Claim “Tither’s Rights!”

Malachi 3:10-11 (ASV)

¹⁰ Bring ye the whole tithe into the store-house, that there may be food in my house, and prove me now herewith, saith Jehovah 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. ¹¹ And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast its fruit before the time in the field, saith Jehovah of hosts.

Many believers know that as a tither (a believer who gives the first 10 per cent of his income to the Lord through his local church) God promises to open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing that there will not be room enough to receive.  And, tithers we are quick to claim that promise. But fewer believers latch on to a second promise – the promise God makes to rebuke the devourer on our behalf.  When the devil tries to “steal, kill and destroy” in any area of our live, God has promised that He will rebuke him. Webster’s 1828 Dictionary, states that to rebuke means “to stop, to check or to restrain.” That means the devil will be kept at bay in your life; when he attacks the attack will fail.

Several years ago, a family member of a well-known minister of the gospel found himself in a situation that only God could change. The minister’s granddaughter was swimming and her hair got caught in the side vent of the pool and she was unable to break loose.  By the time the other children realized she was in trouble it was too late.  The minister’s son-in-law jumped in the pool, pulled his daughter loose and threw her limp body onto the deck. While they waited for the EMT’s to arrive the adults gave the child CPR to no avail.  The EMT’s likewise worked on her and with each passing minute they grew less hopeful that they could save her.  As the one EMT was preparing to make the call that they would be bringing a person “dead on arrival” to the hospital, the father standing behind the EMT, let out a blood- curdling scream, “No Satan, you cannot have my daughter. We are tithers and God will rebuke you.” The EMT (who was not a believer) was certainly not prepared for what came next.  Just as the father finished speaking, the little girl jumped up from the pool deck – fully alive, fully alert. She was taken to the hospital and checked out and was found to have no injuries or side-effects. (the actual account of this event can be seen on YouTube – by searching “minister’s granddaughter raised from the dead after drowning”.)

What an amazing example of seeing the promise of Malachi 3:11 come to pass. Hopefully most believers will never have to claim their tither’s rights in such an extreme situation.  However, there are many other less extreme situations that may require such action. From a practical standpoint how do you get that promise to operate in your life? First, as a tither you must receive the promises found in Malachi 3:11.  That means you must believe “tither’s rights” belong to you. You declare, “Lord, you gave this promise, and I take it for my life and my loved ones.” Then you give voice to your claim when situations arise that are contrary to what the Word promises.

Malachi 3:11 gives the believer one of the most significant promises in the Bible. It is unfortunate that so many in the church look at tithing from a legalistic view and feel they “have” to tithe.  As you can see from the story above, tithing is not about God getting something from us, it is about Him getting something to us. It’s at heart of everything He does.

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