This blog excursion started by sharing that my wife and I have been on a journey exploring and searching the genuine biblical precepts of prosperity. It is our journey. It is not an apologetic or defense for those ministries or teachers who may over emphasize the doctrine or present it with lack of precision. My guess is that this blog post in particular, will begin challenge some people’s thoughts on the matter.
I understand that there will be people who for various reasons resist and reject any thought of biblical prosperity. I understand that by the very nature of sharing a journey into a topic like this that apologetic moments present themselves which appear to be a defense. I guess that is inevitable and unavoidable to some extent. My intent is to simply present a testimony and account of things which we have either been reminded or received an epiphany concerning. The reader is, of course, at liberty to accept or reject what we discovered. Again, life unfolds, and fruit is revealed by the thousands of decisions we make in a lifetime.
I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; (Deuteronomy 30:19)
This brings me to the “tithe”.
We have been faithful tithers as a couple for over 39 years. I personally began tithing just a few months after becoming born-again which means I have about 42 years under my belt practicing this precept. It has been one of the foundational points and perhaps one of the best practices we have ever embraced.
For those who may not know, the tithe is a biblical concept of “returning” to the Lord 10% of all the material increase in your life. Since everything you own or receive as a Christian is the Lord’s, the tithe is the indicator that what you SAY about God owning it all is actually true. God, of course, needs none of your money; however, the return of the tithe indicates to oneself the true state of the heart.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:21)
I understand the grand debate concerning the tithe. As a local church pastor for over 35 years and now a pastor to pastors for several years, I am fully aware of all the arguments concerning its validity or obsolescence. I have zero interest in defending the practice to those who are zealous to avoid it. In fact, let me just synopsize swiftly the thoughts surrounding the tithe and how people approach it. (Let me be clear, I am synopsizing views not advocating for them at this time.)
1. The tithe is Old Testament law and was made obsolete because of the Cross due to the “transition” between Law and Grace. (This includes both those who have genuine theological convictions as well as those who use this construct to simply justify their lack of generosity. It also includes those who maintain that while the tithe is obsolete, Christian generosity would eclipse the 10%.)
2. The tithe was practiced in an agrarian and ranching context, so it is no longer valid in a modern monetary system. (In other words, we [supposedly] can’t practice this precisely as the bible presents it anymore.)
3. The tithe may be Old Testament, but it provides a good business model for supporting the local church. (This is a more pragmatic approach to why the tithe is relevant.)
4. The tithe is biblical, and we are duty bound to practice it. (This feels like what many might call “legalistic”. Of course, many also maintain that there are times obedience is rightly synonymous with “duty”.)
5. The tithe transcends the Law and is a principle to be practiced mixed with obedient faith to derive the benefits God intended. (As with all biblical principles, God expects us to embrace this precept joyfully by faith. Tithing actually was practiced at least 500 years BEFORE the Law was instituted and continued in Christian circles later in the New Testament writings.)
It is no secret that I have landed on #5. As I mentioned above, I have no interest in debating the point (although I have through the years), but simply rest in the fact that everyone’s theological decision on this matter eventual bears the fruit of that decision. As for me, I became convinced after reading Malachi 3:8-12, that tithing was a “door” that opened the possibility of prospering. Allow me to post the passages and then underscore some initial points which leapt out to me.
“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. “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” Says the Lord of hosts; “And all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land,” Says the Lord of hosts.
1. God expects that I return what is His. (v.8)
You can only rob someone of what is actually there’s. So, when I tithe, I am not “giving” the Lord anything, but rather “returning what is rightfully His. This is a massive point. The reason is because if you spend those monies which are His on yourself, then it opens a door for a curse.
2. To disobey tithing is to position myself for barrenness. (v.9)
A “curse” can mean numerous things to various people, however in this instance it is related to “barrenness”. Your ability to produce will be circumvented and thwarted in life. Hear me clearly, this verse does not mean that God is “zapping” your life with bad stuff much like a witch casts a curse. On the contrary, your money carries with it by virtue of its predominant use in a fallen world the spirit of mammon. The tithe breaks that curse. This is why 90% of a tithing Christians income can actually go further than 100% of the income of a non-tither. The 90% is free from the curse of “mammon” (we may explore this more later).
3. I must be “complete” in the tithe. (v.10)
I am enlarged in far more ways than a paycheck. I need to be sensitized to my enlargements and be diligent in returning the complete tithe of it to the Lord. (We will get back to this as well)
4. The tithe “opens” a window in heaven. (v.10)
This open window I have come to understand as favor. The tithe does not adhere to the laws of seed and sowing which multiplies after its kind, but rather positions the believer under the favor of God which may manifest in any one of a number of ways. This is also why one cannot actually “sow” seeds in offerings with any expectation of return until the tithe is complete. Those seeds cannot reproduce outside of an open window in heaven, as well as, being affected by the curse (barrenness). Cursed things cannot reproduce consistently.
5. The tithe is an act of allegiance. (v.11)
Tithing is one of several acts that demonstrates where my loyalties ultimately lie. As I demonstrate my allegiance to the King, the King responds by rebuking and dispersing my enemies.
There is a lot to chew on in this blog. Much of this will be circled around to in upcoming blogs as I know there may be legitimate thoughts and questions to some of what I have posted. Again, this is the journey of our household. I have found these biblical precepts to be not only valid, but life-giving and productive in our journey.
Stick around…
I believe the “light-bulb” is about to turn on for some.
No Comments