#3 - I can’t afford to tithe.
Many Christians believe they cannot tithe because they are in debt or because they do not earn enough to tithe. The first debt we owe is our obligation to give to the Lord what He has commanded. Exodus 23:19 says, Bring the best of the first fruits of your soil to the house of the Lord your God.
In Old Testament times, the first of the harvest was to be dedicated to God. In our contemporary setting, that translates to the first payment we are to make when we receive our checks from our jobs or other sources of income. Since God does not send “pink slips” or payment overdue notices, it is easy to take care of other financial obligations while neglecting our responsibilities to the Lord. Giving to God first, out of what He has allowed us to have, demonstrates that God is the #1 priority in our lives.
Remember that God allows us to be stewards or managers of what He has blessed us with. Whether He has blessed you to earn $100 each week or $1,000 each week, He requires at least 10%. That means $10 and $100 respectively. Actually, ALL of it belongs to God anyway. He is being gracious in only requiring 10% and allowing us to keep 90%. News Flash: You Really Don’t Own Anything!
Usually those who object to tithing have never tried it. There is not one known case of someone who has become poorer by tithing. The uniform testimony of those who have established the discipline of tithing is, "I'd rather have 90 % with God, than 100 % without Him!” Others say, “The blessings have been so great that I would not stop tithing for any amount of money; I can’t afford not to tithe.” In the final analysis, it is not little money that keeps people from tithing, but little love, faith and gratitude.
