Tithes and Offerings: Honoring God with Our First Fruits

When we think about tithes and offerings, we are reminded of the profound biblical principles of generosity and obedience that guide our faith. At the heart of these practices is the call to honor God with our “first fruits,” as Proverbs 3:9-10 says:“Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.”

The Tithe: Giving Our First and Best

The tithe, meaning “a tenth,” is an act of giving the first 10% of our income to God. But a common question arises: Should this tithe come from our gross or net income? If we look at Proverbs 3:9-10, the call to honor God with the “first fruits” suggests that we give from the top—our gross income. This practice mirrors the agricultural principle of offering the very first portion of the harvest to God, not what remains after expenses. By giving the best and first, we demonstrate trust in God’s provision and prioritize Him above all else.

In Malachi 3:10, God challenges us with a bold promise:“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.”This verse reassures us that God’s faithfulness far exceeds our giving. The tithe is not merely an obligation; it is an invitation to experience God’s overflowing provision and blessing.

Offerings: Generosity Beyond the Tithe

While the tithe represents a foundational act of obedience, offerings go above and beyond. These are gifts given freely from a generous heart, as described in 2 Corinthians 9:6-7:“Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

Offerings reflect the overflow of gratitude and trust in God’s abundance. Like a farmer who sows seeds, the more we give generously, the more opportunities we create for a bountiful spiritual harvest. Offerings allow us to support missions, outreach, and ministries that extend God’s Kingdom beyond the local church.

Giving From Poverty: The Widow’s Example

Jesus highlights a profound truth about giving in the story of the widow's mite. In Luke 21:1-4, Jesus observes a poor widow placing two small coins into the temple treasury and says, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”This story reminds us that generosity is not measured by the size of the gift but by the heart behind it. The widow’s act of giving all she had demonstrates complete trust in God’s provision. She gave sacrificially, not out of abundance but out of faith. Her example challenges us to evaluate our own giving—are we giving comfortably out of surplus, or are we trusting God enough to give sacrificially? True generosity often requires us to step out in faith, believing that God will sustain us even when we give from what little we have.

The Harvest: A Cycle of Trust and Blessing

The imagery of the harvest reminds us that giving is part of a divine cycle. Farmers sow seeds in faith, trusting that rain and sunlight will bring growth. In the same way, our tithes and offerings are seeds sown into God’s Kingdom. As we give our first and best, God provides abundantly, not just in material blessings but in spiritual growth and fulfillment.

Ultimately, tithes and offerings are about trust and obedience. They remind us that all we have comes from God and that we acknowledge His sovereignty over our lives by returning a portion to Him. Whether through the tithe or a freewill offering, let us give with joyful hearts, honoring God with our first fruits and trusting in His unfailing provision.