in every
situation.
Proverbs 11:23-26 describes how one person withholds what he should give and
never has enough and another person gives more than required, yet they have
abundance. The key is a generous, liberal heart.
The person who has their heart established in the area of grace of giving and
receiving faces difficult times with confidence in God’s provision. He/she
stands sure in the promises of God.
10. What if I am in debt? Should I pay my bills or tithe?
I have had people ask, "Should I rob my creditors or should I rob God? I don’t
have enough to pay both." It is unlikely that we have observed the principles of
God and found ourselves in debt. So, should we cause the Kingdom of God to
suffer because we have been poor stewards? The truly generous person with a
prosperous heart will not steal from either; he/she will find a way to be
responsible in both areas.
11. What did Jesus ever say about money?
Jesus taught more about stewardship than heaven, hell, faith or eternal life.
Nearly every parable was about stewardship. Stewardship is the way we manage our
life, time and resources for the Kingdom of God. If we are disciples of Jesus we
manage our life, time and resources around His priorities.
Jesus’ taught that the way we viewed money would affect the way we view
everything in life. It would cause us to be divided in our loyalties. Matthew
6:21-24. In truth we will never become true disciples of Jesus until we settle
the money issue.
The proper handling of money is to not something you do when you reach a high
level of faith and spirituality. It is the starting place of God granting His
trust to us. It is the place that, until we get past it, we will never be
entrusted with the true riches of God. Luke 16:9-13.
Many people deceive themselves into thinking they will become generous when they
have more money. Paul taught people to be faithful with what they had, not what
they did not have. 2 Corinthians 8:12.
In other words, if you are not generous with what you do have, you will not be
generous when you have more. Studies show that as the income levels rise, people
tend to justify giving smaller and smaller percentages.
12. How and where should I give?
In the Old Testament offerings were brought to the priest who served you. In
other words you should give to the place where:
a. You are receiving personal ministry
b. Your family is receiving ministry
c. You believe in what they are doing
Always make giving an act of love, worship and faith. Get your heart involved.
Remind yourself of why you are giving to the ministry you are giving to.
Do you want your church to be effective?
Do you want quality programs for you and your family members?
Do want to bring stability to your community?
Do want to have God involved in your finances?
Enlarge your heart through faithful, generous, loving giving!
|