“I have held many things in my hands and I have lost them all.
But whatever I have placed in God’s hands, that I still possess.”
Martin Luther

CHAPTER 5: GETTING STARTED. In this chapter, Randy Alcorn explains how we get going with giving: through tithing. He elaborates:

The meaning of the word tithe is “a tenth part.” Ten percent was to be given back to God. There were freewill offerings, too, but the 10 percent was mandatory.

There’s no mention of tithing after the Gospels. It’s neither commanded nor rescinded, and there’s heated debate among Christians about whether tithing is still a starting place for giving.

I have mixed feelings on this issue. I detest legalism. I certainly don’t want to try to impose superseded First Covenant restrictions on Christians. Every New Testament example of giving goes far beyond the tithe. However, none falls short of it.

Whether or not the tithe is still the minimumal measure of those firstfruits, I ask myself, Does God expect His New Covenant children to give less or more? Jesus raised the spiritual bar; He never lowered it (Matthew 5:27-28).

The tithe is God’s historical method to get us on the path of giving. In that sense, it can serve as a gateway to the joy of grace giving. It’s unhealthy to view tithing as a place to stop, but it can still be a good place to start.

Tithing isn’t the ceiling of giving; it’s the floor.

Alcorn answers some commons questions and objections about tithing: “What if I can’t afford to tithe?” “Give now or give later?” “Tithe on the net or the gross?” “What about setting money aside for our kids’ inheritance?” These are excellent questions to which Alcorn has provided excellent answers. Read the book if you want to know more. These truths lead to the last Treasure Principle Key:

TREASURE PRINCIPLE KEY #6
God prospers me not to raise my standard of living,
but to raise my standard of giving.

When God provides more money, we often think, This is a blessing. Well, yes, but it would be just as scriptural to think, This is a test.

We’re called God’s servants, and we’re told it’s required of us that we “prove faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:2). We don’t own the store. We just work here! God distributes wealth unevenly not because He loves some of His children more than others, but so His children can distribute it to their brothers and sisters on His behalf.

Are you eager to plant God’s money in the field of a world that needs Christ? Does the thought of giving to what will count for eternity make your spine tingle? Does storying up treasures in heaven make your heart leap?

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