Sunday Service || What About Tithing? || Pastor Joe Tarkon || City Of David Atlanta

May 24, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Bread, Wine, and the Tenth

Abraham met Melchizedek after battle. The king-priest brought bread and wine, blessed him, and declared God’s ownership of heaven and earth. Abraham responded by giving a tenth of everything. No negotiation. No delay. His act honored the God who had already delivered him. The tithe was not payment—it was surrender to the One who holds all things. [17:22]

“And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) And he blessed him and said, ‘Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!’ And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.”
(Genesis 14:18–20, ESV)

Reflection: What “spoils” has God given you this week? How will you honor Him with your firstfruits?

Day 2: Test Me in This

The Lord dares His people: “Bring the full tithe.” Empty the storehouses. See if heaven’s floodgates won’t burst open. This is no transaction—it’s a covenant. The God who owns cattle on a thousand hills promises to rebuke devourers, protect vineyards, and make nations call you blessed. But first, the test: will you trust His math? [23:59]

“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.”
(Malachi 3:10, ESV)

Reflection: Where have you withheld “the full tithe”—not just money, but trust?

Day 3: If God, Then I

Jacob bargained at Bethel. “If You protect me…if You feed me…if You bring me back—then You’ll be my God.” His tithe was conditional, a down payment on divine services. Yet God honored the shaky vow, turning a stone pillow into a house of angels. Even our transactional faith becomes a doorway when met by grace. [22:24]

“Then Jacob vowed a vow, saying, ‘If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God…’ ”
(Genesis 28:20–21, ESV)

Reflection: What “if” clauses have you placed on your obedience?

Day 4: Cheerful, Not Calculated

Paul dismantled ledger-based giving. No percentages. No minimums. Give what you’ve decided—not under pressure, but with joy. The Macedonians begged to participate in grace despite poverty. Their secret? They first gave themselves to the Lord. Tithing isn’t a line item—it’s the overflow of a surrendered heart. [35:36]

“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
(2 Corinthians 9:7, ESV)

Reflection: Does your giving flow from duty or delight?

Day 5: Seed in the Storm

The psalmist paints farmers weeping as they sow—grain falling into cracked earth, drought looming. Yet they keep scattering seed, believing harvest will come. Every tithe given in financial strain, every offering lifted through tears, carries this defiant hope: Joy follows the sowing. What dies in the ground will rise multiplied. [39:52]

“Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.”
(Psalm 126:5–6, ESV)

Reflection: What “seed” have you hesitated to plant because the soil looks barren?

Sermon Summary

Psalm 67 lifts a call that praise must not be polite but full-bodied, because “let the peoples praise you” becomes the trigger for increase and blessing. That psalm sets the tone: spoken words matter, because a mind answers to what a mouth keeps saying, so faith must talk like blessing. Gratitude then rises for hidden deliverances and answered prayers that fasts and burdens midweek uncovered, because God protects even when no news breaks.

The doctrine of tithing comes next as a matter of discipleship, wealth creation, and mission. Global evangelism is costly, and God funds it by training stewards. Ignorance, stubbornness, cynicism about church money, the excuse of little income, the fear of large gifts, scandal fatigue, confused teaching, and simple forgetfulness explain why many hold back; Scripture answers each one. Obedience is better than sacrifice. Faithfulness in little precedes much. The rich fool story warns big earners. The presence of counterfeits never cancels the real. Repent and do right. And the tithe belongs in the storehouse, not scattered as personal charity. God does not need anyone’s money; giving reveals a heart. The plate a gift sits on matters.

Genesis 14 shows tithing’s fountainhead. Melchizedek, king of righteousness and of peace, brings bread and wine, blesses Abram, and receives a tenth. Abram immediately calls God “possessor of heaven and earth,” refuses Sodom’s spoils, and makes sure no man claims God’s glory. Genesis 28 shows Jacob negotiating with vows; Malachi 3 converts negotiation into invitation: “Bring all the tithes… test me.” Leviticus 27 calls the tithe holy to the Lord, training a soul to confess God’s ownership.

Jesus in Matthew 23 affirms tithing while rebuking arithmetic religion that ignores justice, mercy, and faith. Ten percent is floor, not ceiling. Hebrews 7 reads Melchizedek as a Christ-pattern and argues that Levi paid tithes in Abraham. A parent’s obedience builds a family’s runway. “Beyond all contradiction, the lesser is blessed by the greater.”

