ICS Daily Devotions
Tithing vs. Sowing
You can be assured of a constant flow of provision when God can trust you as a good steward of His money by being a blessing to others!
2 Corinthians 9:6-7 (NKJV) But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
Hebrews 7:8-9 (NKJV) Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives. Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak.
However, we need to know that honouring God by paying our tithe is different from the concept of sowing. These two Scriptures reveal to us that while we “pay” tithe to God, freewill offering is giving willingly without coercion.
Many people will pray for a good selling price for their property, a good job, and favour with men in their businesses, but when God answers our prayers, how many will honour Him by paying tithe with what is due to Him and His storehouse? Let’s not forget that we are blessed by God.
Malachi 3:10 (NKJV) 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.
God doesn’t want His house—either His temple or the church—to be in lack, but the people in the Book of Malachi withheld their tithe, and God had to challenge them to try him on His faithfulness. Through this, we see that our unwillingness can actually cause God to withhold His hand!
Being a steward of God’s money by paying tithe and giving freewill offering is a lifestyle of faith in God and should not be something that we do in a “do or die” situation or in a “show hand” with God. Everything that we do should be done through a close walk and relationship with Him.
Obedience is better than sacrifice. We might be giving sacrificially to other causes, but what God requires is obedience to do what He asked in Scripture, which us paying tithe to the storehouse—the local church where the Word is preached and pastoral care is given.
We should live a lifestyle of giving by worshipping the Lord with our tithe and freewill offering because it is the Lord’s money, and we should be led to give towards whatever He directs us freely and joyfully. We can be cheerful givers because the natural and spiritual law of sowing and reaping means we will always receive back what we have given to Him.
Sermon Series: Free Will Offering
