Through the years I have known people who would skip church if they knew money was going to be talked about. Some would be uncomfortable and some would get mad. Giving at church cost them their money….the hardest thing for people to give up! I think tithing brings great news! Once you KNOW that all good things come from God, you know it is His anyway! James 1: 17, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
A study revealed that only 12% of Christians tithe. I was shocked. The Bible even tells us that if we do not tithe we are robbing God. Malachi 3: 8-10, “Begin by being honest. Do honest people rob God? But you rob me day after day. ‘You ask, ‘How have we robbed you?’ ‘The tithe and the offering—that’s how!’” As a Christian we should know that tithing is a lifestyle that leads to God’s blessings. It puts everything, including our wallet, in the right priority. God should have first place in our lives and we should trust Him to give us all that we need. Deuteronomy 14: 22-23, “Make an offering of ten percent, a tithe, of all the produce which grows in your fields year after year.”
People have financial consultants but they often do not realize that they have the best financial consultant possible. And He is free. And He is available 24/7! 2 Corinthians 9: 6, “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” The Bible commands us to tithe. The definition of tithe is one tenth of annual produce or earnings. God said you can "test” him with finances. I suggest you do!
In 1996, after Mike and I, both, attended a spiritual retreat weekend, we were on fire for the Lord. We decided we could not be “lukewarm” anymore. We both grew up going to church and had both seen our parents tithe. We decided it was time to tithe ten percent as the Bible instructs. Leviticus 27: 30-32, “A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord. Whoever would redeem any of their tithe must add a fifth of the value to it. Every tithe of the herd and flock—every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd’s rod—will be holy to the Lord.” We believed we were to write the tithe check first. It was scary. I began to see things “happen.” There was no way on paper this would make sense but things always worked out. Unexpected checks would arrive for the very amount needed. This happened so many times! I am sure many of you have experienced the same thing. Every year we would up our tithe to show God we knew we could give Him back more and still be ok. And you know God remains faithful! We continue to have everything we need and more! Luke 6: 38k, “Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.”
The reason I say tithing is a heart issue is that when we realize that God has given us more than we can ever give back to Him, we are happy and blessed to share. We find the tenth is a standard but to go beyond the tithe is an indication of our gratefulness for God’s gifts to us. And that joy in our heart about giving is a direct expression of our trust in God to meet our needs. Philippians 4: 19, “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” II Corinthians 9: 7, “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
Be in prayer about tithing, whether you have never tithed or you are “upping” your tithe. Watch the blessings flow. You cannot and will not out give God! I leave you with good news. If we all give... let me tell you what would happen to God's house. Malachi 3: 10, “‘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.”
What would my church be like if everyone gave what I give every month?
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