God Dares You To Test Him

Pastor Dan Walker, PhD, MDiv

The Blessing of Tithing | Take God At His Word – Part 2

Introduction: Why Obedience Leads to God's Blessing

This morning, we continue our series called “Take God at His Word.” God wants to bless us in every area of our lives. Every good gift we have has been given to us by God. God blesses us so that we can be a blessing to others, as God speaks to Abraham in:

Genesis 12:2 (ESV): "I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing."

Blessings come to us as we follow God’s principles and obey His Word in faith.

3 John 1:2 (ESV): "Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul."

God’s will for us is that all things may go well with us, that we may be blessed and healthy. That we may be blessed in the practical matters of life just as our soul, our spiritual life is blessed. As we take God at His Word and obey His instructions, both our souls and everything else about us will be blessed.

Deuteronomy 11:26–28 (ESV): "See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God… and the curse, if you do not obey."

There we have the key to receiving God’s blessing—simply obedience to God’s commands. On the other hand, when we disobey God’s commands, we forfeit blessing and reap a curse.

Proverbs 10:22 (ESV): "The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it."

The blessing of the Lord makes us rich in every area of our lives including our finances, so that we can bless others. Today’s message “The Blessing of Tithing” is about discovering how obedience in our finances opens the door to the kind of blessing that only God can give.

Tithing is Blessed Because God Promises It

Acts 20:35 (ESV): "…remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’"

Jesus reminds us that true blessing is found in giving. His words directly challenge our natural instinct to hold tightly to what we have.
The blessing of tithing is not only in meeting other’s needs, but also in what happens in our hearts. Giving softens us, reshapes us, and opens us up to joy.
The blessing that Jesus speaks of is deeper than material reward—it’s blessing of the soul.

Malachi 3:10 (ESV): "Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need."

The full tithe is 10% of your income before expenses are taken out. The tithe is to be given to God’s house, your place of worship, your church. The tithe supports the ministry of the church and helps build God’s kingdom.
God invites His people to test him—a rare and powerful statement. We test him in tithing 10% of our income first to see His blessing of meeting our needs.
When we tithe, we make a faith statement that God’s Word is true and that His promise of provision is trustworthy. This verse assures us that God responds to our obedience not by taking from us, but by blessing us in return.
We give knowing that God delights in providing for His children as they express their love for Him through their giving. Notice what the blessing of God in response to tithing does. The blessing comes until there is no need—all our needs have been met.

Luke 6:38 (ESV): "Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you."

Jesus teaches that when we give, God will give back to us in the proportion we give. The more that we give, the more that we will receive.
The more seed we sow through giving, the greater the harvest we will reap. The blessing is not only financial, but God promises that giving leads to abundance in life, relationships, and spiritual strength.
When we give generously, we are aligning ourselves with the generous nature of God.

Application: Discover Joy Beyond Finances

Instead of viewing tithing as something you “have to do,” begin to pray, “Lord show me the blessing You have in store through obedience.” Start to look for the non-financial ways God may want to bless you: peace of mind, joy in provision, and a deeper trust in Him.
Commit to reading Chapter 2 of Take God at His Word together this week and begin praying over what God is teaching you. Ask God to build your faith to believe His promises of blessing for you and your family.

Tithing is Still Part of God’s Plan

Matthew 23:23 (ESV): "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others."

In this verse, Jesus affirmed the tithing of the Jewish leaders of their herbs. Yet tithing is not the only thing we are to do. We must also follow the other instructions of God’s Word, such as justice, mercy, and faithfulness.

Hebrews 7:2 (ESV): "And to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace."

Long before the Old Testament law was written, Abraham gave a tithe to a priest of God named Melchizedek. Abraham and others tithed as an act of worship and honor to God. It was not out of obligation, but out of reverence.
This anchors the practice of tithing in faith and relationship with God—not just rule-following.

2 Timothy 3:16 (ESV): "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness."

Some people dismiss tithing by saying, “That’s Old Testament.” But in this verse, Paul reminds Timothy that all Scripture is useful for our growth, even the parts that challenge us.
The giving of our first fruits of work to God is not outdated—it’s a foundational principle in God’s Word for our blessing.

Application: Let God Renew Your Understanding

If you’ve hesitated to embrace tithing because it seemed legalistic or outdated, ask God to renew your understanding. Tithing is not about rules—it’s about putting God first in your life.
This week, reflect on the story of Abraham, and let it shape your view of tithing as worship, not obligation. In your Life Group or family time, share honestly how you’ve thought about tithing in the past.
Then ask, “What might change if I truly believed God designed this for my good?” Let this be the beginning of a spiritual reset as you listen to God speak from His Word.
As you read chapter 2 of the book, write down questions or struggles to talk through with your group.

Tithing is an Expression of Gratitude and Trust

Proverbs 3:9 (ESV): "Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce."

Giving God the first part of our income is not just a financial act—it’s spiritual. It honors Him. We don’t wait to see what’s left and then give Him the leftovers—we give to Him first, trusting that God will bless the rest.
This kind of giving expresses both our gratitude for what He’s done and our trust for what He’ll do next. God commanded His people to celebrate His provision through firstfruit offerings.
Giving the first part was a way to say, “God, You provided this, and I believe You’ll continue to provide.” It wasn’t duty—it was celebration.

