Text: Genesis 28:10-22
Memory verse:
”And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.”“
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭28‬:‭22‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

God is more particular about the heart than the gift or the size of the gift. Just as people can praise God with their lips but their hearts far away from Him, likewise, it is possible to give a big gift but not from the heart. “You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”” (2 Cor 9:7 NLT). ‘..decide in your heart..’ Did you notice that?
Some people give tithes as a rule and not as an act of worship. True worship flows from the heart, that is, your spirit and not from the head. It is not about keeping rules but about loving God. Jesus said, “…the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.”“ ‭‭(John‬ ‭4‬:‭23‬).
Worship is the highest form of honour we can give to God. That was why God regarded the sin of the sons of Eli as disrespect to Him, for they despised the offerings of the Lord. “This sin of the sons of Eli was extremely serious in the LORD’s sight because they treated the offerings to the LORD with such disrespect.” (1 Sam 2:17 GNT). He also saw the attitude of Eli for not standing firm against his sons as they despised His offerings as a mark of dishonour to Him (1 Sam 2:29). We honour God with our gifts (Prov 3:9). This is what Jacob did, according to our memory text. He was saying, “I won’t forget You, but I will return to this house to worship with my tithe”.
Remember that God didn’t command Jacob to tithe, thus, he wasn’t acting out of obligation to tithe but from a sense of gratitude, love, and honour. The phrase “to pay my tithe” which is commonly used, has made some to think of tithing merely as a form of payment to God. Instead, tithing is a response to God’s grace and favour. To give tithe as a law is to give based on rules, rituals, forms, figures, and traditions without a heart of total submission (Matt 23:23).
Also, such people grumble, murmur, and complain when they tithe. Some tithe just to keep their church membership. Others tithe out of fear and not out of love or gratitude. Like the wicked servant said in Luke 19:21, they see God as a taskmaster and hard to deal with.
Friends, are you giving tithe as a law, an obligation, or just to keep your name in the church book, or are you giving as an act of worship?

Prayer points
1. Father, let me never forget You but to always return to Your house to worship You with my tithe, in Jesus’ name.
2. Father, let me never give tithe as a law or out of obligation but with a sense of gratitude, love, and reverence for You, in Jesus’ name.

Today’s declarations
1. I don’t pay my tithe as a rule or an obligation but as an expression of my love and submission to God.
2. I don’t forget God, but I always return to His house to worship Him with my tithe.

Contact: pastor@thf.org.ng