Just a few years ago I did not believe in tithing. Giving away money seemed like a wild and foreign idea for those who must be rich. Sure, I would give money to the homeless on the street corner, even give my kids a few dollars to put in the bucket as it is passed around the church. But giving 10% of my paycheck away?? I couldn’t fathom it.
Then, one day, I was listening to Paige Brown’s bible study on the book of James. At one point she speaks of True Faith vs Dead Faith. She notes if you are a true believer in faith then you will have action. No, actions alone cannot get you into heaven. However, if you have Jesus in your heart you will have no choice but to act. You will be called to action and unable to deny the urge to help others. Jesus acted. Jesus helped. Jesus saved. Fath and actions cannot be separated.
Then, it hit me like a brick to the gut. Tithing. This is something I have always struggled with and fought against. I am always broke. At the time, I had $3 in my bank account and nothing in my savings. Debt collectors were calling every hour. How can I possibly afford to tithe 10%?
I suppose this is where the faith part comes in.
God always has and always will provide. He has blessed me beyond measure, not by my hands but through his grace. I held onto money so tightly so I could control it, but it had control over me. The only solution was to give it to God.
(SN: If you have never participated in one of her Bible studies I cannot recommend it enough!)
What is Tithing
Tithing is giving the FIRST 10% of your earnings, possessions, or productions to God. This is an act of faith and obedience. I believe tithing can show the posture of your heart, it shows thankfulness and understanding that everything comes from God anyway, so we are just giving 10% back. Better is 90% with God than 110% without Him! God is worthy of it all, so what is 10%?
What the Bible says about Tithing
The Bible speaks of tithing in many verses. However, to me, these are the most powerful evidence supporting tithing.
Malachi 3:8-10: 8“Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. 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.
Proverbs 3:9-10: 9 Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.
Matthew 6:21: For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Leviticus 27:30: ‘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.
Arguments against Tithing
I will touch on this briefly, I am not a pastor and can only speak from my own knowledge and experiences. Nevertheless, I have researched this topic and listened to my church elders when they tithing. So, here are the four most common arguments against tithing.
1- Distrust
- Has the church been mistrustful or bad with money at times? Absolutely, just like all the retailers that we freely give our money to that participate in child labor or the websites we use that sell our information behind our backs…
- I know the church I attend and they have open books for their finances. If you do not trust the church you attend, perhaps it is time to find a new one.
2- Fear
- Fear bills will not get paid. This is huge. I had this fear also. If I am honest, at times it still creeps in. But I urge you to look to scripture for strength.
- Psalm 37:25-26: “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be a blessing.”
- Luke 12:27-28: “Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?”.
3- Control
- We want control over our money. We want to control where it goes and how much of it goes there.
- Don’t think it is a control issue? Great, try giving it away in a way you no longer have control.
- Once you give your money to the Church you are no longer in control of it. When we give to the poor or direct ministries we are still controlling where the money goes. Tithing is a faith act saying “God, do what you want with it.”
- If we even THINK Jesus wants us to do so, why don’t we unless we are holding money higher than God? Jesus is not after our money; he is after our hearts. We cannot serve two masters. Tithing helps remind us God must be in control of all areas of our lives.
4- We are not under the Old Testament Law
- This is correct. However:
- Tithing is talked about BEFORE the law in Genesis. Cain and Abel give their gifts to the Lord. However, only Cain gave his BEST and FIRSTborn of his flock. Therefore, only Cains’s gift was accepted.
- Tithing is mentioned in the book of Proverbs. Proverbs are not commandments but words of wisdom to live by. Conditions on how to live a Godly life.
- In the New Testament, Matthew 6, Jesus says “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Where is our treasure (our money) going? If someone looked at our bank account, what would they see?
My experience with money
To sum it up in one word: Horrible. I did not grow up with money and it greatly directed my path in my young adult life. I refused to be poor my whole life and didn’t care what I had to do to ensure that I wasn’t. I worked two jobs but it wasn’t enough to get by for housing, food, and school. So, instead of trusting in God, understanding that he would provide, I turned into a self-proclaimed “hustler.” I would do just about anything except steal. Whether it be illegal or harmful to self or others didn’t matter. I was taking matters into my own hands.
Eventually, I managed to graduate college and I left the “hustle” world behind to live paycheck to paycheck. But the paycheck ruled me. I was still working two jobs. Frivolous spending habits and feeling I DESERVED things placed me into debt. Four years ago, chasing money, I was blessed with it. I was working dangerous COVID contracts and made a lot of money. Unfortunately, other than putting a down payment on a house, I blew it.
These experiences taught me hard, valuable lessons. Why was I willing to do so much for money? Take so many risks? Take so many risks with my life that could have placed me in jail or the grave. WHY?? It was clear that money was my master, and I could not serve two Gods. The only way to break this relationship with money was to give it to Jesus. So, I started tithing. Terrified, petrified even. How would I have enough to cover bills, debt collectors, and food? At this point in my life, I have a home and a family to provide for. How can I possibly give 10% of my check away? The Lord gave me courage. I made up my mind and that was that. I have been tithing for a little over 2 years now and have no intention of stopping!
My Conviction
I can assure you when the Lord started moving my stubborn heart to Tithe it was hard to ignore. Between a Paige Brown Bible study, and hearing about it on the radio (I listen to the Joy FM), it happened to be in a book I randomly chose to read (The Monk and the Merchant), and then my Pastor would do a sermon, how could I ignore him? He has saved me in so many areas of my life how could I not trust him in my finances? This blog post may be him calling to you like he was calling to me. Pray about it, listen to your heart, and if he is calling you take a leap of faith. You won’t regret it.
My experience with tithing
Now, I will not sugarcoat things. I am still not rich. My cup is not overflowing with money. We still very much live paycheck to paycheck. I have a very tight budget, I shop sales and use coupons to get by. But we get by. EVERY SINGLE TIME. We have food to eat, a house over our heads, water, and electricity. We have family, love, and an understanding God always provides. I am better off now, tithing 10%, than I was when I spent my whole check. It has taught me the importance of obedience, even if I can’t see how it will work out. It has taught me that I can trust God in all areas of my life. Tithing has truly been a blessing to my heart.
How I tithe
I get paid every two weeks. The morning the money hits my account tithing is the FIRST thing I spend money on. My church has the option to Tithe online so before I buy coffee, pay bills, or give the kids their allowance. I do this first. If I waited until Sundays, it might not be there so this system works best for me.
Where I give
I Tithe with the church I attend. I highly recommend you know your church. If you are not sure how the church you attend stewards their money, go ask. Find out. If you don’t agree with how they steward their money, perhaps you need to find a new church or pray God leads you to a place to Tithe.
In conclusion
Will tithing cost you your salvation? No, I do not think so. We do not get to heaven through works alone but by the blood of Jesus Christ. You cannot buy your way into heaven. However, I do believe if we are followers of Jesus and he lives in our hearts our heart’s posture will be that of God. God gave his firstborn, he gives us everything. What is 10% back?
