A searchable, downloadable PDF of the original article appears below. Esther Mcllveen is a free-lance writer living in Richmond, B.C.
Jesus, the wise financier, counselled his followers,
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth, and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal.”
Tithing is both the wisest investment of our money, as well as a command first given to the Children of Israel,
“As soon as the command was spread abroad, the people of Israel gave in abundance the first fruits of grain, wine, oil, honey, and of all the produce of the field, and they brought in abundantly the tithe of everything.”
In Deuteronomy, the people were instructed to “tithe all the yield of your seed which comes forth from the field year by year.” Abraham, who was called a friend of God, “gave a tenth of everything.”
Tithing was not just a requirement of the wealthy, for in Exodus the “poor were instructed not to give less.” Tithing was to become the norm for all the children of God.
Our daughter who has practised tithing almost from the time of her first paycheque says the discipline of tithing is much more demanding and rewarding than giving sporadically. It becomes a way of life.
As time progressed for the Children of Israel, their lives were fraught with drought, famine, and blighted crops. They responded to the hardship by sloth, indifference and spiritual lethargy. To them it seemed that the wicked were prospering and God’s people were suffering. They questioned whether there was profit in obeying his commandments. It was Malachi, the prophet, who called them back to account and told the people they were robbing God. When they inquired in what way, he instructed them,
“Bring the full tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house; and thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing.”
God further promised that the result of such obedience would mean that “he would rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil; and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear.”
In the New Testament, the Pharisees practised tithing to such an extent that they even tithed herbs such as mint and rue. However, God rejected their their tithes because they had neglected weightier matters such as “justice and the love of God.” Tithing was never meant to be a substitute for social action and a right attitude towards God.
As well as tithing, an attitude of generosity was to mark their way of life.
“The righteous gives and does not hold back … but the righteous is generous and gives.”
Deuteronomy says,
“For the poor will never cease out of the land; therefore, I command you, you shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in the land.”
Charles Colson in an article in Christianity Today makes an astute comment when he says,
“The real tragedy of celebrity aid would be if the public believes that the need is over when the curtain comes down in Hollywood.”
Jesus also taught that the giving of alms should not be done for public applause,
“But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
Paul recalls the words of Jesus when he says, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Paul encouraged the Philippian church to give, not that he was anxious for their gift, but rather that such open-heartedness would produce fruit in their lives. Kindness is one of the fruits of the Spirit.
The Corinthian church was encouraged to give willingly and not to regard their gift as an exaction,
“Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
In the New Testament, the Pharisees practised tithing to such an extent that they even tithed herbs such as mint and rue. However, God rejected their tithes because they had neglected weightier matters such as ‘justice and the love of God.’
The Roman church was encouraged to give with great abandonment,
“He who contributes, in liberality; he who gives aid, with zeal; he who does acts of mercy with cheerfulness.”
Elizabeth Bibesco says, “Blessed are those who can give without remembering.”
Each time we partake of Holy Communion, we are reminded of the extent to which God gave. When he touches our lives with his indulgent love, our wallets will also be opened, and we will discover that the purse is never emptied by giving and the heart never empties by loving!