The Trouble with Tithing

“Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year. Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and olive oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the Lord your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the Lord your God always.

But if that place is too distant and you have been blessed by the Lord your God and cannot carry your tithe (because the place where the Lord will choose to put his Name is so far away), then exchange your tithe for silver, and take the silver with you and go to the place the Lord your God will choose. Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the Lord your God and rejoice.” Deut. 14

The above passage explains the Old Testament instruction of tithing. Of course remember that Israelites were commanded to give back 1/10 of whatever their blessings were to the Lord. There was a problem though… they were to carry their 1/10 of grain, wine, oil, etc. to Jerusalem (for instance). That could be a potentially very long way to freight those products and the Lord understood that. He instructs them to sell it… take the money to Jerusalem and use it to buy things worth their 1/10th tithing so they could fulfill the tithing commandment.

Of course we’re not required to tithe in the sense of Old Testament tithing today. Rather we give free will offerings… as we have prospered. So it might be less than 1/10th and it might be greater than 1/10th. Some would say that since we live under a better covenant that it should be more than 10%

The Israelites had a problem giving due to distance. What kind of problems might we have today? I can think of two things off the top of my head.

- We might “love” our money too much and get real sad and have a hard time saying goodbye when the collection plate is passed around.

- We might “love” things that money can buy too much and have bought so many nice things on credit that our money is tied up and we can’t give much to God.

Since we know that we have an obligation to give and that God will hold us accountable what kind remedy might God suggest for our monetary problems?

God might say… don’t live beyond your means. If you can’t afford to pay cash for it don’t buy it.

God might say… why are you buying expensive things for yourself and giving me nothing?

God might say… it’s better to live frugally and give bountifully than to live bountifully and give frugally.

I look back at my life and see that he has blessed me every step of the way. The reality is that if he asked me to give Him everything I have… how could I say no? Surely Heaven is worth “all”