Giving

We recognize all the gifts that God gives each of us in our lives and we know that all that we have comes from Him alone. As we turn to scripture, we read many stories of faith shown through giving up time and talents. This was customary to Christian and Jewish practice as part of their faith. And while it’s important to give our time and our talents by doing things like serving on a mission team, a committee or knitting a prayer shawl for a neighbor in need, the practice and word tithing specifically refers to financial giving.

Leviticus 27:30 says, “A tenth of the produce of the land, whether grain or fruit, is the Lord’s, and is holy.”

Fruit is just a biblical way of saying that you should give first—before you do anything else with your money. Tithing wasn’t put in place for God’s benefit, He doesn’t need our money. Tithing is meant for our benefit because sacrificing a portion of our income helps us look outside our selfishness and makes us more aware of the needs of others. One of the main purposes of tithing is to support the needs of pastors, the ministries, the work of the local church and the needs of the community. It reminds us that we don’t own anything in this life, we’re only managers of what He’s given us and that God is in control.

We pray that in your Christian journey that this, as well as other practices become part of your faith journey.