Give Something!

Tithe. Like you, I was taught that God curses those who don't. If I had a dollar for every time I heard this preached, I'd probably be rich! The common text is found in Malachi 3:8-9, "Will a man rob God?... You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me."

Okay, with this settled, let's take a look at the bigger picture discussed in Malachi 1 through 3. The prophet issues several indictments against the Israelites because of their arrogance. We read at least five times where the Lord calls Israel out for her gross disrespect and rebellion. One of them was in the area of giving tithes and offerings. They asked, "How have we robbed you" (3:8)? Can you imagine talking to the Lord like this?

My friends, it's not so much that God places a curse upon us; the real issue is that we rob ourselves of God's blessings when we refuse to give. Rebellion and arrogance have no place in the economy of God's grace.

I've met with a lot of people over my years of pastoring who said, "We simply cannot afford to tithe." I saw fear in their eyes. Most of them hated it but in their mind, they really could not afford to pull ten-percent off the top for the Lord's work. Usually, I asked, "What can you afford?" I encouraged them to step out in faith and give something. To start small, and work their way toward tithing. I did not feel this encouraged disobedience but rather, testing God by placing their faith in the right direction. Many of them, who tithe today, remember starting out small and winning big! Their faith increased, as well as their giving when they stood back and watched God honor their incremental giving. Now, if I may, allow me to share an Old Testament story that brings a principle to light when it comes to all Christians. It involves giving, whether much, little, or none. It's about David buying a threshing floor. Keep reading.

"But the king said to Araunah, 'No, but I will buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing'" (2 Samuel 24:24).

Here's the initial problem: David sinned by numbering the fighting men of Israel. It was not wrong that the king took a census of his army. But there was a subtle but great sin behind this census. Counting the men betrayed the fact that David was not counting on God. The Lord was displeased with David. And he would punish Israel for David's sin. But he let David choose the punishment. Three years of famine. Three months of persecution from your enemies. Or three days of pestilence.

David responded, "I am in great distress. Let us fall into the hand of the Lord, for his mercy is great; but let me not fall into the hand of man" (2 Samuel 24:14).

For restoration, the Lord commanded David to offer a sacrifice on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. In obedience, David asked to buy Araunah's threshing floor, to build an altar on it. Araunah freely offered the land to the king. But David refused. He insisted on paying for the land, because he could not make an offering that cost him nothing. Of course, this passage has nothing to do with giving. Or does it? It addresses anything we do for the Lord. We should follow David's example and never offer to God something that costs us nothing.

Do you ever come to church and not give in the offering? I hope not. Okay, maybe you can't tithe. Maybe you have overdue bills. Maybe your food cabinets are empty. Maybe the power company is threatening to turn off your service unless they get payment soon. I understand all these scenarios. Been there, done that! But like David, what I don't understand is how folks can attend church week after week and not participate in the offering. Not give a dime to the One who has saved them, placed them in a Christ-honoring community of faith, kept them healthy and helped them through all kinds of trials and deep valleys, only to give nothing in the offering! I don't get it!

I'm not talking about those who give weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly, according to their pay schedule. I'm referring to those who never give anything. How can anyone justify this travesty? With deep conviction, David said, "For I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God which cost me nothing."

If you have to check under your couch cushions for lost change. Rob your piggy bank. Give the Lord any loose change. The issue here is not how much, but the condition of your heart. Don't be a taker! Give something. You're part of this church family, and you must "have skin in the game!" And every time you give, give with a grateful heart, trusting and believing that one day you see an increase. God loves a cheerful giver! By giving nothing, you reveal a heart of disobedience and even arrogance. We're all in this thing together. Perhaps others can give more than you, but who's counting? You and God know your financial condition but to give nothing brings curses and lack into your life.

I've asked people over the years, "How can you expect to make withdrawals from heaven's bank if you refuse to make deposits?" That's a principle that works for all of us. Ask any bank teller!