We’ve talked a lot about how to become a person of Kingdom generosity, especially when it comes to tithing, or giving the first 10% of our income to God’s cause. Today, I’d want to offer some specifics on how this manifests itself in our lives, particularly during this holiday season, which is so focused on giving.

When you tithe, I believe you make your church your default. This means that if you’re not sure what to give to, you give the entire 10% to your home fellowship. It’s fine to give to something else if the Lord puts something else on your heart or places someone in your path who has a need. For example, if your next-door neighbor has recently lost their job and finds a new one, but their paychecks are separated by two weeks, causing them to fall behind on their rent, you pay the rent. If you have friends with a lot of kids and a limited budget, offer to babysit their kids in exchange for movie tickets and a restaurant gift card. Even though it’s not tithing in a traditional sense, it is doing the Lord’s work because it involves giving to your neighbor, and nobody knows your neighbor as well as you do!

Friend, the purpose of the tithe is to bless people and to declare God’s Kingdom on earth. This is why I will always encourage you to give 10% of your earnings to Jesus’ cause. Seek Him out, ask Him how He wants you to contribute, and then follow His instruction; when you do, you will discover a new level of joy and freedom. I promise you that becoming a person who is generous in the way that Jesus is generous will completely improve your life. So go for it! Today, get out and give away something!