If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land.” – Isaiah 1:19

This is one of the most common excuses I hear when people talk about tithing: “Well, God knows my heart.”

And yes—He does. God absolutely knows our hearts. He knows when we love Him. He knows when we are sincere. But here’s the truth: if our heart is truly His, it will show in our actions. Love always produces obedience.

Jesus said it plainly in John 14:15: “If you love me, keep my commandments.” Notice He didn’t say, “If you love me, think good thoughts about me.” He tied love directly to obedience.

So when someone says, “God knows my heart,” while refusing to tithe, what they’re really saying is, “God knows I don’t trust Him enough to obey.” The Bible tells us in Jeremiah 17:9 that “the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” That’s why God gave us His Word and His commands—because He knows our feelings and emotions will try to talk us out of obedience.

Here’s what I’ve learned: obedience is the proof of a surrendered heart. When I first committed to tithing, I had to make a choice between what my heart felt and what God’s Word said. My feelings said, “Hold on to your money—God understands.” But His Word said, “The tithe belongs to Me.” And once I obeyed, the blessings of obedience began to flow in ways that proved His promises true.

Isaiah 1:19 tells us that it’s not enough to just be willing in our heart; we must also be obedient in our actions. Both are required to walk in God’s abundance.

So yes, God knows your heart. But He also knows whether your obedience matches what your mouth says. And when you align your heart with your actions, you discover why you can’t afford not to tithe. The blessing is in the obedience.

Chapter 3
Excuse #2: “God Knows My Heart”

I COULDN'T AFFORD NOT TO -by Angela Boone

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