Second Corinthians 9 says giving must be willing and cheerful, yet Psalm 126 admits there are tears in sowing. Obedience may sting, but peace follows, and harvest comes. Acts 4 then shows grace surpassing percentages as believers liquidate assets to meet needs. So the tithe becomes honor, gratitude, a blow against greed, and the engine for kingdom work, staff, the poor, and students. Matthew 6:21 ties treasure to heart; Genesis 22 shows Abraham raising the knife and God swearing, “Surely… I will bless you.” Malachi invites a test: open windows, not tight fists. The call, then, is covenantal — commit the tithe and expect God to keep his word.

Key Takeaways

1. Tithe declares God the owner [01:25:51] Tithing catechizes the heart to say, “It is the Lord’s.” It trains desire to bow to the Possessor of heaven and earth, not to numbers on a pay stub. By treating the first tenth as holy, a disciple refuses the illusion of self-made life and locates provision in God’s hands. Ownership confessed becomes anxiety relieved. [85:51]
2. Abraham’s tithe precedes the Law [01:29:39] Abraham honors Melchizedek before Sinai is ever written, and Hebrews says Levi was paying inside Abraham. That means the practice is rooted in worship, not mere regulation. Obedience today can set trajectories for children not yet born, because God reads families through covenant patterns. Legacy starts with a father’s altar. [89:39]
3. Generosity outruns percentages under grace [01:41:56] Jesus affirms tithing, but Acts shows grace pushing believers past the minimum. When the Spirit widens the heart, arithmetic stops ruling and love starts leading. The real question shifts from “How little can be given” to “What would love gladly release.” Freedom makes room for power and great grace. [101:56]
4. Tithing funds mission and breaks greed [01:50:27] The tithe underwrites the work of the house, cares for the poor, and pays laborers so gospel projects do not stall. At the same time, it cuts the root of covetousness by prying open tight fingers. Regular firstfruits recalibrate desire, so money serves vocation instead of mastering it. Mission expands when mammon’s chokehold loosens. [110:27]
5. Sowing in tears, reaping in joy [01:39:52] Scripture makes room for costly obedience, where giving feels like loss at first. Those seeds are not wasted; they are planted. God meets pain with peace and turns grief into sheaves in due season. Tears water ground that joy will one day harvest. [99:52]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[32:00] - A burden to fast and pray
[37:32] - Testimonies from the prayer platform
[42:54] - Undignified praise invitation
[52:07] - Reading Psalm 67 together
[53:46] - Speak blessing with your mouth
[59:38] - Thanksgiving for hidden deliverances
[61:52] - What about tithing
[66:30] - Why many do not tithe
[77:22] - Melchizedek and Abraham’s tenth
[83:59] - Malachi 3 and the storehouse
[85:51] - The tithe is holy to the Lord
[86:48] - Jesus affirms tithing and weightier matters
[89:39] - Hebrews 7 and generational blessing
[95:13] - Cheerful giving and costly obedience
[99:29] - Psalm 126 sowing in tears
[101:56] - Acts 4 radical generosity
[110:01] - What tithes actually fund
[113:06] - Psalm 20 prayer over givers
[114:36] - Call to covenant tithing
[122:13] - Open heavens prayer and declaration
[124:37] - Conference announcements
[125:29] - Midweek fasting and prayer schedule

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
- Psalm 67:5-7 (ESV)
- Genesis 14:18-20 (ESV)
- Malachi 3:10 (ESV)

Observation Questions

In Psalm 67:5-7, what connection does the psalmist make between praise and blessing?
What specific actions did Abraham take in Genesis 14:18-20 after receiving a blessing from Melchizedek?
According to Malachi 3:10, what does God invite His people to do, and what does He promise in return?

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Abraham’s tithe to Melchizedek in Genesis 14 is significant even though it happened before the Law of Moses?
Malachi 3:10 mentions bringing tithes into the “storehouse.” What might this represent in a modern context, and why is this important?
How does 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 (implied in the sermon) challenge the idea of tithing as merely a legalistic obligation?

Application Questions

Tithing is described as a way to declare God’s ownership over our lives [01:25:51]. How does your current approach to giving reflect (or fail to reflect) this truth?
Abraham refused Sodom’s spoils to ensure no one else took credit for God’s provision [01:20:19]. What “spoils” (e.g., pride, self-reliance, or compromises) might you need to reject to honor God’s ownership in your life?
The sermon emphasizes that tithing is a “floor, not a ceiling” for generosity [01:41:56]. What practical step could you take this week to move beyond the minimum in stewarding your resources for God’s kingdom?
Psalm 126:5-6 acknowledges “sowing in tears” as part of obedience [01:39:52]. When has giving or sacrificing felt costly for you, and how did God meet you in that moment?
If God’s promise in Malachi 3:10 to “open the windows of heaven” is tied to obedience, what fears or hesitations do you need to surrender to test His faithfulness in this area?
The sermon warns against letting cynicism about church finances hinder obedience [01:09:19]. How can you cultivate trust in God’s system of stewardship even when human failures exist?
Jacob’s vow in Genesis 28:20-22 was transactional (“If God does this, then I will…”). How can you shift from negotiating with God to trusting His character in your giving?

