What God Taught Me About Tithing

It was around June 4th, my late father's birthday. I was already thinking through what bills had to come out of my next paycheck. Growing up as a preacher's kid, my mind didn't wander far from tithing. I just hadn't done it consistently in a while.

As an adult, I had gotten into the habit of believing I needed to be led on who or what church to give to. Sometimes that happened. Sometimes it didn't. And when bills started piling up, that way of thinking slowly moved to the back burner because the bills always seemed more urgent.

One day, my daughter and I had gone through a fast-food drive-thru. It reminded me of something that had happened just a few days earlier.

The last time we were in a drive-thru, before I handed her the bag, I reached in and grabbed a couple of fries. I just wanted to taste them. Then I took a sip of her drink. She had a burger too, and I wanted a bite of that, but I decided not to because I knew she was going to say, "Don't eat it all!"

The funny thing is...I wasn't even hungry.

I just wanted a taste.

A few days later, I found myself thinking about that burger again. Not because I wanted the burger, but because I never got that one bite.

That's when God spoke to me in a way I'll never forget.

He said,

"You know how you felt when you didn't get a taste of her burger? That's how I feel when I don't receive the first 10% of what I've already given you.

I don't need it because I'm hungry. I don't need your money. But just like you say after buying your daughter's food, 'It's the tax,' that's how I see tithing.

It isn't about My need. It's about your obedience, your love for Me, and acknowledging that everything you have came from Me first."

That was it.

It clicked immediately.

I felt small.

I felt seen.

I felt convicted.

And at the same time, I felt deeply loved.

I wanted to cry.

Not because I felt condemned, but because I realized I had been withholding what belonged to my Father. It wasn't about money anymore. It was about relationship.

That simple moment in a drive-thru became one of the clearest lessons God has ever used to teach me something spiritual.

From that day forward, I never wanted to withhold His "tax" again.

I know some people have strong opinions about tithing. This isn't an attempt to convince anyone or debate theology. It's simply the way God chose to make something click for me.

Sometimes God teaches us through Scripture.

Sometimes He teaches us through prayer.

And sometimes...

He teaches us through a french fry and a burger.

Those moments remind me how small I really am in the grand scheme of things, yet how intentional God is about meeting me exactly where I am. Walking with the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit continues to give me wisdom, conviction, strength, and the grace to keep growing.

Thank you for reading. I hope this reflection encouraged you to pause, think, or see something familiar in a new way.