Tithing & Stewardship
According to the scriptures, "The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives." (Deuteronomy 14:23). Tithing derives from a Hebrew word that means "a tenth;" it is the spiritual discipline of giving ten percent of what you gain (income) to the Lord.
Tithing is a reminder that God is the supplier of everything we have. It is also God's personal invitation to participate in his mission in the world. When we give the first 10% of our income to the work of the local church, it is an act of putting God first in our lives. Tithing is an act of worship that expresses our gratitude, faith, and love for others.
In Malachi 3:10 (NLT), God says this: “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.”
This is the only place in Scripture where God tells us to put him to the test. In other words, he’s saying, “Go ahead. I dare you. See if you can out-give me.”
Is God wise? Do you trust him? These are two fundamental questions behind the act of giving. If God is wise, then you should listen to what he says about financial stewardship. If you trust him, then you should trust him with all aspects of your life, including your finances. So go ahead. Accept God’s invitation to put him to the test. Start tithing faithfully and watch what he does in and through your life.
