First Things First
March 8, 2026
Dr. Paul Cannings
Giving to God is rarely a popular topic, and I’ve often wondered why. How can those who depend entirely on God for life, provision, and protection hesitate to say thanks? J. Oswald Sanders put it clearly: “The basic question is not how much of our money we should give to God, but how much of God’s money we should keep for ourselves.”
This raises another question: “What does man actually give to God?” The truth is, we cannot give God anything. Everything belongs to Him. As James reminds us, “Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow” (James 1:17). Our offerings are an expression of gratitude—thanks for what we have and for the grace that allows us to steward the rest (2 Corinthians 9:10-15). As one anonymous person said, “We need to get God off the charity list and put Him on the payroll.”
R. T. Kendall, longtime minister at Westminster Chapel in London, shared that shortly after he and his wife married, they found themselves hopelessly in debt. Tithing felt impossible. Some bills were unavoidable; others were the result of imprudence. At the time, Kendall was working in a secular job and came home one day deeply discouraged. In desperation, he knelt, hoping God would give him a ray of light.
On the dining table lay the large, white Bible his grandmother had given him. He picked it up and opened it at random. His eyes fell on the words: “Will a man rob God?” He didn’t like what he read and closed the Bible, turning instead to the television for distraction—even though he still owed for it. He knew God wanted him to begin tithing, but he postponed it. Meanwhile, paying bills felt like dipping a cup into the ocean of debt, no matter how hard they worked.
Finally, they decided to make a change. They took ten percent of their income first, making tithing the top priority, and paid their bills with the remaining ninety percent. “We were not out of debt in weeks, but within less than two years, we were completely free of debt—and those became the happiest days we have ever known.”
This story reminds us that honoring God with our resources is not just an act of obedience—it is a step of faith that can bring unexpected blessing, provision, and peace.
Proverbs 3:9-10 reminds us: “Honor the Lord with your wealth, and from the first of all your produce; so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.” Giving to God is not merely obedience—it is a joyful act of worship, trust, and gratitude for the One who owns everything.