When I was 14 years old my youth leader did something that created a significant impact in my life. Even though we were on a water-skiing weekend together it wasn’t the skiing that impacted me the most. He gave me a book. It was the kind of book you wouldn’t think was appropriate for a 14 year old kid who didn’t have a job, let alone a career.
The truth contained in the pages of that book was like seed sown into my heart that didn’t fully grow until many years later…
The book was, “Mover of Men and Mountains” – the story of R.G. LeTourneau.
Mr. LeTourneau was a very successful engineering genius who built a heavy duty earth hauling equipment empire. His machinery helped win the Second World War and built much of the highway infrastructure in modern America. He was an amazing man on many fronts. Even though he only had a grade 7 education, by the end of his life he held over 300 patents.
His entire story I have long since forgotten, but one core conviction he held has stuck with me:
Our money is not “our” money – it’s God’s money.
God allows us to steward His money. It’s not an issue of us determining how much of our money we give to God, it’s determining how much of God’s money we keep for ourselves.
Mr. LeTourneau put his money where his mouth was and instead of giving God a tithe of 10% of his gross income, he kept 10% of his gross income for himself and gave away 90% of his income.
When I became a member of my church at 18 I was taught about the principle of tithing. I remembered the lesson I learned from Mr. LeTourneau years before this time – it’s not my money, it’s God’s money. So, tithing was simply a matter of obedience for me.
God asks me to give back to Him a portion of my gross income as an indication of my trust in Him.
I then began to do some study on tithing and discovered some very important principles: 1. My tithe should be based on 10% of my gross income – pre-tax – the first fruits of my income. 2. Not tithing is robbing God, and places me under a curse.
And the third principle I discovered was the most profound: Tithing is a form of spiritual warfare.
Tithing is really all about faith. Do I believe God will provide for all my financial needs, or do I believe it’s up to me to take care of myself? If I believe the former, then I gladly give the Lord – at a minimum – 10% of my gross income. If I don’t trust God to provide for my needs then I can easily come to the conclusion that I can’t afford to tithe.
Nothing can be further from the truth – we can’t afford not to tithe.
God tells us in Malachi 3 that when we don’t give God 10% of our gross income we are robbing Him and are, therefore, under a curse. And, if we bring “the whole tithe into the storehouse” God will bless us and “rebuke the devourer” for us.
That is the spiritual warfare! The Lord actually says “test Me in this”! Tithe and watch Him rebuke the devourer.
Like I said, we can’t afford not to tithe. God invites us to trust Him – to put our money where our mouth is – and give Him the first fruits of our income. How we manage our finances is a very interesting glimpse into what we believe. Do we believe we can trust the Lord to provide for all our needs? Or not?
Do we want to rob God and live under a curse, or tithe and have the Lord bless us and rebuke the devourer on our behalf?
Tithing is a matter of faith. Like Mr. LeTourneau said, our money is not our money anyway – it’s God’s money He has entrusted to us. How will we steward his resources? Will we keep it for ourselves, or freely give the minimum the Lord has asked of us?
God wants His money – as an indication of our trust in Him.
Malachi 3:8-11
““Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, ‘How have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, the whole nation of you! Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows. Then I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of the ground; nor will your vine in the field cast its grapes,” says the Lord of hosts.”
Philippians 4:19
“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”
2 Corinthians 9:6
“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”
Matthew 6:24
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”