Could You Be Tithing and Robbing God at the Same Time?
By Clarence L. Haynes Jr.
“As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. 2 He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. ‘Truly I tell you,’ he said, ‘this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.’” - Luke 21:1-4
I remember going to visit the church of a famous pastor. It was my first time there, so there was some excitement on my behalf. Because this pastor was also a gospel recording artist, I expected the music and the worship to be exceptional, and it was just as I expected. I would add the volume seemed to be turned all the way up, and even though the music was good, it was way too loud. However, after worship and a few announcements, it came time to take the offering. This process took about forty-five minutes because they collected about three or four offerings.
There is much conversation in church circles about what we give and how much we give. Whether you tithe or not, tithe is a genuine issue in the church today. However, that conversation can potentially lead you in the wrong direction. When that becomes the sole focus, then I believe we miss the actual heart of giving, and that is the direction I want to turn your attention to today because that is what Jesus cares most about.
This verse in Luke has a scene very similar to the church I visited. People were coming and bringing their gifts and putting them into the church treasury. At the church I visited, the offering baskets were at the front of the church, and people marched up to put their offerings in the basket. They did this for three different offerings, so it took forty-five minutes to collect the offering. This appears to be happening here in Luke. The people are coming forward to give, and Jesus identifies the huge contrast between their gifts. The rich undoubtedly gave large gifts, and a widow only gave two copper coins. Jesus tells us the gift of the widow was more than everyone else. What does this teach us about tithing and giving?
Some People are Robbing God by Tithing.
When tithing is the only measure used for giving, it doesn’t consider the level of blessing we have received. For some people, to give a tenth means nothing to them. It requires no sacrifice or trust in God, and while it may represent obedience, their heart is not engaged in the giving. Giving away something they don’t want or will never need becomes easy. In such situations, missing the heart of giving can become easy. For a person who has way more than enough, tithing may be a good place to begin, but if you stay there, you may not actually be generous and could rob God.
For Some People, Tithing Means Everything.
For many, just giving a tithe represents more than ten percent. It represents a total and complete trust in God and an acknowledgment of their dependence on him. If I have $1,000,000 and give away ten percent, I still have $900,000 left. For most folks, that is plenty leftover to live on. However, if I have $1000 and give away $100, I only have $900 left. Even though both may represent ten percent, one can represent a greater sacrifice. While I believe we should encourage people to tithe, let’s do it from a place of grace, recognizing that for some people, the tithe is their ceiling, and for others, the tithe is their floor.
Intersecting Faith and Life:
Recognize there is grace in giving; sometimes, the amount you give says nothing about your generosity. If we are honest, for some, even tithing is not an authentic expression of their generosity, and for others, tithing is a genuine sacrifice that requires a substantial amount of faith and trust in God. Regardless of where you are, let’s approach this subject with grace and thanksgiving, recognizing everything we have comes from the Father above. We used to say not equal gifts but equal sacrifice. However, the sacrifice always seems greater for those with less to give.
Further Reading
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