I’m a little concerned about something that happened at my church this past week. The pastor felt led to bless people in the congregation who met certain criteria. The person had to be a business owner, want to earn a million dollars, and must be a tither. I guess I have a problem with someone withholding a blessing because a person isn’t already giving a certain percentage of their income. I’m sure it’s not how he meant it, but the way I interpret it is “I’m willing to bless you as long as I can believe that you’re willing to give $100,000 to my church. And, if you’re not already giving me money, I’m not going to waste my time on you.”

When you put this with the teaching we had a couple months ago that said, “100% of your money is CURSED if you don’t give 10% as the first thing you do”, one begins to wonder about the whole thing. I don’t have any problem with teaching that tithing is a way to honor God. I do have a problem when someone preaches that we’re doomed, or cursed, if we don’t give our money.