(God’s call on our time and tithe)
Introduction – The Heart Before the Numbers
You’ve heard of the Sermon on the Mount.
This morning, I want to talk about the Sermon on the Amount.
Now, don’t confuse that with a sermon based on the size of the offering.
A pastor once faced a stifling summer morning with no air-conditioning and a mountain of unpaid bills.
He stood up and said, “Friends, I have three sermons today. A $1,000 sermon that lasts five minutes, a $500 sermon that lasts one hour, and a $200 sermon that lasts two hours.
We’re going to take the offering now and see which sermon you folks want preached!”
Needless to say, the church enjoyed the short one and paid the bills.
We can laugh at that story because we’ve all felt the tension between time and money.
We say, time is money, and money is time.
If you’ve got time, you probably have some money to make it possible.
If you have money, you can usually carve out time to enjoy it.
Time and money are the two currencies of our lives—and God speaks to both.
From the very beginning, God set rhythms of remembrance:
He asks for one day out of seven to be holy, set apart for Him.
He asks for one-tenth of our increase to be holy, set apart for Him.
Not because He needs our hours or our dollars, but because He longs for our hearts.
These simple fractions—one seventh of time, one tenth of treasure—remind us that we are stewards, not owners.
Everything we have is a gift on loan from a generous Father.
This is where the gospel comes rushing in.
Long before we ever gave God a minute or a dime, He gave us everything.
He gave us life and breath.
He gave His Son.
“God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.”
The cross is God’s loudest sermon: I give first.
Our giving—of time or tithe—isn’t an attempt to earn His favor.
It’s the natural response of a heart captured by His grace.
That’s why today’s message isn’t a fundraiser.
It’s an invitation to worship.
We’ll look at three very practical questions—
How much? Where? Why?—but we’ll keep coming back to this deeper truth:
Everything God asks of us is because of what He’s already doing in us.
He works in us both to will and to do His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13).
Giving is grace expressing itself.
So with our hearts fixed on Christ and His generosity, let’s open His Word and hear what He says about the amount.
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I. How Much?
> Leviticus 27:30 — “And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s; it is holy unto the Lord.”
The question everyone thinks but few ask out loud is How much?
God gives a clear, simple answer: the tithe.
But before we rush to calculators and percentages, notice that He begins not with arithmetic but with ownership and holiness.
1. “The” — a Definite Claim
The verse doesn’t say “a tithe” as if we pick something random.
It says the tithe.
That little three-letter word is big.
It’s definite, precise, unmistakable.
Think of your paycheck.
You may spend two-tenths on groceries, four-tenths on housing, another portion on transportation.
But there is the one-tenth that already bears God’s name.
It isn’t first ours and then we decide to donate; it’s His from the start.
This is more than a bookkeeping category.
It’s a relationship marker.
When we set apart “the” tithe, we’re declaring: Lord, everything I have belongs to You, and this portion stands as the visible witness of that invisible truth.
2. “Tithe” — a Recognized Portion
Webster’s Dictionary defines tithe simply: one-tenth.
Across centuries and cultures, God has chosen this fraction as a gentle, doable reminder.
It’s not a tax; it’s a testimony.
The number isn’t about squeezing us.
It’s about shaping us.
Ten percent is small enough that anyone, rich or poor, can begin; and significant enough to recalibrate priorities.
It quietly tells every heart and budget: you are a steward, not the owner.
And here the gospel speaks again.
In Christ, God gives one hundred percent—life, forgiveness, eternal hope.
Our ten percent is never payment; it’s joyful participation in His generosity.
3. “Is” — a Present Reality
Leviticus doesn’t say “the tithe will be holy.”
It says, “the tithe is holy unto the Lord.”
Before we touch it, before we pledge it, it’s already His.
Malachi 3:8 makes the logic blunt:
“Will a man rob God? Yet you rob Me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings.”
To withhold the tithe isn’t merely to delay generosity; it’s to treat something holy as common, to keep what is not ours.
But don’t miss the good news hidden inside that strong word is:
God has already set apart a way for us to live free from ownership anxiety.
