The 'Tithe and Prosper' Message

The mere fact that someone is quoting scripture does not guarantee that he (or she) is telling the truth.  In the same way that Satan used scripture in an attempt to mislead the Son of God (see Matt. 4:1-11), the preachers of ‘the tithe’ twist scriptures to mislead their congregations.   

The message that many churches preach is that ‘tithing brings about God’s blessing’.  They preach this because they love money, and if a man loves money, he will look for money in scripture.  He will believe he has found it because that is what his heart desires.  For example, the Lord said, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Luke 6:38).  Those who love money and the treasures of this earth will tell us that this verse is about money and the treasures of this earth.  However, those who seek the truth will read the verse in context and find that it is about a much greater treasure.  It is about forgiveness. - “‘Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.  Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.  For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.’  He also told them this parable: ‘Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit?’” (Luke 6:37-39)  Obviously, those who love money will argue and say, ‘it can be about both forgiveness and money’.  But the Lord had just told his disciples, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God” (Luke 6:20) and “But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort” (Luke 6:24).   It cannot be both, for Christ said, “No servant can serve two masters.  Either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other.  You cannot serve both God and money” (Luke 16:13).  It is also written, “the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil” (1 Tim. 6:10). 

Those who preach lies will continue to tell us that this is all just ‘perspective’ and ‘different opinions’.  But the Lord told us something different.  He said,  “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matt. 6:19-21).  So we see that it is not about ‘perspective’.  It is about the desires of our hearts, and whether we love the things of earth or the things of heaven. 

Of course, those who still demand the ‘tithe’ will continue to use scripture in their own twisted way, to defend what they are preaching.  They will often quote old covenant scripture such as Malachi:  “Will a man rob God?  Yet you rob me.  But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’  In tithes and offerings.  You are under a curse - the whole nation of you - because you are robbing me.  Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.  Test me in this, says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.”  (Malachi 3:8-10) 

Once again, THIS IS OLD COVENANT LAW!  God was promising to bless Israel as a nation; “the whole nation of you”.  He was not promising to “bless” individuals and make them rich.  We already know what the “tithe” in “the storehouse” was for, because we read it earlier.  Scripture tells us, “so that the Levites, (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the aliens, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied”. (Deut. 14:29) 

This law of tithing, like all other old covenant law, is fulfilled by love!   As it is written,  “Therefore, love is the fulfilment of the law.” (Rom.13:10).  That is; If we see someone in need, shouldn’t we share what God has given us?  Jesus said, “Love your neighbour as yourself” (Matt. 19:19).   Yet instead of helping people who are in need, these ‘law makers’ are burdening them even further by demanding a ‘tithe’ from them.  This is why Jesus said, “And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift a finger to help.” (Luke 11:46).

Men who preach the ‘tithe and prosper’ message are completely ignorant of the truth in scripture.  For they claim that people who are poor in finance are lacking in faith.  They claim that those with faith will tithe and will grow rich in finances as a result.  But it is written, “My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favouritism.  Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in.  If you show special attention to  the man wearing fine clothes and say, ‘Here’s a good seat for you,’ but say to the poor man, ‘You stand there’ or ’Sit on the floor by my feet,’ have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?  Listen my dear brothers:  Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised to those who love him?  But you have insulted the poor.  Is it not the rich who are exploiting you?  Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?  Are they not the ones who are slandering the name of him to whom you belong? (James 2:1-7)

Does Scripture even imply that we should desire earthly wealth?   No!  Scripture clearly teaches the opposite!  It is written, “If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of the Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching , he is conceited and understands nothing.  He has an unhealthy interest in quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.  But godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into the world and we can take nothing out of it.  But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.  People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.  For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.” (1 Tim 6:3-10)

The apostles were not wealthy!  For Paul writes-  “To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.  We work hard with our hands” (1 Cor. 4:11-12).  And again he says, “I have laboured and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.” (2 Cor. 11:27)  

In all these trials, Paul is still content, for he writes, “I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me.  Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.  I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need and I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” (Phil. 4:10-13).   In all situations, Paul knew that he was exactly where God wanted him to be; whether he was naked and hungry or in plenty did not matter to him.  He was confident that God would provide him with everything he needed.  He was working to God's plan, not his own, so he wrote, "I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”

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 One local pastor preached 'we can't do anything without money'.  But Scripture says, "I can do everything through him who gives me strength."   God's kingdom is not built on money - it is built on faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  "On this rock, I will build my church." (Matt. 16:18)