2024 Estimate of Giving
Tithing 101
When we joined St. Luke’s, we all became partners in God’s ventures in our church, community, and world. One of our commitments was that we would support St. Luke’s through our giving. The Biblical pattern of giving is called a tithe, and it involves us giving 10% of our income to the Lord for His work. Below are three reasons why we should tithe:
1. Tithing reflects our heart.
What is the most important thing to you? Jesus said in Matthew 6:21 that “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” One of the easiest ways to find your true priorities is to examine how you spend and invest your money. By giving God the first 10%, we make sure we keep Him Number One in our lives.
2. Tithing is biblical.
Long before tithing was a practice of the Israelite people, Cain and Abel, the second generation of the human race, brought an offering to the Lord. The Lord blessed Abel’s offering, but rejected Cain’s. Abel brought the “firstborn of his flock,” while Cain brought “some of the fruits of the soil” as an offering. God wants to be first. The following scriptures show how tithing is biblical.
Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said: “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” And he gave him a tithe of all he had.
Genesis 14:18-20
And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s. It is holy to the Lord.
Leviticus 27:30
Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.
Proverbs 3:9-10
3. Tithing is a benefit.
God’s kingdom is built on multiplication, not division. God uses the tithe as an investment where everyone involved gets a return on the investment. Obviously, through tithing the church and God’s kingdom are blessed, and yet God’s nature is to also bless you, the giver. One thing for sure, we can never out give God!
“Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.”
Malachi 3:10
When we joined St. Luke’s, we all became partners in God’s ventures in our church, community, and world. One of our commitments was that we would support St. Luke’s through our giving. The Biblical pattern of giving is called a tithe, and it involves us giving 10% of our income to the Lord for His work. Below are three reasons why we should tithe:
1. Tithing reflects our heart.
What is the most important thing to you? Jesus said in Matthew 6:21 that “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” One of the easiest ways to find your true priorities is to examine how you spend and invest your money. By giving God the first 10%, we make sure we keep Him Number One in our lives.
2. Tithing is biblical.
Long before tithing was a practice of the Israelite people, Cain and Abel, the second generation of the human race, brought an offering to the Lord. The Lord blessed Abel’s offering, but rejected Cain’s. Abel brought the “firstborn of his flock,” while Cain brought “some of the fruits of the soil” as an offering. God wants to be first. The following scriptures show how tithing is biblical.
Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said: “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” And he gave him a tithe of all he had.
Genesis 14:18-20
And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s. It is holy to the Lord.
Leviticus 27:30
Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.
Proverbs 3:9-10
3. Tithing is a benefit.
God’s kingdom is built on multiplication, not division. God uses the tithe as an investment where everyone involved gets a return on the investment. Obviously, through tithing the church and God’s kingdom are blessed, and yet God’s nature is to also bless you, the giver. One thing for sure, we can never out give God!
“Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.”
Malachi 3:10