Why Tithe

Lord, thank you for all that you have blessed me with and by the way Lord I need_________, __________, and __________ (you fill in the blanks).

I bet many of you have had or heard prayers like that. We are programmed to believe that we can go to God for everything and He will bless us according to our needs. And believe me, it’s true! God will provide for your every need and even some of your wants if they line up with what God has for your life. But have you ever just stopped and asked, God what is it that I can bless you with or what can I do for you Lord? One of the simplest things you can do unto God is follow His word and be obedient. One way that I’ve learned to be obedient to God is through tithing. Simply put, tithing is giving God 10% of your increase. In my own words, tithing is giving God what is rightfully His without any questions, moans, groans, or I’ll get you on the next go around.

I remember when I was a young girl, I would take my loose change or the dollar my mother gave me and put it into the offering tray every Sunday. I would walk down the aisle and politely grace the church with my little dollar and walk back to my seat like I was doing something great because that was what I was taught. I saw church goers give an offering every Sunday but there was never a call by the pastor to bring tithes. That soon changed when I visited what is now my current church home. Over the past several years, I have learned that the first level of tithing is the action of developing a foundation of giving. One would think that I had a strong foundation since I gave my dollar every Sunday. As I grew in Christ, however, I realized that giving was just the start. The ultimate root of tithing was obedience unto God and to trust God with all you have.

Many people often state that they don’t understand the concept of tithing; therefore I offer this very simple explanation. For every dollar you earn set aside 10 cents for God. People often use the same excuse of not being able to trust the pastor or other members of the church to use the tithes wisely. My answer to that excuse is always the same, why worry about how the money is being used but rather trust God to fulfill His plans for your tithe. Those that misuse God’s tithe will have to give account for their actions and so will those who continue to willfully rob God through not paying tithes. Remember that the Bible states in Malachi 3:8 that “Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, how do we rob you? In tithes and offerings.” Therefore reside in the fact that when you pay your tithes God sees you as worthy enough to receive a continual pouring of blessings that you won’t have room to receive.

We take a chance on much riskier things in life such as the stock market, the lottery, and get rich quick schemes, so why not take a chance on a God that has plans to prosper you and not harm you. God that doesn’t have to worry about how the economy is doing, or whether He picked the right Powerball number, but rather God can do exceedingly and abundantly above all that we could ever ask or think. God never charges you a transaction fee for conducting business on your behalf. I’ve come to the realization that no matter what the bank statement says I have in my account, I know through obedience my needs are met because of the deposit that I made in heaven. A withdrawal slip is never necessary because of my obedience to God and knowing in my heart and my mind that He will provide my every need. Nevertheless, remember you have to make a deposit in order to make a withdrawal.

Many people choose to overlook tithing by making the argument that tithing is of the Old Testament and not of the New Testament. My argument, however, is neither for the old or the new, but simply that God gave us the Bible to learn about Him and as a guide for life, therefore if it’s in the Bible then He must have thought it was important enough for it to be there. Therefore, we should avoid picking and choosing what we want to take from the Bible and live by, but choose to believe it in its entirety. I am not sure about you but I want all the blessings that God has for me. If tithing is one way to get more blessings than I have room enough to receive, I constantly say God here is all of me and a blank check, Lord you fill it in.

More Scriptures On Tithing:

“And now, behold, I have brought the first fruits of the land, which thou, O Lord, hast given me. And thou shalt set it before the Lord thy God, and worship before the Lord they God.” Deuteronomy 26:10

“Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.” Proverbs 3:9-10

“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matthew 6:21

*Stephanie Perry Johnson is a Senior Financial Analyst for FedEx and Contributing Writer for DIVINE Magazine.

A Plethora of Provision

When we think of God providing for us, we often limit our thinking to the financial aspect. However, God provides for us in a number of ways and the extent to which He provides for His children is incomprehensible. Let's take a look at a few ways:

Relational

In relationships, when the person that you've invested time and energy with turns out to be someone that is not right for your destiny, God provides a way out and He provides a second chance to meet the person who you were truly intended for and who was truly intended for you. In friendships, when seasons change and friends move out of our lives or their roles change in our lives, God provides us with new friends to fill the void or those who have been there all along step up. God provides us with parents and guardians, husbands, wives, children, pastors, educators, advisors, mentors and so on. "God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19) Even in relationships, God makes the necessary provisions to mold us into the men and women that we are to become.

