The Purpose of Tithing - Daily Hope with Rick Warren - February 9, 2025
The Purpose of Tithing
By Rick Warren
“Bring this tithe to the designated place of worship—the place the LORD your God chooses for his name to be honored … Doing this will teach you always to fear the LORD your God.” Deuteronomy 14:23 (NLT)
If you want God’s blessing on a specific part of your life, you must put him first in that area. And if you want God to bless your finances, you have to put him first in your money. The principle of tithing is this: Give the first 10 percent of your income back to God.
The Bible explains the promise, purpose, place, and day for tithing.
Promise: First, Proverbs 3:9-10 gives this promise about tithing: “Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the first and best part of all your income. Then your barns will be full, and your vats will overflow with fresh wine.” Proverbs 3:9-10 (GWT). God promises that if you honor him with the first part of your income, he will bless you financially.
Kay and I decided over 40 years ago that if we were going to be in debt to anybody, we were 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 go back to him. It all comes from God in the first place, and I want his blessing on the rest of it.
Purpose: Why does God tell us to tithe? The Living Bible paraphrases Deuteronomy 14:23 like this, “The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives” (TLB). God doesn’t need your money, but he wants what it represents: your heart. He wants you to trust him.
Place: Where should you tithe? Do you tithe by giving to your favorite nonprofit? Or do you tithe to your brother who’s been out of work for three years? No. Those are good things but 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.
Day: When are you supposed to tithe? Do it on the day you worship. The Living Bible paraphrase says in, “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” (1 Corinthians 16:2 TLB).
When you give to God on the first day of the week with the first part of your money, you’re declaring, “God, you’re really number one in my life.”
Notice that the verse says to “put aside.” You’ve got to plan! Tithing is not an impulsive thing. Plan for it so that you honor God with your tithe. Then watch how he uses you and keeps his promise to bless your life.
Talk It Over
Why do you think God wants you to tithe to your church and not another cause?
Practically speaking, what does it mean to you to give God the first part of your income?
How do you need to plan today so that you can be faithful in tithing?
PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick
For more Daily Hope with Rick Warren, please visit pastorrick.com!
Let God’s Word Encourage You through Every High and Low
The Life’s Healing Choices Scripture Box and 52 Scripture Cards offer inspiring biblical truth to uplift you and help you trust in God’s promises through every high and low.
A perfect tool to deepen your faith, these specially selected Scripture Cards will fill your day with God’s truth, one uplifting verse at a time.
The Scripture Box and Scripture Cards are our thanks for your gift below to help share the hope of Jesus Christ with people around the world—so request yours when you give today.
Thank you for your partnership!
*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.
This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
You can listen to Rick Warren on OnePlace.com.
