Text: Mark 12:41-44
Memory verse:
“for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭12‬:‭44‬ ‭

R. G. LeTourneau was an inventor, industrialist and Christian businessman. It was reported that in the midst of economic downturn, he maintained his reversed tithing policy. He gave 10% of his business profit for himself and 90% for God. He once said, “The question is not how much of my money I give to God but rather how much of God’s money I keep for myself”.
Although Jesus affirmed tithing in the New Testament as shown in Matthew 23:23, yet tithing wasn’t emphasized because the traditional 10% tithe was only regarded as a baseline. The emphasis was more of sacrificial giving than giving based on 10%. In the story of the poor widow who gave her all, Jesus shows that it is no longer about what you give, the percentage or the economic value but what you sacrifice, what it will cost you or what you will miss when you give. “For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.” ‭‭(Mark‬ ‭12‬:‭44‬ ‭NLT‬‬).
On another occasion, Jesus defended and commended the woman who broke her alabaster box and lavished the expensive perfume on Him (Matt 26:6-13). She didn’t consider it too expensive to give to the Lord who gave her life a meaning. What a sacrifice! Notice that, though these two did it voluntarily but Jesus affirmed it. To establish this sacrificial giving principle, notice also how Jesus commanded the rich young ruler to sell all his goods to give to the poor (Mark 10:21). Likewise, the early church gave extravagantly, sold their possessions and brought the proceeds; gave beyond their abilities; and abounded in the grace of giving (Acts 2:45; 2 Cor 8:2-3, 7).
This is the point. A believer who still struggles to give 10% tithe of all, hasn’t started the Christian journey. If you have started, don’t peg it at 10% but desire to grow up in sacrificial giving and in the grace of giving.

Prayer points
1. Father, forgive me from all unfaithfulness in giving my 10% tithe and help me henceforth to be faithful in Jesus name.
2. Father, help me to grow up from the 10% baseline tithing to sacrificial giving and to abound in the grace of giving in Jesus name.

Today’s declarations
1.The God who brings out something from nothing is able to supply all my needs even if I am living on only 10%.
2. I am a NT believer so, it is no more how much of my money I give to God but rather how much of God’s money I keep for myself.

Contact: pastor@thf.org.ng