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Put God First in Your Finances Through Tithing
By Rick Warren

“Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33 NIV)

One of the best known and most successful business leaders of Southern California once told me, “Rick, you need to tell people the best time to start tithing is when they’re in debt. That’s when they need the most help.”

Whatever you want God to bless in your life, you put him first in that area. You want God to bless your business? Put him first in your business. You want God to bless your marriage? Put him first in your marriage. You want God to bless your time? Put him first in your time. You want God to bless your finances? Put him first in your finances.

Whatever you put God first in, that’s what he blesses. Matthew 6:33 says, “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (NIV). You have to decide that you’re going to tithe and you’re going to save, even if it means you live on less so you can do those two things.

You can live on any amount you have to. It is a choice. Nobody made you drive that kind of car, live in that kind of house, or pay those kinds of bills.

God wants you to give, and he wants you to save. If you tithe 10 percent and save 10 percent, that means you live on 80 percent of your income.

Let’s say your family income is $60,000 a year and you started this plan at age 40. Over the next twenty years, by age 60, you will have given $120,000 to God’s purposes in the world and you would still have more than $120,000 set aside in your investments or your savings.

It may mean big changes for your family. It may mean you make sacrifices and give up some things. But it works! There are enormous payoffs. God will always honor the areas where you put him first.

The Bible says, “The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives” (Deuteronomy 14:23 LB).

Talk It Over

What changes will you need to make in your lifestyle in order to live on 80 percent of your income?

What are the items that you are most attached to? How might those things compete with God in your life?

What do you think saving money has to do with putting God first?