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Saturday, January 11, 2025

The Vows Surrounding Tithing

“The angel said, ‘Look up, and you will see that only the streaked, speckled, and spotted males are mating with the females of your flock. For I have seen how Laban has treated you. I am the God who appeared to you at Bethel, the place where you anointed the pillar of stone and made your vow to me. Now get ready and leave this country and return to the land of your birth.’” [Genesis 31.12-13]

Let's look again at the vow Jacob made to God as was found in yesterday's One Year Chronological Bible reading.

Then Jacob made this vow: “If God will indeed be with me and protect me on this journey, and if he will provide me with food and clothing, and if I return safely to my father’s home, then the LORD will certainly be my God. And this memorial pillar I have set up will become a place for worshiping God, and I will present to God a tenth of everything he gives me.” [Genesis 28.20-22]

In Genesis 31.12-13, it can be understood that Jacob kept his vow to God which would be the vow found in Genesis  28.20-22. Jacob's articulated vow was to honor God as his God and to give a tenth of all his increase to God in exchange for God's protection, provision and placement.

Because of all the religious ideas surrounding the practice of tithing today, it seems too many people are only mindlessly engaged in tithing if they are engaged at all. The sad implication of this condition is the absence of relationship.

Let's discuss expectation for just a moment in terms of a vow. Most everyone is at least somewhat familiar with the vow of marriage. In marriage, promises (vows) are made by both bride and groom to solicit expectations measured by fulfillment as lived out thus establishing relationship. The relationship consequently suffers without the mutual fulfillment of vows. If the relationship is struggling, the first place to troubleshoot is for the fulfillment of expectations born of known vows.

It is a well-known fact that unspoken expectations kill relationships. The significance and importance of articulated (spoken or written) vows therefore cannot be ignored whether it is in marriage or working for pay or any other promise or vow.

So it was with God and Jacob. And, so it is with God and us.

As it relates to tithing, God articulated a vow to us equally as significant as He gave Jacob.

Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test! [Malachi 3.10]

The vow God gives to solicit our expectation is, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in!" We are invited to vow in return to "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse..."

It is right then, that specific expectations arise from these respective vows. God's expectation is fulfilled when we tithe and our expectation is fulfilled when we live in abundance for having done so. This mutual fulfillment manifests in relationship.

So, how is our relationship with God relative to tithing? Has God made a vow to us? Yes. Have we made a vow to God? 

Each of us must answer the second question above between us and God... however, as with marriage, it should be understood that our vow to God to tithe could very possibly involve a public declaration. I am not talking about declaring, "Here's how much I tithe" (stating an amount), but instead, "I am a tither! I have entered into covenant with God Who entered into covenant with me!" From there, the relationship between us and God then should speak for itself!

The problem we run into then is unfulfilled promises. Whether it is in the matter of finances, health, or any other area of need (it should be understood that Malachi 3.10 does not limit God's "blessings" to finances only in exchange for our vow to tithe).

There is great divide today in the Body of Christ about unfulfilled promises regarding physical and material blessings. The most dangerous response the Church can have is to pass the responsibility for the unfulfilled promises (vows) onto God because it is impossible that God should lie. When promises (vows) on which expectations are based go unfulfilled, it is and never will be because God did not hold up His end of the bargain!

So, shouldn't we wonder then, just who might have failed to live up to expectations resulting in unfulfillment signaling a relationship in jeopardy? We really have no option but to look in the mirror (unless of course, we are prepared to declare God 'at fault' and consider the ramifications that our faith was placed in someone incapable of fulfilling all His promises (vows) as delivered). Do we really want to go there? I should think not.

When I feel distant in my relationship with God - when I feel like covenant vows that led to expectations have gone unfulfilled, I MUST consider myself as the only candidate for having not met expectations. Any idea that God failed is pure pride.

The tithe is significant to relationship with God as seen in Jacob's vow and as made a contingency in Malachi 3.10 as we expect God's blessings. If we are not realizing God's blessings, are we prepared to stop tithing (as we should)? Are we prepared to demonstratively declare that God has not held up His end of the bargain? While I cannot answer this for you, I can say for myself, "I cannot." Now the question arises, is my response one of religion or relationship?

My conclusion is that we need to give more consideration to our tithe. We need to have expectations upon God as we do. We need to see fulfillment of those expectations. And, we desperately need the relationship that results from our doing so.

Father, help me get it right with the tithe. I have tithed for most all my adult life and yet, I experience ongoing insufficiencies where I need Your blessings. This is not Your failure, but mine. Forgive me for my default indoctrination to blame You instead of looking in my mirror. So be it.


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