The Promise, Purpose, Place, and Day for Tithing

CURRENT TEACHING SERIES Financial Fitness

The Promise, Purpose, Place, and Day for Tithing By Rick Warren — Feb 18, 2015 “The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives.” (Deuteronomy 14:23b TLB) Whatever you want God to bless, you have to put him first in. So if you want God to bless your finances, you have to put him first in your money. This is the principle of tithing: You give the first 10 percent of your income back to God. There are four verses that explain the promise, the purpose, the place, and the day for tithing.  First, Proverbs 3:9-10 gives the promise about tithing: “Honor the Lord by giving him the first part of all your income, and he will fill your barns with wheat and barley and overflow your wine vats with the finest wines” (TLB). God says that if you honor him with the first part of your income, he will bless you financially. Kay and I decided 36 years ago that if we’re going to be in debt to anybody, we’re not going to be in debt to God. God gets paid first, right off the top. If I make 10 bucks, the first dollar goes back to him. If I make a hundred bucks, the first 10 bucks goes back to him. It all comes from God in the first place, and I want his blessing on the rest of it.  Why does God tell us to tithe? Deuteronomy 14:23 says, “The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives.” God doesn’t need your money, but he wants what it represents — your heart. He wants you to trust him. Where should you tithe? Do you tithe to United Way? Or do you tithe to your brother who’s been out of work for three years? No. That’s charity. Tithing is an act of worship. It goes to God. Malachi 3:10 says, “‘Bring to the storehouse a full tenth of what you earn .... 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’” (NCV). The storehouse is the temple or the place where you worship God. When are you supposed to tithe? You do it on the day you worship. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 16:2, “On every Lord’s Day each of you should put aside something from what you have earned during the week, and use it for this offering. The amount depends on how much the Lord has helped you earn” (TLB). When you give to God on the first day of the week, the first part of your day, and the first part of your money, then you say to him, “You’re really number one in my life.” Notice that the verse says “put aside.” You’ve got to plan this! Tithing should not be an impulsive thing. You’ve got to plan for it so that you are honoring God’s plan and purpose for tithing. Then, you can watch how God blesses and uses you and honors his promise in your life. PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >> Talk It Over What does it mean to you practically to give God the first part of your income? Why do you think God wants you to tithe to your church and not another cause? How do you need to plan today so that you can be faithful in tithing? Our Gift: Financial Fitness Study Kit Learn the biblical principles of how to save, invest, and spend your money. Receive the Financial Fitness Study Kit with your donation. LEARN MORE Complete Audio Series (Purchase) Includes all complete sermons from the Rick Warren Financial Fitness teaching series. LEARN MORE Series Summary Message 1: Foundation of Financial Health Message 2: The Law of Contentment Message 3: The Laws of Sowing and Reaping Message 4: The Habits of Financial Health Message 5: Where Best to Invest PLAY TODAY'S BROADCAST

Pastor Rick Warren

Enjoy today's Devotional? Listen instantly to the full radio message at Daily Hope Radio. Did someone forward this devotional to you? Subscribe to Pastor Rick Warren's Daily Devotional. This devotional is based on the current Daily Hope radio series at rickwarren.org. Rick Warren has helped people live with hope and on purpose for more than 40 years. He’s the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Southern California and author of several books, including "The Purpose Driven Church" and "The Purpose Driven Life," read by more than 100 million people in 137 languages. He created the PEACE Plan (plant churches of reconciliation, equip servant leaders, assist the poor, care for the sick, educate the next generation), which is used by churches in 196 countries. His radio teaching and daily devotional, Daily Hope, is offered across America. This devotional © 2015 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission. You can unsubscribe at any time by changing your e-mail preferences. Update your preferences  |  Unsubscribe