Malachi 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed me. But you say, Wherein have we robbed you? In tithes and offerings. 9 You are cursed with a curse: for you have robbed me, even this whole nation. 10 Bring you all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house, and prove me now herewith, said the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. 11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, said the LORD of hosts. 12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for you shall be a delightsome land, said the LORD of hosts.
For the purposes of this article; law, or moral law in the Old Testament can be separated into three groupings. The first would be law described in literal language or perhaps best described as law by statue: You shall not commit murder, you shall not commit adultery , you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart soul and mind. The second would be law, or moral law described in figurative or illustrative language. Genesis 17:9 And God said to Abraham, You shall keep my covenant therefore, you, and your seed after you in their generations. 10 This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your seed after you; Every man child among you shall be circumcised. We can then see the moral law that circumcision represented. Deuteronomy 10:16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiff necked. This is verified in many Old and New Testament verses. Romans 2:28 he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. Then third is law as principle. Meaning. The principle applies but the way that the principle is administered or kept may change as circumstances change. To be clear. all moral law is binding upon all generations. To violate or ignore it is lawlessness. Mankind is separated from the government of God because of lawlessness. Tithing is in fact law by principle as opposed to law by statute to all generations.
What then is tithing as law by principle designed to accomplish? Exactly what you see in the verses referenced in Malachi. 10 Bring you all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house, and prove me now herewith, said the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. 11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, said the LORD of hosts. 12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for you shall be a delightsome land, said the LORD of hosts. So then, is this verse saying what many thousands of pastors are teaching. If you tithe God will bless you personally? No, these particular verses in their context are clearly not teaching that. If one wants to find verses in the Bible that declare divine blessing on those who give there are plenty of them. These verses however, although they obviously include divine blessing are not meant to be construed as speaking on personal level but instead on a national level.
In ancient Israel's republic, before they choose the despotism of Kings; they had a number of different tithes for different purposes they were supposed to voluntarily give. The main tithe, the most important was to fund the living of the priests and prophets. All the 13 tribes except the Levites were given parcels of land with which they could farm and make a profit. The Levite's were to be the pastors and teachers of the day and to earn their living doing so. Therefore they were not given land to farm. The republic had no standing army, no civil leader, national or even local official police force. Thy had tribal, (family ) government and for the most part the welfare of the nation was completely dependent on the knowledge and virtue of the people. In turn, that knowledge and morality was completely dependent on the ministry of the pastors, teachers and prophets. One can see how quickly this system of government that pretty much maximized freedom and liberty could fall apart if the pastors, teachers and prophets did not have the time to seek God, get full of the Holy Spirit, power, and knowledge to serve God and the people. If those ordained by God to serve the interests of heaven and their fellow man had to spend their time struggling to survive and feed their families because the people were not supporting them, (tithing by principle.) Then the nation would fall into ignorance, immortally, vice and eventually destruction. This is where the promise of blessing due to tithing applies. God is challenging mankind to fully support those whom he chooses as pastors, teachers, prophets, evangelists, apostles and all his other ministries that a nations people might be full of knowledge and virtue. A nation full of knowledge and virtue through the power of the Gospel and the knowledge of the Word of God will be full of freedom, liberty, property rights, limited government, the rule of law, an entrepreneurial spirit, creativeness and prosperity. That is what is being implied by the promise: 10.....I will....open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. 11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, said the LORD of hosts. 12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for you shall be a delightsome land, said the LORD of hosts.
Unfortunately, ancient Israel did not appreciate what the Government of God "envisioned" for them. As we in the western world know it today; freedom in the ancient world (for some) was attained only in the circumstances of small tribal\family government. Once these tribes began to grow in population and rub up against other tribes warfare would break out which would ultimately lead to the establishment of the despotism of kings. The personal responsibilities and virtues that are required to actually maintain their freedom once they grew beyond simple family government into a nation were rejected by Israel. They choose instead the path of immortally and substituted their freedom for what the nations around them had, a king and eventual slavery. This choice is exactly what the political warfare we see today in the western world is about. Between those, Christian or non-Christian who embrace the personal responsibility and virtue contained in Biblical principle so that they may be free, just, strong and prosperous. Verses those who reject Biblical principle and the morality demanded by Jesus Christ; who quite naturally embrace the things and the people that will eventually lead to their enslavement.
