Tenth - What is Tithing all about?
Deuteronomy 14:22-29 introduces the principle of tithing. The tithe—which simply means 10%—was made up of the first fruits of crops and firstborn of the herds and brought to The Tabernacle in Jerusalem every year. The principle behind this sacrificial gift was to bring the best and first of their earnings to devote it to The Lord in gratitude for His blessing and provision. Today, we no longer bring crops or animal sacrifices to the Temple, but the instruction to tithe still applies. Like the Israelites, our tithes and offerings are an act of worship. Tithing is not transactional. We don’t give, so God gives to us—He’s not a genie in a bottle compelled to reward us for giving to Him.
Instead, tithing is an act of holiness. To be holy is to be set apart, so tithing, something foreign to the secular world, becomes an act of holiness. As in Moses’ day, we come to the church and give our money not only to support the priests or church staff but to bless and support the disadvantaged and disenfranchised both locally and globally.
Tithing is about learning to revere God, something we constantly need to be reminded of. Deuteronomy 14:23 instructs us to tithe “so that you may learn to revere the Lord your God always.” How many things have you learned over the years that you’ve completely forgotten? Our finite human minds need constant reminders of God’s provision and His sovereignty over every aspect of our lives, including our finances.
Tithing is about rejoicing as God’s chosen people to give back to Him. God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7), and when we tithe, we rejoice over how bountifully God has blessed us and cared for His children. No matter our financial situation, we can rejoice in His gift of salvation.
Tithing is about blessing and provision. When the Israelites brought their tithe to the tabernacle, the money wasn’t used exclusively for supporting the priests. It was also used to help those in the community without the means to provide for themselves. Likewise, today at Expectation, the money given is used to pay the staff, but it also goes out to meet the needs of our community so that people far from God will experience faith in Christ. We meet their physical needs while meeting their critical spiritual need for hope through salvation.
How does viewing your finances through the lens of eternity impact your attitude toward giving?
In his book, The Treasure Principle, Randy Alcorn says, “Tithing is God’s historical method to get His people on the path of giving. In that sense, it can serve as a gateway to the joy of true grace-giving. It’s unhealthy to view tithing as a place to stop, but it can certainly be a good place to start. Tithing isn’t the ceiling of giving; it’s the floor. It’s not the finish line of giving; it’s the starting blocks. Tithes can launch us into the mindset, skills, and habits of grace giving.” Discuss.
What is your biggest motivation for giving?
What holds you back from giving to the church?
What types of blessings have you seen come from tithing? Why do you think God says to test Him in this? Have you tried Him in this? What have been the results?
Action Step:
Are you giving 10% or more? When was the last time you did the math to adjust how you give based on how God has blessed you?
Prayer Prompt:
Thank you, God, for being a gracious, generous, Giver. Thank you for the ultimate example of sacrificial giving done in love You showed us through sending Jesus to take the penalty for our sin and give us eternal life. Give me the courage to trust you with my finances and believe that whatever my needs, You will meet them. Remind me that all I have belongs to you and give me a heart of generosity and faith so that I may find my joy, peace, and contentment in you so that I may be a testimony of your endless love and provision. Amen