THE IMPORTANCE OF GIVING TITHE | KAIROS GLOBAL | NOVEMBER 2020

Author: Achinta Pilapitiya

Intro: Achinta Pilapitiya reminds us of the importance of tithing (money and more). Looking back at his own life and seeing how God has faithfully taken care of all of their needs, he continues to tithe through thick and thin.

I got my first paid internship during my last year of Engineering Degree studies, in 2012. I am sure most of us who have ever waited for that first pay cheque would surely know the excitement in one’s heart, and the desire to buy the whole world with that little money received from one’s own efforts. With all these thoughts and dreams in mind, I remembered that we should first allocate the 10% from our wealth to God.  

Leviticus 27:30 says, A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.

Although I also had so many dreams in life, I continued to set apart this 10% of my salary for the church, ministry and other mission activities. By the grace of God, within six months my company offered me a permanent position – with a salary that was beyond my imagination. I must admit, ‘the more the salary – the bigger his/her dreams and expectations of life’. However, I never failed to allocate 10% from my income for God’s kingdom. Fast forwarding to 2016, I remember facing my first overseas interview from a retreat centre and by the grace of God, it was successful, and I moved to Singapore in 2017 with my beautiful wife. Moving to a new country – especially to one of the most expensive cities in the world – it was not easy to manage all expenses with just one salary. But I always remembered the importance of giving tithe and never failed to do so.  As a family we always thought about the poor and the needy and tried to help them. We continued to give tithe – to church, ministry work and other mission activities. Today, I must thank God and give all the praise to Jesus, as he has continued to bless me and has looked after all our needs in the most unexpected way!

In Hebrew the word tithe literally means tenth. The fifth precept of the Church states that ‘You shall help to provide for the needs of the Church’ and it ‘means that the faithful are obliged to assist with the material needs of the Church, each according to his own ability’ (CCC 2043).

By giving tithe we are showing that we trust God with our lives and our finances. But tithe wasn’t put in place for God’s benefit, He already owns everything. He doesn’t need our money. Instead this will help us look beyond our selfishness and make us more aware, opening our inner eyes to see the needs of others.

Tithe is an act of faith. It reminds us that we do not own anything in life, yet God is in full control of our needs. When giving tithe, you should not expect anything in return. Giving a portion of what we have always moulds us to be grateful and generous in life. 

2 Corinthians 9:7 says, Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

So, should we only give money as tithe? The answer is no. We need to make sure that we give our time and talents also for building God’s kingdom – be it to your church, ministry or for any other mission activity. That is why it is important to spend some quiet time with the Lord in regular retreat, adoration and prayer. We can also give time to church and ministry in the simplest of ways – stacking up some chairs, gathering the youth, singing or sharing the Word of God. God sees our contribution and He blesses every effort we make towards His Kingdom.

I remember the time when I got employed in Singapore, during my probation period I wanted to go for a seven-day retreat to rekindle my relationship with Jesus. Most of us know that getting approvals for a seven-day break during one’s probation is a challenging task, and not at all easy to get approved. However, I prayed to Jesus and asked the Holy Spirit to guide me while making this request. So, I went to my manager and told him that I would like to attend a Catholic retreat and asked if he would approve this request. To my surprise, my manager approved it and I was able to enjoy a peaceful and a great time with the Lord and renew my faith.

In conclusion, it is very important to make our tithe contributions for the kingdom of God. No matter in which position one is in one’s career, be it an intern, a freelancer, individual contributor, manager or at CEO level. In your personal prayer, you could always ask God where you can give your tithe and I am sure God will inspire you and show you where you could give your 10% in terms of income, time or talents. The Church is in greater need than ever before. Are we ready to do our part?

Achinta Pilapitiya works as a Network Engineer in a Pharmaceutical Company in Singapore. He serves as Mission Team coordinator for Jesus Youth Singapore.