The United States of America was founded upon the exact same basic principles ancient Israel's republic was founded upon. (Albeit with more light.) All of the nations founders were thoroughly armed with the knowledge of what it took to form and maintain a free nation. With one accord and a full knowledge of what they were doing they embraced and created the new nation upon Biblical principle. There was universal agreement among them, both the Christians and non-Christians that the new nation would not survive as founded unless its citizens were filled with knowledge and Biblically based religious virtue. Universal agreement among them on that point but as to what role the state governments could prudently could play in the dissemination of knowledge and the maintenance of Biblical virtue, there was quite a bit of disagreement. The various states set out to experiment along these lines. This can be seen in this link from Wordservice.org of The Original State Constitutions. They have the pertinent parts highlighted for easy reading. Below however are a few examples to show the principle of tithing in these constitutions with a word from the "father" of the nation about the the necessity of citizens enlightened through true religion, Christianity, to maintain freedom.
Tithing and the Local Church
It can then be seen that the primary reason the Apostles did not teach "tithing" to the churches they founded in their letters to them is because it is law by principle verses law by statute. The churches were supporting their ministries and most likely those of their pastors so the "law" was being fulfilled. "What of the church in Jerusalem though" some might ask; "and the fact that the Holy Spirit was leading them to sell all they had and distribute it to the poor and such? Isn't this what Christ demanded of the rich young ruler also?" The example of the first group of believers in Jerusalem is unique in this sense. Judea was about to be destroyed in a way that had never occurred nor would occur again in history. The Government of God that the ancient Israeli people had a unique access to if they choose was about to be permanently removed from them as people specifically chosen to bring it into the world and given to people of faith of all nations, (Jew and Gentile.) They were preparing for this whether they knew this was the reason or not. Luke 18:22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said to him, Yet lack you one thing: sell all that you have, and distribute to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. 1st timothy 6:19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. These verses are also principle but not the same as the principle of tithing. These were very perilous times which in some cases called for extraordinary measures. Times that one can only navigate through by practical faith gained through experiential knowledge. Riches can provide a means of not having need for that faith so how were they to learn it? That is what that treasure in heaven was. They literally needed a faith that would deliver them from the great judgments that were coming so that they did not perish in them with the wicked. They also needed a faith to bring them through the persecutions the wicked were sending their way. So serious and dangerous was the time to come that money, lands, connections, the things that they had always relied on were not going to bring them through this. They needed the living God and a new way that only he could provide and the material benefits of this world would interfere with. Now this also applies as principle to all generations but again different circumstances means the principle is applied differently. We are not to sell all we have to follow Christ in every circumstance and what God for his specific purposes may require of one he may not require of another.
There are other reasons outside of it being principle though that tithing was not taught to the local churches. Here is one. Jesus forbad his apostles from setting up an institution with leadership. That was the argument that the apostles kept having among themselves concerning which them should be the greatest. They were arguing over who would lead, who would be the head pastor, the head bishop over the church. The problem with this is once you have set up an institution rather than a living body of believers who's governess is their love for one another and the greatest among them are those who serve God and made themselves the servants of men to the death if necessary is this. No matter what the intentions of those who found the institution. No matter how of God the movement, the revival, the local church; or how great the people of God are who founded it. They, in the end will die out and those leadership positions will have to be filled for the institution to carry on. Usually by lesser men or woman than those who founded it. After a few generations it seems inevitable that Satan has his person in charge and an apostasy takes place. Look no further than todays mainline denominations that started off as Godly, powerful ministries but as institutions, after some generations have apostatized. This is addressed in in Malachi.
Malachi 2:1 And now, O you priests, this commandment is for you. 2 If you will not hear, and if you will not lay it to heart, to give glory to my name, said the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse on you, and I will curse your blessings: yes, I have cursed them already, because you do not lay it to heart. ..... 7 For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. 8 But you are departed out of the way; you have caused many to stumble at the law; you have corrupted the covenant of Levi, said the LORD of hosts. 9 Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as you have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law. A similar thing is stated in Ezekiel 34:1 And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say to them, Thus said the Lord GOD to the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? ..... 4 The diseased have you not strengthened, neither have you healed that which was sick, neither have you bound up that which was broken, neither have you brought again that which was driven away, neither have you sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have you ruled them. 5 And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered. 6 My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and on every high hill: yes, my flock was scattered on all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them.
