The Truth About Giving: Breaking Down Six Myths That Hold Us Back
There's a question that quietly lives in the back of our minds, even when we don't want to admit it: "What's in it for me?" It's human nature to ask this question about almost everything we do. We invest time, energy, and resources into various endeavors, and naturally, we wonder about the return.
When it comes to our faith and our finances, this question becomes particularly uncomfortable. Yet it's a legitimate question that deserves a biblical answer. The truth is, everything we do in life has an impact on eternity. From the seemingly mundane acts of service to the sacrificial giving of our resources, God sees everything, remembers everything, and rewards everything.
The Uncomfortable Truth About Christian Giving
Recent surveys reveal a troubling trend: charitable giving among Christians is declining. Only 5-10% of church attendees follow traditional tithing practices. When we look at the numbers, the average church member gives somewhere between $2,200-$2,260 annually, which represents only about 3-4% of their gross income.
These statistics reveal a gap between what we say we believe and how we actually live. But why? Often, it's because we've bought into myths and misconceptions about giving that keep us from experiencing the full blessings God intends for us.
Myth #1: Tithing Is Optional
Let's be clear from the start: tithing is not a suggestion. In Malachi 3:10, God commands, "Bring the full tithe into the storehouse." This isn't a gentle recommendation or a "if you feel led" kind of statement. It's an imperative command.
Just as baptism is commanded for believers (though it doesn't save us), tithing is commanded as an act of obedience. When Jesus said, "If you love me, keep my commandments," this includes the command to give back to God a portion of what He's already given us.
The reality is that God owns 100% of everything we have. He's simply asking us to give back 10%. Tithing is a tangible way to demonstrate where our love truly lies and to assess the health of our relationship with God.
Myth #2: Tithing Was Only for the Old Testament
Many people dismiss tithing as an Old Testament practice that doesn't apply to New Testament believers. But here's the fascinating truth: tithing existed long before the law was ever given.
In Genesis 14, Abraham gave a tenth of everything to Melchizedek, the priest of God Most High. This happened approximately 400 years before Moses received the law on Mount Sinai. Later, Jacob also committed to giving a tenth of all he received back to God. These men weren't following a legal requirement; they were responding to God's goodness with generous hearts.
Even Jesus commended the Pharisees for their meticulous tithing practices in Matthew 23:23, though He reminded them not to neglect the weightier matters of justice, mercy, and faithfulness. Under grace, tithing should be our starting point, not our finish line.
Myth #3: I Can't Afford to Tithe
This might be the most common objection, and in some ways, the most understandable. Gas prices fluctuate wildly, food costs keep rising, housing is expensive, and the general cost of living feels out of control. The idea of giving away 10% of your income can seem impossible.
But consider this challenge from Malachi 3:10: "Bring the full tithes 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."
This is one of the few places in Scripture where God actually invites us to test Him. He's essentially saying, "Try me. See if I won't provide for you when you're obedient."
The promise continues in verse 11: "I will rebuke the devourer for you." When we're obedient in our giving, God promises to stand up for us, to protect what we have, and to fight on our behalf against the enemy who seeks to destroy.
Tithing isn't about giving to get a promotion or an easier life. It's about knowing that God is your protector, your provider, and your defender when you walk in obedience to Him.
Myth #4: The Tithe Is All God Expects
Malachi 3:8 mentions both "tithes and contributions." There's a distinction here. The tithe is our commitment, our baseline obedience. Offerings represent our passion, our response to specific needs and opportunities beyond the regular tithe.
Jay Kraft, founder of Kraft Foods, was once asked if he believed in tithing. His response was telling: "No, I don't believe in tithing, though it's a good beginning place."
Throughout the year, there are opportunities to give beyond the tithe to support missions, benevolence, special needs, and kingdom initiatives. As God prospers us and presses on our hearts, we should respond with generosity that goes beyond the minimum requirement.
