There’s a lot of buzz on social media lately about tithing, and we’ve been following the conversation.
Some people say that paying tithe is an old testament command, and doesn’t apply to us today. Others say it enriches pastors, leaving the flock in abject poverty. Still some others say that tithing a spiritual exercise. It should be given (not paid), as a sign of one’s total submission to God.
However many others are concerned about how this affects their “chances” of making heaven. This is what we will focus on today.
When asked “will not tithing send you to hell?” Dr. Pat Robertson had this to say in his book, Bring It On:
“There’d be a lot of Christians in hell if that were the case! The percentage of church members who tithe is woefully small. No, a lack of tithing will not send you to hell, nor will tithing keep you out of hell. Tithing is an act of obedience, since the first 10 percent of our wealth belongs to the Lord. God spoke through the prophet Malachi and posed a series of pointed questions and answers: “Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing me! But you say, ‘How have we robbed Thee? In tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for robbing Me, the whole nation of you” (Malachi 3:8-9 ). In the Old Testament, the rule was to give the first 10 percent of your income or produce to the Lord.
Tithing isn’t mentioned in that context in the New Testament, but Jesus didn’t lower the standards; He raised it. He demanded to be Lord of all, the other 90 percent as well as the first 10 percent of your resources.
Tithing is an act of love on the part of a Christian. If you love the Lord, you will want to give back to Him (via your church or other ministries), because it is the path to blessing. God says, “Prove me now, with your tithes and offerings. I will open the windows of heaven and pour out such a blessing that you are unable to contain it” (See Malachi 3:8-12). God does not say, “If you refuse to tithe, I will send you to hell.” He says, “Give, and it will be given unto you…in the same measure that you give, it will be given back to you” (See Luke 6:38). God says, “Because you give, I’m going to give you a great blessing, and I will rebuke the devourer, who tries to destroy your effectiveness” (See Malachi 3:11).
I’m convinced that the biblical standard is not 10 percent, but may be closer to 25 or 30 percent of your income. The tithe is not always given to churches or other ministries; it may be given directly to the poor and needy. Regardless, God promises, “He who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and he who sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully” (2 Corinthians 9:6). if we sow liberally into meeting the needs of others, we will reap a prosperous harvest. It’s as though the money that is given to the poor becomes seed out of which will grow a new harvest.”
This basically summarizes what the principle of tithing entails, and we hope that this has restored your confidence. Faith in Jesus and His finished work for us on the cross is the ONLY requirement for making heaven. Heaven is a gift (John 3:16) and not a reward for obeying God’s commands.
Click this link to read a more detailed teaching from the Christian Broadcasting Network, about the subject of “Giving and Tithing.”
God bless you 🙂