Here is the point when it comes to the teaching of tithing as statue rather than principle as some churches and ministries teach. It puts all the onerous on those commanded to tithe rather than on those who are commanded to change the world for the better. The claim is made by the shepherds that if an individual does not tithe they will not be blessed by God, and perhaps even cursed. Yet no such burden is placed on the pastors to change the culture and nation. To the contrary, success is measured by the size of the church and how many programs and missionaries are supported. (Which can be very easy to do with lots of money.) However according to Malachi this is a two way street. Gods people are in fact commanded to support Gods work and workers in the earth but the workers workers are also commanded to change the world. If only the tithing is done and not the proper works then the world will not be changed for the better. Take this for what you can but this is exactly what God is being robbed of , (Will a man rob God?) He is being robbed of the precious fruit of the earth. It is why ancient Israel was eventually destroyed. Matthew 21:43 Therefore say I to you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. This is not to say that a church or ministry that is not changing the world for the better is not doing any good at all. What it is saying is that in the nations where the Gospel is allowed to be freely preached; the politics of that nation are a direct reflection of the effectiveness of the "truths" preached and the labors of the shepherds. How pray tell does one think the Gospel is even allowed to be freely preached in the first place except due to the fact of the effectiveness of previous generations message and labor? If the people of a nation choose to govern their personal and national affairs according to Biblical principle then it is because the shepherds in that nation are full of the knowledge of the truth and the power of God. Charles Finney, a main preacher during the second great awakening said it this way: "Brethren, our preaching will bear its legitimate fruits. If immorality prevails in the land, the fault is ours in a great degree. If there is a decay of conscience, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the public press lacks moral discrimination, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the church is degenerate and worldly, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the world loses its interest in religion, the pulpit is responsible for it. If Satan rules in our halls of legislation, the pulpit is responsible for it. If our politics become so corrupt that the very foundations of our government are ready to fall away, the pulpit is responsible for it. Let us not ignore this fact, my dear brethren; but let us lay it to heart, and be thoroughly awake to our responsibility in respect to the morals of this nation." So in effect tithing is not taught as statue in the early churches because supporting effective world changing ministries and teachings may mean not supporting established churches and pastors. God's people have to be given the freedom to voluntarily support that which is effectively doing the work of God in the earth and not be bound by statue to support that which may be of God but that is ineffective and bound up in mediocrity.
Some Observations I Have Had Regarding Tithing By Principle
The main thing many people will sight to "prove" tithing is law by statue is because Abraham tithed to Melchizedek from the spoils he took in a raid to rescue his nephew Lot. They'll assert that since tithing was before the Mosaic law and it is only the Mosaic law that is done away with; that therefore, tithing by statute has never been done away with. They emphasize that because Melchizedek is symbolic of the Messiah, which he was, that it affirms tithing by statute will remain in effect forever. There are a number of very obvious problems with this. The first of which is that according to the law by principle, the support of Gods servants has obviously never been done away with. If a people or a nation wants the natural and supernatural blessings of heaven they need to support the work of God that brings those blessings. The same holds true with the circumcision God commanded Abraham submit himself to which was also "before the law." Just as tithing "before the law" demonstrated that people must support Gods servants financially for a nation to be blessed with the rule of law, freedom, good government and prosperity. Circumcision demonstrated that a people cannot be committed to the unlawful gratification of their needs and desires to have those same blessings.
It is a sad fact of life that as a motive most people give or tithe solely on the grounds of their own personal welfare or the gratification of certain feelings rather than according to, for instance what this article is pointing out. I.e. that a mature Christian's primary motive for giving or tithing should be the furtherance of Gods interests, the furtherance and growth of his government. That is not to take away from the promise of blessings both natural and supernatural. However lets address this from the standpoint of a selfish motive. I fear not giving or tithing that I won't have Gods favor. I have needs that I believe tithing will bring about their fulfillment. Giving, helping the poor makes me feel good about myself. God promises wealth to those who tithe and believe. ect ect. A hundred reasons could be listed along these lines. Again this is not to diminish valid needs and desires nor the promises of God nor the importance of the motivating factor of rewards for doing right as opposed to the ultimate motive one has chosen. Gods interests are so much higher and greater than personal interests. Mature Christianity puts the interests of God and personal ones in their proper places. "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind and your neighbor as yourself. " So, here is what I have observed along these lines.
