In my last article I talked about the unbalanced teaching that exists today regarding giving. I compared the Malachi and II Corinthians passages. I made the point that the concept of tithing in the Old Testament stresses giving a percentage, while the New Testament simply emphasizes giving generously.
Now what about blessing? Both of these passages mention being blessed as a result of giving but it is not clear what form of blessing that might be. Giving, or tithing, does not guarantee financial blessing. I know there are people who tithe who would disagree with this, but I have also read stories of people who claim they have gone bankrupt due to excessive giving.
Then there is the issue of money management. Will a person who is tithing experience financial blessing if he or she has a minimum wage job, or has excessive debt, including several maxed out credit cards? I think not. Financial blessing comes as a result of a combination of the three elements: good money management, sufficient income, and giving. And yet, I have heard some prominent Christian teachers say that the way to get out of debt is through tithing. In some cases that has worked for people, but to say that it will work for everyone is simply not true. I do not believe that it comes automatically as a direct result of tithing.
How many Christians, however, are taught that a person will be blessed financially just because of tithing? There is definitely blessing in giving, but it may not be necessarily financial.
Whatever the case may be, are you giving in freedom or in bondage? How many Christians believe that if they stopped tithing that God would withhold His blessing upon them and their family?
It really is quite simple. Just be generous in giving, as you "purpose in your heart to give."
Oh, and since when should be expect to be blessed?
True giving is done expecting nothing in return.
And since when does a person give out of fear of being cursed?
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