Caller: I'm struggling with a question about tithing, and I'm wondering what Scripture references point out that we are to tithe, if indeed we are and is it an obligation or an option?
Pastor Doug: Well I'm glad you asked. Before we forget, we will send you a study guide. We always make an offer to you and anyone who's hearing the same question. You realize when you call with a question, you probably represent about 500 people who have the same question who haven't called, and so we like to tell where there are additional resources. We have a study guide. It's called Worldwide Embezzlement Scandal. Call our resource center number for the study guide and it will have a lot more information on the subject of Tithes and Offerings - but I want to answer your question:
If you go to Malachi chapter 3 verse 8 - and you can read there to the end of the chapter. And He says, 'Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed me. But you say, 'Wherein have we robbed Thee?' In Tithes and Offerings. You are cursed with a curse: for you have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the Tithes into the Storehouse so there may be meat in mine House, and prove Me now herewith, saith the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open for you the Windows of Heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he will not destroy the fruit of your ground neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of Hosts. And all nations will call you blessed: for you shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of Hosts.' There are a lot of promises in the Bible connected with Tithe.
You know, The Lord tells us that everything we have, 100% belongs to Him Dennis. He asks us to acknowledge that by returning a tenth of our increase. In the same way that 100% of our time and our life belongs to God, He asks us to acknowledge that by returning one day in seven as Holy. And so, we're accountable for two things in the Judgment: what we do with the life and time God has given us, and what we do with the means that God has given us.
We have an influence over property and over our persons. And the Tithe and the Sabbath are the two Holy things that show that we believe that God has all my days and He has all my means. He asks for a small percentage to keep that in our minds. When you are faithful in paying Tithe, He says He'll open the Windows of Heaven and pour out a blessing you'll not have room to receive it. And take my word for it Dennis, when I came to the Lord, I lived in a cave. Everything I owned was in my backpack. I started paying Tithe way back then with my meager income and now I've got two garages that are filled with things that I can't take care of. I've got more than I can receive. If you prove the Lord, He says 'Test me.' Now incidentally in the New Testament - You know Pastor Dick, many people say you can't prove tithing from the New Testament but that's really not true.
Co-Host: That's not true.
Pastor Doug: The principle is very clearly laid down in the New Testament. Jesus Himself, not only Paul, but Jesus said - speaking to the religious hypocrites, I think this is Matthew 23:23. He said ' woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay Tithe of mint and anise and cumin, and you have omitted the weightier matters of the law, justice, mercy and faith.' Now notice He says, 'These you ought to have done without leaving the other undone.' He says now I'm not saying don't pay tithe on your herb garden, you need to keep paying Tithe, but don't forget the weightier matters of justice, mercy and faith.
So Christ endorsed it. Paul endorsed it. The Old Testament Prophets and Kings endorsed it and the Tithe is a principle of how we acknowledge God is God. The other thing is Dennis, you know some churches operate where the local church pays their Pastor. And if he's got a church full of rich people, he gets more than if he's got a church full of poor people. In my particular church and other churches that follow the tithing format, I'm on a salary. Pastor Dick I believe is on the same salary.
Co-Host: Yes, right.
Pastor Doug: And I have a church with several hundred members and Pastor Dick has a slightly smaller church, but we get the same salary. So we're not working for the rich or the poor. We're working for the Lord.
Co-Host: Yes. Amen!
Pastor Doug: Tithing is a means of supporting the Priesthood and the Ministry. That's the plan they have in the Old Testament and it's still God's plan today. So I think it's the best plan and God will bless you. I'm a Pastor and I pay Tithe and I know Pastor Dick does. There is tremendous blessing in that. Send for the study Guide Dennis, you'll get a lot out of it.
Caller: I believe I'll do that.
Pastor Doug: Okay. It's called Worldwide Embezzlement Scandal.
Co-Host: Dennis, that number is 800-835-6747. Tell them you're listening to Bible Answers Live and you'd like the study guide on Worldwide Embezzlement Scandal.
Caller: Okay thank you.
Co-Host: Thanks for the call Dennis.