If one is properly giving with an eye to the reward promised, then one cannot expect the same reward measured back to all individuals and in all circumstances. Lets address individuals first. There are seven personality types of individuals listed in Romans chapter 12. Each inherit personality type views things differently than the other. Each designed by God with differing built in strengths and therefore built in weaknesses. This is the main reason why Gods people are described as a body. There is an inherent need for one another and each should focus on excelling in Christ in an area that fits their personably type. Not only this, God works with each individual based on their personably type. (I have seen this by observation but it also may be one thing the vision in Revelation 4-5 is illustrating.) 4:5 And out of the throne proceeded lightning and thunder and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. 5:5 And one of the elders said to me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. 6 And I beheld, and, see, in the middle of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the middle of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
The Apostle uses this language to describe one of these personality types. "He that gives or the gift that gives. " This personality type possess a natural ability to acquire wealth, hence since that is how it perceives things, through the eyes of one who has an uncanny ability to acquire wealth. As a gift to Gods people, its function fits very well into giving. These people are the ones that pastors love to have give testimonies of what began to transpire in their lives when they started to obey God in "tithing." Why is that? Simply because God mostly works in his people in the area's of their personality type. So when this particular personally type begins to reap some rewards from heaven for their giving; it will usually come to them in the form of opportunities to gain wealth. So you'll hear a testimony like, "God put on my heart to start tithing. When I obeyed in faith within a few months my income doubled then tripled ect ect." You will not hear the testimony of the poor sap who heard this guys testimony and started tithing and lost everything. That would not be in the pastors interest. What is the difference? Doesn't God want to bless one as well as the other? The answer to that is yes and amen. 2nd Co. 2:1 For all the promises of God in him are yes, and in him Amen, to the glory of God by us. This issue in this scenario is not whether God blesses one and not the other. The issue is that God infuses his workings, his spirit into the personality type of the individual. The first personality type sees\perceives things in the light of gaining wealth. the second may not. In fact the second may see things in the light that would prevent him from gaining wealth. God does not have anything to work with in the second along the lines of that type of reward. Moreover and just as relevant; there are certain weaknesses inherent in each of these personably types. What I have observed is this: In Christ, Satan cannot stop a person from gaining the things, the promises of God that are congruent to their gifting, (personatly type.) He finds it quite easy though to stop people from gaining what is not compatible to their "gifting." Is this saying that only people who are gifts of giving can be wealthy, (and give monetarily.) Not at all. It's just pointing out that personal reward from heaven for giving is primarily dependent upon the inherent personatly type "gifting." I'm simply pointing out what I have observed as a way of proving that it is against our God created nature to have a one size fits all giving program called "tithing" were all individuals who want heavenly monetary rewards need to give 10% of their income to a local church.
So what happens then? Since God may find it difficult to reward some of his people monetarily do they even get a reward for giving monetarily? The answer is absolutely! It's just that the reward they will be able to acquire will be in the area's of their strengths. Areas where Satan cannot stop them from receiving it. For instance; in Romans 12 the apostle uses the word "prophecy" to describe my personatly type. This is not to be confused in any way shape or form with a prophet. The supernatural (temporary) empowerment of a prophet to see things to come and such is a ministry empowerment that any of these personality types can be empowered with if God so chose. "Prophecy" as a personality type is described a little in 1st Co. 13:2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge..... This personatly type essentially has a natural ability to figure out and see things that others or a generation has difficulty seeing or understanding. Very good at knowing what is coming by knowing what the effects will be of a cause. If it excels in Christ revelation comes very natural to it as Gods workings and Spirit are infusing a personatly that perceives answers to things that are mysterious or knowledge that lack in a generation. You can actually see that displayed on the pages of this website. When I was younger and was able to give allot more monetarily than I am now I was quite consciously aware that my obedience in giving was being rewarded with revelation in Gods Word. If I abide in Christ it seems Satan has no ability to stop me in this area. Now its not that if God had called me into business or some other profession , or that I came to Christ involved in business that I could not use this "gifting" to gain wealth. I wasn't and have never been able to do that due to the calling to teach Gods people what I have learned and walk in. This has prevented me from having the time to build a wealth generating business as my focus is always divided. There were actually times in the past where I got upset with God over all the revelation because I needed cash not knowledge that the churches were not teaching. It was like the double whammy. I needed the support of a local church but the knowledge I was gaining was putting me at odds with those in control of the church. So you see how Satan can hinder the work of God along these lines. The church need my knowledge but it didn't know it did. I needed their support and did not have God working in my life to gain an alternate method of support. Satan was able to stop the will of God from being done because people do not really grasp the idea of how dependent God has made us on one another in the labor of changing hearts and cultures. They were in dire and I mean dire need of what I had and I was in dire need of what they had for the good will of God to be completed.
