Giving to God What is His...Tithing

Well I figure if I'm going to dedicate myself to this blog I might as well hit the ground running and pick a "hot" topic....but one I know a lot of us struggle with (and I know because I used to be the worst!) TITHING!

Most of us know the basic rule if we have attended church....we are to give 10% to God. But I thought I would look deeper into this command from God because even though I have been able to "see the light" and started tithing my 10% no matter if it was the last two dimes I had or if I would have $300 left in the bank. It isn't easy, when you have a family and you know that there is no money for the grocery store or for the water bill its hard to put that money in an envelope and watch it drift down the pew in the bottom of that collection plate. But I have truly found that when I give God what is his....BEFORE I give to my creditors that I end up making the ends meet after all! Somehow, someway the bills get paid and the cabinets have food in them. God will provide for you if you give him what is his.

Enough about my personal experience, most people aren't going to just listen to one person tell their story....here are some scriptures that not only prove my point but hopefully stir your heart and make it a little easier for you to let go of selfishness and give to God what is already his...

Luke 12:34: "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

Malachi 3:10: "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it."

Luke 6:38: "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again."

Proverbs 3:9-10: "Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine."

2 Corinthians 9:6-8: "But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work."

Although I have began to realize the joy of tithing and have learned to be a "cheerful giver" and have been able to fight back Satan's lies (you wont be able to feed your child, you wont be able to pay that bill, etc.) I have learned that I am still not tithing the "right way" because I have stopped at giving of my money, which is not all of the "treasure" I possess. I have time, talent, and the gifts that God has given me that I am selfishly keeping to myself. God doesn't only require that we tithe 10% of our money but also tithe of our time. Giving back to others by giving up our most precious assets....our time and energy.

And I know in this economy this one is going to sting but God also wants us to give above and beyond our tithes....to help others who are less fortunate than we are.

Matthew 19:21-22: "Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions."

I know this is a difficult topic for almost everyone....and is especially difficult for new Christians but this is a command of God to give back to him what is his. Our money, our time, our talents and even our children. All that we have are gifts from God....a "loan" from him and who are we to refuse to give back to him what is his to begin with. We must pray or fast or whatever it takes to find the peace to be a cheerful giver and then and only then will we see the fruits of our labor and be showered with the blessings of God!