Tithing

    “Remember this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously. Each person should do as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or out of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver.”    2 Corinthians 9:6-7   (HCSB)

The Old Testament established early guidelines for giving one tenth of everything from the land back to the Lord. Jesus supported the continued practice of tithing in his teachings, yet in Luke 11:42 he also chastised the Pharisees for neglecting their love of God in their tithing practices. These teachings of Christ, paired with the Apostle Paul’s statement that “God loves a cheerful giver,” give Christians a renewed vision of stewardship as a joyful act of worship that flows out of our love for God.

As you give, let it be one of your joyful acts of worship. The Bible says in Matthew 6:24 that the top competitor for our commitment to Jesus is money. Giving allows us to demonstrate that He is more important to us than material things. Not having cash or check on hand doesn't’t have to hold you back from giving. You can be obedient today by giving online. There is no organization with more potential to change the world than the local church.

Throughout Scripture, we are encouraged to give the first part of our resources to God as an expression of honor and gratitude. The word "tithe" literally means tenth or 10%. Tithing, or giving ten percent of your income, isn't merely giving back to God a portion of what He has given us. We should give faithfully as a reminder that God is the supplier of all of our needs. It teaches us to always put God first in our lives.

The practice of tithing provides a regular reminder of your dependence on God. In good times, tithing helps you remember that God is the source of all blessings, and it allows you to demonstrate your gratitude for His care. In hard times, tithing motivates you to remember God’s faithfulness, and it enables you to demonstrate trust in God to provide for all of your needs.

Gen. 28:20–22 “Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God, and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God’s house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.”

Whatever your current situation, tithing is our privilege as we live in the grace and love of God.