Giving us our calling

Luke 6:38
“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.”

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

Matthew 23:23
“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.”

Leviticus 27:30
Every tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is the Lord’s; it is holy to the Lord.

Malachi 3:8
“Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions.”

1 Corinthians 13:3
If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

1 Corinthians 16:2
On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.

1 Timothy 5:8
But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

1 Timothy 6:10
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

2 Corinthians 8:12
For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.

2 Corinthians 8:9
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

2 Corinthians 9:11
You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.

Tithing is a way to thank God for the gift he has given us. We are reminded that all our needs come from him, so we should put him first in everything we do- which includes giving back what's his! So let's learn more about tithe and why do people tithe?

Tithing is a systematic giving of money to God. The word tithe means "tenth," and it's the practice of donating 10% of your income to your church.

The Bible speaks about giving back to God a tenth, or 10 percent, of our income (or crop). While we cannot pinpoint when this practice began before Abraham, it is clear that he obeyed God and gave Him one-tenth of his wealth (Genesis 14:20).

The practice of tithing in the Bible has been a source of controversy for centuries. Some see it as an outdated, superstitious tradition, while others find merit with its principles and practices that have endured throughout history.

The tithe was practiced by ancient Israelites before they were ever called Jews; this collection included one-tenths from everything they grew or raised.(Leviticus 27:30; Numbers 18:26; Deuteronomy 14:24; 2 Chronicles 31:5).

Christians who follow the old tes­tament to this day believe in tithing, and they regularly set aside at least 10 percent of their income for the church.

Paying tithing is a privilege in and of itself. When we spend our tithes, it can be said that gratitude has been given from one generation to another for what God has already provided them - churches are built out of their donations; meetinghouses offer shelter, and so much more!

The practice of tithing is an oftentimes controversial, frequent source of debate in and out of the pulpit. However, regardless if you've been a member for years or just stepping into your new ward or branch for the first time, you should find it rewarding to know that there are solid arguments for this practice.

Tithing is about gratitude. Firstly, we pay our tithes because we believe God owns everything in all creation (Psalm 24:1; Acts 17:24-25). Second, we pay our tithes because we want to show gratitude and love (Mosiah 2:20). Lastly, we pay our tithes because it shows faith in God (Malachi 3:10).

Tithing is an act of faith. It's not easy to part with your hard-earned money, but tithing is one way we can show our faith in God and that He will bless us for what we give Him. One example of this promise comes from Abraham, who showed his willingness to give a tenth to Melchizedek. After doing so, "the Lord's Covenant with Abraham became unconditional because he obeyed the commands" (Genesis 14:20-22).

God promises blessings in return for your gifts. If you give the Lord 10% of all you own, He has promised to open His windows and pour out blessings on you (Malachi 3:10).

That's because everything comes from Him anyway! Your gift is greatly multiplied. God loves it when we give cheerfully, especially to those who need it most (2 Corinthians 9:7; D&C 104:15).

This divine law benefits everyone. God promises to bless you for your constancy, but it also benefits those around you through the cycle of tithing (Deuteronomy 26:12-13).

It helps build the kingdom. You are helping to further the work of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints worldwide. With this in mind, tithing is a commandment that can be paid and should be paid cheerfully.