My Personal Journey of Trusting God with my Finances…

Over 20 years ago, Sean learned the importance of generous giving while a student with no income, and through small, consistent acts of generosity, he grew in trust and love for God. The Bible teaches that giving is an act of devotion, and while tithing was a foundational practice, Jesus calls us to a deeper, heart-transformed generosity that not only honours God but also impacts society—an opportunity we embrace through the annual Citygate Gift Weeks offering.

Sean and his family.

— Sean Theunnissen, Citygate Elder

I first grasped the Bible’s teaching of generous giving over 20 years ago when I was a student at Bournemouth University. Without an income, I initially excused myself from the whole notion of giving. But God’s Spirit slowly worked on me. He started forming me, through consistent giving, into a person of love and trust.

Throughout scripture, God calls His people to express their devotion through generosity. From the earliest times, they were called to honour Him with the first fruits of their crops and livestock, tithing their earnings, and presenting various offerings. These acts of devotion would be used to support others, such as the Levites, priests, widows, and others in need, reflecting their love for God and their community.

In the Old Testament, God instituted the tithe (a tenth) to put this principle of trust into practice. Even before the Law, Abraham gave a tenth to Melchizedek (Genesis 14:20), and Jacob vowed to tithe to God (Genesis 28:22). By the end of the Old Testament, Malachi rebukes the people for neglecting tithes, equating it to robbing God (Malachi 3:8-9). God says “Test me in this...and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it (Malachi 3:10). 

God didn’t command tithing because He needed it but to teach His people to honour Him, obey His word, and trust Him as Jehovah Jireh. The only appropriate response to the outrageous generosity of God is to reflect him with our own generosity.

Billy Graham said, “If a person gets his attitude toward money straight, it will help straighten out almost every other area in his life.” I didn’t start with a tithe, I started small, giving £5 a month. Just that regular practice alone was enough to get me on the pathway to consistently giving a tenth of my income when I did finally start earning some money. I’m still on this journey, sometimes struggling with fears about not having enough for my family or a desire to keep more for myself. But this consistent practice of obedience, brings me back to a firm trust in the God whose name is Jireh. I’m slowly moving from fear to trust, from worry to peace, from desire to enjoyment, and from grasping to gratitude.

Above and Beyond

Jesus dialled up generosity even further. Money-related themes make up about 25% of the gospel accounts. He never shied away from talking about the power that money can have on us. Though He likely honored tithing, Jesus focused more on the heart behind it than mere rule-following. In Matthew 23:23, He rebukes the Pharisees, not for tithing but for hiding behind tithing while their hearts were a desert when it came to justice and mercy.

The story of the Rich Young Ruler (Luke 18) shows how tithing can fall short when disconnected from true surrender. For someone with wealth, a tithe can be just a token gesture, failing to penetrate the heart. While tithing was meant to teach trust and generosity, Jesus calls us to a radical kingdom lifestyle, one that goes beyond a rule, one that transforms our hearts and in the process transforms society.  

Annual Citygate Offering 

The Citygate offering is a chance to practice this kind of radical generosity. Contributions are welcomed year-round, culminating in Gift Weeks on March 16 and 23, 2025. This offering supports projects and people bringing kingdom transformation locally and globally, empowering young people to learn, grow, and share the gospel across cultures. Some funds will also aid building projects, new ventures, and essential equipment to expand our mission at Citygate.