2 Chronicles 31:5 (ESV): "As soon as the command was spread abroad, the people of Israel gave in abundance the firstfruits… and they brought in abundantly the tithe of everything."

This verse speaks of a revival in Israel under Hezekiah. When revival broke out, generosity flowed. The people didn’t give reluctantly—they gave in abundance. Their hearts were stirred by thankfulness, and their giving reflected that.
Trust and gratitude go hand in hand. If you’ve never tithed before, start with surrender. Say, “God, I want to trust you first. I want my faith to overcome my fear.”
Begin to thank God in advance for the blessing He has in store for you as you trust Him first.

Application: Let Gratitude Shape Your Heart

Gratitude changes how we give. This week, make a list of specific things that God has provided for you recently, big or small. Thank Him for each one out loud.
As you do, you’ll find your heart softening and your desire to give back growing. Gratitude shifts giving from a transaction to an act of worship.
Also take time to ask, “Have I trusted God with the first part of my resources, or only the leftovers?” If you’ve never tithed before, start with surrender.
Say, “God, I want to trust you first. I want my faith in you to overcome any worry.” As you pray, let trust and gratitude change your heart.

Tithing Opens the Door to God’s Blessing

Matthew 6:31,33 (ESV): "Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ … But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

What are we anxious about when we worry about food, clothes, vehicles, rent, etc.? We’re being anxious about our finances. In this verse, Jesus actually commands us to not be anxious, but rather seek first God’s kingdom.
Putting God first with our finances is seeking God’s kingdom first. These verses are a wonderful conditional promise. The two conditions to receive God’s blessing are to not worry and to seek God’s kingdom first in all of life, including with tithing.
The blessing is that God will give us everything that we need in life and we don’t have to worry about it.

Proverbs 3:9–10 (ESV): "Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine."

This is another wonderful promise of how tithing opens the door to God’s blessing. God instructs us to honor Him with our wealth and with the firstfruits.
The firstfruits were the initial reaping of the harvest. It was to be given first, as the beginning of their tithe. As the harvest continued to come in, they would continue to give the full tithe.
What was the blessing? Their barns would be filled and their vats bursting—a picture of having all needs met. Notice our giving is a way to honor and worship the Lord with what He has entrusted to us, which opens the door to His blessing.

Psalm 1:1–3 (ESV): "Blessed is the man who … delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers."

If we delight in God’s Word and meditate on it all the time, we will obey it and be blessed. The person who delights in God’s Word and lives according to it is compared to a healthy, fruitful tree.
When we tithe, we are practicing one of the clearest ways to live in step with God’s Word. The result is not just provision, but stability, consistency, and long-term spiritual health. God blesses those who walk in His ways.

Application: A Lifetime of Provision Through Faith

My parents taught me to tithe on my allowance money around age 4. My father was a pastor and we didn’t have a lot of money, but we put God first. Our family always had our needs met and were able to bless others.
When my wife Carol got saved in junior high, she also began to tithe and was blessed. When God called me to leave my job at Monsanto to study for the ministry, God provided miraculously.
I was hired back by Monsanto as a part-time consultant and our needs as a family of 9 were met. When that job ended, God opened the door for other part-time jobs as we planted the church.
We continued to tithe and give offerings above the tithe, and God continued to bless to this day. Tithing positions you for blessing—not because you’re buying it, but because you’re walking in faith.
Without faith it is impossible to please God. If you’ve never experienced the joy of trusting God with your finances, this is your season to seek Him first.
Begin by reading the Word, praying about your motives, and opening your heart. As you engage with Chapter 2 of Take God at His Word, remember this is not simply about giving—it’s a spiritual journey that will impact all of your life.
You are being invited to hear from God and walk in obedience as He leads. As you do, you’ll begin to see that tithing is not about giving something up—it’s about receiving the blessing that God desires to give you.

Conclusion: Trust God to Open the Windows of Heaven

As we’ve seen, tithing is not a legalistic burden—it’s a grace-filled opportunity. It’s a declaration of trust, a way to honor God, and a path to blessing.
God doesn’t ask for our leftovers—He asks for our first. Not to take from us, but to bless us. This week, don’t rush to make changes to your giving—focus on making space in your heart.
Read Chapter 2 of Take God at His Word, talk with your Life Group and pray together as a family. Three Life Groups will be discussing chapter 2 this week: Sunday morning 8:30, Wednesday night 7:00 here, and Thursday night 7:00 in Fenton.
Ask God to help you trust Him fully and not to worry. The real question is about priority—are we putting God first?
When we do, we open the windows of heaven for blessing. Not just for financial help, but for joy, peace, and deeper intimacy with God.
Let’s trust Him. Let’s take Him at His word.

📘 Continue the Journey

Reflect deeper and apply this week’s message with the Message Study Guide — perfect for personal devotions, family discussion, or your Life Group.
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