What's the Bible say about Tithing?

-


When discussing tithing from the pulpit, I like what Dr. Joe McKeever says, “The worst time to preach on money is when you need some, pastor. The second worst time is when the church needs some. The best time to preach on money is all the other times.” I know that this should not be a dogmatic approach, nor does it accurately reveal my heart about the subject, but there is some wisdom in being very discerning about our approach to this subject, as money has the ability to produce much evil in the hearts of others, especially when pastors talk about it from the pulpit (cf. 1 Tim. 6:10).

However, as far as tithing is concerned, I believe tithing is an important form of worship, and a very important step in practically living out, and strengthening our faith in the Lord. In fact, Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Mt. 6:21), which seems to imply that giving of our time and resources draws us closer to God, and is a practical indicator that God is truly first in a persons’ life (cf. Mt. 6:33). I think we can safely argue that tithing is also a good indicator of the stewardship one has over their entire life. Our checkbook can be a powerful testimony as to what we consider most important in life.

The Bible tells us that when we tithe we are partaking in a “ministry of giving” (2 Cor. 8:6), and that is why we are exhorted to “excel in the grace of giving” (2 Cor. 8:7), and those who are generous givers will experience greater degrees of happiness in life (Acts 20:35). The Bible calls us to give willingly (2 Cor 9:12), cheerfully (2 Cor 9:7), sacrificially (2 Cor 8:3-4), and expectantly (2 Cor. 9:6), and in doing so, God will provide even more for those who do so (2 Cor. 9:10-11). Finally, the Bible tells us that those who bless others with their generosity will be blessed in return (Pr. 11:25; 22:9; Ps. 112:5).

It is also important to note, that when we are cheerful and generous with our giving, the Bible says, “two good things will happen” (2 Cor 9:12).

  1. The needs of others will be met (2 Cor. 9:12b)
  2. Those who are blessed by our generosity will joyfully express their thanksgiving to God (2 Cor. 9:12c) 
In addition to this, the Bible points out three more important things that take place when we give cheerfully and generously:

  1. When you give generously, you will glorify God (2 Cor. 9:13a)
  2. You will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ (2 Cor. 9:13b)
  3. Those you help provide for, will pray for you with deep affection, because of the wonderful grace of God shown through you (2 Cor. 9:14)
With this being the result of a persons generous giving, why in the world would we not all strive to be the most generous givers on the planet? In fact, the more we generously give, the more fruit that abounds to our heavenly account (Phil. 4:17).

Being in full-time ministry, and walking by faith with Jesus, my family and I have been on the receiving end of generous givers on more than one occasion. My wife and I can personally testify to the fact that when our needs have been met through the generosity of others, we gave praise and enormous thanksgiving to God, who was glorified through our situation (especially in front of our unsaved family members). Furthermore, we have literally prayed enormously for those who blessed us with deep affection, because of God’s grace that was shown through them.

Don’t miss what I am saying here. What I am saying is that when we have been on the receiving end of other people’s generosity, without even realizing it, we fulfilled the promise of God’s Word from 2 Corinthians 9. In addition to this, it has inspired us to be more generous givers in our own lives.

I pray that as you continue following the Lord that you will partake in this important and influential ministry of being a generous giver, as it will not only bless those in need, increase the faith of others, glorify God in your life, but also add fruit in heaven due to the fact that you are choosing to store up your treasures in heaven, which of course, have eternal dividends. 

Popular posts from this blog

What is godless chatter?

-
Image
What is godless chatter? The term godless chatter is used by the apostle Paul when he exhorts Timothy to, “Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some” (2 Timothy 2:16-18, NIV). In context, this passage of Scripture is dealing with the godless chatter of false teachers who were sneaking into the church and trying to corrupt the truth of God’s Word (2 Timothy 2:14-3:9). Paul clearly warns Timothy about them when he points them out by saying, “Their teaching will spread like gangrene” (2:17). Paul likens the godless chatter of false teachers to gangrene, which was a deadly disease that spread rapidly and ate away at a persons flesh. This Greek idiom truly emphasizes the repulsiveness of the ministry of the false
Read more

Knowing Jesus and Making Jesus Known

-
Image
Knowing Jesus and Making Jesus Known The primary vision behind the Christian faith can be simplified down to the following statement; "to KNOW Jesus and to make Jesus KNOWN."  Knowing Jesus and Making Jesus Known, that’s really what our Christian faith is all about.  The verse that has inspired the first part of this this saying “ to KNOW JESUS and to make Him Known”, is found in Philippians 3:10, which illustrates the apostle Paul’s heart for wanting to know Jesus more and more through pressing on daily in his relationship with Him. Paul tells us in Philippians 3:10, “that I may KNOW Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.”  This was Paul’s greatest desire in life, to become more like Jesus... by being conformed into His image, and the only way that this could take place was if he continued growing in his relationship with Jesus. In fact, Paul would continue on in Philippians 3, by saying, “N
Read more

John 5:1-15 (Sermon Outline)

-
Image
Sermon Outline When Jesus is your only option; you’re in a good place! John 5:1-15   I.                 Introduction:  Jeremiah’s faith a.      The reason I have that slide up of a blue car, is because last October around Jeremiah’s 7 th birthday, Lyndsey was sharing a heartwarming story with me about a conversation she had with Jeremiah that day. You see, Jeremiah had asked her for a stamp, and when Lyndsey asked him why, he said, “I want to mail a letter to the car people.” Lyndsey didn’t think much about it, but then a couple hours later she found the envelope, and she asked what it was. She said to Jeremiah, “It feels like money is in the envelope.” Jeremiah said, “It is money. I am going to mail  the letter to the car people so that I can buy my favorite colored car.  I want to send them the letter with my money so I can get a blue car.” Jeremiah had found one of the car dealership mailers that came with the junk mail, and took it over to his desk and put it all together to send h
Read more