Giving to God

A study revealed that only 12% of Christians tithe. Maybe that is why Pastor Tim mentioned our money being an idol!  The Bible tells us that if we do not tithe we are robbing God. Wow!   Malachi 3: 8-10, “Begin by being honest. Do honest people rob God? But you rob me day after day. ‘You ask, ‘How have we robbed you?’ ‘The tithe and the offering—that’s how!’”  Tithing should be a lifestyle that puts everything, including our wallet, in the right priority.  

Deuteronomy 14: 22, “Make an offering of ten percent, a tithe, of all the produce which grows in your fields year after year.” 2 Corinthians 9: 6, “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”  

In 1996, Mike and I decided to “test” God with our finances.  Malachi 3: 10, “‘...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.”  We believed we were to write the tithe check first and it was scary but we began to see things “happen.”  There was no way, on paper this would make sense but things always worked out. Unexpected checks would arrive for the very amount needed.  Every year we would up our tithe, even a little, to show God we had faith and trust in Him with our finances.  God remains faithful and we continue to have everything we need and more!  Luke 6: 38, “Give and it will be given to you.  A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.”

I say tithing is a heart issue because it is when we realize everything belongs to God that we are joyful to give back to Him.  The tenth is a standard but to go beyond the tithe is an indication of our gratefulness for God’s gifts to us.  Watch the blessings flow!  Adding to Pastor Tim’s list of things God is to us, He is the best Financial Advisor, free of charge, wanting the best for us and we can trust Him!