A tithe is bringing the first 10 percent of a person’s income back to the local church. Tithing is a principle taught through the entire Bible. When we tithe, we are expressing worship in a tangible way by putting God first in our lives.
It
takes an act of faith to give God your tithes. There are bills to be paid, and you
are nervous as you pray, “God let there be enough at the end of the month.” Tithing
is about trusting God, and trusting God is a journey. Every Christian is on a
journey regarding their relationship with money and possessions.
Materialism
tells us that our money is ours alone to do with what we want. The Bible tells us something different. That
everything is a gift from our Heavenly Father. We are to be good managers (not
owners of) the resources entrusted to us. Here are some facts to know about tithing:
1.
In debt to tithe: If you are putting the
Lord first with the tithe, but overall you are going into debt, the problem is
not the tithe. The best next step is to get on a plan that brings your
expenses in line with your income while still keeping God at the top of the
priority list. God does not want you to borrow from your future to honor your
obedience to Him today.
2.
Tithing is a privilege:
Tithing isn’t something you “ought” to do or “have” to do – it’s something you
get to do. When people think about tithing, it can sometimes be with the
less-than-excited attitude that tithing is something they are obligated to do.
I want to encourage you to change your mindset
around tithing and instead look at it as a way to joyfully acknowledge God’s
provision over the resources He has asked you to steward. Instead of thinking
of tithing as an act you have to do. Consider tithing as something you joyfully
get to do. I guarantee this change in mindset, while admittedly not always easy
to maintain, will change everything. Joyful generosity is a gift.
3.
Tithing is an act of gratitude: As we have studied the behavioral economics of money
management. One thing consistently shows
up when we talk to people who have a contented relationship with their
financial situation. It is not how much money they have. It is a grateful heart.
When we focus on sharing our treasure, our time, and our talents, we take the
focus off of us and instead begin to focus outward on others.
This
shift in focus cultivates a grateful heart we have in our lives. When we chose
to live a joyful generous life, we can thrive financially. Don’t wait
until you have enough. Start now!.I believe God blesses this obedience and
discipline with a grateful heart; with it our world will get larger rather than smaller.
4.
Tithe on gifts or
scholarships: 2
Corinthians 9:11
says we will “be enriched in every way” so we can “be generous on
every occasion.” For some, being enriched might come in the form of income
earned for work performed. For others, God might choose to enrich you with a
gift or scholarship. Putting God first means we bring the tithe back to Him
regardless of the way He chooses to bless us.
5.
Tithe on the gross or
the net: Proverbs
3:9-10
MSG) says, “Honor God with everything you own; give Him the first and the best.
Your barns will burst. Your wine vats will brim over.” We
may not live in a agricultural society any more, but the concept of first
fruits still applies. Giving the first of our income to the Lord shows that He
is first in our hearts.
When
it comes to tithing on the gross or the net, we have to ask ourselves: Is God
first or is He not? Putting God first means putting him at the top of the list,
so our tithe comes off the top (or the gross) before anything else is
considered.
“Tithing isn't the ceiling of
giving; it's the floor. It's not the finish line of giving; it's just the
starting blocks. Tithes can be the training wheels to launch us into the
mind-set, skills, and habits of grace giving.” (Randy Alcorn) [i]
[i] Sources used:
·
“6 Questions about Tithing Answered” by Tommy Holt
·
“The 3 G's of Tithing” by Brad Hewitt
No comments:
Post a Comment