Understanding The Foundation - The Tithe
Throughout history followers of Jesus have returned a tithe (a tenth) of their income in gratitude to God. This principle is found throughout the Bible- from Abraham all the way through the New Testament.
God speaks clearly about the importance of the Tithe in the book of Malachi:
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. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty.
“Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty.
Malachi 3:10-12
At this point in your journey we hope that Tithing is a regular part of your worship of God. As Billy Graham noted this is not an obligation, this is an opportunity!
“We have found in our own home, as have thousands of others, that God’s blessing upon the nine-tenths, when we tithe, helps it to go farther than ten-tenths without His blessing.”
What's the Difference Between Tithes and Offerings?
Ramsey Solution Describes this Difference
Ramsey Solutions, a biblically based financial guidance organization, describes the difference between tithes and offerings in this way, “like llamas and alpacas, tithes and offerings are grouped together a lot, but they’re definitely not the same thing. A tithe is a specific amount (10% of your income) that you give first, and an offering is anything extra that you give beyond that. After you’ve tithed and paid all your bills and expenses for the month, you can use any extra money in your budget to give even more! This can look like giving a cash offering to your church above and beyond your normal tithe, giving money to a charity you support, giving to a friend in need, or giving your time and skills by volunteering.”
To Complete This Step:
1. Spend 30 days praying that God would develop your heart for generosity.
2. Consider being part of a Journey of Generosity to help develop your heart for generosity. For more info on a Journey of Generosity view this overview video. If you think this might be the step for you, there is more info in the next topic, called Journey of Generosity.
3. When God brings clarity and direction to your desire to go beyond the tithe, begin giving an offering!
4. Share what God has taught you through this experience with your BGP!
Think this might be the next step for you?
Have a Growth Talk conversation about it! A Growth Talk is a chance to discuss with someone else the step you are preparing to take. For more information on Growth Talk and for help finding the right person visit the Growth Talk Page. You can use the “Growth Talk” button to visit the page and begin the conversation.
