Tithing God's Way

8 “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. 9 You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation. 10 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. (Malachi 3:8-10)

Good morning, today, we are going to talk about something that can often be misunderstood or avoided in the church which is the practice of tithing. Many Christians get offended when this is preached about, and others may find it challenging to understand why God asks us to give, especially when finances are tight. But, as we look at God's Word today, we’ll discover that tithing is not just a command, but it’s also a blessing. It’s an opportunity for us to participate in God's work on earth and to experience His abundant provision in our lives.

I. Tithing is a Command

A. In the Old Testament, tithing was commanded by God.

Tithing was a way for the people of Israel to honor Him and support the work of the Temple. The Israelites were to give one-tenth of their crops and livestock to the priests to maintain the house of God and care for the poor. 30 And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD’s. It is holy to the LORD. (Leviticus 27:30)

The concept of a tithe was not a new one for the Israelites, since the practice took place even before the giving of the Law. Back in Genesis Abram gave a tithe of all.

B. In the New Testament, tithing is not mandated in the same way.

Jesus does acknowledge and affirm it urging us to focus on justice, mercy, and faithfulness, while not neglecting the important practice of giving. 23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. (Matt. 23:23)

Jesus did not say the hypocrites were wrong in their tithing. Rather, he said they should have given greater attention to these more important matters of the law while also giving attention to their tithing and other requirements.

Imagine you have a bucket that represents your life, and in this bucket, there is a steady stream of water—representing God’s blessings. Now, God asks that you give one-tenth of the water to Him, symbolizing your tithe. You may think, “If I give away 10% of my water, will I have enough left for myself?” But here’s the beauty: God promises that when we honor Him with the tithe, He will pour out so much blessing that your bucket will overflow. It's not just about giving; it’s about trusting God to take care of you in ways that are beyond your own understanding.

II. Tithing Shows Our Trust in God

A. We are to bring the whole tithe.

“the whole tithe” suggests that many were either withholding part of the tithe or were bringing nothing. Reference to the “whole” tithe also echoes the guilt of the “whole” nation in v. 9 Tithing is a way we contribute to the work of God on earth. Through our tithes, the Church is equipped to fulfill its mission to reach the lost, feed the hungry, and serve those in need.

The principle of tithing is not about God needing our money—He is the Creator of all things and owns everything. But tithing is a way for us to demonstrate our trust in His provision.

B. Try Me now in this.

The nature of God’s request is extraordinary, and rare. Malachi’s invitation to “put God to the test” should not be viewed as a contradiction with the Mosaic prohibition against “testing” God. “You shall not tempt the LORD your God as you tempted Him in Massah. (Deut 6:16).

Malachi, however, called the restoration community of Judah to(“test”) God for the purpose of proving His faithfulness in keeping His covenant promises. God invites us to "try Me now in this"—to trust Him with our finances, knowing that He will bless us in return. It’s a step of faith to give to God first, before we see the rest of our needs met.

In Mark 12:41-44, Jesus observes a poor widow who gives all she has—just two small coins—to the temple treasury. Though her gift was tiny in monetary value, Jesus commended her because she gave sacrificially, out of her poverty. Her act of giving was a demonstration of deep trust in God, knowing that He would provide for her needs. In the same way, our tithe is an act of faith. Even when it feels like we don’t have enough, we trust that God will provide. It’s not about the size of the gift, but the size of the heart that gives it.

III. Tithing Brings God’s Blessing.

A. And pour out for you such blessing.

The promise here was linked to the covenant the Israelites had made with the Lord in (Deut. 28:1-14), so if they faithfully obeyed Him, He would faithfully keep His promises. The spiritual principle behind this promise is echoed in (Luke 6:38) “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.”

Yes, giving is an act of faith, but God rewards faith in every way. That isn’t the reason we give because that kind of motivation would be selfish. We should give because we love God and want to obey Him.

B. God’s powerful promise.

When we honor God with our tithe, He responds with blessings that are not only material but also spiritual and emotional. Tithing opens the door to experiencing God’s provision and faithfulness in tangible ways.

Conclusion:

Tithing is not about obligation, but about trust, faith, and partnership with God. It’s a way to honor Him with our resources, show our dependence on Him, and experience His abundant blessings. As we step into a new year, let’s commit to honoring God with our tithes, knowing that He will pour out blessings beyond what we can imagine. Let’s not see tithing as a burden but as a privilege—an opportunity to participate in God’s work and to trust in His provision for our lives. May we continue to be generous in our giving, knowing that when we give to God, He is faithful to give back even more.