The Curse of Not Tithing

God put a curse on the whole nation of Israel because they did not tithe:
“I the LORD do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD Almighty.
 “But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’
 “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me.
 “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’
 “In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the LORD Almighty. “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the LORD Almighty.” Malachi 3:6-12

 

It seems God’s people were feeling it was no longer necessary to tithe. To this God says, “I the Lord do not change”. He goes on to imply they should be thankful He does not change because otherwise they would be destroyed! He always was and always will be merciful and forgiving—but He always expects obedience.

 

They didn’t seem to realize, that they had turned away from God. By not tithing, they were showing that they had turned away from His decrees.

 

To not tithe is not simply giving God ten percent of our money—it is not giving God His money! To not tithe is robbing God of His money!

 

To tithe assures that “there may be food in my house”. Today, that would probably mean so there is enough money to do God’s work. Withholding the tithe means that God won’t have all the money He needs to get His work done!

 

God will do all He was planned to do, and yet, our disobedience limits the amount of good accomplished. How does this work? Perhaps Mordecai’s words to Esther when she hesitated in asking the King to spare the lives of her people help explain:
“When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Esther 4:12-14 Deliverance would come to the Jews even if she disobeyed, but she and her family would perish. Perhaps if we disobey God, someone close to us will perish.

 

Withholding the tithe is not the most serious sin, but any sin can affect our relationship with God and hearing His voice. What we give to the Lord (not necessarily money( shows the depth of our relationship to  Him. And if the tithe is withheld, that money will be wasted and even be cursed.

 

God says to “test me in this”. He will “throw open the floodgates of heaven” and there will be “so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it”. He will protect us in big and little ways.

 

Before I was married I tithed at one time. I was not completely serving the Lord, and later when I changed jobs, I forgot about tithing. After I had been married a few years, I came back to loving and serving the Lord. We were living in Montreal where I had started attending a wonderful church so our son Scott could hear about Jesus. Jim had not accepted the Lord. I told the Lord that I would tithe, but Jim made the money and was the head of the house, so He would have to get it from Jim.

 

Shortly after that, Jim accepted the Lord and started giving fifty percent of our money for a short time because there was a special project at church. I wondered if we could afford this!

 

Not long after, we moved to Nova Scotia where we rented a hobby farm for less than half price. Jim was to watch it until the wealthy owner decided to return, which turned out to be nine years. God gave us more than the fifty percent we had given Him! And He has continued to do this for us,

 

A lady on welfare decided to give ten percent of her money to the church. She could only give $30. But that same week a couple felt prompted by God to give her $40! She didn’t understand the significance of this because she rarely attends church today and doesn’t tithe. But I remember, but it is such a clear and simple example of the blessings of tithing.

 

Will the little bit we give mean anything? When Jesus planned to feed five thousand mean plus women and children. He asked His disciples what they had. Andrew answered::
“Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” John 6:9 Barley was less expensive than wheat and so was eaten by the poor people. The boy gave what he had.

 

Jesus commended the poor widow woman for giving to the corrupt religious system:
“Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.
Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.” Mark 12:41-43 Luke 21:1-3 Jesus say her heart—she was giving all she had to God.

 

Tithing was begun by Abraham, a friend of God and a man of great faith. Abraham must have had some understanding of whom Melchizedek was, to give him a tenth of the spoils. He knew that he was giving the tithe to God. By giving God a tithe, he showed how much he loved God. Tithing shows how much we love God:

 

Melchizedek came out to meet Abraham, and Abraham gave him a tithe of the spoils of his victory:
“Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.”
   Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.” Genesis 14:18-20

 

In the New Testament Melchizedek and his relationship with Abraham and Jesus is explained:
“This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.
Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is, from their fellow Israelites—even though they also are descended from Abraham. This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. And without doubt the lesser is blessed by the greater. In the one case, the tenth is collected by people who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living. One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.” Hebrews 7:1-10 Abraham met Melchizedek before the Law which required “the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people”. Tithing was required before the Law was given.

