Thanks for joining us on this journey of building a consistent habit of reading our Bibles every day. The Bible reading plan we are using this year can be found here: One Year Bible or here on the Bible app. As always, if you miss a day, don’t feel compelled to go back and catch up. Just skip it and start back on today’s date. I am reading the NLT this year, but feel free to use whatever version you prefer. Now here are some thoughts from today’s readings:
“What sorrow awaits you Pharisees! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore justice and the love of God. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.”
– Luke 11:42
A lot of people say tithing isn’t in the New Testament, but here we see Jesus saying that the Pharisees should have been tithing. He was commending them for their tithe, but saying they shouldn’t neglect other things like love and mercy. Now this isn’t at all a command that every Christian tithe, but it does show that Jesus had a favorable view on tithing.
Many people will argue that since tithing preceded the law, that it still applies to us today. That’s a good point, and one I myself hold to. But the truth is, it’s just as easy to argue that it doesn’t. For me, their are three reasons I tithe. The first is this verse. If Jesus had a favorable view of tithing, I want to think like He did about it. Second, Malachi 3 list some of the blessings promised to those who tithe, and I for one don’t want to miss out on them. It also says those who don’t are cursed by the way. Now, one could make an argument that Jesus did away with the curse on not tithing, but you can’t make an argument that He did away with the blessing. So, if you trusted God to be true to His word, why wouldn’t you tithe?
Thirdly, I like money. A lot. You may think this is a reason to not tithe, and for many people it is exactly why they don’t. But the truth is, if I border-line love money and if I want God to be the ultimate love of my life, I need to find a way to submit my desire for money to Him. I need to show that I trust Him more than money and I want Him more than money. Luckily, He has already given us a way to do that: Tithing!
I personally think it’s a hard sale to say that the New Testament commands believers to tithe. On the other side, I ask the question, why not? If the Lord has promised to bless you, why not trust Him? Just because He’s not forcing you to? That doesn’t make a lick of sense. But you have to examine your own heart and pray about it yourself. As for me, I want to always error on the side have trust in God, and I have never been disappointed in His response!
Do you trust God with your money? How do you know that you do?