How To Pray For Tithes And Offerings

Tithes and offerings are things that Christians often talk about regarding their finances. While some neglect the topic, some actually want to know more about it, as they want to honor God with the resources that God has blessed them with. While there are different views regarding tithes and offerings, there is one thing that every Christian can agree on: we are all called to be generous, including giving to the church.

Father in heaven, I pray that the grace that I have in Christ, which overflows with joy, shall also result in an overflow of gratitude in my heart. Out of that gratitude comes contentment in Christ, which then results in generosity. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

What are Tithes and Offerings?

Tithes and offerings, or anything we give to the church, can sometimes have a negative notion on people, especially those new to the church. It is not surprising, given the history and some happenings where false Christians abused the church regarding finances. Because of that, there have been seeds of mistrust planted in many minds. The good thing is that if you are part of a good church, one that is biblically sound in doctrine and seeks to honor God and obey Him, chances are that it is a church that handles finances with accountability or at least something they make sure to do.

Tithes are something that God has commanded His people to give ever since the Old Testament. In (A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord. Leviticus 27:30), it is written that every tithe of the land, whether seeds or fruits belong to God, who is holy. A tithe is one-tenth of whatever income a person has. In the Old Testament, it is the ten percent of whatever they have, whether that is in the form of fruits, crops, animals, etc. because that was like the currency during their time.

Tithes are to be given to the levitical priests who do the ministry work during their position in a full-time capacity. It is like a tax, where the tithes that levitical priests receive are what sustain them.

Even though we are already in the new covenant, we still practice tithing. However, this time, we give it not to the Levitical priests but to our church. It is how and what enables our church to be able to operate and continue their ministry. The pastors, preachers, church admins, and every other full-time minister we have in the church are full-time in their ministry. Therefore, they don’t have any other work. That is why, just like the Levitical priests, what sustains our church ministers and staff to do the work of the LORD continually is the tithe that we give. It is similar to what the apostle Paul said in ( Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. 15 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; Philippians 4:14-15). Though it was not about tithes and their partnership with Paul, the point is that Paul’s missionary journey wouldn’t have been possible if not for the Philippian church, which gave and partnered with Paul for his missionary trips. In the same way, it is our tithes that make our church ministry continue. 

Knowing what tithes are should all the more encourage and compel us to give. It shows us that when we give, it makes an eternal impact in the sense that it literally makes ministry possible and even better. Pastors, preachers, and other church staff do not have to worry about their needs but can instead focus on their ministry work. The church will also have more financial freedom, enabling them to do many things for a more effective and efficient ministry. The church can be more generous to those in need, have better equipment, so the ministry can be done better, and so much more. When we give our tithes, we contribute to expanding God’s kingdom.

Knowing the tithes should also compel us to give because God has commanded us to do so. In Malachi 3:8-10, the Bible tells us that when we don’t give tithes, we are actually robbing God. Why? It is because God owns everything, even the resources that we have. If He commanded us to give the ten percent of what we have, it is robbing Him because what we have is His in the first place. Only in Malachi 3:8-10 do we see God asking His people to test Him on how faithful He is when He asks them to obey Him and give their tithes. (Honor the Lord with your wealth with the firstfruits of all your crops;Proverbs 3:9) also states that we are to honor God with the first fruits of our produce.

It is important to note that there are different Christian views regarding tithes and offerings. Some believe tithes are under the Mosaic law and do not hold and bind to people of the new covenant. Some Christians also believe that tithing is something we should do, but we give it not to Levitical priests but to our local church, which does the work of God full-time. As written in Matthew 22:15-22, we are to pay our taxes to whom it is due, be it the government or God. 

Regardless of whether we uphold or call it tithes and offerings, one thing is certain: as Christians, we ought to give and contribute to the ministry of Christ. In 1 Corinthians 16:1–2, the apostle Paul encourages believers to give out of generosity to contribute to the ministry of Christ. We don’t give out of compulsion or obligation but out of a cheerful heart, as written in (Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7).

Suppose, indeed, that we have experienced the grace of God in Jesus and are overflowed with joy. In that case, it shall automatically result in generosity, just like the early church, which continually worked to expand God’s kingdom. If indeed to live is Christ, then the priority of our finances should also be Christ. Whether your church believes in tithing or not, one thing is certain. We are called to give and contribute to the work of the church. If your church is operating and doing ministry work with around $10,000 a month, how much more can they do if they have $100,000 monthly? That means a better way of doing ministry, more people being reached, your missionaries not worrying about their food but solely focused on ministry, and so much more.

How can you pray for Tithes and Offerings?

You can pray for the tithes and offerings of your church by praying for the congregation’s hearts. As the apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians 9:7, when we give, it ought to be not from compulsion or reluctance but from a cheerful heart. Therefore, it is a matter of the heart. Because of that, the best way to pray for the people to increase in generosity, which results in more tithes and offerings, is by praying for their hearts.

You can simply pray for their hearts by praying for the Holy Spirit to open their eyes even wider and give them a more spiritual understanding of the Gospel. The Gospel is when the Father generously gave His Son as a sacrifice for our sins. We receive something we never deserved through His Son Jesus: forgiveness and eternal life. Our life becomes not about us but all about Christ. Therefore, it is when we go back and realize what God has done for us, the grace that we have received from Him, that stirs us to be zealous in being generous.

Father in heaven, I pray for our congregation that You will remind them of what Your Son has done for them on the cross. Holy Spirit, give them more spiritual understanding and knowledge with the grace and mercy You have shown them in the person of Christ, and as they comprehend that, may it move them and stir them to be radically generous for Your kingdom and seek to contribute and help their full-time ministers in doing their work through giving. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

If God didn’t withhold His only Son while not obligated to do it, then we should not withhold anything from God. Every dollar that we have comes from God. It is only fitting to use the resources He has given us for His glory and kingdom. We are here not to serve money, but God, who is the highest reason for everything that we do and the only One who is worthy of living our lives for.