Being Honest About What You Believe: Tithe & Offering Real Talk:
Why is this teaching so important for a church?
Because people deserve to clearly understand what their church believes and how their pastor interprets the Word of God. When it comes to subjects like tithing, offerings, stewardship, and prosperity, transparency matters.
You need to know what your church believes and how your pastor approaches these scriptures. That understanding helps you make a healthy spiritual decision about where you grow and who you connect with spiritually. Every ministry carries a certain grace and assignment. When you understand the heart and convictions behind a house, you can decide if you want to be connected to that vision and be a part of the anointing God has placed on that community.
Honesty builds trust, and trust builds a healthy church.
Tithing and Offering in Scripture
Giving is biblical. From Genesis through the New Covenant, we see generosity, offerings, and stewardship throughout Scripture. But one thing we must understand is that the letter alone can kill only the Spirit gives life.
2 Corinthians 3:6
“The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”
If people only follow rules without understanding God’s heart, something meant to bless people can become something that controls people.
Old Covenant Examples (5 Scriptures)
Genesis 14:20
Abraham gave a tenth to Melchizedek after victory.
Leviticus 27:30
“The tithe of the land… is the Lord’s; it is holy unto the Lord.”
Numbers 18:21
God gave the tithe to the Levites for their service in the tabernacle.
Deuteronomy 14:28–29
The tithe helped support the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow.
Malachi 3:10
“Bring all the tithes into the storehouse…”
In the Old Covenant, tithing functioned as part of the covenant God made with the nation of Israel. It supported the temple, the Levites, and protected the community so people would not be neglected.
A curse was connected to disobedience under that covenant because Israel operated under the law.
What Changed Under the New Covenant
In the Old Covenant, the priest would go to God on behalf of the people. Through Jesus Christ, that system changed. Christ became our High Priest, and now believers have direct access to God.
Giving is still biblical, but the motivation and structure shift from law to relationship.
New Covenant Perspective (3 Scriptures)
Luke 6:38
“Give, and it will be given to you…”
Acts 20:35
“It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
2 Corinthians 9:7
“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
Under the New Covenant, giving moves from obligation to freedom, from fear to gratitude, and from law to a willing heart.
Why Prosperity Has Been Misunderstood
One of the biggest issues in modern church teaching is that prosperity has often been reduced to money.
Some teachings have made it sound like giving is simply a way to receive financial blessings. While God does bless generosity, biblical prosperity is much bigger than finances.
Prosperity in Scripture is about wholeness of life spiritual health, wisdom, peace, relationships, and provision.
The First Thing God Gave Us
Before God ever talked about money, animals, or offerings, He gave humanity something greater.
Genesis 1:26
“Let us make man in our image.”
Identity came before economy.
When a person understands their identity in God and begins to live according to His image, their life becomes a return on God’s investment.
The Heart of Giving in Scripture
The heart of giving was always about people.
It was about caring for:
• The widow
• The orphan
• The stranger
• The fatherless
It was a system designed to protect the community so people would not starve or be abandoned.
The Highest Form of Giving
When we hear the word give, many times the first thing that comes to our mind is money.
But under the New Covenant, the highest form of giving is not money - it is a transformed mind and a prospering soul.
When a person’s mind is renewed by the Word of God, their life begins to change. Their character grows, their decisions change, and their heart begins to reflect Christ.
3 John 1:2
“Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.”
Notice the order. Prosperity begins in the soul. When the soul prospers, it begins to influence the rest of a person’s life their health, their decisions, their relationships, and even their stewardship.
Jesus also taught about priorities.
Matthew 6:33
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.”
When God’s kingdom becomes the priority, everything else begins to fall into proper order.
Paul also reveals something powerful about the offering God desires from our lives.
Romans 12:1–2
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind…”
This helps us understand something very important:
The goal of the church is not just offerings the goal is transformed lives.
Our mission is to introduce people to Jesus Christ, disciple them in the Word of God, and watch their lives be renewed and changed from the inside out.
When a person’s soul prospers, generosity, stewardship, and love for others naturally follow.
Because the greatest thing we can give God is not just our money.
It is a life transformed by His truth.