A number of years ago the founder of a well-known Christian organization responded to a question about tithing in his blog. The man asking the question was married with three young children. The family had no savings and about $75,000 in debt. They had been tithing, but said if they stopped tithing they could use the money to pay off their debt much sooner.
“Do you think that would be biblically wrong or does God want us to suffer and pay the price for immature and irresponsible attitudes toward money? Our financial situation is a large source of tension in our marriage. I feel I have let our family down.”
“No one else can tell you what God’s will is for anything unless it is specifically commanded or prohibited by scripture,” the blogger responded. “In my opinion, tithing falls into the category that is commanded in the Old Testament and confirmed by Jesus in the New Testament at Matthew 23:23.”
Let’s read the verse. “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.”
Ladies and gentlemen, Jesus was not confirming the tithe. When you leave this verse in its context, you’ll see that the entire chapter is a scathing rebuke of the religious leaders for their heartless attitudes toward God and toward the people. Giving the tithe was more “sacred” to them than judgment, mercy and faith. Sadly, this attitude still exists in many churches today.
“My advice,” the blogger continued, “is to keep tithing. I know it’s counterintuitive, but God honors those who honor Him. You’re going to get through this. Make God bless your decision.” Then he closes: “Men, I hope you already tithe. But if not, I would like to encourage you to test and see if it’s true that, by tithing, God will watch over you as He has watched over me.”
Jesus taught kingdom of God principles.
During his three and a half year ministry, Jesus never taught the law. He taught the kingdom of God and this is clearly seen in Mark 1:14-15.
(14) Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God.
(15) And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
Matthew 4:17 repeats what we read here in Mark. “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
In John 1:17, the dividing line is identified even more clearly. “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” I like the way the Bible in Basic English renders this verse: “For the law was given through Moses; grace and the true way of life are ours through Jesus Christ.”
Tithing is a stronghold in the Body of Christ.
The purpose of this message is not to teach on tithing. My focus this morning is on the bloggers advice to the struggling father and husband. He essentially says, “hang in there and continue to struggle because God demands the tithe.” He’s telling the man and his family “your needs are secondary when it comes to God’s need for the tithe.” Ladies and gentlemen, what a damnable teaching!
The blogger’s response ignores kingdom principles. One of the kingdom principles he ignores is 2 Corinthians 2:12-13.
(12) For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
(13) For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened.
He also ignores the kingdom principle found in 2 Corinthians 9:7. “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give, not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”
I really like the way the Amplified Bible renders this verse.
Let each one [give] as he has made up his own mind and purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves (He takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or do without) a cheerful (joyous, “prompt to do it”) giver [whose heart is in his giving].
What is a “stronghold”?
The words “strong holds” are used only once in scripture and it’s found in 2 Corinthians 10.
(3) For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh.
(4) (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
(5) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.
When you read “strongholds,” I want you to see two images.
The first is that of a fortress, a structure with walls so high and thick it’s almost impregnable. Remember Joshua and the walls of Jericho? The people had absolutely no fear of ever being attacked because of the walls around the city. They were built to keep the enemy out. But they also kept the people in. But the walls of Jericho – the stronghold – fell after Israel obeyed the word of the Lord.
The second image is that of a prison, which is designed to keep a person inside. When you think about it, Jericho was also a prison was it not? What do fortresses and prisons have in common? Those inside the fortress are held captive. Those inside the prison are held captive. Those outside the fortress need permission to enter. Those outside the prison need permission to enter.
When Paul uses “strongholds,” he’s referring to wrong thoughts and beliefs about God that have been emotionally hardwired into our lives and block the truth of God’s Word from entering in. As used in here, strongholds are lies about God and His Word that the devil has engrained so deeply into our minds and belief systems that we believe there is no way they are not true.
How do we deal with strongholds?
First, we must understand something. Strongholds can be bad, but they can also be good. When we remove the devil from the equation, here’s the definition of strongholds.
“Strongholds are ways of thinking about God and His Word that have been engrained so deeply into our minds and belief systems that we believe there is no way they are not true.” Ladies and gentlemen, grasping this is critical.
