Paying Tithing First Actually Helps Your Budget
It seems to go against logic to think that an expense could actually turn into savings. But talk to people who are devoted tithe payers and you will see how they attest to this marvelous principle.
In Proverbs 3:9 we are advised, “Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase.” Some Christian denominations follow this advice by offering up tithing to God. But how does paying tithing help your budget?
We are taught that “he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully” (2 Corinthians 9:6), and the Lord has promised great blessings to those who pay tithing (see Malachi 3:10). But we should never pay tithing in order to demand a reward. Rather, we should see our tithing as an acknowledgment of God and His gifts to us. In return for our faithfulness, He will bless our lives.
In Luke 6:38 we read, “Give, and it shall be given unto you.” This promise from the Lord isn’t necessarily a promise about financial investment. The “return” on our tithing, if you will, may come in many forms. When we understand that our blessings come from God, we can develop greater faith in His plan for us. This can help us be more kind, more understanding, and more patient. These traits improve our relationships and make us better at our jobs.
So it’s not that tithing changes our budget; instead, it changes us. It puts our lives in perspective and helps us better understand our relationship with God: He is the giver of all that we have. This relationship is the basis of self-reliance. When we do the spiritual things first, the temporal (or physical and practical) things will work out better for us. If we continue to obey God’s commandment to pay tithing, He will continue to help and bless us.
Check out this short video to hear people discuss their experiences with tithing and the blessings that came from their obedience.
It Doesn't Add Up (3:10)
Think about some of the principles of self-reliance and how they relate to paying your tithing as your first expense: