The bible describes two types of giving: Tithes and Offerings.
What is tithing? It is the biblical principal of giving to God one tenth of our income. The word “tithe” means “tenth.” God, to whom we owe our thanks for everything, asks His people to return to Him a tenth of all He has given us.
Deuteronomy 14:22-23 “You shall surely tithe all the produce from what you sow, which comes out of the field every year. You shall eat in the presence of the Lord your God, at the place where He chooses to establish His name, the tithe of your grain, your new wine, your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and your flock, so that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always.”
Malachi 3:10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.
Why Should I Tithe?
1. Because it demonstrates that God is Lord of my life.
2. Because tithing reminds me that everything was given by God.
3. Because God expects me to use my income to do good.
4. Because tithing is an act of trusting God to provide for my needs.
2 Corinthians 9:10-11 Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness
5. Because the kingdom of God is strengthened by my giving.
6. Because tithing reveals what is most important to me.
Matthew 6:19-21 “for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
7. Because giving reflects the character of God.
What are offerings? An offering is anything we give after we have given the tithe.
We give to the Lord more than our tithes because we love the Lord and His church, and because we care about the spread of the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ to the world. Fact: We can give without loving, but we cannot love without giving. Giving is not something that must be required of those who are followers of Christ. It is the natural response of love and gratitude to God for His salvation and bountiful blessings. It is also a normal desire resulting from the realization of the urgency to evangelize the world. It is no wonder that we have found giving to be key indicator of spiritual health or lack of it.
