Can Husbands and Wives Disagree on Tithing?
Today, our tithes and offerings are a love offering we give to God in thanksgiving for the blessings that we receive as His children. We are not under the law of the Old Testament economy but in the age of grace. Our tithes and offerings are a way to support God's work in our local churches as well as missionary endeavors. The principle is that we cannot out-give God, and He does bless us full measure, pressed down and running over. In other words, when we give from the right spiritual mindset, the blessings returned to us are in good measure (Luke 6:38). However, we cannot walk in disobedience and expect our offerings to make up for that lack. For if we are walking in disobedience, any blessing that would come from giving to the Lord is negated by the wrong heart motive of the giver when the gift is given, and that is the principle behind the failure of the Pharisees.
When we give to the Lord, we are to give out of a cheerful heart. "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:6-7). Giving out of necessity or giving in order to make up for something lacking will not profit us spiritually, nor will it bring blessing to the household. Believing wives are under the authority of God, and their submission to the Word is doubly important because of the possible inaction of their husbands. Obedience and faithfulness in doing what they know is pleasing to God will be a testimony to their husbands.
In God's order, the husband and the wife are one (Mark 10:8). If there is a disagreement about giving any offering to God, the wife cannot usurp her husband's authority and give in his place. In so doing, the wife takes the headship authority (Ephesians 5:22-33) upon herself, and that is outside of God's order. Wives are to walk in obedience to God's command and submit as unto Him (Ephesians 5:22). That obedience will bring a blessing and the grace to stand in faith. God has a way of getting things done, and we can confidently stand still and watch without taking it upon ourselves to right what we see as wrong. In 1 Samuel we find this eternal principle: "But Samuel replied, 'Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams'” (1 Samuel 15:22).
GotQuestions.org
PublisherGotQuestions.org
Loading controls...
