The Tithe - A Guard for Our Heart?

Protection for My Heart

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” — Proverbs 4:23

This verse isn’t casual. It’s not a suggestion to “check in” with your heart once in a while. It’s a clear, urgent instruction: “Above all else.” That means this is priority number one.

Why? Because everything in your life—every word, every decision, every action—flows from the condition of your heart. And that’s why God cares so much about it. It’s the command center of our soul. Jesus knew this, which is why He tied our hearts so directly to our treasure.

Let’s start by looking at how God designed the physical heart. Here’s a summary from Harvard Medical School:

“The heart beats about 2.5 billion times in a lifetime, pushing millions of gallons of blood to every part of the body. This flow carries oxygen, fuel, hormones, and essential cells, while also removing waste. When the heart stops, vital functions fail—some almost immediately.”

Let’s break that down. Here’s what we learn from the physical heart:

1. It delivers life-giving nutrients to every part of the body.

2. If it fails, the body shuts down—instantly in many cases.

3. Poor habits (diet, inactivity, smoking) can damage it.

4. Buildup of harmful “gunk” (plaque) can clog the flow.

5. Healthy habits practiced early help prevent future issues.

6. Even if we’ve gone down the wrong path, course correction is possible.

Now let’s consider this: If the condition of our physical heart is that critical, what about our spiritual heart? The principles are the same. And if left unguarded, both can be damaged—by poor inputs, by neglect, by compromise.

The Spiritual Heart Mirror

Jesus' teaching on treasure and Solomon’s instruction in Proverbs both emphasize that your spiritual heart is the source of life. If it’s clogged—by greed, distraction, bitterness, or misplaced trust—the flow of your spiritual life is disrupted.

And here’s the good news: just like with your physical heart, there are healthy habits that protect and restore your spiritual heart. I believe tithing is one of the most powerful of those habits.

How the Tithe Mirrors Healthy Heart Habits

1. It’s Spiritual Exercise

Think of the tithe like a workout plan. You don’t get in shape by exercising once a year. It’s consistent, intentional, and builds over time. When you tithe regularly—whether from a salary, wages, or business—you are practicing discipline that strengthens your heart toward God.

As your income grows, your giving grows. And just like building muscle, the impact compounds. It aligns your priorities, shapes your habits, and trains your heart to put God first.

2. It Brings You Close to the Body

Where your treasure is, your heart will be also—and so will your presence. When we tithe into our local church, we become more connected to that community. We begin to care more. We show up more. We serve more.

Over time, it becomes a natural rhythm: giving, worshipping, growing, living life with others who are also aligning their hearts with God’s. Your heart grows toward the Kingdom when your treasure flows toward it.

3. It Turns the Physical Into the Eternal

In John 6, Jesus tells us His flesh is real food and His blood real drink. This wasn’t about physical nourishment—it was about eternal sustenance.

Likewise, when we tithe, we take something physical—a paycheck—and turn it into something spiritual. It’s not just charity. It’s worship. It’s declaration. It’s acknowledgment that God is our provider. And when we give, He uses it to impact eternity.

4. It’s a Prescription for Spiritual Flow

When the physical heart has blockages, doctors prescribe medications, new diets, or even surgeries to restore flow. Spiritually, when we’re clogged—by worry, pride, self-reliance—the tithe acts like a prescription to restore our connection to the Source.

By returning a portion to God first, we re-establish a proper flow in our spiritual lives. The result? Clarity. Peace. Purpose. Alignment. We stop hoarding and start trusting. We stop striving and start resting in God’s provision.

Final Thoughts

God doesn’t need your money. He wants your heart. And He knows how tied those two things are.

If everything in life flows from the heart, then we should be eager to guard it. And few practices protect the heart better than the consistent, faithful, joyful act of tithing. It cleanses, realigns, restores, and refocuses us on the One who gives us life in the first place.

So, guard your heart. Not just with words, but with your worship. Let your giving be part of your spiritual fitness routine—a habit that keeps your heart pumping strong for the Kingdom of God.

-Mark

www.markgreaves.com

#DailyTithe