Not everyone believes the Bible teaches tithing in the New Testament and not everyone believes tithing to be 10%, but if you do, you might be interested in what is on my heart to share.
It's really not my favorite thing to share posts about giving or tithing but I can't seem to shake this from my mind so I am going to follow what I believe is God's nudging.
Many years ago, almost 30 to be exact (and we had been married for 20 at that point in time), we really became convicted about our lack of paying to God faithfully what we owed Him. And for sure it was rare that we ever offered a gift or an offering.
We were in the middle of raising three sons--big sons who ate a lot and wore out blue jeans and tennis shoes like they were made of silk--and well, you know, there just didn't seem to be any money left over at the end of the month to pay our tithes.
We had not figured out that tithes are supposed to be firstfruits.
Honor the Lord with your wealth
and with the firstfruits of all your produce;
10 then your barns will be filled with plenty,
and your vats will be bursting with wine. Proverbs 3:9,10
One other thing along this line: About this point in time, I asked our pastor if tithing was 10% of the gross or 10% of the net--His reply was, "Do you want to be blessed on the gross or the net?" He got his point across and so we tithe on our gross income.
"Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me! "But you ask, 'What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?' "You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me.
Malachi 3:8 NLB
Now I understood what God meant and I truly believed it BUT I also knew that God is
*slow to anger
*not hard-hearted
*looks for ways to encourage us
*long suffering
*and so many other qualities too numerous to name that would fit this particular situation.
So, because of those reasons, I talked to my husband and asked him if we could purpose in our hearts to pay 1% to God, faithfully, without question and no matter what.
He deliberated in his mind and with me--wondering if that was a good thing--at first did not want to do it but decided to.
We started faithfully paying the 1% and very soon it was up to 2%. Friend, I cannot tell you how fast this amount zoomed to 10% and soon after we were blessed to not only be able to PAY but to GIVE.
I personally don't believe we have given anything to God until after we have paid Him what we owe Him.
He has been so faithful to provide for us--to bless us with not only what we have needed but some of our wants also. Some of our biggest gifts and blessings have nothing to do with material possessions but are blessings of the heart, soul, and mind.
I write about this to encourage someone I hope--not to brag--I really don't think we have anything to brag about--any goodness or faithfulness that comes from us is ALL by the grace of God.
So if you or someone you know is having trouble getting started tithing, I pray that this might be a way to get you started.
I think it is very important that our hearts and minds are fixed on a goal that we feel God has established for us. After all, He knows our hearts.
Have a great week my friend--
Love,
Dianne
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "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 |
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