The tithe is a tricky topic. It's tempting to tune out when your pastor brings up generosity in the sermon or even to treat the offering bucket at church like a hot potato. But before you get all nervous and sweaty about tithing, hang with us.
The tithe gets a bad rap, but it can actually be a very freeing principle. So let's get to the bottom of this hot-button question: Why should I tithe?
But first, let's talk about what tithing is not. It wasn't some mastermind scheme invented by a bunch of church leaders to con you into giving. It's not something you do to make God love you more. And it's also not supposed to be something that makes you feel all sweaty, awkward, and guilty. So go ahead and shake off those lies about tithing and take a breath. You don't need to feel guilted into giving. In fact, God is actually looking for people to give with cheerful, willing hearts.
What is the Tithe?
The tithe is the first 10% of our resources that we give back to God through the local church. The word “tithe” comes from the Hebrew word “ma’aser,” which means “tenth.” Tithing is a biblical principle that is mentioned in both the Old and New Testaments.
But it's much more than donating money to the church. It's a declaration of trust in a God who provides. The tithe isn't a rule to begrudgingly follow. Instead, it's an invitation to develop a healthier relationship with God, money, and our neighbors. Both the Old Testament and the New Testament talk about the value of tithing, so that's why we still practice it today.
What Does the Bible Say About the Tithe?
Malachi, an author of a book in the Old Testament, wrote this profound invitation from God:
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. -Malachi 3:10 NIV
The "storehouse" in ancient Israel was a place in the temple where tithes and offerings were kept, primarily to provide for the priests and the needy. By instructing the Israelites to bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, God taught them about stewardship and caring for people in their community. Their generosity was a way of loving and serving those around them.
Today, this verse prompts us to examine our own generosity. Are we holding back, or are we trusting God with all we have? We get to bring our whole tithe to God, not out of obligation but out of faith. We get to say ‘yes’ to God’s invitation to experience His provision in everything, and even provide for others.
Why Should I Tithe?
Is it a test of how Christian you are? Not in the slightest. Tithing is something God asks us to do not because He needs our money but because He wants our hearts. Remember that God is a good God and He loves a cheerful giver. He's a loving Father. So when He asks us to do something, it's from a deep place of love—knowing what we need even more than we do.
God is inviting us to tithe not because He wants something from us but because He has a better life for us when we choose to put Him first.
If you’ve ever tried to give when you felt strapped for resources, you may have discovered this truth already: giving is an act of trust. When we give ten percent, we are making a choice to believe that God will provide for our every need no matter what. God challenges His people to trust Him enough to give wholeheartedly, promising that in return, He would open the "floodgates of heaven."
Tithing Is an Expression of Trust
Tithing is an opportunity to trust God and remember that He is our ultimate provider and He owns everything. But here's the thing: When we tithe, we're actually not even “giving” at all. Everything we have is a gift from God, so we're just returning to God what's already His in the first place.
If that weren't enough, God actually promises to bless our tithe and gives us permission to test Him on that. (Sidenote: that's actually the only area in which God says we can test Him.)
Now, disclaimer here. Just because you tithe doesn't mean your life is going to be all sunshine and roses. Your car (if you have one) will still probably break down sometimes. Your kids (if you have them) will probably still need money for that school fundraiser.
We Give To Change Our Hearts
The blessings may not always be financial. Now, they certainly could be. There are lots of stories of people who gave with faith and ended up receiving something in return. But regardless of the outcome, our job is obedience, and God honors that with something more important than material things.
When God asks for our heart, and He gets it, He fills it with Himself. And giving some of what we have to get more of God sure seems like a worthwhile investment.
We Give to Support the Local and Global Church
Tithing is an important way to support the local church and its ministries. The church uses tithes to pay its pastors and staff, support missionaries, donate to local organizations, cover the cost of its building, host ministries and events, and support its local communities.
By giving our tithes to the local church, we are helping to advance the kingdom of God and support the spread of the Gospel in our community. As Jesus taught, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). By giving our tithes to the local church, we are demonstrating that our heart is committed to God and His work.
Still Skeptical About the Tithe?
We get it. But when you tithe, God shows up. Living off 90 percent of our money with God's blessing is always better than 100 percent without it. You feel margin, even when you logically shouldn't. Things just seem to have more peace. Maybe you find more relational blessings, like new friendships and relationships. Or maybe those weekly (or daily) arguments with your spouse about money just stop happening so often because your priorities make more sense.
The fact is, stuff will never fulfill you the way Jesus does. In fact, Jesus once met a rich young ruler who wasn't willing to give up his money for God's mission. And the rich guy walked away feeling sad (Luke 18:18-25). The point of that story isn't to make you think having stuff is bad. It's to show you that we were created to love God more than stuff, and it's important to have those priorities in the right order.
You Can Start Small
Like we said before, God wants us to give cheerfully, not because we're “supposed to.” God would rather have a cheerful 1% than 10% given out of obligation. So if giving 10% of your money makes you all nervous and sweaty, start with 1%.
We're confident that if you give from a heart of gratitude, you'll grow closer to God and find purpose in meeting the needs of others. After a few months, you may choose to increase your giving to 2%, then 3%, and so on. Eventually, you may even decide to give more than the tithe.
If you need to start small, then go for it! While the tithe is a biblical principle and will grow your faith, your attitude matters more than the amount you give.
The tithe is simply one expression of how we can reflect God's generosity. So if you feel God leading you to trust Him with the tithe, step into your calling today. If not, then we'd love to encourage you to find some way of creating a habit of generosity to meet the needs of your community.