What is a tithe? Tithing is defined as “the tenth part of agricultural produce or personal income set apart as an offering to God or for works of mercy.” It is giving the Lord the first fruits of your labors, the first ten percent of anything you produce. Typically, this is based on your income and is given on a weekly basis when attending church services. First Corinthians 16:2 (AMP) says, On the first [day] of each week, let each one of you [personally] put aside something and save it up as he has prospered [in proportion to what he is given]….

People tend to have a lot of different opinions about tithing, what it means, how much to give, how often and who to give to. As is the custom of this Web site, we will not get into a theological discussion about tithing. Very simply, we believe in tithing. We believe that everything we have belongs to the Lord, everything. Our homes, clothes, vehicles, money, every material good belongs to the Lord. We are merely stewards of the things He blesses us with. Our role is to take care of them and make good decisions about them. We believe in giving God our “first fruits” — the first 10 percent of everything He blesses us with.

…Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, How do we rob you? In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. 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. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit, says the LORD Almighty. Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land, says the LORD Almighty Malachi 3:8-12 (NIV).

No, God does not need our money. He’s God. Every resource in the world belongs to Him. He made it. He owns it. Tithing is much more about our hearts than it is about our bank accounts. It is about a spirit of giving, giving joyfully to the Lord and not out of a spirit of obligation. Second Corinthians 9:7 (NLT) says, You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure, for God loves a person who gives cheerfully. God is looking for us to be cheerful givers.

How you want to approach tithing is between you and the Lord. We encourage you to go to Him in prayer and make a decision on tithing for yourself. As it has been with all of the information we have presented to you on this Web site, it is your decision to make. Your relationship with the Lord is exclusively yours and no one else’s. How you want to approach that in the area of tithing is totally up to you and no one else. You shouldn’t decide it for someone else and no one else should decide it for you.

Consider the following scriptures, first Luke 16:9-13 (NLT). Here’s the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your earthly possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home. If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven?  And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own? No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

And Malachi 3:11 (KJV), And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.

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