The tithe is holy because He has already provided and blessed.
4. “Holy” — Set Apart for God’s Pleasure
Holy means set apart for a special purpose.
You are holy because Christ set you apart for Himself.
In the same way, the tithe is holy—set apart as a continual reminder that God owns everything and redeems everything.
God has always reserved a portion to teach this:
In Eden He reserved the Tree of Knowledge, not because the fruit was magical but because the relationship was sacred.
In the wilderness He reserved the Sabbath day, calling His people to rest and trust.
In the Promised Land He reserved Jericho, the first city conquered, as His own (remember Achan’s story).
In every age, God says: Leave Me a sign of trust. Leave Me a space that is Mine alone.
The tithe is today’s sign and space.
5. “Unto the Lord” — Worship, Not Tax
Finally, the tithe is holy unto the Lord.
That means it isn’t merely charity or budget—it’s worship.
We don’t drop ten percent into a plate to keep lights on.
We return it to the One who has already given all.
It is an act of love, a weekly gospel confession:
> “Lord, You first loved me.
You have bought me with a price.
I joyfully return what is Yours.”
This is why a tithe cannot be redirected to whatever cause we choose.
It is unto the Lord, not merely for good works.
Other offerings are wonderful and needed, but the tithe occupies this sacred space of covenant response.
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Illustration – A Farmer’s First Sheaf
Picture an ancient Israelite farmer.
After months of plowing and praying for rain, the harvest finally comes.
The very first sheaf he cuts, he bundles and carries—not to market, not to his pantry, but to the Lord.
He’s saying:
> “God, before I taste bread from this field, I acknowledge it all comes from You.”
We may receive paychecks instead of grain, but the heart is identical.
Every paycheck carries a first sheaf with God’s name on it.
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The Gospel Throughout
Why all this precision?
Not because God is a bookkeeper chasing nickels.
Because He is a Redeemer shaping hearts.
Our giving flows from His giving.
We don’t make ourselves holy by tithing; the Holy One makes us generous by indwelling us.
As Paul says in Philippians 2:13, “It is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”
So when you and I set apart a Sabbath day and a tenth of our income, we are simply stepping into rhythms God has already placed inside us.
Grace moves first; obedience follows.
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II. Where Am I to Give It?
If the tithe is already the Lord’s—if it is holy and set apart—where does it belong?
Where does a steward return what never really left God’s ownership?
1. God Appoints the Place of Worship
From Moses onward, God showed His people where to bring His portion:
> Deuteronomy 12:11–14
“Then to the place the Lord your God will choose as a dwelling for his name—there you are to bring everything I command you: your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts… Be careful not to sacrifice your burnt offerings anywhere you please. Offer them only at the place the Lord will choose…”
The principle is simple and enduring:
God identifies a place where His people gather in His name, and there they bring His holy portion.
2. New Testament Practice: Regular, First-Thing Generosity
The New Testament echoes this rhythm without turning it into a new calendar law.
> 1 Corinthians 16:2
“On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.”
Paul’s emphasis is regular, intentional preparation, not the invention of a new holy day.
The Greek phrase par’ heauto literally means “by oneself” or “at home with him,” pointing to the steady habit of setting aside God’s portion so that the church’s mission would never be delayed.
Some early believers brought their gifts when they met for worship; others stored them until Paul’s arrival.
Either way the heartbeat is clear: consistent, grace-filled readiness.
3. What About Acts 20:7?
Luke writes:
> “On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight.”
Remember how time was reckoned.
For Jews the first day began at sundown on what we call Saturday night.
Paul was scheduled to travel at daybreak.
Far from creating a new holy day, Acts 20:7 likely describes a Saturday-night farewell meeting after the Sabbath hours had closed, a last opportunity for fellowship before he set out.
4. The Storehouse Today
Malachi 3:10 still calls,
> “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.”
For Israel the storehouse was the temple.
For us it is the local congregation where we are fed and from which mission is sent.
The form may differ—offering plate, electronic transfer, mission envelope—but the principle is identical:
bring God’s holy portion to His house of worship, the place where His name dwells and His gospel goes forth.
