Should I Tithe
E.A. Johnston teaches that tithing remains a vital and obedient practice for Christians today, promising God's blessings to those who faithfully give.
In this teaching sermon, E.A. Johnston addresses the question of whether Christians should tithe today. Drawing from the book of Malachi, he explains God's displeasure with those who withhold tithes and emphasizes the unchanging nature of God's commands. Johnston shares his personal testimony of financial blessing through faithful tithing and encourages believers to obey God promptly to receive His abundant blessings.
Full Transcript
In the book of Malachi, we find an angry God who's against the people of God. The priests had dealt falsely with the Almighty by offering imperfect sacrifices and misleading the people with their words by calling evil good. But God's main bone of contention with the Jews was the fact that they had robbed God.
We see their infidelity and disobedience in Malachi chapter 3 beginning in verse 7. Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances and have not kept them. Return unto me and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. But ye said wherein shall we return? Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me.
But ye say wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings ye are cursed with a curse for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. I will stop their friends to say some folks say we don't need to tithe anymore because there was an Old Testament ordinance that applied to the Jews and it does not apply to New Testament believers that we are to give to God as we can, when we can, and not apply the tithe to our giving. But I don't agree with that kind of reasoning and I'll tell you why friends.
Up in verse 6 of this same chapter is a declaration of Almighty God and in verse 6 he declares, for I am the Lord, I change not. I have to believe what God says about himself and I have to believe what he says about his promise to obedience. In Malachi 3.10 we read, Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now wherewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you but a blessing that there should not be room enough to receive it.
I tested God on this years ago when I was a successful businessman and I determined at that time to tithe to him out of my income. I not only increased the percentage of my tithe to match higher income levels, but also gave to him before I paid my taxes. In other words, when I got a paycheck, I didn't tithe on the net amount after taxes were withheld, but I tithed on the gross amount.
And I can say this friends, that when I gave to God liberally, I made more money than I'd ever made before in my life. God says to be obedient in your giving and to do it now, right now, and he will bless you right now. Do you believe him?
Sermon Outline
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I. God's Complaint Against Israel
- Priests offering imperfect sacrifices
- People robbing God through withholding tithes
- Call to return to God's ordinances
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II. The Question of Tithing for New Testament Believers
- Some say tithing is Old Testament only
- Johnston's disagreement with this reasoning
- God's unchanging nature supports continued tithing
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III. God's Promise of Blessing
- Bring all tithes into the storehouse
- God will open windows of heaven with blessings
- Personal testimony of financial increase through tithing
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IV. Call to Immediate Obedience
- Obey God in giving now
- Trust God's promise to bless
- Faith in God's word is essential
Key Quotes
“For I am the Lord, I change not.” — E.A. Johnston
“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now... if I will not open you the windows of heaven.” — E.A. Johnston
“When I gave to God liberally, I made more money than I'd ever made before in my life.” — E.A. Johnston
Application Points
- Commit to giving a faithful tithe as an act of obedience to God.
- Trust God's promise to bless your finances when you give generously and promptly.
- Consider tithing on your gross income as a demonstration of faith.