Priority

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. — Matthew 6:21

Derek Carr recently signed a five-year, $125 million contract with the Oakland Raiders. In an interview following the signing, Carr was asked how he plans to spend the money after signing the biggest contract extension in NFL history. “First thing I will do is pay my tithe like I have since I was in college, getting $700 on a scholarship check. That won’t change.” Within the Christian Church, tithing has been a controversial subject. Some believe that Christians are no longer required to tithe because it is an Old Testament law. Others believe that tithing is essential for holiness, vital for the ongoing work of Christ’s church, and required for receiving God’s blessing (William Barclay, 2017). Whether you believe in tithing or not, Scripture is clear that we ought to live a generous life. In Acts 2:45, believers were selling their possessions and giving the proceeds to all who were in need. The matter of your giving is between you and God. The Apostle Paul teaches, “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” (2 Corinthians 9:7). When it comes to giving, the deeper issue is this — What is your priority? Is Christ first or do we put our desires first? As it is written, let us “seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need” (Matthew 6:33, NLT).