I'll just mention two more personatly types while here. The Apostle calls one the gift of leadership. An easier way to describe this personality type may be a natural born salesman. So how can God reward this personatly type monetarily if they are not involved in something congruent with a natural ability to sell a product, an idea, a vision or a ministry? Many, I'd almost say the majority of mega church pastors are this personatly type. They see success in numbers and buildings. That is of God! Obviously though it needs to be balanced out and Gods method of doing that is the other personality types called into ministry having as much say in the vision and growth of a church as this person. This person should focus on what they is good at. Getting people to embrace a vision, marshaling the troops, getting them to dig deep to give. They should not however be in charge and the vision setter as their vision will simply be size and scope but couldn't get people to turn away from their sin if their life depended on it. That is not what they is good at. Hence you see the mega church phenomena, of God, very broad but very very shallow. The other would be the gift of teacher. The connotation here is obvious. they should be involved in the teaching aspect of business or teaching others. The majority of teaching positions do not pay well. So you can see the types of things they would have to work through God would have to arrange to be able to reward this person monetarily for their monetary giving.
Having addressed varying individual types a little as it pertains to the workings of giving and receiving. Now we can look a little at circumstantial issues pertaining to the same thing. Lets say an individual, (forget about personality types here,) a person who owned a business who is a relatively new Christian is hearing standard teachings on giving and receiving. They become convicted and thus are being led to begin to give. What will the result be? Well something overlooked by so many is the circumstances surrounded this. Lets say this happened during a time of great revival, when God was granting mighty signs and wonders to verify his word. Where businessmen who were walking by faith were finding miracle after miracle related to business and people were being saved left and right. Well, there have been revivals like that in case you were not aware. If this new Christian businessperson we are speaking of is doing this in the time of great revival described. In all likelihood due to the fact that they are in the right place at the right time they will find miracles and signs and wonders related to their business quite easy to come by that could very quickly make them very wealthy. Now conversely. What if this same person started his giving in a time when absolutely nothing was going on? Well most likely nothing much will happen and if he needs some miracle for his business it may be quite hard to come by. It may take many years and allot of seeking God with fasting and prayer. Same person, same motives, same heart same everything except the circumstances in which they started their giving. Now, don't you think churches and pastors who lived through a revival like that and saw or heard thousands of miracles along these lines might be a little more tempted to adopt a tithing by statute doctrine? You may not believe this but this is exactly how the tithing by statue became a popular teaching in American churches; by the influence of a few decades long revival along these lines that is responsible for hundreds of millions being saved world wide. It is also one component of the mega church phenomena. It takes a substantial minority of church members tithing to allow that kind of spending.
That is one circumstance that may yield drastically different results. Another would be this. Lets say we have the same person in two separate circumstances. In the first they are led to believe a doctrine on tithing by statute and begin to tithe by faith yet there is little response from heaven in their lives and business, at least monetarily that they notice. Now lets say the same person in the same situation actually had the word of God come to him via an angelic visitation to start giving 10% of their income? In this word, or at least in the persons spirit who is receiving this word they are aware of great promise attached to their obedience in faith. I would say most definitely that this person is likely to see almost world changing events transpire in his life and business due to this. Now which one will be giving his testimony in church about their experience with tithing by statute? Again, this is not to take away from anyone's personal experience in giving but to show how things can be manipulated, even unwittingly to impose a one size fits all giving program called tithing on Gods saints. How many testimonies have you heard of people who began to tithe by statute and their lives became a big train wreck? You say impossible? I know people who have consistently experienced this. If your one of them then may I present to you a scripture that will deliver you from bondage. Romans 4:5 But to him that works not, but believes on him that justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. 6 Even as David also describes the blessedness of the man, to whom God imputes righteousness without works,....6 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all.
I'm sure there are many other circumstances that will yield different effects for the same works and many could add their observations and experiences to this list. None of this takes away from the obligation for all true Christians to do their part in furthering the invisible Government of God's influence in the earth by supporting the work of the Gospel. It doesn't take away from the promise attached to it. The article just seeks to temper the teachings with the realities expressed in the Word of God. To implore those who are not doing their part to do it and to help those who are in bondage to works that may be separating them from true faith on the issue.
Isaiah 52:7 How beautiful upon the
mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace,
who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to
Zion, “Your God reigns.” ESV
Psalm 68:11 The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that
published it.
© Daniel Martinovich 2015