Sermon Clips

50s

#GiveWillingly

“So let each one who gives how should he do it? Please look at this look at the screen and be a part of this how should he give? As there are proposes in his heart. And when you give, how should you give? Not grudgingly. And when you give, how should you give? Cheerfully. Do you see that? You give you make up your mind what you’re gonna give, not by manipulation. Even when I come in here and I tell you a need and I say, hey. We want to buy a new screen. This screen will cost us $2,000, and I want people to contribute. You decide what you are going to give.”

29s

#FaithOverFraud

“some people says, you because I have seen Christian leaders misuse money. Oh, they misuse money. They don’t know how to use money, so why should I give them money? Haven’t you seen fake medication? Haven’t you seen fake dollar? Perhaps you’ve not seen it, but there are some people who have seen fake money. But do you stop using money because there’s fake money? You’ve seen some women who killed their husbands. Do you stop marrying because women killed their husbands?”

42s

#GraceLeadsToGenerosity

“So you see that in the New Testament, it’s not about the economy of 10% because grace makes you give more. Oh, I think somebody should say amen there now. Whether you believe it or not. Because grace will compel you. In the old testament, God told her, give this. Give but in the new testament, as many as are led by the spirit of God, they are the sons of God. I’ll tell you two stories from my personal life. My tithing practice, I give 10% of everything that I get. But I give twin at least 20% of every gift that comes to me.”

38s

#GodDoesntNeedMoney

“God does not need your money. Please, I beg you. God does not need anybody’s money, and I so thank God for the way God had disciplined and trained me. There is nobody whose money can hold me hostage. Nobody. There’s nobody. God does not need your money. I remember when six seven six seven, there was a guy at if you watch your service, that’s good. His wife was a pharmacist. We’re so few then. Pastor Florence, you remember? He came to me one day and said, he said pastor Joe, if me and my wife don’t give offering in this church, how will this church survive?”

37s

#ObedienceOverSacrifice

“I have a answer for you. The bible says to obey God is better than to sacrifice. To obey God is better than to sacrifice. Not because of of a curse, not because of punishment, but to just obey God. Number three, some people do not tithe because they don’t see the need to tithe. Because after all, the church has money. And I’m not talking just about this church. I’m talking about globally. The church has money. Or what is the church doing with money anyway?”

36s

#HeartMattersInGiving

“Because it is the posture of your heart that determines the quality of your giving. Can I say that again? It’s the condition of your heart, the posture of your heart. God. Because you can give God a lot with a bad heart. It means nothing to God. I’m sure you know that. You know, if you came to my house now and I gave you and served the best meal, I got I got a what do you call these people who cook? What do you call them? Chef the best chef from from from let’s say, Louisiana, you know, and he prepares a wonderful meal.”

77s

#SacrificeForVision

“We got to a place where you guys don’t know if you were in the building the the the planning team, know what happened. Think money became hard. It became hard. The Lord spoke to me verifiably. He says, sell all the stocks you have and put the money in this project. You know? But I’ve seen the the thing happen too many times. So that one, I didn’t argue much. I just calculated all the stocks, everything, everything, sold everything, Put the money to the projects.”

43s

#StopHoldingBack

“Because some of you, you are holding back. You’re holding back. You’re holding back. No. You’re cheating yourself. I’ll tell you another two sad stories. One sad, one happy. When we’re raising money for the church building, the Lord laid in my heart to sell one of our properties. I said, I lie. I said, God, do you know the value of properties now? The thing that’s appreciating. I struggled and wrestled. My wife says, sell this property. I say, I’m not selling it. I say, I will give God the money. I knew how much we’re gonna give. I will raise that money and give God. Eventually, I raised the money, but that property became a pain. A pain.”

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Sunday Service || What About Tithing? || Pastor Joe Tarkon || City Of David Atlanta

Devotional

Day 1: Bread, Wine, and the Tenth

Day 2: Test Me in This

Day 3: If God, Then I

Day 4: Cheerful, Not Calculated

Day 5: Seed in the Storm

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Sunday Service || What About Tithing? || Pastor Joe Tarkon || City Of David Atlanta

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