How much does God ask us to give?

Before we begin talking about how much of our money we should give to God, we must acknowledge God’s ownership of all money. We give ourselves to God, acknowledge Christ’s Lordship over our lives, and money matters will not be a problem. Reordering our priorities will help put money in its proper place.

Now to the issue of how much we are to give to God through the church. The Scripture is clear that the tithe belongs to the Lord (Leviticus 27:30). God accuses us of stealing if we do not bring God’s tithe (Malachi 3:8). Jesus commended those who tithed, but he chastised those who gave, while neglecting justice and mercy (Luke 11:42).

Lest you think that giving to the church is not giving to God, recall that establishing the church was one of Jesus’ primary purposes of his earthly ministry. The church is the vehicle God has chosen to carry on Christ’s ministry in the world. The church is God’s people responding together to the Great Commission. This organism cannot function without the financial support of God’s people. The church cannot be a conduit for missions ministries without members who recognize the privilege of giving.

To bring the tithe to the Lord out of the firstfruits (off the top) is an expression of faith that God will make the remaining 90% sufficient to meet our needs.

We must understand the concept of “firstfruits” before we can give our money to God obediently. When an offering was given to God in the Old Testament, it was to be from the first fruits. In Exodus 34:26, the people were told to bring the best of the firstfruits from the soil to the house of God. God expects us to bring the firstfruits to God’s house. This concept applies to the tithes, too. The tithe indicates the amount to be given; firstfruits indicates the quality of the gift.

The concept of firstfruits connotes bringing the best we have to offer to the One who has given us life. This idea reminds us that God is owner of all things, and it reminds us to give our best to him instead of keeping it for ourselves. When our giving to God consists of meager leftovers, we declare that he is not very important in our lives.

To give a tithe of our income reveals our faith in the power and promises of God. Can we afford to tithe after we pay our share to the IRS, pay our bills, save for college and retirement? Can we possibly do without another 10%? To bring the tithe to the Lord out of the firstfruits (off the top) is an expression of faith that God will make the remaining 90% sufficient to meet our needs.

“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 you will not have room enough for it.” (Malachi 3:10)

(Excerpt from a series of stewardship lessons written by Rev. Terry L. Maples)

• Want to see some more scriptural references about tithing?
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