How to Have Peace About Your Charitable Donations and Tithes

Many people expend energy speculating about what charitable organizations do with the monetary contributions that are donated and often use the proven violators and abusers of the system as an excuse not to give or to give in part, like with tithing to the church. But I suggest to you that if you keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith, and do what the Word says in regards to giving, you will receive your just reward and so will the receiver who misappropriates those funds. “Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.” (1 Corinthian 4:5)

God sees and knows our hearts, remember the story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1-11. They sold a piece of property to give the money to the church; however, they kept part of the money for themselves and lied about the selling price to the apostles. The couple had actually lied to God and fell down dead because of their sin.

In John 21:22 after Peter questioned Jesus about another disciple, who was following them, Jesus answered, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me." In other words, you do what God requires of you and don’t concern yourself with anyone else’s business, motives, or behavior.

“But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.” (2 Corinthians 8:7)

2 Corinthians 9:6-11 tells us that we ought to cheerfully sow generously what we have decided in our hearts because then, God will supply and increase our seed and will enlarge the harvest of our righteousness; and we will be made rich in every way so that we can be generous on every occasion.

Luke 6:38 says to “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Giving in accordance to God's kingdom system will produce an abundant return and is the best trustworthy financial increase strategy this side of heaven.

Many people struggle with the whole 10% tithing principle and also question if they should tithe on the gross or the net amount of their income. One preacher once posed the question, “Do you want God to bless you on your gross or the net?” That settled it for me; I’ll take a gross blessing over a net blessing any day!

Tithing is not an option. In Malachi 3, God considers it robbery to not pay tithes and tells the people to turn back to him and He would return to them when they paid their tithes and offerings.

"I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you," says the LORD Almighty. "But you ask, 'How are we to return?' "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the LORD Almighty.

Pray for wisdom and discernment in your giving and when God leads you to give to any organization, cheerfully give with pure motives what He places on your heart to give, and then release the offering unto God. You have then done your part and whatever transpires from that point on is between God and the recipient or new administrator of those funds.

So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God; and he who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses. (Romans 14:12; Proverbs 28:27).

Be abundantly blessed,

Jo Anne Meekins
Inspired 4 U Publications