Teenagers exhibit a virtuous character and honor God when they regularly tithe with proper motives.  Most people do not think tithing in the church has anything to do with teenagers.  In fact, tithing plays a huge part in teenager’s lives.  The importance of tithing with a gracious heart can develop a virtuous character in a Teen which may benefit their relationships with God and give them a greater love for others.  It is also important for teens to understand the differences of tithing in the Old Testament and today.  Finally, Teenagers have to realize that God has provided for all their needs.  By giving a portion of what God has given to us back to Him, Teenagers are acknowledging all the things God has graciously given to an undeserving people.  Contrary to popular thought, Teenagers actually have many connections with Tithing.

The concept of Tithing originated from the Old Testament.  It is clearly stated in Genesis 28:20-22.  Here, Jacob said, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear…then the Lord shall be my God, and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God’s house.  And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.” God’s people were supposed to give a tenth of their produce or other income to the Lord as a sign of commitment to Him.  Also, tithing in the Old Testament was an external reminder of the presence of God among his people.  It was necessary for the Israelites to give a tithe because the various income they gave was used to fund the sacrifices in the temple.  That way, God’s presence could rest in the temple.  Without the sacrificial system atoning for the sins of the people, the presence of God would kill all the Israelites.  But there is also an internal reality to tithing in the Old Testament. This is found in Malachi 3:8-10.  It says, “Will a man rob God?  Yet you are robbing me…In your tithes and contributions…Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.  And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not… pour down for you a blessing…”  The people in Malachi have robbed God because they are reluctant to give the full tithe.  God is asking the people to test him and says he will pour down blessings if they give tithes with gracious hearts.  God promises to meet his people’s needs but he will not pay heed to their greed.

The New Testament also encourages people to tithe with the proper heart.  The account of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts clearly shows how God holds in upmost importance the way people tithe.  Ananias sold some land and said he was going to give all the money he made off of it to the Lord.  However, he kept some of the money back for himself.  He was then killed by God because of his lie.  By keeping some of the money, Ananias shows that he is not trusting in God to provide for his every need.  He thought he would care for his own needs and be better off financially than others.  His wife then comes and she also lies about the amount she gave to the Lord.  God then killed her because she was testing Him.  If they had not given anything at all, they would not have been punished, but because of the sin in their hearts, they both died at the hand of God.  God wants people to be satisfied with what he gives them and desires for them to be confident in His power to provide for them.   This is also why Paul encourages the wealthy to give generously to the poor.  1Timothy 6:17-19 says, “As for the rich…charge them not to be haughty nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God who richly provides us…They are to do good…ready to share.”  By tithing with the correct motives and being generous with the many things God has given us, Teenagers will greatly acknowledge God’s blessings upon them and will develop a generous and loving heart.

Today people are urged to tithe out of the riches they have been given in Christ.  In the Old Testament, it was an obligation for the people to tithe because they needed to be able to afford the sacrifices which atoned for their sins over and over again.  Now, people are not obligated to tithe because Jesus died on the cross and was the ultimate sacrifice.  People who give do it because they want to not because they have to.  This is sometimes referred to as an offering.  A tithe is more commonly thought of as the minimal 10% requirement, but an offering is something given out of the desire to go above and beyond any requirement.  This is why some pastors today say, “His tithe and our offering” before the offering is taken.  God deserves the 10% of all He has given to people, but He has blessed everyone so much that it is impossible to pay Him back what He fully deserves.  In this case giving God even more than 10% shows the appreciation and thankfulness of all He has done for us. 

Teenagers will want to give a tithe when they understand that money and other material possessions do not give satisfaction and that only through Christ will they gain fulfillment.  Jonathan Edwards said, “God is the highest good of the reasonable creature, and the enjoyment of him is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied…” (Edwards).  Not only is God our satisfaction, but He is the one who provides people with all they have.  Edwards also states that people should consider that what they have is not their own and that God lends them everything.  This is another reason people should never covet or idolize what they have since they do not truly own anything at all.  The most important concept for Teens to realize is that God is everlasting and unchanging and never lets down those who truly love and follow Him.  A Teen will become more willing to give and less concerned with material things when he discovers this truth.  The most important benefit from tithing is that the process establishes a love for God.  Once a Teen recognizes how greatly God cares and watches over him, he can appreciate God by giving back a small portion of what he has given us.  Finally, it is important to understand that people can tithe in other ways than by giving money.  God has given everyone a unique ability and by using that ability to glorify God, a person is serving Him.  People can also tithe with their time and services.  By tithing to the Lord, Teens can develop traits healthy for their character and a relationship with God.

Tithing develops virtuous character in a Teen and benefits their relationship with the Lord.  It will help them realize that God is the only thing which can satisfy and that material possessions like money are not to be gloried over.  Tithing will help a Teen grow a generous heart so they will not always be focusing on themselves.  Teens will most importantly understand that God cares and provides for their every need and that by tithing to Him, they are giving a portion back of what God has already provided.  Contrary to regular belief, Tithing and Teenagers are related in many significant ways.         

Works Cited

The English Standard Version Study Bible.  Wayne Grudem, gen. ed. Wheaton, Il: Crossways    

            Bibles, 2008. Print.

Edwards, Jonathan.  “The Christian Pilgrim, Or, The True Christian’s Life A Journey Towards

            Heaven.”  Sept. 1733 in Works of Jonathan Edwards Vol. Two. Great Britain: The Bath

            Press, Avon, 1995. Christian Classics Ethereal Library.

http:/www.ccel.org/ccel/Edwards/works2.vi.xvi.html?highlight=the,Christia....