Sermon Illustrations: Tithing

The Devil's Reason for Not Tithing

• In January because of Christmas bills due.
• In February because of fuel bills and car upkeep.
• In March because of income taxes.
• In April because of clothes for Easter.
• In May because too much rain threatens the crops.
• In June because too little rain threatens the crops.
• In July because of vacation expenses coming up.
• In August because of vacation expenses to be paid.
• In September because of the children's school needs.
• In October because of winter clothes and doctor bills.
• In November because of the Thanksgiving trip.
• In December because of the Christmas shopping.

See: Mal 3:8; Col 3:2

Welfare Tithe
If every church member in the United States were to suddenly lose his/her job and went on welfare, and yet were willing to tithe from the minimal amount received from public assistance, giving in the nation's churches would immediately increase over 30%!

Love of the right use of money is the root of all good.

-- The Herald of the Covenant

See: 1 Cor 16:1-2; Titus 3:14

Tithing, And Didn't Know It
The day the church treasurer resigned the church asked the local grain elevator manager to take the position. He agreed under two conditions. That no treasurer's report would be given for the first year. That no questions be asked about finances during that year. The people were surprised but finally agreed since most of them did business with him and he was a trusted man. At the end of the year he gave his report:

The church indebtedness of $228,000 has been paid. The minister's salary had been increased by 8%. The Cooperative Program gifts has been paid 200%. There were no outstanding bills. There was a cash balance of $11,252!

Immediately the shocked congregation asked, "How did you do it? Where did the money come from?" He quietly answered: "Most of you bring your grain to my elevator. Throughout the year I simply withheld ten percent on your behalf and gave it to the church in your name. You didn't even miss it!" "Do you see what we could do for the Lord if we were all willing to give at least the tithe to God, who really owns it?" So the new treasurer had made his point.
--James Carter

Famous Tithers
J.L. Kraft, head of the Kraft Cheese Corporation, who had given approximately 25% of his enormous income to Christian causes for many years, said, "The only investment I ever made which has paid consistently increasing dividends is the money I have given to the Lord."
J.D. Rockefeller said, "I never would have been able to tithe the first million dollars I ever made if I had not tithed my first salary, which was $1.50 per week."
W. A. Criswell, A Guidebook for Pastors, p. 154

The Man Who Couldn't Tithe
W.A. Criswell tells of an ambitious young man who told his pastor he'd promised God a tithe of his income. They prayed for God to bless his career. At that time he was making $40.00 per week and tithing $4.00. In a few years his income increased and he was tithing $500.00 per week. He called on the pastor to see if he could be released from his tithing promise, it was too costly now. The pastor replied, "I don't see how you can be released from your promise, but we can ask God to reduce your income to $40.00 a week, then you'd have no problem tithing $4.00."
W. A. Criswell, A Guidebook for Pastors, p. 156

The Committment
Years ago a young man knelt with his pastor and prayed as he committed to God his tithe. His first week's pay was $10.00 and the tithe was $1.00. As he grew older he became more prosperous and his tithe was $7.00 a week, then $10.00. He moved to another city and soon his tithewas $100 a week, then $200, then $500.

One day the younger man sent his old friend a wire, "Please come see me." The pastor arrived at the man's house. They had a good time talking over old times. Finally the man came to his point. " You remember that promise I made years ago to tithe. How can I get released?"

"Why would you want to get released," asked the pastor?

"It's like this," replied the man, "When I made the promise I only had to give $1.00, but now it is $500. I can't afford to give away money like that." The old pastor looked at his friend. "I am afraid we cannot get released from the promise, but there is something we can do. We can kneel and ask God to shrink your income so you can afford to give $1.00 again."

Author Unknown
Marvin Krause
WIT & WISDOM - October 28, 1998

There was a knock on the door of the hut occupied by a missionary in Africa. Answering, the missionary found one of the native boys holding a large fish in his hands. The boy said, "Reverend, you taught us what tithing is, so here-I've brought you my tithe." As the missionary gratefully took the fish, he questioned the young boy, "If this is your tithe, where are the other nine fish?" At this, the boy beamed and said, "Oh, they're still back in the river. I'm going back to catch them now."