5. Worship, Not Mere Accounting
This is not a financial transaction; it is worship.
> “Lord, You gave first.
You have blessed me with life, salvation, and provision.
I gladly return what is already Yours.”
The principle stands true today:
> set apart holy space in your time and holy space in your resources, and bring both to God’s house as an act of love and trust.
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III. Why Am I to Tithe?
If God already owns “the cattle on a thousand hills,”
why does He ask us to return a tenth?
Not because He needs revenue.
He invites us to tithe because He is shaping hearts, not just balancing budgets.
1. Because Giving Is How Grace Grows Us
Jesus put it plainly:
> “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21)
Notice He didn’t say, “Where your heart is, your treasure will follow.”
He said the reverse: our hearts follow our giving.
Every time you bring the Lord’s tithe or set apart a holy Sabbath day, you’re quietly telling your own soul,
God comes first; I am a steward, not an owner.
This is gospel logic.
God acts first.
“God so loved the world that He gave His only Son” (John 3:16).
The Spirit then works in us “both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).
Our giving is never payment; it’s the fruit of His life inside us.
A couple once shared with me,
“Tithing didn’t make us rich—it made us aligned.
It quieted our arguments over money and filled us with peace.
God changed our hearts through the habit of giving.”
That’s grace doing its quiet work.
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2. Because the Church and Its Mission Need It
Nehemiah’s story shows the practical side.
When the people tithed (Nehemiah 10:34–39),
the temple was alive and the Levites could teach God’s Word.
When they stopped (Nehemiah 13:10–14),
the Levites went back to farming and worship withered.
The same is true today.
Your tithe becomes preaching that feeds souls,
discipleship for children and youth,
compassion ministries that reach the broken,
and mission to places you may never visit.
Heaven keeps the receipt, even if you never see the impact until eternity.
It’s not that God can’t fund His work without us.
It’s that He chooses to include us so that generosity becomes part of our sanctification.
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3. Because Love Always Gives
You can give without loving,
but you cannot love without giving.
God’s love is a giving love:
> “God so loved…He gave.”
When His love captures us,
our hands open.
Returning the tithe becomes a weekly gospel confession:
> “Lord Jesus, You are Lord over my time and my treasure.
My calendar and my income belong to You.”
This is why tithing is never merely supporting a cause.
It is worship—
a tangible, joyful “Amen” to the grace that first found us.
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4. About the Blessing
Yes, Jesus said, “Give, and it will be given to you” (Luke 6:38).
But the richest blessing isn’t a surprise check in the mail.
It’s contentment,
freedom from anxiety,
and the deep joy of partnering with God’s mission.
Sometimes He provides in striking ways;
other times He blesses with a heart that says,
Christ is enough.
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5. Time and Money Together Again
Remember the theme we began with: time and money.
If time is money and money is time,
God’s call is beautifully symmetrical.
He asks for one day in seven
and one tenth of our increase.
Both say the same thing:
“I trust You to run the world while I rest.
I trust You to provide while I give.”
Sabbath and tithe are twin rhythms of grace.
Both free us from the illusion of control
and keep us anchored in the truth
that Jesus is Lord of every hour and every dollar.
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IV. Answering Honest Objections
Even with the “how much,” “where,” and “why” clear,
many hearts still have honest questions.
God welcomes those questions.
Let’s listen to four of the most common and answer them with grace and Scripture.
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1. “Tithing isn’t New Testament—it’s Old Covenant law.”
Some people say, “That was for Israel. We live under grace.”
Grace is exactly the point.
Jesus affirmed the principle when He said:
> “These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.” (Matthew 23:23)
Decades after the cross, the writer of Hebrews observed:
> “Here mortal men receive tithes; but there He receives them of whom it is witnessed that He lives.” (Hebrews 7:8)
That’s present tense—thirty years after Calvary.
But the deeper answer is gospel-shaped:
Grace doesn’t lower the bar;
it transforms the motive.
Under grace we give not to earn favor but because favor has already been given.
