The Biblical Principle and Blessing of Tithing

Nov 16, 2025

Devotional

Day 1: Abiding in Jesus’ Teachings Leads to True Freedom

Jesus teaches that true discipleship is not just about believing in Him, but about living according to His teachings. When you commit to abiding in His word, you gain not only knowledge but also the freedom that comes from understanding and applying His truth. This freedom is not automatic; it is directly connected to how much of His truth you know and live out. The more you embrace and walk in His teachings, the more you experience the liberating power of God in every area of your life. [49:29]

John 8:31-32 (ESV)
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Reflection: What is one teaching of Jesus you know but have not yet fully lived out? How could you take a practical step today to begin applying it?

Day 2: The Principle of Tithing Is Timeless

God’s principle of tithing is not just an Old Testament law but a timeless truth that transcends covenants and dispensations. The act of bringing the first tenth to God is rooted in trust and covenant, as seen in Abraham’s tithe to Melchizedek long before the law was given. God declares that He does not change, and the principle of honoring Him with the tithe remains a way to acknowledge His lordship and invite His blessing into your life. [01:03:18]

Malachi 3:6, 8-10 (ESV)
“For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. … Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.”

Reflection: What does trusting God with your finances look like for you right now, and what step could you take to honor Him with your first and best?

Day 3: Knowledge, Understanding, and Wisdom—The Pathway to Freedom

It is not enough to simply know biblical information; true transformation comes when you move from knowledge to understanding and then to wisdom—applying what you have learned. Many people stop at information, but God calls you to seek understanding and to live out His principles in practical ways. This progression is essential in every area of life, including your finances, relationships, and spiritual growth. [57:50]

Proverbs 4:7 (ESV)
“The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.”

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to move from simply knowing God’s truth to truly understanding and applying it? What is one action you can take today to bridge that gap?

Day 4: Becoming the Blessing—Tithing Makes You a Channel, Not Just a Recipient

God’s promise in tithing is not just about receiving blessings, but about becoming a blessing to others. When you tithe, you open your life for God to pour out His provision through you, making you a window of heaven for those in need. This shifts your perspective from self-centered gain to being a vessel of generosity, ready to meet the needs of missionaries, pastors, and people in your community. [01:15:28]

Genesis 12:2 (ESV)
“And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.”

Reflection: Who is someone in your life or community you could bless this week as a result of God’s provision in your life? How can you intentionally become a channel of blessing to them?

Day 5: God Protects and Multiplies What You Surrender to Him

When you honor God with your tithe, He promises to protect the rest of your resources and rebuke the devourer for your sake. This means that what you give to God is not lost, but rather, it is the key to breaking the spirit of lack and inviting God’s supernatural provision and protection over your finances and your future. Trusting God in this way is an act of faith that positions you to experience His faithfulness and abundance. [01:17:37]

Malachi 3:11 (ESV)
“I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear,” says the Lord of hosts.

Reflection: What is one area where you need to trust God to protect and multiply what you have surrendered to Him? How can you express that trust in a tangible way today?

Sermon Summary

Today’s gathering was a call to wholehearted worship, generosity, and a deeper understanding of God’s principles for our lives—especially in the area of tithing. We began by inviting everyone to worship in their own way, emphasizing that God is worthy of our full devotion. As we moved into a time of giving, I shared the heart behind our “legacy lanes,” particularly our commitment to national missions and supporting pastors who often feel isolated and alone. The story of a persecuted pastoral couple from a hostile country highlighted the universal need for connection and encouragement among those who serve, reminding us that loneliness—not persecution or hardship—is often the greatest struggle.

We also looked at the practical ways our church can serve the local community, such as volunteering for the upcoming Anderson School Thanksgiving Lunch. These acts of service are tangible expressions of our faith and generosity, impacting both our city and the broader world.

Reflecting on a recent trip to Turkey, I expressed gratitude for the opportunity to rest and be refreshed, and for the kindness and support of our church family. This time away reinforced the importance of community, rest, and the value of being poured into so we can pour out to others.

The heart of today’s teaching centered on the principle of tithing. I addressed common misconceptions, especially the idea that tithing is merely an Old Testament law. Instead, we explored how tithing is a timeless principle—a God-given way to align our hearts and resources with His purposes. Drawing from John 8 and Malachi 3, we saw that true freedom comes from knowing, understanding, and applying God’s truth. Knowledge alone is not enough; comprehension and application are essential for transformation.

Tithing is not about legalism or earning God’s favor, nor is it a self-centered pursuit of blessing. Rather, it is about becoming a conduit of God’s blessing to others. When we tithe, we enter into a covenant where God not only provides for us but also protects what we sow, ensuring that our resources are used for His kingdom and not devoured by the “seed eater.” The tithe breaks the spirit of the world off our finances and positions us to be a blessing, not just to receive one.