Myth #5: I Can Give My Tithe Anywhere I Choose
God specifically says to bring the tithe "into the storehouse." In biblical times, this meant the temple, the central place of worship. Today, it means the local church.
The local church is God's primary instrument for making disciples, training believers, and advancing His mission. Without strong local churches, the broader mission of God cannot succeed. Your tithe should go to your local church, the place where you're being fed spiritually and where you serve.
Paul instructed the Corinthian church in 1 Corinthians 16:2, "On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up as he may prosper." This regular, systematic giving to the local church ensures that ministry can continue uninterrupted.
Myth #6: We Shouldn't Expect a Reward When We Give
While we should avoid the prosperity gospel's "give to get" mentality, Scripture actually does promise rewards for faithful giving. Jesus Himself said in Luke 6:38, "Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap."
Think about planting a garden. You don't simply place a seed packet at the end of a row and expect corn to grow. You have to open that packet, pour out the seeds, and bury them in the soil. Those living seeds must die in the ground before they can produce a harvest.
The same principle applies to our giving. When we release our resources in obedience to God, they die to us but come alive in His kingdom work. That's when multiplication happens. Together, as a body of believers pooling our resources, skills, and talents, we accomplish far more than we ever could individually.
The Heart of the Matter
Ultimately, giving isn't about rules and percentages. It's about the heart. When we truly understand that we serve a God who gave His only Son to die for us, our response should be one of overwhelming generosity.
God performed the ultimate act of giving when He sent Jesus to the cross. In accepting that free gift of salvation, our hearts are transformed. The hard, stony heart is removed and replaced with a soft, responsive heart that wants to honor God in every area of life, including our finances.
The question isn't really "What's in it for me?" The question is, "Will I trust God enough to obey Him, even when it doesn't make sense to my natural mind?"
When we step out in faith and obedience, we position ourselves to experience the open windows of heaven, the protection of God against the devourer, and the joy of participating in kingdom work that echoes into eternity.
Everything we do has impact on eternity. How we handle our resources is no exception. The choice is ours: will we cling to what we think is ours, or will we release it back to the One who gave it all in the first place?
When it comes to our faith and our finances, this question becomes particularly uncomfortable. Yet it's a legitimate question that deserves a biblical answer. The truth is, everything we do in life has an impact on eternity. From the seemingly mundane acts of service to the sacrificial giving of our resources, God sees everything, remembers everything, and rewards everything.
The Uncomfortable Truth About Christian Giving
Recent surveys reveal a troubling trend: charitable giving among Christians is declining. Only 5-10% of church attendees follow traditional tithing practices. When we look at the numbers, the average church member gives somewhere between $2,200-$2,260 annually, which represents only about 3-4% of their gross income.
These statistics reveal a gap between what we say we believe and how we actually live. But why? Often, it's because we've bought into myths and misconceptions about giving that keep us from experiencing the full blessings God intends for us.
Myth #1: Tithing Is Optional
Let's be clear from the start: tithing is not a suggestion. In Malachi 3:10, God commands, "Bring the full tithe into the storehouse." This isn't a gentle recommendation or a "if you feel led" kind of statement. It's an imperative command.
Just as baptism is commanded for believers (though it doesn't save us), tithing is commanded as an act of obedience. When Jesus said, "If you love me, keep my commandments," this includes the command to give back to God a portion of what He's already given us.
The reality is that God owns 100% of everything we have. He's simply asking us to give back 10%. Tithing is a tangible way to demonstrate where our love truly lies and to assess the health of our relationship with God.
Myth #2: Tithing Was Only for the Old Testament
Many people dismiss tithing as an Old Testament practice that doesn't apply to New Testament believers. But here's the fascinating truth: tithing existed long before the law was ever given.
In Genesis 14, Abraham gave a tenth of everything to Melchizedek, the priest of God Most High. This happened approximately 400 years before Moses received the law on Mount Sinai. Later, Jacob also committed to giving a tenth of all he received back to God. These men weren't following a legal requirement; they were responding to God's goodness with generous hearts.
