Most people would concede that our current economy is going through some tough times and most people are feeling the impact in some way or another.  Unemployment rates are rising, gas and food prices are rising, house values are going down in many areas- the list goes on.  As Christians, we aren’t immune to these troubles, but we know that God will provide a way out and will help us overcome if we trust in Him and follow in his principles. 

Deuteronomy 8:18 tells us “Remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth.”  It doesn’t say he has given us the power to get wealth only when the economy is strong.  God’s principles work no matter what the outside circumstances are and no matter what the economy looks like.  

“‘Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this’ says the LORD of hosts, ‘If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field’  says the LORD of hosts; ‘And all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land’ says the LORD of hosts.” Malachi 3:10-12

One of the ways God enables us to create wealth is by rebuking the devourer and keeping Satan away from destroying our finances.  But there is a condition we must follow – we must bring our tithe into the storehouse (the church).  Most Christians know this and many already do so.  However, when money is tight and the bills exceed the income, tithing is unfortunately usually the first to go.  The thinking goes like this: if you cut back on giving your 10%, you will have more money left to pay your bills.  Plus, God understands, right? 

The problem is that God and His principles don’t follow the logic we know.  God’s teachings often appear backwards from what we would naturally believe (the first will be last, if you want to be great then serve, etc.).  So while it may seem logical that cutting back on tithing would help your financial situation currently, the truth is, this actually leaves you behind.  

Here are a few reasons it is important to tithe, even when money is tight:

God Tells Us To

First and foremost, God tells us in His Word to tithe. We are to obey Him, thus we are to tithe.  Even if it doesn’t make sense to us, God is smarter than we are and His ways are higher (Isa 55:8-9).  He knows that tithing is for our own good and that is why He tells us to do it.

The Unchurched Need Our Help

Our tithes provide for our churches and help them to continue to reach more people.  In the above verse from Malachi, God tells us to tithe so that there may be food in His house, in other words that His church would have the finances and ability to do what it needs to do to reach the lost and needy. In fact, when the economy is tough and peoples’ finances are going south, we often see an increase in unchurched people reach out to find Jesus and to get His help.  If Christians stop tithing then the church won’t be able to afford the resources to reach these people.