josh whitehead

Last week, my Pastor posted a blog entitled, “Can One Degree Make a Difference?” The premise of the post was from a book called 212 degrees. The difference in 1 degree, from 211 to 212 degrees, is the opportunity to produce steam that can power a locomotive. 211 degrees is just very hot water with little potential while 212 degrees changes everything.

As I have considered the thought, tithing entered my mind. Many Believers are working towards tithing. I hear people talk about giving 1% more every year until they get to 10%. Honestly, I couldn’t disagree with that strategy more. Consider this:

• Giving 9% is still giving in disobedience.
• Giving 9% is still trusting in your economy over God’s economy.
• Giving 9% is still relying on yourself over God’s Word.
• Giving 9% says I know better than God knows.

But when you give 10%, you open the “floodgates of heaven.”Consider the verse:

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. Malachi 3:10

Think about the difference in 1%.

• Giving 10% is giving in obedience.
• Giving 10% trusting in God’s economy over your economy.
• Giving 10% shows that you trust God’s Word.
• Giving 10% says that I have faith to trust God.

1% more makes a big difference.