The Spiritual and Practical Significance of Tithing: Lessons from the Bible

I haven’t finished the first chapter of a book by Pastor Sam Adeyemi that discusses money and the secret of wealth. It resonated deeply with me, prompting me to write this blog post today. The book emphasizes how Jesus has already paid the price for us to be rich both physically and spiritually.

This reminded me of the ongoing debate about whether tithing is biblical or not. Smiles. There are several examples in the Bible where people gave to God through His servants and were blessed spiritually. Being blessed spiritually means your relationship with God is right, which validates the tithe and offering.

Here are some biblical examples:

Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth of the spoils of war (Hebrews 7:4-5), and in return, he was blessed spiritually.

Jacob, while fleeing for his life, had a dream where he promised to give a tenth of all God blessed him with (Genesis 28:20-22). God honored his promise, and Jacob returned to his father’s house in peace.

Saul, the son of Kish, was searching for his father’s donkeys but couldn’t find them until he met the man of God, Samuel, who anointed him as king (1 Samuel 9). Saul and his servant sought Samuel’s guidance before they could locate the lost donkeys.

There are many more examples, but here’s my take:
There is a place for preparation and a place for sacrifice. By preparation, I mean examining our motives as Christians regarding the denomination we attend, our hearts, and our commitment to eternal matters like heaven. Sacrifice refers to our work, passions, dreams, and aspirations and how they align with eternal values. These factors determine if our tithe and offerings are acceptable, and it’s important to understand that this is not magic.

By Faith Ogunode

Project Manager