It seems that everywhere I have been lately God has been reminding me to be faithful with what He has given me. The other day I read an article on tithing and at the end of the article it asked for your
thoughts. SO I decided to write about
it which I did but I did not post it. For me sometimes writing helps me get the thoughts that are twirling in my head to settle down. Not that what I write is always read worthy but somehow it kind of settle things for me. If one only knew how much is rolling around up there you would forgive my scatteredness sometimes. Yesterday at church Bro. Barry hit on giving some and then this morning my bible study was on possessions. So I thought it was time to post some thoughts.
Growing up in a Christian home I was taught the importance of tithing very early. So as an adult I have never really questioned whether it should be done or not. It is just something Tim and I both agreed on. Being the accountant who looks at numbers all day, I love to talk about God’s blessing in our lives.
Growing up in a Christian home I was taught the importance of tithing very early. So as an adult I have never really questioned whether it should be done or not. It is just something Tim and I both agreed on. Being the accountant who looks at numbers all day, I love to talk about God’s blessing in our lives.
While working as the financial secretary at a church I
started to realize….People are missing out on this. This is one of the coolest things. It doesn’t matter how much I give God, he
multiplies it and returns it to me. He
has not once failed to pour out his blessing on us. So much more than we deserve. One day while working as the financial
secretary at a church I had noticed a fairly new Christian seemed to be
tithing (not that I know what people
make but sometimes you can guess. Just sayin if you don’t give anything I am pretty sure you have missed the boat
on this one teaching in the Bible). One
day I just asked him “why do you believe in giving?” For me growing up with it, it seemed like a
no brainer but for someone not raised that way.
Why would they do it? 10% of one’s income, I would assume that most
people would think that is just crazy. His
answer “doesn’t the Bible teach that”
WOW. If only I had that kind of
obedience in every area of my life. If the Bible teaches it then I should obey it.
I have heard the argument “that this is an old testament rule, we don’t have to
obey those rules anymore.” God never took away from what he wrote in the old
testament. You know those rules like “Thou
Shalt not Kill” in the old testament,
those turned into you should not even think about murdering when you get to the
new testament. Those literal rules of
the old testament turned into a heart condition in the new testament. So here is my take on tithing. The old testament told the people to at least
give 10 %, which if you look at all the different things they were suppose to
give to I think it added up to more in the 23.3% range but when you get to the
new testament he not only commands us to give but we are to give
everything. It is all his. Not only are we to give to the local church
we are to do it with a happy heart. WOW.
Once again if I could just do that obedience thing with a Happy Heart….I will
have arrived.
One of the awesome things about working in the finances of a
church you get to hear about how God has provided for people. OVER and OVER. You will never speak to someone that believes
in giving that is sorry they do it. In
my personal life God has proved to me over and over that I can’t out give Him.
I am in no way saying that tithing makes Jesus love us more for that is impossible. I am not saying that tithing can help you earn your salvation for He has already earned this for us. Should one think they are better than another christian because of how much they give absolutely not. I am saying that God's blessing flow when we are able to give with a happy heart.
This coming Sunday we are having a "I love My Church" Sunday. They have asked us to give above and beyond our normal offering. I had an amount in my head of what I thought God would want us to give, after thinking about it a little longer another figure came to mind. I asked Tim this morning what he was thinking....guess what God gave us both the same amount. He always works this way. We are excited to be able to give back a portion of what He has entrusted to our care. We know without a doubt He will supply for our every need because He has proved Himself over and over to us.
I will leave you with one story of His awesomeness (I have many). We knew of someone that had a need. Tim and I love to help when we know that there is a need, if we can. So after hearing of the need I call Tim up and ask how much he thinks we should give. We always have basically the same amount in mind (funny how God always works that out). I wrote the check and sent it off. The next day I get a phone call from my mom. She just wanted me to know they had sold one of our calves and they have never seen a calf bring so much. Way more than we could even have thought about giving away. He has done this time and time again.
I am in no way saying that tithing makes Jesus love us more for that is impossible. I am not saying that tithing can help you earn your salvation for He has already earned this for us. Should one think they are better than another christian because of how much they give absolutely not. I am saying that God's blessing flow when we are able to give with a happy heart.
This coming Sunday we are having a "I love My Church" Sunday. They have asked us to give above and beyond our normal offering. I had an amount in my head of what I thought God would want us to give, after thinking about it a little longer another figure came to mind. I asked Tim this morning what he was thinking....guess what God gave us both the same amount. He always works this way. We are excited to be able to give back a portion of what He has entrusted to our care. We know without a doubt He will supply for our every need because He has proved Himself over and over to us.
I will leave you with one story of His awesomeness (I have many). We knew of someone that had a need. Tim and I love to help when we know that there is a need, if we can. So after hearing of the need I call Tim up and ask how much he thinks we should give. We always have basically the same amount in mind (funny how God always works that out). I wrote the check and sent it off. The next day I get a phone call from my mom. She just wanted me to know they had sold one of our calves and they have never seen a calf bring so much. Way more than we could even have thought about giving away. He has done this time and time again.
So am I a believer in tithing. YES!
Have I ever been able to out give Him.
NEVER
The Bible says to test Him in this....so test HIm
Malachi 3:
10Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. 11I will rebuke the devourerb for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the LORD of hosts. 12Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the LORD of hosts.
The Bible says to test Him in this....so test HIm
Malachi 3:
10Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. 11I will rebuke the devourerb for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the LORD of hosts. 12Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the LORD of hosts.
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