Christians are torn between the tithe. There are those who believe in and religiously comply with the tithe and those who think that it's an aspect of the law of God that is already outdated.
Some of those who comply with the tithe question its effectivity, pointing out that no matter how consistently and faithfully they tithe, it still doesn't take their problems away.
If you're the kind of Christian who believes that all your problems — financial, spiritual, physical, or emotional — will go away because you obey God, you're up for some serious disappointment.
God never promises storm-free living to anyone, not even to obedient tithers.
1 Peter 4:12 reminds us, "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you."
Trials and tribulations are not a new reality. It's also not something anyone is exempted from. Even Jesus Himself had to be completely honest to His disciples about the trial that awaited them.
But isn't that the point of the tithe — to keep us away from financial difficulty, sickness and so on?
Let's look at Malachi 3:10 for proper perspective: "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."
The main rationale of the tithe is stated in the scripture itself. It's basically this: "If you take care of my house, I'll take care of yours."
The tithe is often given to the work of God's ministry so that His kingdom's advancement will continuously be funded.
The part we get slightly wrong most of the time though is the last part, which is how God delivers.
Most people think that the tithe is insurance, something that we give to make sure God's blessings keep coming. As harmless as that thought may seem, it can build a big misconception that God's blessing is based on our tithe.
It's not. It's actually the other way around. Our tithe is based on God's blessing.
If we really think about it, the tithe is proof that God has been providing for our every need. If He wasn't, we wouldn't having anything to tithe.
The problem with tough situations isn't that God isn't coming through but that we have these wrong notions that we will never have problems just because we met a condition. At the core of this thinking really is a heart bent on our own good works rather than on God.
Problems will always be there, whether we tithe or not. But God is still with us in the midst of our problems.
That's what the tithe is really about. It's a confession of God's presence in our life even in the midst of trials. It shows that God is with us even as we face financial, health or relational problems.
The tithe doesn't promise a storm-free life, but a storm-proof one. Those who tithe will still have needs and will still be plagued by devourers. But in all those times, God will continue to provide and protect them.
The tithe is not insurance. It's an act of faith-filled worship that attests that there is a God who provides even when times are tough.
