Why Christians Should Tithe (And What Happens When You Do)

Here’s something that makes a lot of Christians uneasy: tithing. It’s one of those topics where people either go all in, avoid it entirely, or find themselves somewhere in the middle; giving occasionally, when it feels comfortable, or usually when the sermon was particularly good that Sunday. But tithing isn’t about our feelings or comfort; it’s simply meant to be an act of faith.

So let’s dig into why we Christians should tithe, what the Bible actually says about it, and what we stand to gain – not just financially, but spiritually, when we choose to honour Abba with our first ten percent.

What Is Tithing?

The word “tithe” simply means a tenth. It’s the practice of giving 10% of our income – be it our earnings, our harvest, or any other form of increase back to our Heavenly Father.

In the Old Testament, the tithe was given to support the priestly tribe of Levites who served in the temple and had no inheritance of their own (Numbers 18:21). It was also used to care for the poor, the widow, and the foreigner (Deuteronomy 14:28-29).

Tithing wasn’t a suggestion. It was a command from the Lord, and more than that, it was a covenant practice. A declaration that everything you have comes from Abba and belongs to Him.

Is Tithing a New Testament Practice?

This is the question that comes up every single time tithing is discussed by Christians. Doesn’t tithing belong in the Old Testament? Do we no longer tithe because we’re part of the new covenant?

The short answer is that tithing predates the Law of Moses. Abraham tithed to Melchizedek (Genesis 14:20) long before the Law was given. Jacob made a vow to give a tenth to God (Genesis 28:22). The tithe wasn’t born when Moses wrote the Book of the Law; it just got written into it. (Deut 14:22-29)

Jesus himself didn’t say don’t tithe. In Matthew 23:23, he rebukes the Pharisees for tithing their herbs while neglecting justice and mercy, but he adds, “these you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.” He didn’t say stop tithing; rather He said don’t make it the whole of your faith while ignoring everything else.

The New Testament doesn’t abolish the tithe. It deepens the principle behind it. In 2 Corinthians 9:7, Paul writes that God loves a cheerful giver, someone who gives not reluctantly or under compulsion, but willingly. That’s the spirit behind the tithe – it’s not a tax or a debt, but an act of worship.

Why Should Christians Tithe?

1. Tithing is an act of worship

When you tithe, you’re not just moving money from your account to a church account or a synagogue account. You’re making a declaration: “Abba, you are my source. Not my job. Not my salary. Not my business. You.“

That’s a powerful thing to say, especially in a world that ties your worth to your net worth. Every time you tithe, you’re choosing to put Abba first. And that’s exactly what worship looks like in the practical, everyday moments of life.

2. It is a test Abba invites you into

Malachi 3:10 is one of the most striking verses in the Bible. God says:

“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”

Abba rarely invites us to test him. But here, He does. Tithing is the one area where he says, “Try Me and see what I do”.

That’s not a prosperity gospel promise. It’s a covenant promise. There’s a difference. The blessing that comes with obedience is real, but it doesn’t always look like a bigger bank account. Sometimes it just looks like provision and peace, or doors opening when you didn’t even know there was a door.

3. Tithing trains your heart to hold things loosely

We live in a world where more is never enough. Everyone wants more money, more things, more land, more security, more this, more that. Tithing cuts right through that. God asks you to give a tenth of what you’ve earned before you know how the rest of the month will go. He asks us to trust before we have the evidence of provision.

The kind of trust that Abba is after is simply this. He doesn’t need your ten percent – He owns a thousand cattle on a thousand hills (Psalm 50:10). What He wants is the heart posture behind the giving; a heart that says, I choose You over my fear.

And the more you tithe, the more that muscle grows. The easier it becomes to give generously in other areas of your life too. Tithing is almost like a gateway discipline – once you get there, the rest starts to follow.

4. It supports the work of the Church

Practically speaking, the tithe sustains the local church. The pastors who pour into their congregations week after week, the ministries that serve the poor and underprivileged, the outreach programs for the lost and suffering, community events and evangelism – none of that happens without the consistent generosity of the people in the pews.

When you tithe, you’re participating in something bigger than yourself. You’re essentially saying: “This matters. The work of God’s Kingdom matters, and I want to be part of it.”

5. Tithing is a discipline that brings order to your finances

There’s something about knowing even before the money hits your account that the first ten percent goes to God. It puts your finances in order and forces you to budget around what remains. And more often than not, anyone who tithes consistently will tell you that their finances somehow work, even when the numbers don’t add up on paper. That’s the blessing of obedience.

“But I Can’t Afford to Tithe Right Now”

I understand this. Life is expensive and bills are real. And when you’re already stretched thin, giving away ten percent feels impossible.

But here’s what I’ve come to believe: we can’t afford not to tithe.

The fear that says “I can’t afford it” is the same fear that keeps us trying to control everything ourselves. Tithing is a direct confrontation with that fear that s says, “I’m going to trust Abba with this even when I don’t see how it will work.”

Start where you can. If ten percent feels impossible right now, start with five, or even two. You don’t have to be perfect. It’s the heart posture that matters. As you step into it, trust that Abba meets you in your obedience.

Where Should You Tithe?

Traditionally, the tithe goes to your local church, the place where you are spiritually fed and pastored. Proverbs 3:9 says to honour God with your wealth and the firstfruits of all your produce. The principle is clear: you give where you are being nurtured in your faith. If you haven’t found a local church yet, give to the online church that you glean the most from.

Beyond your tithe, you can also give offerings to different ministries, to mission work, or to people in need around you. The tithe is the foundation; offerings are what flows from a generous heart on top of that. If you’re looking for a cause to give to beyond your local church, here are some Christian charities supporting Israel worth considering.

Tithing and the Other Disciplines

Tithing doesn’t stand alone. It’s one of several disciplines that mark a life surrendered to God, alongside prayer, fasting, and reading the Word.

If you’ve been exploring different ways to fast as a Christian, you’ll notice that fasting and tithing go hand in hand: both ask you to deny the flesh, to loosen your grip on material things, and to declare that Abba is your source and your sustenance. A person who has learnt to fast is usually someone who finds tithing more effortless because both are about surrender.

What Happens When You Tithe Consistently?

The people I know who tithe faithfully whether it’s easy or not have a different relationship with money than those who don’t. There’s less anxiety and more generosity. There’s a quiet confidence that Abba provides, because they’ve seen it happen enough times to believe it in their bones. That’s the real return on the tithe, a transformed perspective on everything you own.

Tithing may not always be easy or comfortable, but it’s always an act of faith.

And faith, as we know, is exactly what pleases Abba (Hebrews 11:6). So start where you are. Give what you can. Trust Him with what you have. And watch what He does with a heart that chooses Him first.

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