In Sabbath school we were recently discussing why we tithe. One person said, “Because I trust God.” Another said, “Because the Bible tells us to.” Both are good answers, but I believe there’s more to it. Let me share why I return a tithe—rather than pay one.
Scripture mentions tithing in both the Old and New Testaments, clearly defining it as 10 percent of our earnings. From childhood I was taught to return that first 10 percent to God—not what’s left after paying bills. As a little girl earning a dollar a week for chores, I dropped four dimes into my tithe envelope each month. I didn’t fully understand it then, but it was a good habit to learn: putting God first.
In college I continued the practice, and God blessed my faithfulness. Once, my dorm neighbor was a few hundred dollars short of her school bill and feared she’d have to leave. After praying, I felt impressed to go door-to-door asking students to give whatever they could or to pray for her if they couldn’t. When I finished collecting, I counted the money—it was $15 more than she needed!
The next day she learned her bill was actually $15 higher because of an office error. The “extra” amount covered it exactly. We cried tears of joy and praised God for His perfect provision.
After graduation I moved into an apartment and began job hunting. I eventually found part-time work in food service, but money was tight. That first winter I often cried into my pillow, begging God for help. Simple things like cheese or sweets were luxuries I couldn’t afford. Once a month I treated myself to a $6 Subway sandwich, splitting it into two meals just for the morale boost.
Then, in the bitter cold of February, someone anonymously gave me a $50 Walmart gift card. It was enough to buy groceries for the rest of the month and beyond. I cried happy tears again—God had heard my prayers.
When I married, I assumed finances would become easier with two incomes. Instead, I discovered my husband carried a mountain of hidden debt. I created a repayment plan and kept returning tithe. Two or three years later, while reviewing our finances, I realized our account balance was $200 higher than it should have been. We double-checked everything—no mistakes.
That’s when it hit me: God had been sustaining us without our even realizing it. “Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking, I will hear” (Isaiah 65:24). God had literally balanced our books.
Years later I became divorced and went on disability for lung disease, but God still provides. His blessings now come in different forms: my parents helping with legal fees, government assistance that lowers medical costs, babysitting or pet-sitting jobs that bring in a little extra, and even anonymous financial gifts. Once, He even made my car’s check-engine light turn off—and stay off!
So why do I tithe? As a child, I did it because I was taught to obey God. As a young adult, it became an act of faith that built trust. Now, it’s about gratitude. I don’t ever want to know what life would be like if I didn’t trust God with my finances. I’ve seen too many miracles to doubt Him now.
When I think about it, keeping that 10 percent for myself would never make me richer. Like the boy who gave Jesus his small lunch of loaves and fishes, I’d rather place my small portion in the hands of the One who multiplies it.
That’s also why I prefer the phrase returning tithe instead of paying tithe. Everything I have—my job, my home, my car, my food—comes from God to begin with. How could I ever “pay” Him back? I can only return a small part of what He’s entrusted to me. It’s like when you give a child a bag of Goldfish crackers and they offer you back two tiny ones. They’re returning a little of what you gave them, not paying you for it.
God delights in that kind of trust. He doesn’t need our money; He wants our faith. Every time I fill out a tithe envelope, I’m reminded that He has always been faithful—and He always will be.
Anna Balsanek is a member of Piedmont Park Church in Lincoln, Nebraska.
