By: Rev. Dr. Cynthia Hale
Senior Pastor, Decatur, GA
Adapted for web by Theresia Whitfield

Every child asks the same question. Why? They curiously want to know why the sky is blue. They want to know why dogs can’t talk. They want to know why Susie can’t come play with them. Some of the questions are simply adorable and let us marvel at how God gives these little ones such imaginations. And yet, they also want to know why they have to brush their teeth. They want to know why they have to go to bed so early. They want to know why they have to go to church every Sunday.

And practically every parent has uttered these same words to many of those questions: “Because I said so.”

Our curious little minds have become adult curious minds. As a youngster, if our parents said those magical “because I said so” words, we were quick to obey their commands. And yet, as adults, we aren’t satisfied with “because I said so.” Perhaps we are even more curious than we were as children. Perhaps we are defiant and want concrete answers to our whys.

In some cases, it’s good to ask why. It’s good to know why you’re required to do certain things and why you must avoid others. Nothing should be taken at face value; especially faith.

Through the Gospel, God has gone to great lengths to make clear to us His expectations for our obedience. Sometimes He tells us why. Other times, He simply implies, “Because I said so.” Just as any parent, He knows what’s best for us and doesn’t want us to suffer the consequences.

One big question Christians often ask is “why should I tithe?” Every one of us has asked that question at some time or another. Some ask the question as new Christians who have never been introduced to the concept. Others ask why because a tenth of your income is much more than you are willing to give while many not only wonder why they should tithe, but how they should tithe when they have no stable income.

In essence, these are questions of trust. Do I trust God in my newfound faith to be obedient in all He requires of me? Do I trust God to keep my income at its current level even though I will give up a tenth of it to God? Do I trust God to help me meet my weekly and monthly obligations even while I surrender a tenth of not much?

And then there are those who have tithed but haven’t seen God’s blessings poured out on them. They wonder why God hasn’t kept His promises. After all, doesn’t the scripture say, “Test me in this… and see if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough to receive.” (Malachi 3:10) And yet, your floodgates have not opened so you ask, “Why should I tithe? What difference is it making?”

Believe it or not, God has been waiting for you to ask these questions. He wants to know the true thoughts of your heart. God is not offended by your honesty and is willing to give you an answer. The real question then becomes, can we handle His answer?

The Word of God informs us that tithing is about establishing God’s reign and prosperity in earth through us. Tithing is mentioned 39 times throughout the Bible. The first occurrence of tithing comes in Genesis 14:20 when Abraham gave Melchizedek, the King of Salem and the Most High Priest, a tenth of everything he had gained in a battle over four kings and their armies.

When Abraham thought about what God had just done for him, how good God had been with him, delivering his enemies into his hands and giving him back everything the enemy had previously taken, he worshipped God with tithes.

The Psalmist asks the question in 116:12 — “How can I repay the Lord for all his goodness to me?”

For Abraham, saying thank you wasn’t enough. God’s blessing warranted a tangible response. Abraham was a man of significant wealth and resources. He was also a man of faith and trusted God. Giving a tithe of all he had wasn’t too much to give to a God who had given him everything.

What began as a spontaneous act of worship eventually become part of the Law of Moses instituted by God for His people. The fact that God includes tithing in the law shows us how important it is. Moses told the people of Israel in Leviticus 27:30, “A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.”

Israel was an agricultural community; their crops and flocks and animals were their income and a tithe or a tenth of their income belonged to the Lord. It was to be set aside for him off the top, before they did anything else with the crops, before they intentionally or accidentally ate it or gave it to someone else. This practice insured that God received His first.

Paul told the saints in Corinth (1 Corinthians 16:1-2), “Now about the collection for God’s people. On the first day of every week, each one should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his/her income.”

These edicts are still relevant today. Many of us spend God’s part and ours before we even get our hands on it. We end up in a financial rut, leading us to believe we can’t afford to tithe.

But tithing is not simply a suggested way of worshipping and honoring God. It is a command. Israel understood the importance of the tithe to God and to the nation. Israel knew that tithing was one of the ways that she expressed her love and adoration to God, but now as a command it was also a way of expressing her faithfulness and obedience to God’s word.

But, like all of us, the people of Israel got slack. They neglected their tithing so their resources became strained. They were unable to produce the crops, the income they needed to live and they began to feel as if they were forsaken by God. They wanted to know why God has forsaken them.

But God replied (in Malachi 3:6), “I, the Lord do not change, so you, O descendents of Jacob are not destroyed. Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you says the Lord Almighty.”

God reminded them that He was not the one who moved. He wasn’t the one who had been unfaithful. But despite the fact that the people of Israel had been unfaithful, God never stopped loving them or taking care of them. God just allowed them the freedom of their own will and then allowed them to suffer the consequences of their poor choices.

And when we come to our senses, He is there waiting for us, just as He was for the people of Israel.

“How do we return?” they asked.

The point of departure — for the Israelites and for us — is the point of return. Where there is disobedience, confess it, let it go, and return to God.

There’s one other question people ask: Why is money so important to God? Does He need it?

Everything in the world belongs to God. And He has entrusted us to manage His resources. He needs His people to keep His money in circulation, to meet the needs of all, and to establish His Kingdom.

When God told the people of Israel to bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, they understood that the tithe was to be used for the ministry that took place in and through the Temple.

When we fail to tithe and give offerings, we receive ministry on credit; ministry such as preaching, teaching, prayer, and other activities throughout the church.

In Biblical days, the people of God met the needs of everyone in the community. They used their tithes and offerings to respond to and meet the needs of their friends and family. While we have a Social Security system in place, there is still a tremendous need among the underprivileged. Tithes allow the church to reach each one.

Through the many ways tithes and offering can be used for God’s Kingdom on earth, God promises to restore us. He promises to bless us spiritually and financially. It is written over and over again in scripture:

• Proverbs 11:25 — A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
• Proverbs 3:9 — Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.
• Luke 6:38 — Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.

Once you hear the Word of God and see how obedience in the tithe is such a blessing to you and to others, why ask why?