Tithe comes from the Old English word teogotha, which means “tenth.” To tithe is to give one-tenth of your earnings, produce or other resources to the Lord (the Church).
Why Should You Tithe?
Tithing is a biblical principle and Christians are encouraged to tithe. It is a way to honour God by putting Him first with your finances, to take care of the Church, to help those in need and to advance the kingdom of God. Though some may consider it unnecessary now because it was commanded under the covenant of the Old Testament [Leviticus 27:30], it is seen in the New Testament where Jesus commended this form of giving and even in excess of it. [Mark 12:41-44]
Tithing is considered the foundation of giving. This may seem counterintuitive to be “giving away” money when you’re trying to build a solid financial foundation for yourself, however both Christians and non-Christians have seen how this act of giving has not only benefitted others but themselves and forms part of their money philosophy.
According to a CNBC article, John D. Rockefeller, one of the fathers of American philanthropy, tithed 10 percent of his income to his church ever since his first paycheck. Warren Buffett and Bill Gates took the 10 percent even higher, arguing through their Giving Pledge organization that the rich should give away at least half their wealth.
Now you may think it’s easy for these persons to give because they can afford it, but if you think it’s hard or impossible to give a hundred dollars ($100.00) out of a thousand ($1,000.00), it’ll most likely be even harder to give one hundred thousand ($100,000.00) out of a million (1,000,000.00). It is often easier to start this act of giving with smaller amounts and it is known to have benefits that helps with managing finances and maintaining wealth.
Benefits of Tithing
Some of the benefits of tithing include:
1. Being a better steward of your finances. It helps you develop the discipline to manage your money better because you have less to work with. It forces you to prioritize, to plan and create an effective budget and this is a key step in building financial wealth.
“But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it?” Luke 14:28 NLT
2. Additional blessings. This is not that to say that you will be guaranteed a monetary reward or you need to buy blessings but somehow it opens up opportunities and access to resources that may not otherwise be available. Essentially you will reap what you sow.
“The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.” Prov. 11:25 NLT
3. Safeguarding against money being an idol. It helps to prevent you from developing a love for money to the point of greed which can often lead to doing immoral and/or illegal things for money.
“For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.” 1 Tim. 6:10 NLT
Tithing is an extensive topic and there are many facets that haven’t been mentioned, however, this is to encourage you to consider how you could implement or maintain this Money Principle to generate and preserve financial wealth.
“Honour the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. Then He will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine.”
Prov. 3:9-10 NLT