“The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives.” (Deuteronomy 14:23b TLB)
Whatever you want God to bless, you have to put him first in. So if you want God to bless your finances, you have to put him first in your money. This is the principle of tithing: You give the first 10 percent of your income back to God.
There are four verses that explain the promise, the purpose, the place, and the day for tithing.
First, Proverbs 3:9-10 gives the promise about tithing: “Honor the Lord by giving him the first part of all your income, and he will fill your barns with wheat and barley and overflow your wine vats with the finest wines” (TLB). God says that if you honor him with the first part of your income, he will bless you financially.
Kay and I decided 36 years ago that if we’re going to be in debt to anybody, we’re not going to be in debt to God. God gets paid first, right off the top. If I make 10 bucks, the first dollar goes back to him. If I make a hundred bucks, the first 10 bucks goes back to him. It all comes from God in the first place, and I want his blessing on the rest of it.
Why does God tell us to tithe? Deuteronomy 14:23 says, “The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives.” God doesn’t need your money, but he wants what it represents — your heart. He wants you to trust him.
Where should you tithe? Do you tithe to United Way? Or do you tithe to your brother who’s been out of work for three years? No. That’s charity. Tithing is an act of worship. It goes to God.
Malachi 3:10 says, “‘Bring to the storehouse a full tenth of what you earn .... Test me in this,’ says the LORD All-Powerful. ‘I will open the windows of heaven for you and pour out all the blessings you need’” (NCV). The storehouse is the temple or the place where you worship God.
When are you supposed to tithe? You do it on the day you worship. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 16:2, “On every Lord’s Day each of you should put aside something from what you have earned during the week, and use it for this offering. The amount depends on how much the Lord has helped you earn” (TLB). When you give to God on the first day of the week, the first part of your day, and the first part of your money, then you say to him, “You’re really number one in my life.”
Notice that the verse says “put aside.” You’ve got to plan this! Tithing should not be an impulsive thing. You’ve got to plan for it so that you are honoring God’s plan and purpose for tithing. Then, you can watch how God blesses and uses you and honors his promise in your life.
PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >>
Talk It Over
- What does it mean to you practically to give God the first part of your income?
- Why do you think God wants you to tithe to your church and not another cause?
- How do you need to plan today so that you can be faithful in tithing?
FAQs
“The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives.” If you want God to bless something, you have to put him first in that area. So if you want God to bless your finances, you have to put him first in your money.
What are the 5 purposes of the church according to Rick Warren? ›
Warren suggests that these purposes are worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry, and mission, and that they are derived from the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:37–40) and the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19–20). Warren writes that every church is driven by something.
What is the purpose of the tithing? ›
The Bible says The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives (Deuteronomy 14:23 TLB). Tithing is a reminder that God is the supplier of everything we have. It is also God's personal invitation to an outpouring of his blessing in your life.
What is the promise of tithing? ›
Paying tithing brings great blessings, especially in helping us better recognize the hand of the Lord in our lives. The Lord has commanded us to pay tithing. In return, He promises to “open … the windows of heaven, and pour … out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it” (Malachi 3:10).
Why is tithing so powerful? ›
Tithing shows God that He has 100% of your heart.
God knows if we give back the first 10%, we've placed Him before money. Tithing tells God that He's number one in your life. Why is this so important? Very simple: God won't rest until He's number one in our lives!
What is my purpose by Rick Warren? ›
The most basic questions everyone faces in life are, “Why am I here, and what is my purpose?” Self-help books suggest that people should look within, at their own desires and dreams, but Rick Warren says the starting place must be with God and his eternal purposes for every person.
What does God say is the purpose of the church? ›
Ultimately, the church exists to bring glory to his name through worship, discipleship, and evangelism. In this way and so many others, the local church is God's plan. It is the hope of the world.
What are God's five purposes? ›
By centering our lives around God (worship), learning to love God's family (fellowship), cultivating spiritual maturity (discipleship), contributing something back (ministry), and telling others about God's love (evangelism), we will build the foundation for a successful and satisfying life.
What is the ultimate purpose of the church? ›
The purpose of the church, then, is to bring God's people together for mutual strengthening, encouragement, and equipping. This unity empowers us to go out and extend God's influence into the world—whether by sharing the gospel or contributing to the order and betterment of creation.
Did Jesus command us to pay tithes? ›
Jesus endorses tithing – but expects His followers to exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees whom He encouraged to continue tithing (Matthew 23:23). Here are the key ideas of the principle of giving: God owns everything, and His people are “money managers.”
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Encouraging tithing is about inspiring individuals to embrace a generous and giving lifestyle.
Why did God say we should pay tithes? ›
The truth of God's tithes and offerings is that we bring ourselves closer to Him when we give. Jesus says in Matthew 6:21, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Giving tithes and offerings puts our love for God before our worldly wealth and shows that our heart is always with Him.
Does God still want us to tithe? ›
Even though tithing isn't required today, it does not follow that believers should hoard their possessions. We are commanded to support those who preach the gospel (Matt. 10:10; Luke 10:7; 1 Cor. 9:6–14; 1 Tim.
What happens when you don't tithe? ›
While tithing 10% of your income is biblical, you're not required to tithe to be a Christian. And you're not a bad Christian if you don't tithe. Thankfully, God loves us when we give and when we don't give. And that's key here: We don't have to tithe to earn God's love—because we already have it.
Can I give my tithe to the poor instead of church? ›
The principles of giving and support for the God's mission on earth continue to resonate in the modern-day context. This absolutely includes giving to the poor. As Christians, we are called to honor God with our finances, recognizing that all we have ultimately belongs to Him.
How much does Rick Warren tithe? ›
He considers Billy Graham, Peter Drucker, and his own father to be among his mentors. In 2006, after the success of his book The Purpose Driven Life, he claimed to have made the decision to "reverse the tithe", donating 90% of his income to three foundations and no longer receive a salary from the church.
What is the purpose of the tithing declaration? ›
All members should attend tithing declaration to make sure their contribution records are correct and to declare to the bishop their status as tithe payers.
What religious denomination is Rick Warren? ›
Warren, a fourth-generation Southern Baptist pastor, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from California Baptist College, a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, and a Doctor of Ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California.
