First of all, I just want to thank God for the opportunity to share what’s on my heart. I’m so grateful for our church, for how He is using each person here — through testimonies, worship, and lives that are impacting our community. Today, I want to talk about a subject that can feel a little uncomfortable — tithing. But my message isn’t really about money. It’s about inheritance — about what it means to recognize the weight behind what we bring to God.
What Tithing Really Means
When we hear the word tithe, it simply means “a tenth.” It’s setting aside a portion — 10% — of what God has blessed us with and offering it back to Him. It’s a principle that appears all through Scripture. Abraham gave a tenth of everything to Melchizedek, who blessed him. Later, God told His people, “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” (Malachi 3:10, NASB 1995).
For years, I struggled with this. I used to do the math in my head — “If I have $500, that’s $50, but over a year that’s $2,600… that could pay bills!” Eventually, I’d compromise with God — give a little more here, a little less there — but something strange happened. I started noticing that when I withheld from God’s portion, other areas of my life began to feel uncertain or fragile.
It wasn’t about God “needing” my money — it was about trust. I realized my heart was saying, “God, I don’t fully trust You to take care of me if I give this.” That’s when I learned tithing isn’t about the amount; it’s about the posture of our hearts.
The Story of Inheritance
The Scripture that changed my perspective was Deuteronomy 26:1–7. God tells His people:
“Then it shall be, when you enter the land which the Lord your God gives you as an inheritance and you possess it and live in it, that you shall take some of the first of all the produce of the ground which you bring in from your land that the Lord your God gives you, and you shall put it in a basket and go to the place where the Lord your God chooses to establish His name.”
— Deuteronomy 26:1–2, NASB 1995
God told the Israelites that when they entered the Promised Land, they were to bring the first fruits — their tithe — to Him. But He didn’t stop there. He asked them to recite their history: “My father was a wandering Aramean, and he went down to Egypt and sojourned there…”
At first, that seemed strange to me. The generation bringing this offering didn’t even experience slavery in Egypt — they were born in the wilderness! All they ever knew was the presence of God — the pillar of fire at night, the cloud by day, manna from heaven. Yet God told them to remember. Why? Because the offering they brought carried the weight of 400 years of history. It wasn’t just a piece of fruit or grain — it represented generations of prayer, suffering, and faithfulness.
God wanted them to see that what they held in their hands was the result of someone else’s obedience. The fruit they enjoyed was planted by people who might never see it.
And that’s true for us too. The blessings we walk in today — the opportunities, the faith, the community — are often the result of prayers our parents, grandparents, or spiritual mentors prayed long before us.
The Weight of the Offering
When I bring my tithe today, I don’t see it as a transaction. I pause and ask, “What’s the weight behind this?”
I think of my father — the first man in his village to follow Christ. He faced rejection and ridicule, but he stayed faithful. He built a little church on a small piece of land with his own hands. For over thirty years, that church has been a place where people have found Jesus.
I think of my mother, who never missed a Sunday, even when it meant walking kilometers and taking two buses with me as a child. Her persistence led other family members to salvation. And I think of my grandmother, who prayed over us every morning before school.
When I tithe, I’m not just giving a portion of my paycheck. I’m standing on the shoulders of those who prayed, sacrificed, and believed when it wasn’t easy. I’m saying, “God, I remember. I see what You’ve done in my family line.”
God’s Faithfulness in My Journey
There’s another story close to my heart. When I was young, someone prophesied that I would become a computer engineer. But I was a terrible student — I failed exams constantly. Still, I held onto that word. It took me ten years to complete my degree. There were so many nights I wanted to quit. Then, two years before graduation, God gave me another promise: “Before you graduate, you will have a job.”
That seemed impossible. But two days before graduation, I started my first job. God kept His word exactly. When I give today, I remember that journey — the countless times He carried me through.
The weight behind our offering is our story — the years it took to get where we are, the grace that sustained us, the promises fulfilled.
Why the Tithe Matters to the Church and the World
In the Old Testament, the tithe was divided into two parts: one for the priests and the work of the temple, and another for the poor — the widows, orphans, and foreigners (Numbers 18:25–28).
That still holds meaning today. When we give to the church, we’re saying, “God, thank You for giving me a spiritual family.” Every Sunday, we’re surrounded by believers who stand with us through joy and sorrow, and by pastors who pray, teach, and care for us. Our giving supports that community — it’s an act of gratitude.
And beyond that, God’s heart has always been for those in need. The tithe reminds us to remember others. When we set aside a portion to help the poor, we’re saying, “God, I haven’t forgotten the grace You showed me.”
There’s no reason I’m here and someone else is homeless, except for the grace of God. So I give — not out of obligation, but out of gratitude.
Remember the First
Finally, God has a special place for the forerunners — those who are the first in their family to believe, the first to step out in faith. Abraham was the first, and because of his faithfulness, generations were blessed.
If you are that person — the first in your family to follow God — know that He sees you. Your obedience will echo through generations. One day, your children and grandchildren will bring their offerings before the Lord, and God will remember you.
In Closing
When you come before the Lord with your tithe or offering, pause for a moment. Remember the weight behind it — the story of your family, the prayers that brought you here, and the grace that sustained you through the wilderness seasons of life.
It’s never been about the money. It’s always been about the heart — a heart that remembers, honors, and says,
“God, I thank You. I remember all You’ve done.”
May we give with that heart, knowing we’re standing in the inheritance of those who went before us — and leaving one for those who will come after.
