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There’s so much debate around tithing today – particularly in the context of whether it is a New Testament practice or not. Many books have been written on the subject – some avidly support the principle, whilst others are strictly against it. It does seem often that a lot of people’s energy could be more effectively channelled elsewhere.
Now, I personally advocate the 'principle' of tithing for today. But I’m not going to try and persuade the Christian world to do it just because I believe in it. I simply think there is an easier way for us Christian Leaders to go about it. Simply put, I believe God directly gives us the solution in scripture:
"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.
(Malachi 3:10, emphasis added).
What God appears to be saying here is that ‘he’ will prove himself right on this one - you don’t have to get involved in persuading people one way or another.
It’s fascinating that nowhere else in the Bible does God ask us to put him to the test other than in the area of financial giving. In fact, what makes this an even more interesting invitation is that God normally opposes us testing him (see Deut 6:16; Psalm 78:41,46; Matt 4:7; Acts 5:9; 1 Cor 10:9).
So here’s a suggestion – get your people to take God at his word. Present the invitation of scripture, from The Lord himself to your congregation. Make it practical and measurable – why not encourage any new Christians and non-tithers to put their Saviour to the test for just three months. Ask your people to put God to test God for 90 days – by bringing 10% of all their income to the local church – and see what God does. Even if you’re not sure about the answer yourself, I would almost guarantee that your own mind will be made up as people complete the challenge.
I remember reading about John Maxwell recently. In his days of pastoring, once a year, he would put out a similar ’90 Day Tithing Challenge’. There would be a focus on teaching during this time to help people in their journey. But Maxwell, took things one step further still by promising to return any monies given at the end of this period if people regretted making this decision!
Now you could argue that such an ‘insurance policy’ on the part of the believer takes away any element of trusting God, but the clear message behind that gesture is that God doesn’t lie.
So, to whatever extent you may want to put out the challenge to your congregation, or in whatever format that may look like, the support that the scripture gives us as Ministers of the Gospel is that we can leave this one between God and his people. Simply encourage them to do what is right, with a pure heart before God, and see what happens in their financial lives!
"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.
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