I understand, it’s a very controversial topic and one that is seldom discussed candidly. But there is way too much abuse and incorrect teaching in the church today with regards to giving and tithing.
So, to answer the question, am I cursed if I don’t tithe? The answer is an absolute NO! You are not cursed. God is not after your money, He is after your heart. And if our hearts wholly belong to God, money is inconsequential, because all we have is His, not just the 10%.
Let me explain, tithing is a principle that was designed to help man acknowledge God and His provision. But pastors and leaders have manipulated it and used fear to force people into giving their money to the church.
Make no mistake, I believe in the principles of tithing and giving and I try to follow it cheerfully. However, I do not subscribe or support fear based theology of giving to the God’s kingdom.
[tweetthis url=”https://goo.gl/7DnMly” twitter_handles=”@hariraopawar”]You are not cursed. God is not after your money, He is after your heart.[/tweetthis]
Curse of the law is broken!
Consider the Galatians 3: 13 & 14
Christ redeemed us from that self-defeating, cursed life by absorbing it completely into himself… That is what happened when Jesus was nailed to the cross: He became a curse, and at the same time dissolved the curse.
Scripture is clearly saying that, the death of Jesus has dissolved the curse. It’s ludicrous to believe that Christ has redeemed us from all other curses except from financial curses.
God is not upset with you if you miss your tithe or if you choose not give your tithes. You are not going to have an accident because you missed giving tithes a particular month, God is not going to bring sickness to your family because you didn’t support a missionary in Africa. That’s just incorrect teaching on the tithe.
[tweetthis url=”https://goo.gl/7DnMly” twitter_handles=”@hariraopawar”]It’s ludicrous to believe that Christ has redeemed us from all other curses except from financial curses. [/tweetthis]
It’s not the wisest choice to not honor God with our substance, but it definitely doesn’t mean you are cursed by God or hated by God. We must believe that Jesus’s death and resurrection has redeemed us from all curses, and we are blessed with the blessing of Abraham.
Do we stop tithing now?
Of course not! Tithes and offering was a principle before it became a law under Moses. Tithing and giving is a principle that God recognizes, acknowledges and rewards even today. But our motives in giving to the Lord are not based out of fear and condemnation.
o We give because, we love.
o We give because, we want to honor God with our wealth.
o We give because, God owns all that we have & not just the 10%.
o We give because, we want to and not because we have to.
o We give because, it’s more blessed to give than to receive.
o We give because, it creates a harvest for us.
o We give because, He first gave us His son.
o We give, because we are givers.
[tweetthis url=”https://goo.gl/7DnMly” twitter_handles=”@hariraopawar”]Giving is a principle that God recognizes, acknowledges and rewards even today. [/tweetthis]
I will share more on financial stewardship in the upcoming posts. I’m sure you have a lot of questions in your mind, please leave a comment and I will do my best respond to them.
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Very Pleasing to read. Very simply put. Loads of good stuff here. I really like you Hari and you have always divided the Word rightly. That said, I believe this post to be misleading and out of context. Let me explain: In condemning what needs to be condemned ( the “GREEDY”, “ONLY AFTER YOUR MONEY” Preachers) you unintentionally ( i believe) have undervalued the WHOLE MEANING of the Principle of Tithing. I know you tithe and are not against the principle of tithing but when I read though the article I find it misleading. I totally believe with all my heart that not tithing does not curse you ! But what then is it for ?? I believe Its to prevent you and I from being robbed of our blessings and rightful harvest (Malachi 3:11). Also the reason we NEED to tithe is to show that we love the Lord more than our Wallet. There is no LAW in Christ except the one of Love. But the Love we have for Him cannot make us disobey His commands. It only shifts our motivation for obedience. You are on point in the points that you gave
o We give because, we love.
o We give because, we want to honor God with our wealth.
o We give because, God owns all that we have & not just the 10%.
o We give because, we want to and not because we have to.
o We give because, it’s more blessed to give than to receive.
o We give because, it creates a harvest for us.
o We give because, He first gave us His son.
o We give, because we are givers.
But the beginning of the para “God is not upset with you if you miss your tithe or if you choose not give your tithes.” Seems to suggest that “Its O.K” not to give of you don’t FEEL like it.
Huh! I see i ahve written more than you 🙂 which I am sorry about. But you are a gem my brother and thus I felt like bringing up my concern.
And I had he delight of translating for you once in Pune (M.Y.M Camp) and I enjoyed every moment of it. And your intimate times with the Lord ( HEAVEN MISSED YOU HONEY !!! ) Gave me chills.
Blessings
Avi
The principle of tithing – an obligatory contribution of one tenth of your income for the support of the Levites and the temple – is only for the Old Covenant. Those under the New Covenant, even of Israel, are freed from the law of Moses. Tithing is not reiterated under the law of Christ. And the obligations of the law were never to be imposed on Gentiles (Acts 15).
Nor is there anything in the NT about supporting church organisations – there weren’t any. All contributions in the church are voluntary and given out of love for our brothers and for God. (See 2 Corinthians 9). Much if not most of current Christian giving is channelled into supporting buildings and staff, whereas the NT principle for the church was to support fellow believers in need.
You may choose to use the principle of a tithe for your giving, but it should not be like a law (so that the Scribes and Pharisees tithed mint and dill and cumin but neglected the weightier matters of the law) for legalism kills.
Also, if you review all the passages about tithing in the OT, you will find that tithes were only due from the produce of the land of Israel, because that land belongs to God. There are no instructions for merchants or craftsmen to pay tithes.
Thank you man of god this has difiently helped me because whenever i miss to tithe for a month for whatever reason I go through that guilt trip but now i know God’s love is not based on whether I tithe or not but he truly loves me for who I am an that makes me give cheerfully.