10 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. 11 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. 12 Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts. Malachi 3:10-12 ESV (English Standard Version)
To give a tithe or 10% of your paycheck first before rent and bills is a tangible act of gifting God.
We are to give to God’s storehouse, His repository, where in return for our gifting God, He blesses us immeasurably in all ways of provision, i.e., health, food, shelter, peace of mind, money, etc.
The Word is also a storehouse whose wealth of wisdom fills the believer’s essence of life. So is the tithe.
Gifting God in this tangible way through giving our tithe is an action where God tells us to test Him and trust Him for His loving grace, mercy, forgiveness, and blessings. He gives us the 90% left of our finances to use as a good steward, i.e., to manage our finances wisely according to the wisdom of His Word, the repository, and to manage our distributions to our body, soul, and spirit, the supply and gifts of gospel teaching from Christ. We give tangibly and receive supernaturally.
Believers are also to give good offerings to God as Christ offered himself for our salvation for eternity.
Give not just to yourselves, but give and gift God!
Brenda A. McGee has attended New York Theological Seminary in New York, NY, and Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA as a Master of Divinity student.