 

After the vision of God’s renewed covenant, Jacob initiates a covenant with God vowing to give a tithe of what he receiveds from the promised land:
“Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father’s household, then the LORD will be my God and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.” Genesis 28:20-22

 

The specifications of the tithe is introduced into the law of Moses:
"A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD. Whoever would redeem any of their tithe must add a fifth of the value to it. Every tithe of the herd and flock—every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd’s rod—will be holy to the LORD. No one may pick out the good from the bad or make any substitution. If anyone does make a substitution, both the animal and its substitute become holy and cannot be redeemed.” Leviticus 27:30-33

 

The tithe is dedicated to the Levites for the work in the tabernacle:
“I give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the tent of meeting.” Numbers 18:21

 

God gives instructions for what to do with the tithe once Israel crosses the Jordan:
“But you are to seek the place the LORD your God will choose from among all your tribes to put his Name there for his dwelling. To that place you must go; there bring your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, what you have vowed to give and your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks. There, in the presence of the LORD your God, you and your families shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the LORD your God has blessed you.
You are not to do as we do here today, everyone doing as they see fit, since you have not yet reached the resting place and the inheritance the LORD your God is giving you. But you will cross the Jordan and settle in the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, and he will give you rest from all your enemies around you so that you will live in safety. Then to the place the LORD your God will choose as a dwelling for his Name—there you are to bring everything I command you: your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, and all the choice possessions you have vowed to the LORD.” Deuteronomy 12:5-11

 

God gives instructions on how to disperse and exchange the tithe:
“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. And do not neglect the Levites living in your towns, for they have no allotment or inheritance of their own.
At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year’s produce and store it in your towns, so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.” Deuteronomy 14:22-29

 

God gives instructions on how Israel should sanctify the tithes before they can ask for a blessing:
“When you have finished setting aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied. Then say to the LORD your God: “I have removed from my house the sacred portion and have given it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, according to all you commanded. I have not turned aside from your commands nor have I forgotten any of them. I have not eaten any of the sacred portion while I was in mourning, nor have I removed any of it while I was unclean, nor have I offered any of it to the dead. I have obeyed the LORD my God; I have done everything you commanded me. Look down from heaven, your holy dwelling place, and bless your people Israel and the land you have given us as you promised on oath to our ancestors, a land flowing with milk and honey.” Deuteronomy 26:12-15

 

The children of Israel do what’s right under the reign of Hezekiah, and bring the tithes to the designated places:
“As soon as the order went out, the Israelites generously gave the firstfruits of their grain, new wine, olive oil and honey and all that the fields produced. They brought a great amount, a tithe of everything. The people of Israel and Judah who lived in the towns of Judah also brought a tithe of their herds and flocks and a tithe of the holy things dedicated to the LORD their God, and they piled them in heaps. They began doing this in the third month and finished in the seventh month. When Hezekiah and his officials came and saw the heaps, they praised the LORD and blessed his people Israel.
Hezekiah asked the priests and Levites about the heaps; and Azariah the chief priest, from the family of Zadok, answered, “Since the people began to bring their contributions to the temple of the LORD, we have had enough to eat and plenty to spare, because the LORD has blessed his people, and this great amount is left over.”
Hezekiah gave orders to prepare storerooms in the temple of the LORD, and this was done. Then they faithfully brought in the contributions, tithes and dedicated gifts…” 2 Chronicles 31:5-12

 

Israel obeys God and brings the tithes to the storehouse:
“We also assume responsibility for bringing to the house of the LORD each year the firstfruits of our crops and of every fruit tree.
“As it is also written in the Law, we will bring the firstborn of our sons and of our cattle, of our herds and of our flocks to the house of our God, to the priests ministering there.
“Moreover, we will bring to the storerooms of the house of our God, to the priests, the first of our ground meal, of our grain offerings, of the fruit of all our trees and of our new wine and olive oil. And we will bring a tithe of our crops to the Levites, for it is the Levites who collect the tithes in all the towns where we work. A priest descended from Aaron is to accompany the Levites when they receive the tithes, and the Levites are to bring a tenth of the tithes up to the house of our God, to the storerooms of the treasury.  The people of Israel, including the Levites, are to bring their contributions of grain, new wine and olive oil to the storerooms, where the articles for the sanctuary and for the ministering priests, the gatekeepers and the musicians are also kept.
“We will not neglect the house of our God.” Nehemiah 10:37-39

 

