Essential Theology for Troubling Times

Tithing and Stewardship

From the very beginning, humankind was created to be steward’s of God’s creation.  The bibles says in Genesis 1:26, “Then God said, ‘let us make man in our image, according to our likeness, let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

Stewardship is managing all of our resources for His glory.  I did not truly understand the biblical principle of tithing until I understood the biblical principle of stewardship.  Once I recognized that God is the provider of all that I am or have, and that He alone is the one who sustains my life, I responded with all my life - not just my finances.

To be a disciple of Christ it to be committed to Him.  “I surrender all” - I surrender my time, talent, finances - everything.  Knowing that God is the provider, it is my responsibility to manage, as steward, for His glory and to further His kingdom work here on earth - laying up treasures in heaven!

Tithe, a tenth part, offered to God.  Proverbs 3:9 instructs us to “Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the first fruit of all your increase.”

Malachi 3:10 challenges us to “bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house, and try Me now in this, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.”

This is the one place in scripture where God says to ‘test Him!”  God does not need my money; it is all His anyway.  What God wants is for me to trust Him, by faith, to meet all my needs - to be totally dependent upon Him.  I give back to Him a tenth to be used in His house (where I regularly worship and serve).

We are not to give out of legalism, of vain glory, or out of a grudged heart, but out of the abundance of our heart - in gratitude to our heavenly Father, and our Savior and Lord - Jesus Christ! 

rodney