How to Tithe
What is Tithing?
Tithing is the practice of returning back to God the first 10% of what we earn. The word “tithe” comes from the number "ten" in Hebrew, and means a tenth.
Why Tithe?
Tithing is a tangible act of worship and recognition of God as the source of our existence and all blessings and provision.
Jesus said obeying God’s commands is how we show God that we love Him, not just offering lip service. (John 14:15). When we’re obedient with what we have, we show God we love Him.
When God commands us to bring the tithe to the local church, He is inviting us into His work on Earth. It’s an opportunity to partner with God in ministry.
Bringing the tithe is a tangible reminder that everything we have is on loan from God. We are not owners, but merely stewards of material wealth.
Tithing is an act of the will, not a response to a feeling or emotion. We must decide to be generous before we feel generous. When we commit to tithing, God allows us to fully experience the connection between our obedience and His blessing.
Tithing reflects the unselfish, giving nature of our Creator and Provider.
Bible Reference
Nehemiah 10:35–37 NLT
“We promise to bring the first part of every harvest to the Lord’s Temple year after year—whether it be a crop from the soil or from our fruit trees. We agree to give God our oldest sons and the firstborn of all our herds and flocks, as prescribed in the Law. We will present them to the priests who minister in the Temple of our God. We will store the produce in the storerooms of the Temple of our God. We will bring the best of our flour and other grain offerings, the best of our fruit, and the best of our new wine and olive oil. And we promise to bring to the Levites a tenth of everything our land produces, for it is the Levites who collect the tithes in all our rural towns.”
Tips for Tithing
Start with the heart: Though the Old Testament system mandated giving one-tenth as an act of worship and as practical support for the priests and the poor, God has always been more interested in the heart than the amount (Micah 6:8).
Give without seeking recognition: The Bible talks about not even letting your left hand know what your right hand is doing (Matthew 6:3). Keep your spirit humble and your pride in check.
Give cheerfully: Giving back to God what is His as an act of worship should be a cause for joy and happiness, not reluctance or guilt. Posture your heart to find joy in generosity.
Trust God: Give off the top and trust God to meet your basic needs. Giving reminds us that God comes first in our lives and He alone deserves that priority. Even if you’re struggling financially, you can set aside some money for an offering and follow the Spirit’s prompting to give; you may be surprised by the ways God provides for your basic needs.
Don’t neglect justice: Don’t give as a substitute for personally engaging in areas of restorative justice. God is more interested in justice and righteousness than hypocritical offerings. (See Amos 5:21–24 and Micah 6:8.) Jesus chastises the Pharisees for giving “a tenth of your spices” but neglecting “the more important matters of the law – justice, mercy and faithfulness” (Matthew 23:23–24).
Allow giving to transform you: God doesn’t need our money – we give for our own sake, to cultivate generosity and gratefulness. Our God is generous, having poured His love on us through Jesus Christ, and He continues to give His Spirit to us daily! Let us emulate that generosity in our daily living with our wallets and our watches.
Books on Tithing
Celebration of Discipline - Richard Foster
Generous Justice - Timothy Keller
The Treasure Principle - Randy Alcorn