Tithing works?
If you’ve been a Christian for any length of time you’ve probably heard someone say with exuberance that "tithing works!"
They then go on to regale you with stories of how they were faithful with the tithe and something miraculous happened in a time of need. Someone knocked on the door with an obscene of amount of money just in time to save grandpa’s farm. Of course if grandpa had used his money to pay his bank note instead of tithing it away his farm wouldn’t have been in danger of repossession…
My experience with tithers is that they attribute everything good in their life to the fact that they tithe.
They have a good job because they tithe.
They got a raise because they tithe.
Their friend offered to pay for lunch because they tithe.
The tires on their cars don’t wear out as fast as everyone else’s because they tithe.
They found $100 in the street because they tithe.
According to them they are blessed in everything they do because of their "works". Well maybe it has nothing to do with their tithing. Maybe there are other reasons.
Maybe they have a good job because they have a college education.
Maybe they got a raise because they were due for one.
Maybe their friend paid for lunch out of the kindness of her heart.
Maybe they buy better tires or don’t drive as much as everyone else.
Maybe a little old lady just lost her grocery money.
Or maybe God just blessed them out of the abundance of love and grace in his heart.
Jesus tells us what kind of works God wants us to do. (You’ll notice tithing is not mentioned.)
John 6:28-29 Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?"
Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."
Maybe people should stop talking about their works and start talking about God’s.
Psalm 145
I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever.
Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever.
Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.
One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts.
They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works.
They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds.
They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.
The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.
The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.
All you have made will praise you, O Lord; your saints will extol you.
They will tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might,
so that all men may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made.
The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.
The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time.
You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.
The Lord is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made.
The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.
The Lord watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.
My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord. Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever.
AMEN