When I first started in ministry as a worship pastor, I didn’t really understand what giving and tithing was all about. Most of my ministry I didn’t even want to give or tithe because I didn’t think we could afford it. I wanted my money for my things to make me happy!

It wasn’t until about 5 years ago when I woke up from a spiritual funk when I finally heard God speak to me through His Word. I was reading Malachi 3:6-12….”

6 “I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. 7 Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD Almighty.

“But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’

8 “Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me.

“But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’

“In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit,” says the LORD Almighty. 12 “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the LORD Almighty.”

After reading that, it became very clear to me. I was robing God in my tithes and offerings. Why? Because it was all about me! I didn’t believe we could make it, I didn’t feel like we could afford it! I wanted the latest and greatest of stuff! I, I, I!

What I didn’t realize is, GOD IS IN CONTROL! Everything I have is because of Him. He owns everything, I just get to manage it. In our state of selfishness of not bringing the tithe, we found ourselves getting deeper and deeper in financial trouble. I believe it was because I did not believe God at His Word! God says, “Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.”

WOW! This is the only time in scripture where God says to TEST HIM! That’s HUGE! So, we did test Him at His Word and God has truly blessed us more than we could ever imagine because He wants us to bless Him and be a blessing to others! Today, our first check we write is to RiverPoint Church! Yes, there are weeks where it is scary and we get nervous and we even get tempted to cheat God! But, we have made a commitment to remain faithful to God and He has kept His promise to remain faithful to us! No, we don’t have millions or a lot of money, but we NEVER go without and God ALWAYS provides! We have a great marriage, 3 great kids, a great church that we get to invest in and see hundreds of people give their life to Jesus and so many other blessings that it would take a novel to record them all! I have finally realized that when I felt we could not afford to tithe then, we cannot afford NOT to tithe NOW! God is awesome and true to His Word! I tithe because God commands me to and I love to! I tithe at least 10% because I believe and trust God!

Do You?