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Billboards, Slot Machines, and Robbing God

Hardly. Sharing a tenth of your spoils of war with someone you respect was a common practice among many in the Middle East, whether they were “religious” or not. In the New Testament, never once does it tell us to give a tenth of our income. Instead, there is one message that is shouted from the rooftops, “Freedom!” This freedom applies to our wallets as well.

No, we shouldn’t sit on our hands when we see a need. But we also shouldn’t give out of guilt or due to manipulation tactics. Our God owns the cattle on a thousand hills. He is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything from us (Acts 17:25). This means we can give freely from our hearts and not out of any expectation that we’re going to be paid back. The pleasure we get from giving comes from the act itself, knowing that we are meeting someone’s need and furthering the gospel. That’s the Christian message of freedom in action.

Editor’s Note: Do you preach tithing as a biblical command in your church today? Share your view in the Comment section below. Please be civil and use Scripture, when possible, to back up your points.