Tithing becomes the fruit of a Spirit-changed life,
not the price of admission to God’s love.
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2. “I can’t afford to tithe.”
This is perhaps the most common and heartfelt concern.
Jobs are tight. Budgets groan.
But consider Jesus’ words:
> “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)
A modern parable makes the point.
A Chinese grocer once became the treasurer of his little church when it was $5,000 behind on bills.
He asked only one condition: “Don’t ask questions for a year.”
Twelve months later every debt was gone, missions had been funded, and the bank balance was strong.
When asked how he did it, he smiled:
> “Everyone buys groceries from me on credit.
I quietly added ten percent and gave it to the church.
Congratulations—everyone has tithed for a year!”
You may not repeat his method,
but the lesson stands:
if God calls, He provides.
The issue is trust, not math.
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3. “I already give my time—that’s my tithe.”
Time is a gift.
Serving in ministries, teaching children, caring for the sick—these are holy callings.
But Scripture never treats time and tithe as interchangeable.
Romans 12:1 calls us to present our whole lives as living sacrifices.
1 Peter 4:10 urges us to serve with our gifts.
And Malachi 3:10 still says, “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse.”
God values both your service and your substance.
He asks for all of you,
but He distinguishes the tenth that is already His.
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4. “Churches that talk about money are greedy.”
Sadly, some have abused finances, and skepticism is understandable.
But here’s the heart check:
> This church teaches the Bible.
The Bible teaches stewardship and tithing.
Therefore we teach tithing—
not out of greed but out of obedience.
The question quietly turns around:
Is the church greedy for preaching the Bible?
Or is my heart clinging to money that belongs to God?
Teaching what Scripture teaches is faithfulness, not covetousness.
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The Gospel Thread Through Every Objection
Notice how every answer bends back to Jesus.
The New Testament confirms the principle.
Grace gives the power.
Trust replaces fear.
Love, not law, is the motive.
Tithing isn’t about buying God’s blessing.
It’s about remembering God’s generosity.
We give because He first gave us everything—Himself.
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Conclusion and Call to Response
We’ve traveled through some very practical territory today:
How much? – The tithe: already holy, already His.
Where? – God’s house, the storehouse of worship and mission.
Why? – Because grace transforms hearts and love always gives.
And we have faced the honest questions and found that each one leads us back to Jesus.
But the closing question is the most searching of all.
> Will God love me less if I don’t tithe?
No—because His love is not for sale.
The real question is:
Will I love God less if I refuse to trust Him with what is already His?
Tithing is not a fee we pay to keep God on our side.
It is the overflow of a heart captured by grace.
It is love turned into action.
Remember where we began: time and money.
God says, “I give you all your days and all your means.
Set aside one day in seven to rest and remember Me.
Return one-tenth of your increase to acknowledge My provision.”
Both are reminders that we are stewards, not owners, and both are gifts of freedom.
Sabbath tells us we can stop working because God never stops caring.
Tithe tells us we can give because God never stops providing.
When we obey, we are not trying to earn blessing;
we are stepping into the blessing that already flows from the cross.
As Paul says, “It is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13)
Even our desire to give is the work of His Spirit.
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A Living Response
Maybe today you sense the Spirit whispering,
Trust Me with your calendar.
Trust Me with your finances.
It might mean rearranging a schedule so that worship is not an afterthought.
It might mean returning the Lord’s tithe for the first time—or starting again after a long pause.
This isn’t about pressure.
It’s an invitation to freedom.
Because every act of trust enlarges the soul and proclaims:
> “Jesus is Lord of my time and my treasure.”
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Appeal
I invite you now, as we pray and sing, to present not just an envelope or an electronic gift, but yourself.
Let today be a fresh “yes” to the God who gave His Son,
the Savior who says, “Come to Me… and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)
Whether you are a long-time giver or beginning anew,
bring your heart first.
The tithe and the Sabbath will follow as natural fruits of love.
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Benediction Thought
> “To Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,
according to His power that is at work within us,
to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever. Amen.”
(Ephesians 3:20–21)