Finally, I challenged those who have never tithed to take a step of faith—try it for 90 days and see what God will do. The invitation is not about compulsion, but about experiencing the freedom and joy that comes from trusting God fully with our resources.

Key Takeaways

1. Tithing is a God-given principle, not just a law Tithing predates the Mosaic law and is rooted in God’s unchanging character. It is a principle designed for our good, inviting us to trust God with our resources and participate in His work. When we see tithing as a principle rather than a rule, it shifts our motivation from obligation to partnership with God. [46:28]
2. Freedom comes from knowing and applying truth Jesus taught that abiding in His word leads to true freedom. Information alone is insufficient; we must seek understanding and live out what we learn. The measure of freedom we experience is directly related to the depth of truth we know and apply, especially in areas like finances where cultural narratives often conflict with God’s wisdom. [49:29]
3. The tithe transforms us into a blessing for others God’s promise is not simply to fill our lives with abundance, but to make us channels of blessing. When we tithe, we become the “window of heaven” through which God’s provision flows to others. This outward focus breaks the cycle of self-centeredness and aligns us with God’s heart for generosity and mission. [1:12:56]
4. Tithing brings protection and breaks the spirit of lack The act of tithing breaks the spirit of the world off our finances and brings God’s protection over what remains. Without this covenant, our resources are vulnerable to being consumed by the “seed eater.” Trusting God with the first portion sanctifies the rest and positions us for supernatural provision and security. [1:17:37]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - Opening Prayer and Worship
[02:10] - Invitation to Give and Legacy Lanes
[05:30] - National Missions and Pastors’ Story
[10:00] - The Power of Community and Kindness
[13:00] - Upcoming Outreach: Anderson School Lunch
[16:30] - Reflections on Turkey Trip
[20:00] - Gratitude for Rest and Refreshing
[22:30] - Introduction to Tithing Series
[25:00] - Tithing: Principle vs. Law
[28:00] - John 8: Truth and Freedom
[31:00] - Knowledge, Understanding, and Wisdom
[35:00] - Malachi 3: God’s Unchanging Principle
[40:00] - The Blessing and Purpose of the Tithe
[45:00] - Protection Over Your Seed
[50:00] - Invitation to Trust God and Respond

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Wholehearted Worship, Generosity, and the Principle of Tithing

Bible Reading

- John 8:31-32 (ESV)
> So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

- Malachi 3:6, 8-11 (ESV)
> “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. ... Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts.”

Observation Questions

According to John 8:31-32, what does Jesus say is the result of abiding in His word? How does He connect truth and freedom? [49:29]
In Malachi 3, what does God say about Himself before giving instructions about tithing? Why might this be important? [01:00]
What is the difference between a tithe and an offering, as explained in the sermon? [01:03]
What promise does God make to those who bring the full tithe into the storehouse, according to Malachi 3:10-11? [01:49]

Interpretation Questions

The sermon says tithing is a “God-given principle” and not just an Old Testament law. What does it mean for something to be a principle rather than a rule? How does this affect our motivation to tithe? [46:28]
Jesus says, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” How does this apply specifically to the area of finances and tithing, according to the sermon? [49:29]
The pastor shared that tithing is not about earning God’s favor or just getting blessed, but about becoming a blessing to others. How does this shift the focus from ourselves to others? [01:52]
The sermon mentions that tithing “breaks the spirit of the world off our finances.” What does this mean, and how might it look in someone’s life? [01:57]

Application Questions

The pastor challenged those who have never tithed to try it for 90 days. If you have never tithed before, what fears or hesitations do you have about starting? What would it take for you to take that step of faith? [02:03]
Think about your current approach to giving. Do you see it more as an obligation, a partnership with God, or something else? How might your motivation change if you saw tithing as a principle designed for your good? [46:28]
The sermon emphasized that tithing is about becoming a channel of God’s blessing to others. Can you think of a time when someone’s generosity made a difference in your life? How could you be that blessing for someone else this month? [01:52]
The pastor shared a story about a persecuted pastoral couple whose greatest struggle was loneliness, not persecution. How can you be intentional about encouraging and supporting those who serve in ministry or feel isolated? [31:13]
The message talked about serving the local community, like volunteering for the Anderson School Thanksgiving Lunch. What is one practical way you can serve or give back in your community this week? [38:34]
The sermon said that tithing brings protection and breaks the spirit of lack. Have you ever experienced a time when you felt God’s provision or protection in your finances? What happened? [01:57]
The pastor mentioned the importance of rest and being refreshed so we can pour out to others. Are you making space in your life for rest and community? If not, what is one step you can take to prioritize this? [41:44]

Sermon Clips

37s

#CommittedToTheWord

“There was a point in time where the church took the scripture seriously. And we didn't want a motivational talk. We didn't want somebody to come in and tell us what we wanted to hear. We didn't want somebody just to come in and encourage us. And we all want encouragement. Please don't misunderstand me. But what we were was we were committed enough to the word that if you would come in and even if it offended where I was, if it was his word, I was willing to change where I was to move to where I should be. Because that's what his word said.”

