Pastor Lee Cummings
November 8, 2026 Message Recap
It’s easy to say we trust God to provide. It gets a little harder when payday rolls around, and we start adding up what’s due.
Scripture tells us to honor God with the first of what we receive. That’s what we do when we tithe. For every ten dollars that comes in, we give the first dollar back to God because it already belongs to Him. Abraham gave a tenth long before Moses received the law, and Jesus affirmed the practice when He taught about it.
Some of us have never been taught about tithing. Others have questions about whether it still applies today. And sometimes we know what God is asking of us, but the mortgage is due, the car needs work, and we’re afraid there won’t be enough left to cover it all.
The first ten percent of our income is going somewhere, whether it’s the tithe or not. If we wait to see what’s left at the end of the month, chances are we’ll have already spent it. Giving first is a way of saying, “God, I trust You to take care of me with what’s left.” And it’s better to live on ninety percent with God’s blessing than on a hundred percent without it.
In Malachi, God actually tells His people to test Him in this. He asks them to bring the full tithe and see how He provides. Think about a free sample at Costco. You can stand there wondering whether you’ll like it, or take a bite and find out. God invites His people to take a step and see for themselves that He’s faithful.
We see that kind of trust in Abraham. After giving a tenth to Melchizedek, he turned down everything the king of Sodom offered him, right down to a thread or a sandal strap. He wanted it to be clear who was taking care of him. The next time God spoke to Abraham, He told him, “I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.”
Before God ever brought up the tithe in Malachi, He said, “Return to me, and I will return to you.” He wanted their hearts. Giving was one way they could begin to trust Him again.
What would it look like for you to trust God with the first of what you receive?
Scripture References:
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About Radiant Church
Founded in 1996, Radiant Church has grown into a multi-location church committed to biblical teaching, discipleship, and mission.
At Radiant Church, there is an invitation to grow in your spiritual journey, build meaningful community, and truly get connected. We are passionate about helping people grow in faith, encounter the Presence of God, and become part of a church grounded in Spirit and truth.
Here's a 5-day devotional guide based on this sermon:
Day 1: Before the Law
Genesis 14:18–20 | Genesis 15:1
Centuries before Moses received the law, Abraham gave a tenth of everything to Melchizedek, priest of God Most High. He then refused any reward from the king of Sodom, unwilling to let anyone say a man had made him rich. Immediately afterward, God told him, "I am your shield; your reward shall be very great." The tithe began not as a rule but as an act of worship from someone who trusted God as his source.
Day 2: Firstfruits
Proverbs 3:9–10 | Matthew 23:23
Proverbs calls us to honor the Lord with our wealth and with the firstfruits of all our increase. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for tithing their spices while neglecting justice, mercy, and faithfulness, but He told them they should have done both. The tithe was never meant to replace a heart for God's mission. It's one expression of a life that puts Him first.
Day 3: Equal Sacrifice
Luke 21:1–4 | 2 Corinthians 9:7
Jesus watched the rich drop large gifts into the temple treasury, then pointed to a widow who gave two small coins. She gave more than all of them, He said, because she gave out of her poverty. God doesn't measure our giving by the size of the amount but by the sacrifice behind it. Paul adds that God loves a cheerful giver, one who gives freely rather than under compulsion.
Day 4: Put Me to the Test
Malachi 3:8–12 | Psalm 34:8
Through Malachi, God makes an unusual invitation: test Me in this. Bring the full tithe and see if I will not open the windows of heaven and rebuke the devourer. David wrote, "Taste and see that the LORD is good." God isn't afraid of our questions about His faithfulness. He invites us to find out for ourselves.
Day 5: Return to Me
Malachi 3:7 | Hebrews 11:5–6
Before God ever mentions tithes, He says, "Return to me, and I will return to you." The real issue was Israel's heart. Hebrews describes Enoch as a man who pleased God, and reminds us that without faith it is impossible to please Him, because those who come to God must believe He rewards those who seek Him. Tithing, at its core, is a way of saying with our whole lives that we want to please Him.