Tithing always seems to be a touchy topic. Biblically it means a tenth, or ten percent of your first fruits. Many people preach that tithing is reserved only for the Old Testament and that it has no relevance for a New Testament Christian. Others engage in tithing today solely because they believe they have to, and rather than being a beautiful expression of love, it becomes a binding religious activity. I wouldn't place myself in either of those categories. I happen to fully believe in tithing but I do so out of my relationship with God rather than because of a religious rule. Tithing has become a high priority for my wife and I. You may have different reasons for choosing, or not choosing, to tithe, but here are a few reasons I have chosen to say yes. 1. I see it in the Bible. My beliefs and actions must always pass through this question: "Is it found in the word, or does it line up with the word?" If the answer is no to either, it is hard for me to do something while keeping a clean conscious. The majority of the verses referring to tithing are located in the Old Testament (Genesis 14:9, Leviticus 27:30, Deuteronomy 12:5, Malachi 3:10, etc.) with the exception of a conversation between Jesus and the Pharisees in the New Testament (Matthew 23:23). This becomes good news to many as they see the Old Testament as something we no longer apply to our lives. While this is true for many things within the Old Testament such as animal sacrifice and shoving women out of the city once a month because they are considered "unclean", not everything has come to a screeching halt. There are some things within the Old Testament that have made it through the cross into the New. One example is worshipping with musical instruments. Nowhere in the New Testament will you find a verse that undeniably encourages musical instruments in a worship service, yet it is often mentioned in the Old Testament. Do you think that Jesus died to rid the church of musical instruments? Highly unlikely. There are many who would disagree, however it is hard for me to make that leap. Just because something from the Old isn't directly mentioned in the New, doesn't, by default, make it null and void for us today. To me there is no hard evidence to suggest that the Lord wants us to stop tithing as New Testament believers. Are you required to Tithe? No. You are invited to tithe. 2. It funds the local church. Many people don't realize that it takes money to fund the local church. But the truth is, without the hard earned money of faithful members, the church as we know it today would not function. Being a pastor in a local church has opened my eyes to the necessity of faithful givers. From the electricity to the free coffee, or the staff salaries to mission trips, everything we do takes money. If you are currently serving in a local church, I encourage you to start engaging in tithing and see a greater impact take place in your city. And if for some reason you don't trust your current church with your money, then it's probably time to find a church with a leadership team you can trust. 3. It shows I trust God. When I choose to engage in God's financial system, it shows Him I fully trust Him with my finances. The lie many people often believe is that everything they work for is theirs, as if to say each person is solely responsible for every dollar they have. This mentality fails to realize that without God instilling within you the talents and abilities that got you that dollar in the first place, you would be broke and without any increase. Once I understood that everything belongs to Him, it put me in a place to willingly give Him a portion of what He blessed me with. A major reason many people refrain from tithing is because they are afraid of not having enough. Yet when I recognize all He has given me and in turn give back ten percent, it tells the Lord I believe my 90 pecent will go farther than my 100 percent ever could because I trust you to always be my provider. When money diricts my desicions, the real place in which I place my trust is revealed. 4. It makes money a tool instead of a treasure. Your heart is always connected to what you treasure (Matthew 6:21). I have found that often times the things I am unwilling to share have become idols I can't live without. Jesus makes a profound statement in Matthew 6:24: “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money." Jesus makes it plain. If money is your master, then your obedience to God will be diluted. Many people fall into the trap of either loving money or being afraid of money. Both happen to be a suckers choice. The enemy wants you to believe it's one or the other, however God wants you to pick a third option. He doesn't want you to love it or fear it. He wants you to use it. When money is a tool rather than a treasure, God is able to trust that person with an abundance of it. Why? Because He knows that this particular person will know how to handle it. When I make the conscious decision to tithe, I am showing that money is not my master. 5. It is a beautiful expression of love. When I was a kid, my mom would buy me an art set every Christmas. It came complete with markers, paints, colored pencils, and crayons. Even though it was a gift from her for me to use and enjoy, the first thing I would always do is make her a picture. I wanted her to know that I loved her and treasured her. She didn't tell me to do this. Rather, something deep within me believed she deserved something. Interestingly enough, without the art set I would never be able to give her anything. I see tithing in the same way. Without God's gifts, I would have nothing to bring to Him. Yet He has given me everything. In a sense, the tithe is something I was able to give from the tools He gave me. I don't do it because I have to, I do it because I love Him. Whether you agree with me or not, freely giving is never a bad idea. If for some reason you grit your teeth and complain every time you drop your money in the offering during a church service, then keep it. God doesn't want your money, he want's your heart. The New Testament model for tithing is found in 2 Corinthians 9:7. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully." If there isn't joy surrounding your tithe, then your heart isn't in it. And if your heart isn't in it, it is evident who you have made your master. Tithing is no longer a rule for Christians. Instead, it is an invitation to cheerfully give to God and benefit humanity. There are many other reasons that tithing is beneficial that I have chosen not to include in this article. I encourage you to dive deeper into this topic and trust God with your finances. The reward may surprise you. Share your thoughts with me in the comment section below. Scripture quotations taken from the New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.