Introduction: Let’s Have The Talk

Ah, money—the topic that can make even the most confident among us squirm in our seats. Yes, I’m talking about giving your hard-earned cash to the Church. If this makes you uncomfortable, don’t worry; I’m not here to guilt-trip you. In fact, let’s start with a disclaimer: Your money isn’t really yours—it’s God’s.

Ouch, that stung, didn’t it? But don’t worry, time heals all wounds—or so they say. (Just kidding… kind of.)

Let’s face it: Tithes and offerings can be a sensitive subject. Many people are skeptical, and for good reason. There have been instances where churches misused funds, causing trust issues among believers. But let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater. For every story of misuse, there are countless churches doing Kingdom work with integrity.

Here’s the bottom line: The principle of sowing and reaping applies to everyone, including churches. God is just, and no one is exempt from accountability.

Now, let’s dive into what tithing and sowing are really about.

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1. The Purpose of Tithing

Tithing is not a “nice-to-have” for Christians; it’s an essential principle of stewardship. In fact, 100% of what you have belongs to God because it is by His grace that you have it in the first place. The tithe—10% of your income—is just the starting point.

Why Does God Want 10%?

God doesn’t need your money; He owns the cattle on a thousand hills (Psalm 50:10). But He does want your heart. Here’s what tithing teaches us:

1.1 Tithing Teaches Responsibility

Tithing reminds us that we are stewards, not owners. Luke 16:10 says, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” God uses the tithe as a way to train us in handling what He has entrusted to us. It’s about proving our faithfulness in small things so He can trust us with more.

1.2 Tithing Teaches Management

When you give the first 10% to God, you’re prioritizing Him over everything else. Proverbs 3:9-10 says, “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.” By tithing, you’re declaring that God is your source, and you trust Him to provide the rest. It’s also a practical way to learn financial discipline.

1.3 Tithing Applies the Law of Equality

Tithing isn’t about the amount—it’s about the proportion. Whether you earn a little or a lot, 10% is the same for everyone. In Mark 12:41-44, Jesus commended the widow who gave two small coins because she gave all she had, while others gave out of their surplus. To God, obedience and faith matter more than the size of the gift.

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2. The Law of Sowing and Reaping

2.1 If You Want a Harvest, You Need to Sow

Let me expand on the story of the farmer:

There once was a farmer who dreamed of a bountiful harvest. He purchased the most fertile land, tilled the soil, and bought the best seed money could buy. He stored the seed in his barn, admiring how much he had. Each morning, he’d walk past the barn and think about how amazing his harvest would be.

But he never planted the seed. Instead, he worried about losing it. What if the weather wasn’t perfect? What if birds ate the seed? What if the crops didn’t grow? Harvest time came and went, and the field remained barren. The farmer scratched his head and wondered why he had no crops to harvest.

Doesn’t this sound ridiculous? Yet, this is what many of us do with our money. We cling to it out of fear, forgetting that unless we plant the seed, we’ll never see the harvest.

Ecclesiastes 11:6 reminds us, “Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let your hands not be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well.”

2.2 Money is Seed

Your money is like a seed—it has potential. When you sow it, it grows. But here’s the catch: Where you sow matters. Galatians 6:7-8 says, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”

If you sow into temporary things, you’ll reap temporary results. But when you sow into God’s Kingdom, you’re making an eternal investment.

2.3 Sow Into Fertile Ground

The church is fertile ground because it’s God’s chosen vehicle for spreading the Gospel and transforming lives. Malachi 3:10 says, “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 there will not be room enough to store it.”

When you look after God’s house, He looks after yours. It’s a principle of divine reciprocity.

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3. It’s Not About the Amount

God is not impressed by how much money you have in your bank account. What pleases Him is your faith and obedience. Whether you give a little or a lot, do it with joy (2 Corinthians 9:7).

Faith Over Finances

Remember the widow in Luke 21:1-4? She gave two small coins—hardly worth anything by the world’s standards. Yet Jesus praised her because she gave all she had, trusting God completely.

The Principle, Not the Sum

It’s not about giving big; it’s about giving with the right heart. God loves a cheerful giver, not a reluctant one.

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4. What Happens When You Sow?

Here’s some Kingdom math for you: Whatever you sow, you’ll reap—tenfold, thirtyfold, or even a hundredfold (Mark 4:20). This doesn’t always mean financial returns; sometimes, the harvest is spiritual growth, peace, or opportunities to bless others.

And here’s a promise to hold onto: “Money that leaves your hand will never leave your life.” When you sow in faith, God ensures a return—not always in the way you expect, but always for your good.

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Conclusion: Money and the Kingdom

Money isn’t the enemy. The love of money is the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10). God wants us to prosper, but prosperity comes with responsibility.

Here’s what I want you to remember:

• Tithing is about obedience, not generosity.
• Anything above your tithe is seed, and that seed will bring a harvest.
• Giving isn’t about the amount—it’s about the principle of sowing in faith.

So, the next time you’re tempted to hold onto your wallet tightly, remember this: “You can have whatever you want, as long as you know there’s someone who might need it more than you do.”

Be blessed, and don’t forget to sow with joy. After all, God loves a cheerful giver.

Be Blessed,

Barry.