As we continue our ‘Tithing on Trial’ series, we will evaluate the most common tithing arguments used to defend its practice. So let’s evaluate another argument used to promote tithing. This argument comes directly from a well known author on finances from Crown Financial Ministries – Larry Burkett. He has now passed, but we are going to evaluate his argument below taken from his book, “Giving & Tithing”
Argument # 6 – “Tithing was voluntary. There was no punishment mentioned for not tithing” – Larry Burkett
While reading through the book, “TIthing & Giving” by Larry Burkett i came across a section that asked “Is Tithing Legalism”? At the beginning Larry states this, “Although the tithe is mentioned in the law, no punishment was indicated for not tithing. There is a consequence (the loss of blessings), but there is no punishment from God for not tithing.“
If Larry knew anything about tithing in the bible, you have to know that there certainly was a curse to Israel for not tithing. Malachi 3:9 states, “You are cursed with a curse,
For you have robbed Me,“. Malachi 3:11 goes on, “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,“
I don’t think there is any question about the curse for not tithing. We can find even further proof in the book of Deuteronomy when God is laying out the laws for Israel. In chapter 26 he outlines the rules for tithing and by chapter 28 beginning in verse 15, God outlines in the next 50 verses the curses and punishments that would come upon them for not obeying his commands that were just laid out.
The problem with Larry Burkett and others with the same mentality towards tithing is that they know that tithing looks out-of-place when we attempt to fit it into a Church that is not supposed to be governed by the law. So they modify its appearance a little bit and make tithing more user-friendly than what it was in the Old Testament. The deception is that if we can mix in a little grace by disconnecting the absolute requirement and separate it from the curse, then the tithe will appear as if it fits right in there with the other principles we practice today. This reformulation of the tithe is nothing but the law dressed up grace’s clothing.
THE LAW + GRACE + LENIENCY = THE LAW
Five Reasons Why You are Cursed for Tithing
- Obeying the law has a curse upon it (Galatians 3:10)
- You are fallen from grace (Galatians 5:4-6)
- God doesn’t say anything about loving a dedicated giver (2 Corinthians 9:7)
- Tithing makes you a slave (Galatians 5:1)
- Tithing makes you weak (Romans 8:3)
Ok. you get it, Israel was punished and cursed for disobeying the law, but doesn’t the bible say that we are free from the curse of the law? Yes it does. Galatians 3:14 states, “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us“. Of course this sounds like great news, and it is, but this actually comes with bad news for some out there.
If you read four verses earlier in Galatians 3:10 it states, “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.“
For those of you who are continuing to practice the works of the law, including tithing, you are actually placing yourself back under the curse. Ouch! So, you practice tithing to protect yourself from the curse, but in actuality, you actually are bringing it upon yourself.
There are so many people out there wondering why tithing isn’t working for them. Well maybe the five reasons above are why.
Five Reasons Why You Are Blessed for NOT Tithing
- You are under grace (Romans 6:14)
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God said he would supply all our needs without mentioning the tithe (Philippians 4:19)
- Our gifts are sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God (Philippians 4:18)
- God Loves a Cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7)
- The Spirit gives life (Romans 8:5-10)
If you don’t practice tithing, you are free from the curse, free from the law, and free from tithing. So many feel led to give to someone outside their church but are terrified to do so because of the fear of the curse. It’s not that they don’t like their church or disagree, but in their heart they have a desire to fill a more urgent need. When people pass up the opportunity to give from their heart, they invite doubt or event guilt in their heart, which robs them of their blessing
You can take away the punishment for not tithing and you can make it appear as graceful as possible; but underneath the sheep costume, tithing is still the Big. Bad. Law.
You Be the Judge
Now that the evidence has been given in this court of law, it is your turn to decide
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Is it safe to say that Jesus tithed before death being a Jew. Did he remain a Jew after resurrection?
If the gentile never observed tithing before how is they are expected to do it now or be cursed if they don’t. But with the Sabbath which is a part of Ten Commandments there is no seeming consequence for not observing it.
“Save my marriage” I believe in giving freely not under threat of curse. My wife does not agree.
Under the OT Law not everyone tithed contrary to what most tithe preachers tell their congregations. Not even all Jews tithed. Jesus, likely being a carpenter, but possibly simply being a general laborer, was not among those who were required to pay tithes. Only certain vocations were required to tithe under the Law. So did Jesus tithe? I don’t think so. He did however likely give to the other offerings that they were able to give to. He also likely gave for the sacrifices. Tithing though…I don’t think so.
