Pray FirstSample

From the Heart

When you give, give sacrificially to the Lord. Give the first fruits of your labor. When it comes to giving, what is important is not so much what percentage your gift represents of your earnings but what it says about your priorities. It’s not so much about a fair amount but about what you adore first. Set apart a portion of everything to be holy unto the Lord. God wants our devotion.

It’s not just about how much you give but when and how you actually give it. For some of us, the easiest thing is money—ten percent. Well, why do we think that? Leviticus 27:30 says to give one-tenth of the produce of the land, whether grain from the fields or fruit from the trees. That percentage belongs to the Lord and must be set apart for Him as holy.

We can give ten percent to God, but God wants more from us. God wants the fullness of our hearts. That’s why, when pastors talk about initiatives of discipleship, journeys of generosity, or giving challenges, it’s not about the percentage; it’s about your heart. There are going to be some areas where you are going to struggle, some things that you will want to hold back. There are going to be seasons and times when it is just too scary to give sacrificially, do what God is asking of you, commit to the church, serve in a particular way, devote that much time, or give that much money. It is going to be tough.

But God wants our hearts. He wants the fullness of our trust and complete dependence on Him. He wants to be our priority. He wants our total devotion. The purpose of tithing is to teach us to always put God first in our lives. See, it is our heart that God is after.

Lord, You know my needs. You know my heart. You know where I give gladly and generously, and You know where I struggle and hold back in fear. Help me to honor You with my whole self, with my time, money, and belongings. Let my heart be fully devoted to You.