Even Jesus commended the Pharisees for their meticulous tithing practices in Matthew 23:23, though He reminded them not to neglect the weightier matters of justice, mercy, and faithfulness. Under grace, tithing should be our starting point, not our finish line.
Myth #3: I Can't Afford to Tithe
This might be the most common objection, and in some ways, the most understandable. Gas prices fluctuate wildly, food costs keep rising, housing is expensive, and the general cost of living feels out of control. The idea of giving away 10% of your income can seem impossible.
But consider this challenge from Malachi 3:10: "Bring the full tithes 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."
This is one of the few places in Scripture where God actually invites us to test Him. He's essentially saying, "Try me. See if I won't provide for you when you're obedient."
The promise continues in verse 11: "I will rebuke the devourer for you." When we're obedient in our giving, God promises to stand up for us, to protect what we have, and to fight on our behalf against the enemy who seeks to destroy.
Tithing isn't about giving to get a promotion or an easier life. It's about knowing that God is your protector, your provider, and your defender when you walk in obedience to Him.
Myth #4: The Tithe Is All God Expects
Malachi 3:8 mentions both "tithes and contributions." There's a distinction here. The tithe is our commitment, our baseline obedience. Offerings represent our passion, our response to specific needs and opportunities beyond the regular tithe.
Jay Kraft, founder of Kraft Foods, was once asked if he believed in tithing. His response was telling: "No, I don't believe in tithing, though it's a good beginning place."
Throughout the year, there are opportunities to give beyond the tithe to support missions, benevolence, special needs, and kingdom initiatives. As God prospers us and presses on our hearts, we should respond with generosity that goes beyond the minimum requirement.
Myth #5: I Can Give My Tithe Anywhere I Choose
God specifically says to bring the tithe "into the storehouse." In biblical times, this meant the temple, the central place of worship. Today, it means the local church.
The local church is God's primary instrument for making disciples, training believers, and advancing His mission. Without strong local churches, the broader mission of God cannot succeed. Your tithe should go to your local church, the place where you're being fed spiritually and where you serve.
Paul instructed the Corinthian church in 1 Corinthians 16:2, "On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up as he may prosper." This regular, systematic giving to the local church ensures that ministry can continue uninterrupted.
Myth #6: We Shouldn't Expect a Reward When We Give
While we should avoid the prosperity gospel's "give to get" mentality, Scripture actually does promise rewards for faithful giving. Jesus Himself said in Luke 6:38, "Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap."
Think about planting a garden. You don't simply place a seed packet at the end of a row and expect corn to grow. You have to open that packet, pour out the seeds, and bury them in the soil. Those living seeds must die in the ground before they can produce a harvest.
The same principle applies to our giving. When we release our resources in obedience to God, they die to us but come alive in His kingdom work. That's when multiplication happens. Together, as a body of believers pooling our resources, skills, and talents, we accomplish far more than we ever could individually.
The Heart of the Matter
Ultimately, giving isn't about rules and percentages. It's about the heart. When we truly understand that we serve a God who gave His only Son to die for us, our response should be one of overwhelming generosity.
God performed the ultimate act of giving when He sent Jesus to the cross. In accepting that free gift of salvation, our hearts are transformed. The hard, stony heart is removed and replaced with a soft, responsive heart that wants to honor God in every area of life, including our finances.
The question isn't really "What's in it for me?" The question is, "Will I trust God enough to obey Him, even when it doesn't make sense to my natural mind?"
When we step out in faith and obedience, we position ourselves to experience the open windows of heaven, the protection of God against the devourer, and the joy of participating in kingdom work that echoes into eternity.
Everything we do has impact on eternity. How we handle our resources is no exception. The choice is ours: will we cling to what we think is ours, or will we release it back to the One who gave it all in the first place?
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