Faith & Finance Fridays
Reflect • Commit • Equip • Apply

Malachai 3:8-10
Would Anyone Rob God?

Commit: Tithing Joyfully from the Heart

Last week we began a dive into Malachai 3:8-10 with a reflection on what it means to rob God and by asking: Why? Why would anyone rob Him when He gives to us so freely. Normally on week two, our exploration takes us into what it means to commit to the lesson in that month’s passage. This month we’re going to do something a little different. We’re not just going to commit to tithing, but to commit to doing it joyfully.

Before we get into the manner in which we tithe, let’s talk about what the tithe is. “You shall bring the choice first fruits of your soil into the house of the Lord your God.” – Exodus 23:19. The prescription of 10% in Leviticus 27:32 is a good guideline. To give 10% though, you have to wait until the full harvest is in so you can count and cull. While doing so follows the letter of God’s law, consider what it would look like to follow the spirit of the law and tithe along the way for what you expect. Many of us have regular jobs and receive a set salary; we know what our harvest is going to be. Others of us may have jobs in which we receive bonuses or we’re self-employed and don’t know how much our annual earnings will total.

Strange as it may sound, committing to tithing, regardless of the percentage, is the easy part. We budget for a lot of obligations; some of which, like taxes and insurance, we have no choice but to give as they’re taken before we get our share of the harvest. These we might give grudgingly, but that we have no choice but to give. That’s why we call them obligations. Tithing shouldn’t be an obligation. It should be something we commit to giving wholeheartedly, before it’s asked of is.

“Each one must do just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” – 2 Corinthians 9:7

Those who tithe joyfully from the heart have a different mindset when it comes to what growing assets mean. I had a client once who was a self-employed Bible translator. His work was funded entirely on church donations. Some years he did well financially, others not so much. Throughout it all, he not only tithed 12% of his first fruits, but worked missions in Africa, adopted five children, gave large sums to help fund building schools, and he managed to retire before 60. My client tithed more than just money. Through his devotion to ministry, he gave also of his time and of himself, unreservedly, even when funds were low because, for those who give joyfully, no matter how little they have, they’re never lacking.

Is there a consequence to tithing without joy? As long as we’re doing it, we’ve fulfilled our obligation, no? We see more than once in the New Testament that Jesus denounces the pharisees for doing as the law prescribes, including tithing, with a hard heart.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the Law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.” – Matthew 23:23

Even worse for us would be to lie about tithing. God knows everything, what we do, what we don’t do, and what’s in our hearts. Acts chapter 5 tells the story of Ananias and Sapphira who sell a property and give a portion of the profit to the apostles. They lie about the sale price and tithe on a smaller amount. 

“But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the proceeds of the land? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God.” And as he heard these words, Ananias collapsed and died.” – Acts 5:3-4a,5a

Ananias and Sapphira died, not because they robbed God of a full tithe, but because they lied about it. Woe unto us should we deliberately attempt to deceive God. We would be better off to not tithe at all than to do so begrudgingly or with a disingenuous heart.

We talk a lot, not just in Faith and Finance Fridays but in our lives about committing to things. What doesn’t get equal attention, even if it should, is our attitude to committing. When we commit to something with resentment because we have to do it, that colors our actions and leaves the world darker. But if we commit to something—be that tithing or anything else—with joy or faith, the world becomes a better place.

Reflection Question:

What is the difference between choosing to do something willingly and choosing to become willing to do it? How might that distinction change the way we approach tithing?

Next Week:

We went over what the tithe is and the manner in which we commit to giving it, next week, we’ll answer the how we can equip ourselves for joy.