Christians should not borrow to give to God. Stand on your guard against teachings by con men in the pulpit who teach that God’s children can borrow to give to Him. Tithing to God should come from what He has already given you.

According to God’s word:

“For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.”
~2 Corinthians 8:12

This reinforces my point. Your gift to God is acceptable according to what you have, and not according to what you borrow.

Look at Abraham: he went to war, and God gave him victory. Then from the booty that he had gotten in the war, he gave God a tenth of all.

“After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the valley of Shaveh (that is the King’s Valley). Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, ‘Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High who delivered your enemies into your hand.’ Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.”
~Genesis 14: 17-20

God had already given him victory. God had already blessed him. God had already supplied. Then from what he already had from God, he then gave God a tenth –that’s how it works. If Abraham had lost the battle, and maybe he escaped with his life, he wouldn’t have given God a tenth. Tithing comes from what God has already given you.

Now, look at Jacob:

Then Jacob made a vow, saying, ‘If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking, and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return faithfully to my father’s house, then the Lord will be my God, and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.”
~Genesis 28: 20-22

The man had played a bunch of tricks – he deceived his father and brother and craftily got his brother’s birthright. When the consequences of his action resulted in a plot to kill him, he ran for his life. He was running as a fugitive, but along the way he met God. However, unlike Abraham, when he met God he had nothing. He didn’t have a dime to his name. He had a vision where he saw a ladder and the angels of God were descending and ascending on the ladder. So when he woke up, he said to God, “Here is the deal, if you lead me to this place I’m going to and bring me back safely, and bless me, of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.”

Note that: “Of all that you give me”…

If the willingness is there, your tithing is acceptable according to what you have, not what you don’t have.

These patriarchs showed us how tithing to God is done: you don’t tithe to be blessed; you tithe after you’ve been blessed. It’s after the fact not before the fact; it is after the blessing not before the blessing.

Memory Verse:
2 Corinthians 8:12
“For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.”

Prayer:
 Father, thank You for this teaching on tithing. I willingly choose to give to You from the blessings that You’ve already given me, in Jesus’ name.
Amen.