On Wednesday night, Berean came together in micro groups to study Malachi 3:7–12, and, ironically, this was the text following a very low offering the Sunday before. The text reads:
Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. 9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. 10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. (Mal 3:8–10)
What a great text to preach to New Covenant believers about giving, especially after a low offering! Correct? What do you think? Are Christians who don’t tithe under a curse? How did you handle the text in your micro group Bible study? What did your group say about tithing?
In Leviticus 27:32, tithing (giving 10%) is presented as mandatory. This idea is reinforced in Numbers 18 and Deuteronomy 14. Would it not be convenient to preach the Malachi text as obligatory this morning, in hopes of getting more people to give money to the church?
But the passage’s context prevents me from doing so. Yes, the context—the setting. Yahweh is addressing ENT Israel, not the church of Jesus Christ. The Old Covenant law is in full force. Israel is robbing God. They are not giving the 10% the law requires. They are cursed. But what about us? Is there an NT text from the mouth of Christ or one of His Apostles that commands giving 10% in the New Covenant body of Scripture? The answer is no, full stop.
The law of Christ commands us to “give.” Yes, your Savior tells you to “give,” but He does not specify how much or what percentage. Consider Luke 6:38.
Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure [a spoon or a bucket] you use it will be measured back to you.
The Greek verb “give” is an imperative! It is imperative that you and I “give.” It is not optional. But nothing is said about a tithe. If the measure you use in giving is $0, what measure should you expect in return?
The funds for gospel ministry on earth come from the people of God. Consider the Marie family on the bulletin cover. The funds that support their missionary work in Bolivia come from you. Paul teaches that “those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel” (1Co 9:14), affirming that those in the ministry deserve financial support. Elders who lead well—especially those laboring in preaching and teaching—merit “double honor,” grounded in the principle that “the laborer deserves his wages” (1Ti 5:17–18). Those receiving instruction in God’s word should “share all good things with the one who teaches” (Gal 6:6). This creates a reciprocal obligation: those who benefit spiritually from ministry have a responsibility to sustain it financially. Do you reciprocate? Text “give” to 910.601.2425 to give to Berean today.
Instead of a percentage, Paul says, “whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully” (2Co 9:6). He emphasizes that “each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” Giving should be regular—“on the first day of every week”—with each person setting aside funds “as he may prosper” (1Co 16:1–2), making generosity proportional to one’s means rather than a flat percentage. Text “give” to 910.601.2425 to support Berean today.
Born-again Christians who don’t give are not under a curse, but they will not reap bountifully (2Co 9:6).