If your marriage is hanging by a thread all because of the tithe, there may be deeper issues. Give only with your heart, as you feel led, by the Spirit in love. Give to your marriage, as you feel led, by the Spirit in love. Love is the greatest thing. Christ is pure Love. God’s blessings to you and your family. You are free in Christ! Jesus paid our tithe in full. Give in love.
Just give God what’s his and be blessed. Anyone who truly look at his life blessings and cursees are clearly seen
In Genesis 14:18-20 Abram gave tithes of all the goods to Melchizedek the priest of God Most High. This was before the Law was ever established.
So Abram tithing was before the law and Melchizedek blessed Him!
Hebrews 7:8 points out that Jesus is our High Priest who recieves our tithe today. Verse 7:24 says that Jesus continues forever as an unchangeable priesthood.
If we are blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus; should we not at least honor him with our tithe?
So tithing is not just a legal thing, but it is a thing of honor that flows from the heart!
Jesus as our High Priest lives forever according to Heberews 7:8! Should we stop honoring our High Priest today because we are under grace?
I don’t tithie all the time
Is that a sin
your reasonable sacrifice is to offer your body not one tithing stuff that God delights in
Abram gave a tenth of the spoils of war, not his personal belongings.
I agree. When we look at NT scriptures, disobedience still brings consequences. In the OT we do to be, but in NT, we do because we are! Grace didn’t change God’s requirement to live holy, He just made us holy so that we don’t have to do to be holy, we do because we are holy!
Ricky,
It is absolutely not a sin and do not fall into a religious trap. Nowhere in scripture is a Christian, under the New Covenant, operating as a Priest under Yeshua, in the order of Melchizedek, EVER instructed to give any church 10% of their income each time they are paid. Abraham blessed Melchizedek, King of Righteousness, King of Peace, with a 10% portion of his spoils of war in return for the blessing given by Melchizedek. This was voluntary, from his heart and was never meant to become a mindless religious tradition. Pray, seek the face of Yahweh and give generously as He prompts you to give. read Acts Chapter 2:41-47. If they were instructed to tithe, they would no have given all.
Thank you for helping me to understand this better because I was beating myself up for not giving to the church.but I tithie in so many ways by giving to those indeed that’s how I give and I truly believe that god will bless me every time that I give from my heart
When you find a church that you really connect with, where you can minister to the Father, you will be compelled by The Spirit to give to God through that ministry. Don’t worry about percentages. Give cheerfully and in love. The amount will be the amount. God is watching hearts not dollars.
what if your church teaches tithing and your wife works their my wife doesn’t believe in tithing just giving .The pastor is big on tithing we are in debt big time
By this same logic, are we cursed if we honor our father and mother, which is the law?
Yeshua took care of the curse of sin, all of it. Jesus still loves you when you dishonor your father or mother and He made a way for you to make it right. If you are In Him and He is in you, you will have a desire to honor your parents and give extravagantly. percentages will mean nothing with a heavenly perspective
I know that He loves me. However, there is a spiritual impact on my soul when I violate God’s law, no? I mean we can sin after being saved. Sin brings a curse still and we are delivered from that curse when we repent and ask for His cleansing. What I’m saying is that if I don’t tithe, I should make it right by tithing yes? In the same way I make it right if I get angry or lust or some other sin.
In Judaism and under the Levitical Law, everything is paid with a “Minimum Balance” process. They never get to the principal and must pay over and over again, never paying off the balance, only the interest. This is atonement and it does not work in Christianity. Romans 10:4. In the order of Yeshua, The Melchizadek Order, your priesthood, it has all been paid in full, past, present and future sin. You are no longer clean, unclean, clean, unclean. You now live in a continuous state of repentance and have no desire for sinful things and if you do sin, you repent and move on. You were forgiven by the Lamb who was slain before the foundations of the earth. Percentages mean nothing in this priesthood. This is why no Apostle ever taught it to Christians. Paul asked us to hear from The Holy Spirit regarding our finances and give a proportion. If you are Jewish, continue tithing. If you are a follower of Yeshua, you are no longer of that priesthood. John 17: Jesus is actually in you. The Holy Spirit is actually in you. They are not concerned with 10%. They just want personal intimacy and they will tell you exactly what to give and who to give it to. You are perfect in God’s eyes because, as you stated, you know He loves you. This is not a license to be sinful. It is an opportunity to be extravagant.
