Tithing With Debt: Should You Tithe While Paying Off Debt?نموونە

Day 1: The Heart Behind the Tithe

The moment you open your paycheck and feel torn between tithing and paying down debt is more than a financial decision—it's a pivotal faith moment that reveals what you truly believe about God's ownership.

I still remember staring at our budget spreadsheet years ago, watching the numbers that didn't add up. With mounting debt and barely enough to cover expenses, the 10% for tithing seemed impossible. The rational voice in my head argued, "Surely God understands if we pause tithing until we're debt-free." Yet something deeper challenged this thinking.

The principle of tithing wasn't created as a divine tax code.

It was established as a tangible reminder of a profound truth: everything we have already belongs to God. As Psalm 24:1 declares, "The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it."

The tithe isn't giving God what's His after keeping what's ours—it's acknowledging that 100% belongs to Him, and He's entrusted us with managing it all.

This perspective transforms the tithing-while-in-debt question entirely. It's no longer about "Can I afford to give?" but rather "Do I truly believe God owns it all?"

When God instructed the Israelites to bring their firstfruits, He didn't add "unless you're in debt."

The principle of giving first, not from what's left over, reveals our heart's priorities. It's significant that God says in Malachi, "Test me in this"—the only place in Scripture where God explicitly invites us to test Him. This suggests that giving while resources are tight may be precisely when the principle matters most.

Ron Blue wisely says, "Tithing is no more or less spiritual than debt repayment if you know that God owns it all. However, because God does own it all, the tithe, as a priority, is a statement of your recognition that God owns it all."

Reflection Questions:

1. What does my attitude toward tithing reveal about what I truly believe about God's ownership?
2. Have I been compartmentalizing my finances—giving God a portion while viewing the rest as "mine"?
3. If God truly owns 100% of my resources, how might that change my approach to both tithing and debt repayment?

Prayer: Father, I confess the times I've viewed my finances as my own rather than yours. Thank you for entrusting me with resources to manage on your behalf. Help me to hold everything with an open hand, acknowledging your ownership of it all. Give me wisdom as I seek to honor you with both giving and responsible debt repayment.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.