Investing in God’s Work

It’s amazing to me that people don’t think twice about giving a 10 percent tip to a restaurant server (which they should at the very minimum), yet they’ll balk at giving any percentage of their income to the Lord.

To me that’s an indication there’s something wrong spiritually. You can tell a lot about someone’s so-called spirituality by their giving—or lack thereof. It reveals their real value system because Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21 NKJV).

Some Christians say that tithing is an Old Testament principle, that we’re under the New Covenant and therefore don’t have to tithe. But we should give a minimum of 10 percent to the Lord. Your tithes, by the way, should go to your church. Then above that are offerings.

Here’s the good news: everything you give means that you’re investing in God’s work. You’re giving to God, which will result in fruit to your account.

And what does God promise? Malachi 3:10 says, “‘Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,’ says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, ‘I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!’” (NLT).

That sounds to me like God promises to provide for us when we are faithful with what He gives us. However, it doesn’t mean that we give to get. Rather, we give because we have received. And as we’re faithful in this, God promises to bless us.

I’ve applied this principle in my life for as long as I’ve been a Christian and have found it to be true. And if you’ll apply it in your life, you’ll find that it’s true as well.