How did you respond when you would attend church on Sunday, and you hear your pastor reading out of a book in the Bible that no believer talks about, and when he prays, he asks the ushers to pass the buckets in the congregation? You see members putting various amounts of cash and bank checks into the bucket, and when the bucket comes to you, there’s the thought, do I have to give something? Many topics in Christianity spark a lot of controversies, but tithing and offering are what draw a lot of questions. The reason is that every adult has responsibilities, and the primary one, without a doubt, is our finances.
Our finances play a significant impact in how we live today. It’s why we have high-value materials in our world. The roof over your head, the food on the table, the car you drive, and so many more objects that your bank account may be responsible for paying. So when it comes to your church taking up an offering during the service, there’s the hesitancy to make a so-called donation? Tithing 10% of your wealth raises many questions, like why do I have to give my money? Does God say we need to tithe? Where in the Bible does it tell us to do this? Many questions and desired answers are up for grabs for Christians under a financial burden. So in this post, we will review three biblical reasons why you, as a believer, should tithe.
It’s Not About Our Money.
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
– Matthew 6:24 NIV
I know what you’re thinking; if God doesn’t want us to serve money, why do we have it then? A common misconception about money is if it is evil or not. However, the Bible makes it clear and specific on the deal with people managing their money. “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” 1 Timothy 6:10. The Bible makes it clear that it’s not evil to have money but the love and pursuit of it can stir all kinds of evil.
Since we need money to pay our bills, eat our groceries, pay off debt, or invest in assets, why is God asking for 10% of it? Some Christians don’t know or understand because it’s not the money he wants; it’s our heart. In the Bible, Jesus states it is better to give and receive, and God loves a cheerful giver. Why does God need our money? Do you think he will buy a new home with all the offerings we give? Probably not, but since our wealth is one of the primary survival resources, we tend to be protective of our income. Haven’t we all been stingy at one point when we got paid or a return on money? Maybe you’re afraid you’ll fall behind on rent or a car payment, or perhaps you want to use your money to spend it on something nice.
We have all been there before, but how do we feel personally when we become generous with our money? If it’s giving to a local charity, helping someone homeless, or blessing a friend or family member. It’s our money going to something else for a good cause, but if we feel cheerful about being generous with others, what is the difference between God almighty and his Kingdom? Giving a percentage of your wealth to God through tithing and offering is for a good cause in your church and your heart. We can tell if our heart is in the right place when we learn how to give, even when we are on edge. However, we need to know that our money may be under the care of God rather than if we know it or not.
It Belongs to God!
“Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me.”
– Malachi 3:8-9 NIV
Malachi chapter 3 has constantly stirred controversy in the Christian community regarding tithe and offerings. Some believers believe that God was not referring to tithe in terms of money but Israel’s crops and fields. However, God is not concerned about your money; he is worried about your heart. So whatever you use to make a living, God wants you to give a percentage of it. In the old testament days, most people lived off crop and field trades to make their living. It’s how they survived and ate; in Malachi 3, God almighty is telling them to give a certain amount. Why? Because it all belongs to God!
I remember a story I heard in a sermon where a pastor bought his 4-year-old son McDonald’s french fries, and when he grabbed a fry, his son threw a temper tantrum, not wanting to share. When the pastor returned the fry, he had the revelation that his son was unaware of who gave him those french fries he was eating. It’s the same thing with God and us. When God created the earth and Adam and Eve, the Bible says he offered everything to them except the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. We are God’s most incredible creation, and everything we have access to, including our wealth, belongs to him.
If God is the creator of everything, doesn’t everything in this world belongs to him, including our finances? Again God doesn’t need our money, but if we belong to him, he must know what’s suitable for us, including our financial plan. So if we can acknowledge that, we must understand that tithing is not so much about giving out of burden but giving out of trust. Tithing 10% of your income to God is making him the Lord of your finances and one step closer to allowing your finances to become blessed.
It’s for your Growth
“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.”
-Malachi 3:10 NIV
A common myth on tithing and offering is that giving to God will make you rich, double your salary, or wake up, and magically money will appear in your bank account. While that could be put up for debate, tithing is not about becoming rich based on how big or how often you give to God. Since we mentioned that tithing your money is a form of trust between you and God, this is more about spiritual growth instead of growth from our wealth. While all of us would love to make more money than we’re making now, giving to God increases your stewardship/stability on your finances instead of blowing it up.
You may ask, what is stewardship? If I have to give a definition that’s straight to the point, It is something that is given and taken care of by the owner. The top priority for anyone generating income and, say, being the breadwinner for their family should be to have significant financial stability vs. great wealth. It’s better to have your bills paid on time and the Lord provides for your financial struggles than having a high income and not knowing how to use it properly. That results in high debt, low credit scores, missed payments, and, worse, bankruptcy!
Quick Testimony
This year, I recently wanted to purchase a newer car and was coming up with funds since my current vehicle was on its last legs. I was saving up for a down payment but was stuck on the idea of a high car payment, and before I knew it, my current car was acting up, and I had to take it to the mechanic for repairs. My money was draining out of my pocket, and I became a bit frustrated because it interfered with my goal of getting a new car. The purpose of this story, however, is to give an example of when you trust God with your finances. I would tithe 10% of my check to the Lord every time I got paid.
A few weeks in, I came to pick up my car from the shop. My mechanic told me that one of his customers was selling a fixed 2000 Chevy Blazer. When I asked for the price, it surprisingly was the price I was planning to put a down payment on for a car. This is the car I currently drive. I was stuck under a financial burden, wondering if I would spend all kinds of money on a vehicle. Still, God came through and allowed me to save money and find another available vehicle. Praise the Lord when you trust him with your finances. Remember, tithing is for your growth and stewardship between you and God.
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