08.09. May We Pay Expenses First?

9. MAY WE PAY EXPENSES FIRST?

Almost every time I speak on tithing, someone asks, "May we not pay our expenses and tithe what is left?" This question is asked occasionally publicly and often privately.

I will not be dogmatic in answering this question but I know this, with most of us, when we pay our expenses there is very little left to tithe. Personally, I have always tithed my income when it came in. I have never regretted it and I can highly recommend it.

Illustration For many years I was an evangelist and was paid quite well. When a church gave me my offering for a revival, I put aside my tithe before I paid a hotel bill, before I bought a ticket, before I filled up my car or figured any expense to the next place. I tithed the total amount given me.

You ask, "Could you not have paid your fare to your next revival, taken out the expenses of the trip, and then tithed what was left of your offering?" I can only answer, "I never did and I am glad I tithed it all."

Did I Lose? If I was wrong in paying a tithe of the whole, do you think I have ever lost anything? Do you think that I am any worse off financially or spiritually because I paid God a tenth of my income? I know that I am not. One never loses anything by being generous with God. If I had it to do over again after these forty years, I would still tithe it all. "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over."