Why Some Tithers have Financial Problems

Many Christians are not known to be faithful in tithing. From different surveys, only 4-8% of believers tithe. For those few Christians, the Bible promises abundance galore. According to the Scriptures,

“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 you will not have room enough for it” (Malachi 3:10 NIV).

Why is it then that for some tithers, one cannot see the evidence of any floodgates? In fact, it would appear that there is no difference between these faithful givers and others who don’t. If you are one of these people, take some time out right now and pray as you read this article. Ask the Lord to speak to your heart and change the course of your life.

Giving is one of the most important virtues of life. Many spiritual principles and natural laws are bound to it. While the people of the world can give and be otherwise unfaithful in other parts of their lives, the believers live by a different set of rules. When a tither disobeys God in other aspects of his life, he shuts off the windows of heaven. The Lord Jesus explains this principle as follows:

"This is how I want you to conduct yourself in these matters. If you enter your place of worship and, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God (Matthew 5:23-24 Message).

Relationships affect the effectiveness of your giving. When you neglect to relate to others according to Godly principles, you negate the impact of your tithes and God’s response to your giving.

Abraham was a tither (Hebrews 7:1-2). He was also very careful with his relationships. When there was a potential for conflict between him and his cousin, Lot, he handled it in a way that showed He had a relationship with God which overshadowed all other relationships. He allowed Lot to choose before him because he was confident His God will bless him regardless of what land he was left with. A tither gives God 10 percent because he believes he will do better with a blessed 90% of income than 100% without God’s blessing. Tithing says, “I trust the Lord to meet my need with less because he is God”. Such an attitude must permeate every relationship of a tither and indeed everything he does.

Isaac had the same attitude. He knew one or two things about sowing and reaping. In a time of famine, he sowed and reaped 100% in one year (Genesis 26:12). How did he handle enemies? The first 2 wells he dug were disputed even though they belonged to his father, Abraham (Genesis 26:19-23). He simply moved on until he dug a well that was not contested. The same night the Lord appeared to him at night to renew his covenant with him. He threw a party for the same people who expelled him from their land. The Bible says we should do nothing out of strife (Philippians 2:3). How you handle your relationships affects the acceptance of your giving.

Giving is a spiritual activity. When it comes to giving, the hand is as important as the heart. It is only effective when you have given yourself to the Lord first. Offering gifts to God without offering yourself is unacceptable to Him. It is Cain-like. This principle was demonstrated by the Macedonians Christians:

“…….What explains it was that they had first given themselves unreservedly to God and to us. The other giving simply flowed out of the purposes of God working in their lives” (2 Corinthians 8:5-6 Message).

When we tithe out of a sense of duty, compulsion, or any other purpose rather than out of our relationship with God, we miss the point and our giving does not generate the divine response promised in Malachi 3:10. As a tither, commit yourself to wholesome relationships. Honor the Lord in the way you relate to others (spouse, children, neighbors, coworkers, business partners etc), and the windows of heaven shall remain open to you in Jesus name.