It has never made sense to me that a person could claim to live a holy life, and be stingy with his money.

It has been a real joy for me to travel coast to coast in these United States and also in other countries preaching the joys of tithing and giving. Entire churches in Kenya, East Africa, and the Philippines, have pledged to pay God the tithes until Jesus comes again, after I have preached to them on tithing. In the U.S.A., many have pledged to tithe, while tithers pledged to give the second tenth to missions or to their local church. I receive no personal monetary gain from this. I have no blessing pacts to offer, only the one God offers in His Word.

When I say I receive no personal monetary gain from preaching on tithing in other churches, the answer should be obvious. I have always believed the Bible teaches that the tithe should be paid into the local church where the person is attending.

The reasons for this could be many, not the least of which is, this is where you are to receive most of your spiritual food. Also, as a member of the church, you have a voice in saying how it is spent, and you are privileged to watch the lives of those who are in charge of the money. This you cannot do when you send your tithes to evangelists, missionaries, etc. I am a strong believer in the local church. Without the local church, all of the other ministries would soon fail.

Many a pastor becomes distressed when he finds that his members are sending their tithe off to ministries that are already extremely wealthy, and who spend the money received on dubious projects that seem to be more for the purpose of glorifying the evangelist or the flesh rather than promoting the kingdom of God.

Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes... Malachi 3:10- 11

I will never forget the time several years ago when I was suffering with heart trouble. I would awaken in the early morning hours with chest pains and numbness in my left arm and leg. One such morning at 2:00 A.M. I felt I was dying. I whispered to my wife to pray for me. She sat up in bed, laid both hands on my chest and prayed, "Father, you promised us that if we would pay our tithes, you would rebuke the devourer for our sakes. Our tithe is paid. This attack is nothing but the devil, and if you don't heal my husband, you are a liar."

I said, "Honey, don't insult God, I am about to have to face Him." Shortly after that I was completely healed. Some will say that tithing is only under the law. Abraham paid tithes 400 years before the law was given.

And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all. Genesis 14:20

Jacob paid tithes before the law was given.

And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee. Genesis 28:22

Actually, to not pay tithes is stealing. I have more respect for a bank robber than a God robber. I have told women while preaching this message that it is dangerous to sit by non-tithers in church. If they will steal from God, they might try to get in some woman's purse, or pick a man's pocket.

Could it be that this is why the farmers and many others are hurting financially, and even going bankrupt? Most have not tithed, and are living under a curse.

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. Malachi 3:8-9

And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD'S: it is holy unto the LORD. And if a man will at all redeem ought of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof. Leviticus 27:30-31

A twenty percent penalty was decreed by God for any person tampering with the ten percent commanded to be given by God.

What about tithing in the New Testament?

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Matthew 23:23

But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Luke 11:42

Jesus was not rebuking these people because they paid tithes; He said that they ought to pay tithes, but not to leave the other matters undone.

The apostle Paul confirms tithing in the New Testament in a forceful way.

Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. 1 Corinthians 9:13-14

There are many more passages of scripture referring to tithing that could be used. The earnest seeker of truth does not demand to be overwhelmed with a great number of scriptures, and the rebeller would not be convinced if God Himself would write it in the sky, and then come down and slap him on the head to get his attention.

There are those who claim to believe in and to live a holiness life, but do not pay God the tithes. My advice for those who make such a claim is to repent of their theivery, for there will be no robbers in heaven.

Let him that stole steal no more... Ephesians 4:28