Q:  Is it possible to tithe to someone or something other than the church — for example, tithing to support a specific person, like a missionary in Africa?

A.  To answer this question, we need separate tithes from offerings. You see, tithes specifically belong to the church or the place where you are being spiritually fed, but your offering is an additional contribution that can go to whoever God puts it on your heart to support.

It is important that we separate these things, because our tithing is so important to God. If you look at Malachi 3:10-11, you will see that He has such amazing promises for everyone who tithes:

“Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,” Says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” says the Lord of hosts.

God says right there that when we tithe, when we contribute to His house, He will pour out so much blessing that we won’t even be able to accept it all. Then in verse 11, He promises that you will not stand alone against the devourer. God will rebuke the devourer on your behalf — all because of your tithe!

This reminds me of a story from a friend of ours. He was having his children and grandchildren over one day, and they were all swimming in the pool and having fun, but all of a sudden, they realized they couldn’t find their little girl anywhere.

What had happened was that this little three-year-old had gone under water, and her hair got caught in the vent, so she was stuck and couldn’t come back up. When they finally found her and got her out of the water, she wasn’t breathing anymore. Of course, they did everything they could, and they called the emergency services, but there were just no signs of life.

As they were waiting for the ambulance to get there, the father of that little girl was holding her in his arms, and He started praying: “God, You are the rebuker of the devourer. I am a tither, God, and You said You would rebuke the devourer for those who tithe, so I call life into this baby.”

He claimed the promise of God, and he prayed it over his dead daughter, and when the emergency people came, they were confused. They said, “Where’s the person that we’re supposed to take?” They couldn’t tell, because that little girl was running around and playing again!

That’s what God promises for a tither, friend! He will pour out blessings, and He will rebuke the devourer and keep him away from our homes and our families. That is exactly what He says, so make sure that you are setting apart your tithe from your offerings and giving God what He deserves.