Officers were appointed to watch over the tithes in the storehouse:
“At that time men were appointed to be in charge of the storerooms for the contributions, firstfruits and tithes. From the fields around the towns they were to bring into the storerooms the portions required by the Law for the priests and the Levites, for Judah was pleased with the ministering priests and Levites.  They performed the service of their God and the service of purification, as did also the musicians and gatekeepers, according to the commands of David and his son Solomon. For long ago, in the days of David and Asaph, there had been directors for the musicians and for the songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. So in the days of Zerubbabel and of Nehemiah, all Israel contributed the daily portions for the musicians and the gatekeepers. They also set aside the portion for the other Levites, and the Levites set aside the portion for the descendants of Aaron.” Nehemiah 12:44-47

 

Nehemiah cleanses the storehouse and kick Tobiah out of the room that was designated to store the title. He then restores order:
“Before this, Eliashib the priest had been put in charge of the storerooms of the house of our God. He was closely associated with Tobiah, and he had provided him with a large room formerly used to store the grain offerings and incense and temple articles, and also the tithes of grain, new wine and olive oil prescribed for the Levites, musicians and gatekeepers, as well as the contributions for the priests.
But while all this was going on, I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I had returned to the king. Some time later I asked his permission and came back to Jerusalem. Here I learned about the evil thing Eliashib had done in providing Tobiah a room in the courts of the house of God. I was greatly displeased and threw all Tobiah’s household goods out of the room. I gave orders to purify the rooms, and then I put back into them the equipment of the house of God, with the grain offerings and the incense.
I also learned that the portions assigned to the Levites had not been given to them, and that all the Levites and musicians responsible for the service had gone back to their own fields. So I rebuked the officials and asked them, “Why is the house of God neglected?” Then I called them together and stationed them at their posts.
All Judah brought the tithes of grain, new wine and olive oil into the storerooms.” Nehemiah 13:4-12

 

The blessings of tithing are promised by Solomon, the wisest of men. We are to give the “firstfruits”. God expects our best:
“Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.” Proverbs 3:9-10

 

God commands Israel to bring back the tithe and reiterates the curse that is upon them if they don’t:
“Go to Bethel and sin; go to Gilgal and sin yet more. Bring your sacrifices every morning, your tithes every three years.” Amos 4:4

 

Jesus made it clear that the tithe was to continue. He even said to the unbelieving religious leaders:
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.” Matthew 23:23 This statement of Jesus also shows that tithing is less important than “justice, mercy and faithfulness”. Tithing without “justice, mercy and faithfulness” means nothing.

 

“Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.” Luke 11:42 This verse is probably spoken on the same occasion as the verse in Matthew, but it does help make the meaning plain. It shows that the “love of God” is the same as “mercy and faithfulness”. It also makes it clear that tithing is still required: “without neglecting the former (tithing)" and "without leaving the former (tithing) undone”.

 

A Pharisee brags about his obedience to the law and tithing:
“I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ Luke 18:12 This shows that tithing for our own glory means nothing. We should give our tithe out of a graceful heart:
“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7

 

Paul gave this command concerning tithing:
“Now about the collection for the Lord’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.” 1 Corinthians 16 1-2 This command is for the church (Galatians churches). It is taken at the time the Church usually meets (“the first day of every week”). It concerns a percentage of money as the tithe does (“set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income”).

 

We are not required to meet “the first day of every week”:
“One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.” Romans 14:5-8

 

Some say this verse suggests that we are supposed to decide ourselves what to give, and we don’t need to tithe to the church. But the tithe is God’s money! What we give beyond that is not to be given “under compulsion”.

 

Some also say that under the New Covenant all our money is God’s. Actually, in a sense it always was:
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17 This verse again says that God “does not change”. God made clear in Malachi 3 and Jesus reaffirmed in Matthew 23:23 and Luke 11:42 that a certain percent of the money we acquire is His.

 

I would guess that the tithe should go to our local Church (the body of local Christians to whom a person belongs) and gifts wherever we want, hopefully with God’s leading. Then we should pray and work so that our church will spend money for God’s glory. God is more apt to get the glory when we give to the church. For instance, if an unbeliever receives something from the church, he is more apt to think he has received it from God than if he received it from an individual.
 

1 Corinthians 16 1-2 also shows that if we aren’t attending a church for a time, we can save it for when we do:  “saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.” This seems to imply that it was not necessary to remind people to give when it was needed because it was already set aside.

