Tithes

A long time ago. My mother gave me a list of tasks to do.  She also told me that if I completed my tasks each week that she would give me an ‘allowance.’  I’m not sure why it was called an allowance but it meant that I would receive ten pennies.

Like I said, it was a long time ago when ten pennies were worth something.

I did my tasks that week and my mother counted out ten pennies and then she kept one of them. When I protested she said, “Grant this is your tithe.  You should tithe everything that you earn. Your entire life! When you tithe, you know that you please god. When you tithe God will bless you.”

Jesus says, “Give generously and generous gifts will be given back to you, shaken down to make room for more. Abundant gifts will pour out upon you with such an overflowing measure that it will run over the top!  Your measurement of generosity becomes the measurement of your return.” — Luke 6:28 (TPT)

Paul writes, “Here is my point. A stingy sower will reap a meager harvest, but the one who sows from a generous spirit will reap an abundant harvest. Let giving flow from your heart, not from a sense of religious duty. Let it spring up freely from the joy of giving– all because God loves a cheerful giver” – 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 (TPT & NASB)

Wow, it seems God agrees with my mother.  Even the Apostle Paul agrees with my mother. When you tithe, it is one thing that you know God wants you to do and it will bring you blessing.

My wife and I have tithed everything that we have made in 43 years of marriage. Through being on welfare; through very small paychecks; through no paychecks; through house and car payments; through vacations; through kids in a Christian school; through children in college; through death; through 9/11; through world financial turmoil; and through the Covid Crisis.

Sometimes I don’t know what to do.  I often need wisdom for a decision.  I regularly check whether my actions are God-inspired or me-inspired and often am not sure!  I have so many things to do in a day and wonder if all that I am doing is God’s will. 

When I give my tithe — I’m absolutely sure it is God’s will.  When I give my tithe with not enough left to pay bills, I make a little challenge to God, “God I pay my tithe and you pay my bills.”

I have a very high credit score!!!  Almost perfect.

I want blessing in my life.  I feel blessed. I have a wonderful wife (married 43 years on July 9, 2020). I have great children and even greater grandchildren!  I live in a nice house and drive a nice car.  I have friends. I have been the pastor of one church almost 50 years.

Giving one penny out of ten; tithing my entire Christian life — give and it will be given to you.  Tithing, something tangible that you know is God’s will, brings the greatest blessing of all as it takes away our inherent selfishness that ruins all blessing.

I’m glad that I listened to my mother. I’m thankful that God agrees with my mother.