Malachi 3:10-11 “‘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 there will not be room enough to store it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,’ says the Lord Almighty.”

These verses are a direct response from God to the Israelites where God has said “you robbed me.” They respond, “How did we rob you?” God reminds them that they had failed to bring offerings and tithes. Then He tells them, in these verses and following, the benefits of doing so in the future.

Principle: The final accounting and audit may reveal some surprises.

At the final accounting I suspect many Christian business owners are going to be surprised to find out that they could have done much better if they had given God what was His. Most business owners do not do so because they are building reserves, or they have the idea that tithing is an Old Testament teaching, or they figure that personal tithing of their salary is sufficient, or they’ve never thought about it at all.

Sure, there are problems in tithing on business gross or net profit. If this is a new idea, maybe start by tithing on the gross gain of revenues over the past year. Granted for many businesses, too little is left after federal, state, and local taxes are paid. We face increasing interest and labor costs and other costs of doing business with narrowed margins. Maybe the hidden reason for a narrow profit margin is an unwillingness to give to God what it is His.

The bottom line is let the Holy Spirit guide you in this. Don’t tithe out of guilt, but instead out of love for God.

Discussion:

1. Is tithing on business profits a new idea for you? Do you think it’s a Biblical concept?

2. What would be your first objection to tithing on business profits?

3. Pray with an open heart and see how God leads.