Growing into a Tithing, Obedient and Prosperous Walk with God

Faced with raising kids, rent or mortgage payments, car payments and a never ending list of bills each month—how do we diligently enter into the realm where we are tithing and acknowledging God as our Source and Rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6)?

Considering that the tithe is 10% of our gross income, how do we make that kind of a significant financial contribution to the Kingdom?  Especially when it seems there’s nothing left over at the end of the month? 

Most of us are used to not having enough money in the first place - let alone being able to "give away" ten percent of it! But, we also have the promises of God that He will "multiply the seed sown" or the money we plant into His Kingdom, giving us back more than we put in. But for some of us, tithing may seem like an unrealistic, really unreachable goal.  Fortunately,  what many of us have discovered is that growing into a tithing relationship with God is a lot easier when we approach it like any of life’s great challenges – in small steps. 

The fact is, in reality, that tithing costs you nothing. How is that? The tithe isn't your money to begin with! Leviticus 27:30 says, "And all the tithe . . .is the LORD’S: it is holy unto the LORD." It's His. He lets us have that extra 10% of income to see if we will be faithful with it.

I really enjoy the people who say, "Tithing is Old Testament. I'm in the New Testament."  I LOVE those people! In the Old Testament, God sets up the principle of tithing (which Jesus also endorsed) and in the New Testament, we find everything from the rich young ruler being told to sell ALL that he had, and give the money to the poor, to the New Testament church people selling their homes and lands, and laying the money at the feet of those in fulltime ministry!  But, that isn't what folks who say tithing is Old Testament are saying they want to do! Usually, that's just a way of saying, "I'm cheap, a real tightwad. I'm too cheap to tithe, but want a Biblical excuse to cover my cheapness."

Here's how to quickly figure your tithe, as you give 10% each pay period. On this simple “God's Finances” chart we can see how to move toward a tithing relationship with God. Look at Fig. 1, below and then scroll down to the example.  (Scroll down to the end of the page if you want a larger view of God's Finances Chart.)

Figure 1

Another type of person is the one who says, "Oh, I don't tithe. I just put in whatever the Holy Spirit leads me. I don't keep track of it, but I'm sure I at least tithe."  Easy answer. Is the Holy Spirit going to tell you to NOT tithe? That, as a Believer enjoying the benefits of full salvation, you would give less than a Jew under the law? Of course not! He'd put you back into the New Testament, like in the paragraph above!

Second, if you WERE tithing, believe me, you'd know just how much you gave! Usually folks who "don't keep track" are in the low range of faith and giving, operating at at about 2 to 3%.  These are the ones who get shocked when they get their end of the year giving report, and find they spent more on cable TV than they gave to the work of God!

As shown in the example, below, Fig. 2, if I had a household income of $50,000 per year and I gave the church $20 dollars per week, then you can see that my household would be giving just under 2%. 

Figure 2

In the next example, Fig. 3, you can see that if I making $50,000 a year and gave $96 dollars per week,  that would be a tithe, and, of course, anything beyond that would be giving offerings, giving “beyond the tithe”.

Figure 3

First of all, for most of us, when we see “where we are on the chart” it is very revealing and very challenging.  Frankly, until we see it on the chart, most of us think we are giving more than we actually are!

Also, we can see that, for the most part, moving up one level of percentage giving can be a rather minor adjustment in our weekly or monthly budgeting.  For many of us moving up two, three or even five percentage points may be less than two tickets to a movie and a light meal afterwards.  

And if all of us answered this call to increase our giving, it would make a tremendous difference for God’s ministry, here at The Worship Center and help accomplish our primary goal, of bringing people into a closer relationship with Christ. 

The important thing  is not to play with the numbers, but to listen to what God is calling us to do.

We all need to prayerfully consider our current level of giving.  You may be surprised to learn just how easy it will be to Grow -- at least! -- One percentage point and possibly more.

Fulfilling God's call to reach, save and teach the lost depends on our being faithful to God’s call to give joyfully, sacrificially, and maybe even hysterically!

 A few words from Dr. Steve:  

What you’ve been reading has only partially to do with the money it takes to make sure we always are able to have a place to worship and to reach out and touch lives from. It’s also about our own need, as members of the The Worship Center family, to make giving a way of keeping our lives focused on God and of doing in this world what God calls us to do.

The pledges and commitments we each make will combine to ensure that God’s vision for The Worship Center will be fulfilled. At the same time, they will bless us immeasurably—for we can never out give God, nor can we find any greater satisfaction than that which comes from knowing that we are helping to accomplish God’s will. Thank you for your time, your attention, and your generosity to the work of God!