A personal testimony

In 2010, I worked part-time as a Discipleship Pastor at my church, and my husband was on long-term disability. So our finances were stretched. My husband’s mother had open-heart surgery, followed a few days later by hip surgery, then she went into a personal care home, where she lived until she died 5½ years later.

My husband and I did not know how we could do it, but we paid for her care at the personal care home, until her late husband’s VA benefits reimbursed us two years later. Also during that time, we felt strongly led to continue tithing, and also to contribute monthly to our church’s Beyond These Walls campaign, which was for local and global missions.

We still do not know how our checkbook always balanced during those two years. It did not make sense, because our income was far below our bills, tithes, and offerings. But God grew our financial resources as well as our faith, and He continues to do so!

Tithing is a HUGE spiritual issue!

Here are some astounding statistics. The word “believe” appears 272 times in the Bible, “pray” appears 371 times, “love” appears 714 times, but “give” appears 2,162 times!

Putting God first in finances is putting money where our faith is!

In Matthew 6:24 Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”

What Tithing Is

•  Tithing is giving away one tenth (10%) of what you earn.

•  Monies given in addition to the tithe is called offerings.

•  Tithing is God’s command.
A tenth of all you produce is the Lord’s, and it is holy. – Leviticus 27:30
Yes, you should tithe, and you shouldn’t leave more important things undone either. – Matthew 23:23

•  Not tithing is stealing from God.
God says “Will a person rob God? Yet you are robbing me!” But you ask, “How do we rob you?” God says, “In tithes and offerings… Bring your whole tithe to My house.” – Malachi 3:8-10

7 Blessings of Tithing

1.  Tithing boosts your faith and calling to a whole new level.

Where your treasure is, there your heart is also. – Matthew 6:21

Obeying God in the very scary area of money boosts your faith like nothing else will.

And putting God first in your finances will give you clarity about how to put Him first in your calling.

2.  Tithing confirms that your financial security comes from God, not your own ability to earn a paycheck.

Always remember that it is the Lord your God who gives you the ability to produce wealth. – Deuteronomy 8:18

When you don’t know how you’re going to pay the bills, and you tithe anyway, and you see God provide for you … wow,

3.  Tithing is the antidote to materialism.

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. – 1 Timothy 6:17-19

Americans are rich. We are in the top 1/2% of income of all humanity throughout all history. There has never been a healthier, wealthier people. The wealthiest county in America is Orange County, CA. But surprisingly, it also has the lowest per capita giving: less than 1/10 of 1% of income!

4.  Tithing opens the floodgates of blessing like nothing else will.

“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.” – Malachi 3:10

God challenges us to to test Him and see if he will not pour out blessings to us when we tithe!

5.  Tithing helps the poor and disadvantaged.

Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows. – Isaiah 1:17

6.  Tithing is an investment in eternity!

When we tithe, our churches reach more people with the Gospel of Christ! More people go to heaven!

2 Results of Not Tithing

1.  Money woes

One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. – Proverbs 11:24

God wants you to know the blessings of financial and emotional peace.

2.  Lessened blessings in other areas of life

Trust God with your money, and you will soon trust Him for so much more too!

5 Practical Tithing Tips

1.  Where to tithe

Tithe to the church where you worship. Giving to the YMCA, Christian radio, etc., is not tithing; that is offerings in addition to the tithe. Tithes given to the church enable the church to reach people with the Gospel, raise up mature believers, help the poor, and do global missions.

2.  When to tithe

On the first day of each week, set aside some of what you have earned and give it as an offering. The amount depends on how much the Lord has helped you earn. – 1 Corinthians 16:2 (LB)

The point is to give FIRST to God, and to do it regularly. Not to give God what is left over at the end of the month, whenever you can.

3.  Whether to tithe gross or net

Do you want a net blessing or a gross blessing?!

4.  How to start tithing if you’ve never done it before

Start by setting aside 1% at the beginning of each paycheck, and then 2%, and keep going until you’re giving 10%.

5.  What to do if your spouse doesn’t agree with tithing

Pray in advance. Then talk with your spouse about your desire to give, and see if something can be worked out. Explain that your desire is not to fulfill some legalistic law, but to grow spiritually and to help other people to grow closer to God.

Tithing is just the BEGINNING of Christian giving! It is NOT the ultimate goal!

• When you start tithing, God will probably bless your faith by asking you to give even more!
• And if God blesses your tithing by increasing your income, you will be blessed to give more offerings above the tithe!
• What a faith-stretcher!

90-Day Tithe and Offering Challenge

• For 90 days, will you give 10% of your income to your church?
• Or if you already tithe, do you feel prompted to increase the amount you are giving for 90 days?
• Take God’s challenge: “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.” – Malachi 3:10
• Just try it! I guarantee you won’t be disappointed!
• Who will help to hold you accountable to take this faith step?

* Portions of this blog are adapted from Following Jesus, by Steve Cordle and R.J. Scherba, from the Equipping Track of Crossroads Church, where R.J. used to be on staff.