In the last blog post, we talked about how Stephen, the church’s first martyr, and Ananias, who dropped dead because of a financial lie, are important to your finances today. In that same article, we mentioned that Malachi tells us to test God when it comes to tithing, and this presents a challenge for some modern-day Christians. After all, aren’t we commanded never to tempt/challenge/test God, depending on which translation we read?

Easier to Lie

When we talk about tithing, especially with “Christian” clients, things get a bit touchy, and often become awkward and complicated for most. None of us wants to admit when we aren’t tithing, and this is especially true if the person doesn’t believe in tithing, has quit tithing, and doesn’t think he/she can afford to tithe, and so on. It feels like it’s easier to lie and just claim to tithe, because our finance counsel is highly unlikely to ever see church records and know the truth. While it’s true that you can probably get away with not tithing (at least in the eyes of your finance counselor) and perhaps even avoid scrutiny from the church, you will never escape God. He is in control of your finances ultimately, and He will bless them—but the alternative is also true.

Going without tithing is like hoarding borrowed items; you are unwilling to give up what doesn’t belong to you and therefore unable to receive forgiveness for this sin. If you aren’t sorry, it’s impossible to repent from a sin, especially one as serious as financial irresponsibility. Tithing is essential, critical, important, demanded, required, and a host of other equally-challenging words, but not because God needs the money. He owns it all, He gives it to us when we need it, and like refusing to pay the power bill, eventually you’ll suffer for refusing to pay it.

Testing God

Now, earlier we mentioned that there are Scriptures that talk about not tempting (or whatever word your translation of the Bible uses) God. This is found in Luke 12, where Jesus is telling the devil that throwing Himself (meaning Jesus) from the top of a building and assuming angels will catch him is a bad idea. This is the context in which we should not tempt God, because He does have the ability to save us from every situation, no matter how challenging, but this salvation doesn’t always happen. How often do we read about or experience situations (usually that we got ourselves into) that we know God can fix, but He doesn’t? Think about your finances for just a minute…God is perfectly capable of bailing you out of whatever predicament you face, but you dug yourself into a hole, and perhaps He’s letting you learn a lesson so that you can dig yourself out of the same hole. Don’t tempt God with bad decision making, assuming that He mustbail you out, just because He has the ability.

In Malachi 3:10, we are reminded that we can put God to the test when it comes to His promises, in this case as they relate to our money. If we’re tithing—doing our part—and being obedient, He’ll be faithful to pour out blessings, just like He’s promised. We can test God in this, because we’re going to discover that it’s always the truth. He’s constant, never changing, and His Word is just as applicable today as it was 2000 years ago, and it will remain the same for another 2000 years (or however long this world lasts). If that isn’t one of the most comforting thoughts around, then you may need to think about it some more!

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