Robbing God?

You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. Bring the full tithe 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 a blessing until there is no more need.
Malachi 3:9-10 ESV

How much does God want us to give?

Do we rob God by not tithing?

Are we still required to give a 10% tithe of our income? Are we robbing God if we don’t?

I believe that paying the tithe is no longer required.

We do not live in Old Testament times and there is no more tribe of Levi to support.

We live under the rule of King Jesus and he calls us to serve him, not just with 10% of our money, but all our money.

In the Old Testament, one out of every seven days was holy to the Lord; under Jesus, every day is holy to the Lord.

In the Old Testament, one of the twelve tribes of Israel was set apart to be in God’s service; under Jesus, all God’s people are in God’s service.

The Old Testament was a shadow of the reality that came in Jesus.

In the New Testament, we find no command or instruction to pay the tithe.

Giving, not to get, but to give

Every year at our church we have a “Planned Giving Sunday” when we ask our members and friends to prayerfully consider their giving to the church. We don’t use coercion or guilt. We don’t say “Give to Get!” We simply remind the church of the importance of gospel ministry. This year I reminded the church of Zacchaeus.

Continue reading Giving, not to get, but to give

How much should I give to my church?

Once a year, every year, we have a “Planned Giving Sunday” at our church and we teach about giving and challenge our church to make a monthly financial pledge so that we can budget for the next year. The giving is not policed or tracked; we leave it to the individual’s conscience before the Lord.

Our church, as I’m sure yours, is a non-profit organisation and our aim is not to make money but disciples of Jesus. Our aim is to see people transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light and transformed to be more and more like Jesus. As a church we will work hard to that end by praying and by teaching the gospel. Yet we need money to do this. We need to pay the rent, pay salaries, pay insurance, pay the bills, support missionaries, sponsor mission trips and help those who struggle financially.

Continue reading How much should I give to my church?