“Do not steal” is such an important subject to God that not only is it talked about all through Scripture, but it’s one of the Ten Commandments. Yet there are seemingly small areas of our lives where, as Christians, we might think it’s okay, or that it doesn’t really “count” as stealing. One example of an area in which we steal from God is by not tithing back to Him what was rightfully His to begin with.

Do you give God your first fruits, or your last leftovers? We all spend money on earthly pleasures, but when it comes to investing in eternal rewards, we have a tendency to hesitate or make excuses. God calls us to give — and to give generously — to His Church and to His Kingdom.

Tithing isn’t about giving back to God what’s left over — it’s about giving back to God what’s first. Tithing means taking the first of our income and offering it to the One who gave it to us to begin with. Funding His Church isn’t about raising big buildings or buying material things; it’s about investing in the Great Commission to spread the Gospel, while trusting Him to take care of us and meet all our needs.