By Kenneth B.E. Roxburgh, Ph.D.
Chair and Armstrong Professor of Religion, Samford University
Tithing: An Obedient Response to a Gracious God
Malachi 3:7–12
Many Christians neglect the issue of stewardship, especially as it relates to giving money. But even when we do think about it, we tend to be more motivated by law than grace, by a sense of duty with little sense of what Paul suggests as cheerfulness, for “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7).
Obedience is reflected in our giving. (7–10a)
Malachi believes that expressions of worship are a reflection of the inner working of God’s Spirit in our minds and hearts, thus his critique of Israel’s attitude towards worship in chapter 1. When the people complained “what a weariness this is,” this attitude led to complacency in the way in which God was worshipped. The prophet tells the people that God was weary with them.
Earlier in chapter 3, Malachi expressed his concern that the people had turned their backs on God and had changed in their attitude toward Him. They had turned aside from keeping the statutes and commands of God’s law. The sins that are specified in verse 5 are all actions that the laws of Moses condemned.
Malachi suggests that Israel has no sense of guilt or shame; their conscience had been dulled by a history of unfaithfulness to God.
Malachi now brings his accusations to a specific part of their unfaithfulness: robbing God by failing to bring to Him tithes and offerings. Although tithing was never seen in the Old Testament as one of the stipulations of the Ten Commandments, it was a custom that was practiced in the religious life of Israel’s neighbors long before they became a nation.
References to tithing in the Bible are few and scattered but it is encouraged in Numbers 18 and is seen as one means by which we practice the “fear of the Lord” (Deut. 14:23). Amos makes it clear that we can tithe outwardly with no inner change within our lives, and he condemns those who “love to tithe” (Amos 4:4–5) but do not promote “justice rolling down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream” (Amos 5:21–25). Jesus warned His hearers that they could tithe their mint and cumin and yet have no concern for the weightier matters of God’s law for their lives, such as “justice and the love of God” (Luke 11:42).
Obedience is blessed by God. (10b–12)
Malachi calls the people to return to the Lord and offer all of their lives to Him, not only in bringing their tithes and offerings, but in opening their hearts to a work of grace in their lives that will lead to spiritual renewal as He “opens the windows of heaven” and pours out his blessings on their lives.
The tax changes which have been introduced in the U.S. may well be a challenge to Christians to give, not because they gain any tax benefit in giving but solely because of grace and gratitude. We give for the sake of others. God gives to us so that we can help others; He gives to make us into generous givers. Everybody can give out of what they have received for the benefit of others. It means being willing to be an instrument, a steward of the grace of God to others, cheerful participants in God’s mission of outgoing love for the sake of the world. In the words of the hymn “Take My Life and Let It Be”: “Take my silver and my gold; / Not a mite would I withhold; / Take my love; my Lord, I pour / At Thy feet its treasure-store.”
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