5 Reasons Why I Tithe
Do you tithe? I personally do today, but in my early days as a Christian, I’m going to be honest –I did not. My mindset back then was, why in the world should I tithe when I have very little? I could not even cover for myself, so there’s no way I can ever afford to tithe! I know, GOD must have had his palm on HIS face, thinking, “Noooo! You have it all wrong, my daughter!” 🤦
But as I grew in my walk with JESUS, I learned to embrace tithing and found joy in doing so. So today, let me share with you the reasons why I tithe:
#1: I personally see tithing as one of the many ways to worship GOD.
I figured that if I were going to truly exalt JESUS as the LORD of my life, that means I have to put HIM at the top of every aspect of it. This includes the financial aspect. I want to show HIM that HE is important to me by honoring HIM through my finances.
“Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase; so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.” - Proverbs 3:9-10
#2: I believe that tithing is an opportunity to steward HIS financial blessings well.
I learned that every peso in my bank account was not earned purely out of my own efforts. Everything is all because of GOD’s provision, so no one else really deserves the credit but HIM. It really is HIS money, which means that I must be mindful and wise on how to spend it. Each month, as HIS financial provisions come in, I make sure that I tithe first and foremost. I tithe before paying any bill because it’s my way of showing GOD that I’m putting HIM first.
I’ve heard many people ask why must they tithe, when GOD doesn’t need anything since HE’s GOD. But you know what? I figured HE delights it when we tithe because it indicates that our hearts are softened and full of love, so much so that we are able to give and bless others with HIS provisions regardless of how much money we have.
#3: I tithe because I want to bless and nurture others.
I learned that loving GOD means to be selfless, and one of the ways that I can be selfless is by sharing my money to a church or organization that uses this money to fund events and programs that nurture others’ spiritual walk. Supporting others in their walk with GOD is a way of sowing in GOD’s vineyard. And sometimes, this “support” goes beyond praying for each other or providing spiritual encouragement to those who need it –sometimes, supporting others’ spiritual walk means to fund events or programs that bring them spiritual nourishment.
Sometimes, GOD prompts me to give financial offerings towards others too. I am always at awe that at times, the HOLY SPIRIT presents someone to me to be the recipient of my gift.
#4: I tithe because I want to grow in generosity.
I figured that tithing is a good avenue for me to level up in generosity. Back then, I thought that the right time to be generous is when I become financially wealthy, that it’s more sensible to wait until my income has increased before I give to others. But boy was I wrong! I learned that if I wanted to be more generous, then I just needed to act, regardless of my financial status.
Mark 12:41-44 and Luke 21:1-4 both tell a story about the poor widow who, in her poverty, offered everything she had to the temple treasury. Her offering was deemed more valuable compared to the rich people who gave large sums of money from their abundance, because the poor widow gave everything she had to live on, while the rich, although they gave large sums of money, the amounts were very little in ratio of their wealth. I realized that to have little and still manage to give is such an honor and a blessing.
Also, 2 Corinthians 9:7 says that GOD loves a cheerful giver, therefore I believe that giving is an act of glorifying GOD.
#5: I tithe as an offensive strike against the enemy.
Satan is real. Spiritual warfare is real. And Satan devours our money to make us ineffective in sowing in GOD’s vineyard. One time in prayer, the HOLY SPIRIT revealed to me that tithing is a weapon against the enemy, against the spirit of poverty. In spiritual warfare, I learned that I do not have to play defense all the time. Sometimes, I need to play on the offensive too. As children of GOD, we are the head and not the tail.
What’s even more amazing is when one cheerfully gives in the right posture of heart, then the windows of heaven will be opened and blessings will be poured out upon him. Check out this verse from the book of Malachi:
“Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say,‘In what way have we robbed You?’In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse,for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation.
Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try 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 such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.
And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,’ says the Lord of hosts; ‘And all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land,’ says the Lord of hosts.” - Malachi 3:8-12
When one gives tithes or offerings, Satan, the devourer, is defeated for he cannot overcome GOD’s promise. Now, let me be clear: I don’t recommend that you tithe in order to receive. One must not expect anything in return when he tithes or gives. But GOD, being a very generous and faithful GOD that HE is, I can expect that HE always has each of my needs covered when I honor HIM with my finances and steward HIS provisions faithfully.
I can testify that there was never a time when my family had nothing to eat, and there was never a time when any of our needs were not met. GOD has faithfully provided for each meal and for each bill that needed to be paid at the perfect time. I am blessed only because GOD is good. However, as I honor HIM with my finances to the best of my capability, HE is so gracious to recompense me by providing for my needs.
“Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” - Luke 6:38
Over the past couple of days, I realized that sometimes, GOD allows us to have little because HE wants to see if we will choose to give to others and still be selfless despite how little we have. And sometimes, GOD allows us to have plenty because HE wants to see if we will still choose to give to others and put their needs above our own instead of spending all of our wealth solely for our own self-pleasures.
I realized that money is just a tool, and the best way to use it is to sow in my FATHER’s vineyard. All glory be to HIM!