Articles by Kevin Baird

When I began my tithing journey 48+ years ago I found that, like many believers, what I didn’t understand about the principle, I simply “made up”.  Instead of studying, praying, and seeking for the truth, I sort of filled in the blanks with personal pragmatism. I defined concepts using my own thoughts and definitions instead of Bible concepts, principles, and precepts.

For example, many people use the word “tithe” as a synonym for “giving”. As one man said to me years ago, “I tithe and I figured it up that last year my tithe is around 7 percent of my income”. Another person said (whom everyone was well aware their income was a solid 6 figure), “I tithe $100 monthly.” Again, one can affirm any amount of generosity and be grateful for it. But as sensitive as some people are over the concept of “replacement theology”, there is also an active “replacement stewardship” at work in the Body of Christ at large. We “replace” and “redefine” concepts which have no small degree of clarity in the Scriptures. 

Principle 6 and 7 are closely related and will splash over on each other and address some of the pragmatism which has cemented itself in many believer’s minds. Principle 6 is “Where do we tithe?”, and the next post (principle 7) is “Do we direct the tithe?” I will prepare you, this concept was revelatory for me and not everyone will agree, but as the title of these posts declare, this is what has made a difference in MY life.

The short answer to “Where do I tithe?”, is simply…the storehouse. (See Malachi 3:8-12)

The proceeding question now becomes, “What or Who is the storehouse?”

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Sorry for the tardiness in posting. We’ve been on the road ministering and preaching and even now I am catching up in a hotel room to get these posts out. Please be sure to catch up on the previous 4 posts.

Principle #5 is prefaced by stating that the devil’s job description is to “steal, kill, and destroy”. The adversary is quite pleased when you struggle, face lack, and live impoverished. He is pleased when your finances are depleted and seem to evaporate before the next payday. In much the same way the Lord has the ability to stretch the purchasing power of a dollar, the enemy can also shrink your finances creating scenarios where you are constantly trying to figure out how you can make more money. Haggai 1:6 states, “You have sown much, and bring in little; You eat, but do not have enough; You drink, but you are not filled with drink; You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; And he who earns wages, Earns wages to put into a bag with holes.” This is where principle 5 is derived:

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I believe the Lord has established certain laws or dynamics into the fabric of the universe which are at work whether we know it or not. The greatest example in my estimation is the law of sowing and reaping. Lets review Galatians 6:7-9…

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”

I remember the moment years ago when the Spirit highlighted the word “whatever”. Sowing seed may include the giving of finances, but it also transcends the exclusivity of finances. “Whatever” means, whatever. Most would agree that the verse includes things like: Mercy, forgiveness, love, kindness, and the like. It also includes negative things like: Unforgiveness, bitterness, anger, deceit, impatience, and the like. When we “sow” or release such things it puts in motion an equal and opposite reaction that boomerangs to come back upon us. What we give, we receive. How we act, it is reciprocated. The verse reminds us that our actions have a day of reckoning where we will experience the very thing we initiated.

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When the movie Braveheart was initially released I watched it as a period piece of film which took incredible historical liberties with the person of William Wallace. I knew much, if not all, of it was fiction, but I loved the action sequences and battle scenes. After years of watching it however, I have come to appreciate one of the sub-plots in even greater measure. It has to do with the political climate surrounding Scotland and its de facto rulers, the “Nobles”. The Nobles are a study in political survival, self-interest, and expediency. They are actually a great illustration to the nature of long term political leadership.

I must now offer a caveat…

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I have found that people in general struggle with expectation and obedience. We resist wrestling and responding to the question, “What might God require of me?” That is the achilles heal of the grace heresy. There is a marvelous, wonderful, and freeing aspect of grace which accomplishes what you could never do on your own. Salvation is a free gift accessed through faith and not of works. Your righteousness is actually His righteousness both imputed and imparted. That is what we call, “Good News”.

But somehow we have turned the grace of God into a license to avoid obedience (Romans 6:1-2, Jude 1:4). Some twist and turn to avoid any aspect of obedience or expectation upon their walk with the Lord. Grace has become a “get out of obedience” card for them, rather than an “enduement of power” pipeline which enables a person to obey beyond their normal capacities (2 Corinthians 12:9). Obedience is seen as “works righteousness” rather than a natural fruit of God’s grace. Sadly, the principle of tithing gets caught in the crossfire.

Jesus does indeed own it all. As my wife used to teach the kids in Children’s Church, “When Jesus is Lord it means He is the boss and He calls the shots”. This isn’t theoretical lordship. He is Lord of ALL, including your finances.

This is important backstory to my practice of the tithe. As the Lord has prospered our house through the years, I began to see that I was enlarged in far more ways than a paycheck. Which brings me to principle 3:

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