If tithing were still in force today, God would want ten per cent of your vegetable garden, not the lettuce in your wallet (Lev.27:30-34). If you were a cattleman, he would want ten per cent of your newborn calves, not your cash. Tithing was the social welfare system of the OT to make sure no poor person went hungry. Today, the govt. is taking care of the poor because the church is too busy taking care of rich preachers.
how can one balance the scriptures if I do not tithe I am cursed but if I do and my family goes hungry and I am as an infidel to God because I have not taken care of my family. I am not righteous for the righteous are not forsaken nor do they beg for bread.
I love to give my wife loves to tithe and in our hard times she blames this on not tithing.
I sponsored two families who were in need and this was the only time we prospered. After joining a church and tithing as well as giving into our pastors and the other church projects for a building etc. we fell on bad times and have not recovered. I chose to feed my family but since which my wife has taken over the finances and we have struggled ever since. I have had to get odd jobs to feed our family and help pay bills. The church offered to lend us money however I could not see how I would pay this back so I refused. My wife believes this is all because of not tithing. I however do not believe in the tithing and it is not the church but Lord through me that we have not died of starvation. I am troubled in my heart and my soul is damaged towards the church. I want to give up yet still I press on, I have for the sake of my family submitted to tithing and things have gotten much worse we now have to move homes and are barely staying out of the debt collection agencies this tithing thing feels like a curse to me.
Where is the love?
Take a sabbatical from all of it. Take 90 days away from the church system and everything it is connected to. Get in a place of personal devotion with Jesus. Let Him speak to your heart about all of it. Take a devotional vacation to a place of rest in Him. You can hear from God as well as the most highly trained pastor in the earth. He puts as much light in you as He puts in a church leader. Leave everything for 90 days, spend Time with family, get in devotion, and watch what He does.
I would like to ask, if you don’t tithe will your income be sufficient to pay billsome and settle other needs in your family. If yes I will advice that you take care of your home first. But if not then tithing may not be your problem.
I will suggest you re-evaluate your mode of income or shed away unnecessary expenses.
I don’t believe in the curse or blessing that comes through tithing but I trust in the God that supplies my need according to his riches in glory.
There is no amount of human effort of tithing that can authomatically withdraw God’s blessing in this dispensation of Holy spirit if we don’t trust and believe in Jesus totally we are aiming at loss
If we tithe because we fear curse of poverty then we are not fit for the kingdom of God. For Jesus also was poor and not because He didn’t pay tithe. 2 Tim. 1:7
I just to share that, there is God’s love for Israel even in the old testament. When it came the times for Israel to leave Egypt, God gave them abundantly. He wanted their trust and obedience through the desert. He took care of them by given them food like mana, quail, and water. He won their battles. He gave them the 10 commandments. Out of their hearts, the Israelites gave contributions to build a tenth of meeting where Moses used to speak with God.
It’s sad when God’s love is not much talk and taught in churches. The tithe was a tax strictly used to keep everyone out of poverty in the presence of God. Starting from the givers family, to the priest, to those most in need. In it’s essence is good. Rarely was used to build a temple. It all began when Israel ask for King, which the Lord told to Samuel what the King will do with the tithes because they rejected the Lord.
The only reason I don’t believe that you are cursed is because 400 years before the law was given Abraham tithed. I believe that there is a worship tithe and a law tithe. I do believe that people are turning back to the law being legalistic in the areas of giving. True tithing should be in response to his love.
true tithing should not be based on percentage , giving cheerfully should be from the heart and not with a specific amount so one can give more or less and not be compelled to give a particular amount.
We are on disability and just get barely $1000 a month. Tithing is always on the agenda at church. We stopped tithing because we got behind on bills. Our faith is strong but we have more out than coming in because of appliances breaking and vehicles needing new tires and one thing or another. Our bills are always paid on time. No one completely understands that with pain and can’t work no more money comes into the house but thinks tithing is still a covenant so you are robbing God. We have a mortgage no rent. I have to keep it paid or get behind and loose it. When a person thinks they can’t afford to pay tithes because there is no more coming in to afford the rest of the bills what does God think? We pray about this but no answer yet. We are faithful and giving all the time just not in tithing. Any advice
Maybe it has to do with faith and not with the fact that you have tithe and you think that nothing is happening and everything is going wrong. Maybe God is testing your faith to see if you’re going to trust him enough to take care of you if you obey his word. People are so hung up on the fact that they’re giving money to a church when the whole principle is where does your heart lie? Do you love money more than God? Are you concerned about if you going to have enough money to pay your bills if you give a tithe? God is looking at your heart and at your faith if you don’t believe that he is going to provide for you and that you will have money to pay for your bills even if you give a tithe, then you will struggle because of lack of faith. The Bible clearly says it is impossible to please him without faith. God does not move on unbelief.