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.”
2 Corinthians 9:6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
1. Because We Love God – Giving is how we express our love for God and gratitude for everything that He has done for us. When we give, we are trusting and acknowledging God as our provider.
2. Because We Love People – Our giving paves the way for others to experience the Love of God that has transformed our lives. Giving is how we “pass it forward.”
3. Because We Love Our Church – Giving is how we support our local church to carry out God’s vision for our family and our community. Through our giving, our Church is enabled to feed more hungry people, restore more marriages, rescue more hurting people off the streets, and most importantly, save more souls.
Offering – The gifts brought to God beyond our tithes.
An offering is not linked to what we earn—it is freely given by Christians based on their financial situation in life. An offering may be given to express thanks, give praise, or to show our love for God.
God wants us to value what He values: a heart that overflows with thankfulness for the One who saved us and who gives us all things. Those who give from the heart are “free” to give generously, willingly, and cheerfully in response to the love and grace that abounds in Christ.
A tithe—which just means “tenth”—is defined as the first 10% of a person’s income that is to be given back to the local church. Tithing is a principle that is taught throughout the entire Bible. When we tithe, we are expressing worship in a tangible way by putting God first in our lives.
Bringing our tithes is an opportunity for us to give God our thanks, show God we trust Him, and fight against greed in our hearts…all while allowing us to be a part of the most important work in life that is spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ!
If you would like to read more about what the Bible has to say about tithing, check out these passages: Leviticus 27:30, Proverbs 3:9-10, Malachi 3:6-10, Matthew 6:19-24 and 1 Corinthians 16:1-2.
For many, the idea of bringing the first 10% of our income to the Church seems overwhelming. The thing is, it doesn’t matter how much or how little we make, God promises to pour out blessings on us when we tithe. Tithing is about training our heart to trust God at His Word.
We know generosity is a huge step of obedience, but you’re not in this alone!