In verse five, Paul says we must “cast down imaginations, and every high thing.” The image is of a person who violently and angrily pulls down and demolishes something that he finds utterly disgusting. He sees the lies that he has believed about God and is so sickened by this revelation that he falls on his knees and repents for being so blind to his Father’s truth.
Paul says this is what we are to do with strongholds – untruths that have been elevated above truth. Okay, so how do we do this Bro. Barry? We demolish them by imposing truth on the untruth by creating new strongholds in our lives based on God’s truth.
We’re going to stay on the subject of tithing. On Sunday mornings, Christians are taught from pulpits all across America that if they don’t tithe, they are robbing God and will be cursed when they do that. They’re taught that when they tithe, God opens the windows of heaven and pours out blessings on them.
The Church needs to replace tithing, which is no longer truth for Christians, with kingdom-based truth about giving. So, how do we begin to cast down the stronghold of tithing in our lives? We must first understand the truth about who we are as God’s sons and daughters.
Turn to Ephesians 2. We’re going to read verses 4 through 6.
(4) But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
(5) Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (for by grace are ye saved;)
(6) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
Now I have one simple question. If we are seated together in heavenly places with Christ Jesus, why do we need the windows of heaven to be opened for us? Are we not already on the side where the blessings are? Okay, that was two questions.
Let’s read Romans 8:32. “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?”
The words “freely give” are one word in the Greek. Are you sitting down? Because we believed John 3:16, God has freely given us something with no strings attached! Oh, can I get a hallelujah?!?! And what has He given us with no strings attached? All things. Our Heavenly Father has freely given us all things that are a part of our inheritance in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:11).
Second Peter 1:3 puts it this way: “According as his divine power hath given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.”
What are some the things we need in life? Let’s see. How about no lack financially? Or, how about complete physical health? Or, how about mental and emotional stability? Do not all of these “pertain to life”? You bet they do! And they sure enough play a role in living lives that are godly.
New strongholds concerning our provision
Remember, a stronghold is a way of thinking about God and His Word that is so deeply entrenched in our minds and belief systems that we believe there is no way that it is not true. If we faithfully and consistently confess and declare God’s Word, we can create truth-based strongholds and access every single promise in our inheritance. Right now, we’re talking about our financial inheritance, but the principle applies to all areas of our lives.
Turn to 2 Corinthians 8:9. “For I know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.”
New stronghold declaration: “I know that through His grace, Jesus took my poverty and gave me His riches. I have all the money I need to live on and to give into God’s kingdom. I am rich and I lack nothing. No one, and no situation, will ever be able to move me from believing this. I live in my savior’s riches!”
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to good work. (2 Corinthians 9:8)
New stronghold declaration: “I live in my Father’s abounding grace. I have all the money I need, so I freely abound in good works for my Father. No one, and no situation, will ever be able to move me from believing this. My Father’s grace abounds toward me and my giving into His kingdom abounds!”
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)
New stronghold declaration: “God has already supplied all my financial needs. I do not live in “barely enough.” I have no wants. No one, and no situation, will ever be able to move me from believing that, thanks to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, my Father is able to supply all my needs!”
Remember the blogger’s advice about the tithe?
Here is what my Heavenly Father would have told the struggling husband and father:
“I know your heart and I know you have acted foolishly with your money. Son, take care of your family. Your family is more important than any amount of money you can ever give to Me. So, first things first, get out of debt. And, if you will spend some time with Me, I will give you the wisdom you will need to get out of debt and to stay out of debt.
“And once you are out of debt, don’t be foolish with your money ever again. I love you. I love your family. You are My son and My ability to bless you is not dependent on how much money you give. It’s dependent on how much faith you have in Me to keep My Word that I will provide for you. If you will seek Me, I will show you what you need to do.”
Ladies and gentlemen, let the stronghold of God’s truth become so engrained in every fiber of your being that your every thought will agree with your Father’s.
Oh, how I love my Father!