Health

When we neglect our temples, we are indeed destroying the bodies that God has entrusted to us. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 reminds us "You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." As many times as you've dealt with minor sickness like allergies, common colds, etc., God has provided you with doctors of varying expertise who instruct you how to care for your bodies, nutritionists who encourage you to eat correctly, and exercise coaches/personal trainers who show you how to properly exercise. God has even made provisions for your mental well-being by equipping psychologists, psychiatrists, counselors and life coaches to help you to cope with life in a more balanced way. Pastors, prayer partners, preachers and teachers all provide you with guidance to optimum spiritual health. Everything that we need for healthy minds, bodies and spirits has been provided to us by our Lord & Savior.

Strength
When life seems too hard, God provides us with supernatural strength to endure. We experience death, financial setbacks, health issues, challenging projects and tasks, dysfunctional relationships, and the results of poor choices. However, God knows how much we can bear and he gives us what we need right when we need it. God also gives us a way of escape when we are tempted to succomb to choices that make us weak or that make life much more difficult to handle. I Corinthians 10:13 ensures us that "no temptation (or trial) has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted (or tried) beyond what you are able, but with the temptation (or trial) will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it." God provides us with strength and ways to escape the things that can harm us.

Financial
In these economic times, it is certainly important to acknowledge that God provides for us financially. From our jobs to our modes of transportation, we have everything that we need. We may not have everything that we want, but if we are able to make ends meet even 80% of the time, then we are farther along than most. Many of us have had to sacrifice higher paying jobs, vacations, simple luxuries and so on in order to survive. However, just as Abraham was willing to sacrifice his own flesh and blood and God provided for him, we have access to the same God, the same generous Provider. "And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh. As it is said to this day, In the mount of Jehovah it shall be provided." (Genesis 12:14).

As long as we remember to acknowledge God for the plethora of provision that He bestows upon us, then we can make it through any storm. If we are always reflecting on how far we've come and how God has provided for us before then we can have genuine confidence that He will do the same again and again. Even when life doesn't unfold as we expect it to, we have a Jehovah-Jireh watching and waiting to provide a ram in the bush and things will unfold exactly how God intends them to unfold.

The Value of Support

Support can be defined as bearing the weight of, providing aid or strength, defending, or providing a foundation. Those definitions would probably describe some of the nurturing relationships that exist with various people in your life. There aren't too many things that are more valuable than having a great support system. Christ reminds us in John 15:12-13 to love each other as He loved us. "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."

Here are a few examples of support:

• You've been laid off your job and now you depend on others for financial support.
• Your neighbor needs her grass cut and you offer to help her out for free.
• You've started a new business and now a mentor provides you with moral support.
• The nursing home down the street needs volunteers and you gladly sign up.
• Death creeps into your family and you're immediately surrounded with love & unconditional support.
• Your place of worship & its leaders help you to grow spiritually and in return you begin to serve with different ministries to provide several levels of support.
• Being a parent is much easier with the support of a spouse, grandparents, etc.
• It's your freshmen year in college and you are adopted by a junior studying the same major and they offer to show you the ropes.
• You've taken sick and you are trusting a team of doctors and nurse to provide you with all the care and support that you need.
• You join a local cause to help save a country destroyed by a recent tragedy.
  

Willingness to provide some level of support to others should be a part of your DNA. If you're normally the one on the receiving end, start thinking of ways that you can sow into others. It doesn't have to be anything major you can actually start off taking tiny steps. Before long you will be so caught up in helping and loving on others that it won't seem like a chore but something that you adore.

On the other end of the spectrum is being open to receive support. If you've experienced a hardship in life or entered a phase in life where you seem to be faced with a plethora of unanswered questions, don't be too ashamed to reach out to others for help. God gives some people the gift of giving and they are fulfilling their purpose in life when they are allowed the privilege to bless you. Of course, someone providing support shouldn't be abused or confused but honored, respected and appreciated. When you've experienced someone who will sow into you with no strings attached, it will ignite a fire in you to keep the circle of love and support going.

Being supportive is contagious! It works both ways and adds great value to everyone's life.