Tithing is training wheels

My views on tithing have changed.  I currently believe that tithing is one of the many laws that Jesus came to lift off of us.  Now, he has written His law upon our hearts.

“This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” – Heb 10:16.

After we’re set free from the law of sin and death, Scripture only mentions two laws… and those are:

1. The Law of the Spirit of Life – Rms 8:2
2. The Law of Love – Gal 5:14

Tithing is training wheels
Church leaders use the familiar Mal 3:9-11 passage to ‘train’ people into tithing.  This training can be useful as ‘training wheels’ until the faith, mindset and joy of giving has been formed and fashioned in us.  Like most disciplines, we usually start out needing outside motivation until the core reason for that discipline gets worked in us sufficiently to become an internal virtue.  But sadly, if we’re honest, oft-times this Malachi passage is used as a pressure tactic to get the people to give so that churches can meet their financial budget.  The net result is that people often give reluctantly and under compulsion.  And the Bible has something to say about that;

“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” – II Cor 9:7.  

Jesus was always addressing internal heart matters… so much more than externals.  “What’s happening in your heart?”  That was… and still is, the essence of His message.

I now believe that our salvation requires Jesus, plus nothing… to be in right standing with God.

BUT, while I believe that NOTHING is required to stand righteous before God, I also believe that growth in God is accomplished by how we ‘exercise’ in all areas of our lives.  “He who is faithful in little will be given authority over much” – (Matt 25:23).  This is a principle which entices us in many areas of life.  A wise man has said, 

“Everything we NEED in God for salvation is a free gift and cannot be earned.  But everything we WANT in God must be apprehended.”

It would be foolish to not give
If you don’t give, it will not effect your right standing with God, but as you give, your heart will grow, your faith will grow, your influence will grow, and your reaping and reward will grow, etc.  So, if anyone is interested in temporal growth and spiritual growth, it would be foolish to expect growth without giving. 

“Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” – Lk 6:38

In the New Covenant, the Bible highlights two dynamics regarding giving: 1) give joyfully (II Cor 9:7) and 2) give generously (Rms 12:8).  Whenever you give, do it joyfully and generously.

Just a thought
How fun would it be to stay on training wheels all of our life.  Not only would they be very limiting, but the very end-objective for the training wheels would never be realized.   Hmmm.

So, YES, I have changed my view on tithing.  I believe it is one of the many laws that Jesus came to lift off of us, but I still believe that joyful and generous giving is a powerful wisdom principle that serves well all those who employ it.

BTW – Debbie and I don’t even think about giving a tenth.  For decades, as a consistent lifestyle, it has been our joy and our practice to give much more than a tenth!!!

— MLH