“‘Bring to the storehouse a full tenth of what you earn so there will be food in my house. Test me in this,’ says the Lord All-Powerful. ‘I will open the windows of heaven for you and pour out all the blessings you need’” (Malachi 3:10 NCV).
If you want God to bless your finances, put him first in your finances. This is called the spiritual discipline of tithing.
God is specific about this habit of giving the first part of your income back to him: “‘Bring to the storehouse a full tenth of what you earn so there will be food in my house. Test me in this,’ says the Lord All-Powerful. ‘I will open the windows of heaven for you and pour out all the blessings you need’” (Malachi 3:10 NCV).
Obviously, God doesn’t need your money. So why does he even say anything about tithing? Because he wants what it represents: your life. God is testing your faith. He’s testing your priorities. He’s testing your gratitude.
When you give your tithe to God, it’s gratitude for the past (“God, I wouldn’t have anything if it weren’t for you”), it’s prioritization in the present (“God, I want you first in my life”), and it’s a statement of faith in the future (“God, I believe that you’re going to keep your promises”).
Tithing is a test of your trust. Do you trust God enough with your money to say those things to him? God tests us because he wants us to become like him. He is the greatest giver, and when we show that we are trustworthy with our finances, we become more like the Great Giver.
A well-known CEO told me once, “Rick, you need to tell people that the best time to start tithing is when they are in debt.” When I asked him why, he said, “Because that’s when you need God’s help the most.”
Tithing can seem especially difficult when you’re in debt. But if you want to get out of debt, you’re going to need God’s help. So honor him by putting him first through tithing.
You may think you can’t afford to tithe, but you can’t afford not to! If you want God’s blessing on your finances, you need to put him first in your finances.
For more Daily Hope with Rick Warren, please visit pastorrick.com!
Unlock the Keys to Praying with Passion and Purpose
Make prayer time the best time of your day with the brand-new 2022 Daily Hope Prayer Journal!
This easy-to-carry hardback journal with a soft-touch cover gives you the tools you need to establish a consistent daily prayer time. It’ll help you connect with the Lord and enjoy a vibrant prayer life as you unlock the keys to praying with passion and purpose.
Inside you’ll find 235 beautifully designed pages filled with:
• Practical encouragement for your prayer life from Pastor Rick • Sections that guide you to pray for specific people and situations • Space for writing out what God is showing you • Encouraging Bible verses • Gorgeous artwork and inspiring photos
Dive into this year’s theme, “Connecting with Jesus: The Source of Living Water,” and tap into God’s power and presence as you’re reminded how much God loves you and wants to be an active part of your life.
The all new 2022 Daily Hope Prayer Journal is our thanks for your gift to reach people around the world with the hope of Jesus. So ask for it when you give today!
And thanks to generous $100,000 Matching Grant, your year-end gift to Daily Hope will be DOUBLED to help bring the Good News of God’s love to every nation on earth.
All gifts will be doubled up to the full amount of the grant. Thank you for your generous support!
*The USA IRS code permits you to deduct the amount of your financial gift to Daily Hope that exceeds the fair market value of materials you received from Daily Hope.