Perhaps someone can’t go to a local church. But this should not be your choice:
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25

 

However, if no Church is available, consider that ten per cent of your money is God’s and seek His guidance as to how He wants it spent. In fact, all of us should do that with all our money.

 

We do have freedom in choosing how to give. Even though we are the Church if we believe in Jesus, we chose what local Church body to which we will belong. A healthy Church body is to have leaders of integrity. If we do not quite agree with how they are spending Church money we can designate how we want our money spent, pray that our leaders will change or for new leadership and wait for God’s answer or leave that particular Church body (in rare cases).

 

In speaking about leaders of integrity, I feel that leaders of the Church and especially the pastor, need to tithe. If the pastor refuses to tithe, the whole church is cursed, at least financially.

 

We can always pray for God’s money to be spent wisely, and know that He will answer:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” Proverbs 3:5-6 It is His money, and He is very capable of using it wisely.

 

At one time in Nova Scotia Jim and I belonged to a Church where the pastor was either a wolf in sheep’s clothing or not right with the Lord. He wanted to return to South Africa which was his home to start “Mission Impossible”. At a going away banquet at the church, many Christians were giving him money. Jim and I (and several others) knew that he was not right with God. I remember thinking, “I don’t understand why you are allowing this but this is your money God.”

 

He did receive plenty of money to return to South Africa, but when things did not work out as expected he wanted to return. Those who would have given him money to return were counseled not to respond. We got rid of a divisive, ungodly pastor with God’s money! Christians were giving money to God in good conscience, and God was using it as He saw fit.

 

Paul’s letter to the Philippians:
“Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:14-19 God is speaking through Paul. Our giving is “a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God” which will be credited to our account.

 

God owns the cattle on a thousand hills and doesn’t need our money:
“I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains, and the insects in the fields are mine.” Psalm 50:9-11 Money is neither good nor bad–just a tool in bartering. It’s important in that how we use it shows our love for God and for others.

 

Spirit-led giving is ideal. In my opinion (I know this in my own case) our emotions, feelings and logic (which is usually good) block our ability to hear from God. Sometimes decisions have to be made quickly so we do not pray. We make plenty of mistakes in our spending money and giving. Sometimes we give foolishly or withhold money when we should give.  Sometimes it is not clear what we should do. That is why we should keep in mind that at least ten percent of the money we acquire is God’s.

 

One time, a lady I didn’t know stopped at our place and asked for money for diapers for her baby.  That was a legitimate request, but I didn’t know what to do because in the area where I live there is much manipulation and welfare mentality. I prayed quickly asking the Lord what to do. Out of my mouth came the words, “Ask someone else”. I believe that was God’s answer, whether because she shouldn’t have the money or because I wouldn’t have been a cheerful giver!

 

Another time a lady I knew slightly asked for two dollars and said she would pay me back when she received money she was expecting. I felt to give her twenty dollars–the only money I had. I knew I might never get it back, but I knew she needed it. She did give it back as soon as she received her money. I was glad, more for her sake than mine because we are blessed when we are honest and cursed when we are dishonest. 

 

I saw an article on the internet that answered the question: Should we pay off our debts first before tithing? That person thought we should pay off our debts because we would want others to pay us back the money we owe them, and we should do for others what we would want them to do for us. That is a good point, but he is not taking into account the supernatural. I believe, that if a person tithes, they will pay back their debt faster than if they didn’t pay their tithe. The tithe is God’s money. We are using His money to pay our debts if we don’t tithe.

 

Malachi 3:4-12 again:
““I the LORD do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD Almighty.
 “But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’
 “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me.
 “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’
 “In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the LORD Almighty. “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the LORD Almighty.” Malachi 3:6-12

 

If we tithe, God will pour out blessing and cause circumstances that will keep our money or possessions from being devoured. He will give us wisdom as to how we earn and spend our money. If God were saying He would keep the pests from devouring our crops or the vines from casting their fruit today, He might say that He would keep our appliances working and keep us from unnecessary sickness that would delete our funds. He might say He would give us good bargains on necessities and give us the wisdom to make wise purchases. He might say that He would keep our money from the thief and the deceitful manipulator.

 

Jesus said:
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21 Our goal should be to store up treasures in heaven because we love Jesus.