44s

#LightbulbMoment

“Have you ever had that moment? You were sitting in a class, you were sitting in somewhere and they were, they were talking about something and you were sitting there the whole time and it was like just, just hitting you in the forehead and then all of a sudden it was like your mind opened up and you got it. And you're sitting there and you're like, oh, I get it. That's understanding. We have to understand whatever subject it is in the scripture, whatever, whatever we are trying to grasp, we've got to not only get the information, we got a lot of TikTok prophets who love to talk about the information, but they don't have the understanding.”

53s

#TitheIsTrust

“Now I tell you this because this can approach any subject in the scripture that you want to talk about. You have to understand that there is knowledge that has to be obtained, there is understanding, there is comprehension that has to be grasped, and there is wisdom or application that has to be fleshed out. So let's talk about tithing. Malachi chapter three. The argument in today's culture is that tithing is an Old Testament principle that it is no longer applicable in the New Testament and that we don't have to obey that. I think we misunderstand.”

39s

#TitheProtectsYourSeed

“If you choose not to tithe, listen, you will still go to heaven. That does not affect your salvation. I will say the only thing that it will affect is how you live here. It is a biblical principle, financial principle. Okay? Let's go. I can't afford to tithe. Proverbs chapter 6, verses 30 and 31. Starts here. It says, people do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy when he's starving. Yet when he's found, he must restore sevenfold.”

37s

#SowingSeedsOfBlessing

“When God looks down in this room, he doesn't see you as individuals. He sees all of us as one. They go, well, if I don't tithe, it ain't gonna affect anybody else. No, no, no, no, no. Read how God dealt with Israel. Y'all remember the story of Achan and Achan's tent, right? They went in and stole some stuff. God dealt with the whole nation. He didn't call. He could have called the one person out and said, that person stole. You need to deal with him. No, no, no, no, no. He stepped back and he said, I want you to go through. I want you to find the thief because you have robbed me.”

53s

#GiveIt90Days

“It's the only place where God, in the entire scripture, where God says, try me. And it has to do with the principle of tithing. 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 be room enough to receive it. I paused there in my notes. Let me stop there. I've had people ask me, they say, well, do you pay off the gross or the net? My response is, depends on which blessing you want. There's not a right or wrong answer. It just depends on the blessing you want.”

41s

#FindingPeaceInPrayer

“We don't tithe so that we can be blessed. We tithe so that we become that blessing for other people. When we get it messed up, that's what the American church has done is it has flipped it around, and it has made it about me. Give me. Grow me. Give me more. It wasn't ever about that. It was about getting it through us to other people. But then the second thing, man, and I don't have time to talk about this this morning, so we're going to, I'm going to broach this subject, and then we're going to move on, but we're going to talk about this next week.”

40s

“I'm not preaching this because I want your money. I'm preaching this because I believe wholeheartedly in it. I live by it. It's not something I'm preaching to get something for you. It's something I preach because I do it. I believe in the principle of the tithe. And here's what I would say to you. If you're skeptical about it, give it a try. Give it a shot. What do you have to lose? God said, try me now in this and see.”

35s

“I believe that if you're in this room and you're not tithing, I believe that if you would try, we actually do a thing here called 90-day tithe challenge. I'm not pushing that this morning because I don't want you to think there's some kind of gimmick behind it. But I want you to understand, we believe so much, we'll go, listen, 90 days. Give it 90 days and see what God will do in your life. In 90 days, you look back and you go, God hasn't done anything in my life. Fine. Don't give another dime. That's how much I believe in that.”

52s

“I tell you that story, even though that's an international incident, even though they don't live in the United States, I think it highlights a problem that pastors deal with. And I'm telling you this on a Sunday morning because national missions for us means we're going to help build relationships with other pastors. And it doesn't matter if they're a part of our organization or outside, I just love pastors. And if someone in a hostile area of the world who has to, is forced to meet underground under threat of prison, his biggest struggle is he's alone. I look around and I look at our pastors and the plight is no different. They just feel like they're alone.”

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What does it mean to abide in Jesus' teachings?

How does knowing the truth lead to freedom?

In what way does tithing transform us into a blessing?