When Tithing Feels Impossible: 3 Truths That Free You From Financial GuiltSample

What God Actually Desires

Matthew 12:7 NIV says "If you had known what these words mean, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the innocent."

Jesus spoke these words to religious leaders who had turned God's gifts into guilt-inducing obligations.

The Pharisees were masters at making people feel condemned for not meeting impossible standards. They had taken God's good design for worship and twisted it into a performance-based system where your standing with God depended on perfect compliance.

Jesus cut through their religious fog with one stunning revelation: "I desire mercy, not sacrifice."

Here's what blew my mind when I really understood this:

God would rather show you mercy in your financial limitations than receive a guilt-driven tithe that stresses your family.

The Creator of the universe - who owns the cattle on a thousand hills - cares more about the condition of your heart than the condition of your bank account.

He'd rather you trust His mercy when money is tight than sacrifice your peace trying to meet a religious quota.

But here's where it gets amazing: when you truly understand God's mercy, it actually makes you want to give more, not less.

The Pharisees had it backwards.

They thought obligation produced generosity.

But Jesus revealed that mercy produces generosity. When you're no longer afraid of God's disapproval, when you know His heart is for you and not against you, giving becomes an adventure in trusting His faithfulness rather than a duty you perform to avoid His disappointment.

This is why some of the most generous people I know went through seasons where giving and tithing was extremely difficult - but they gave any way they could because they understood God's heart.

Tomorrow, I'll show you exactly what "giving according to what you have" looks like practically - and why it might be the most faith-filled thing you ever do.

Let’s pray: Father, thank You that You desire mercy, not sacrifice. Help me receive Your mercy in my financial limitations and show me how to give from a heart that trusts Your faithfulness. I want to be generous in whatever way You show me.

In Jesus' name, Amen.