When God Speaks

The subject discussed today is one that most have clear cut ideas on for whatever reasons. It is the topic of tithing. Some tithe a percentage, some tithe then do offerings as well. Some believe tithes should only be given to a church. Some may tithe once a month, then skip several months because they feel they cannot afford to tithe and certainly, God knows and understands this, right? Then, there are those that do not give period citing that all they hear from the pulpit is about money and giving money. Well, I would venture to say to this last excuse is, ‘Why are you still there if that is all you hear and if so, maybe God is trying to tell you something’. Basically, all this talk is nonsense. Quit making excuses and just don’t give. No one cares if you give or not. That is on you. If I were a betting person, I would bet you are not very prosperous. You can’t be given that you stop God’s hand from blessing you when you don’t. As some may say. ‘You bite the hand that feeds you’. How sad for you.

Moving right along, tithing is giving back to God what is His anyway. This is an obedience and faith test. Not for God, but for yourself. When you look at your debt due and compare it to your income, things can look a little scary. Like, not enough money to cover all debt due so what do I do? I understand this outlook. Been there a few times. Did I pass the test? No, not everytime, but today I know I cannot afford not to tithe. The blessings given back to me for giving God a little of His own back are staggering. Tithing is the first thing paid on bill day. Never and I do mean never has God not poured out His blessings on me when I tithe. I cannot out give God, don’t even try anymore. The Word tells us when we give that we need to give what we have already decided in our hearts, not with compulsion and to give with a willing and wanting to give heart or He says don’t give at all. It is still a heart thing. Now, there are givers and there are those less inclined to give. Giving runs in my family so I inherited the giving gene. I love giving. You have heard people say when you give to another that the giver is more blessed than the receiver is and this is true. You cannot escape the outpouring from God when you give willingly.

I have been in situations where I have thought maybe I need to think about where I am planting seed ( or giving ). Say, a homeless person or someone with a cardboard sign reading, ‘Need food, hungry, need a blessing or whatever’ comes across my path and I think, ‘Well, they might use this money for alcohol’ so I don’t give because God would not want me to furnish alcohol, right? Of course, He wouldn’t. But, to give because they may be hungry is my motive for giving. God looks at my heart. Or, I may think, ‘If they had not used their money for drugs, then they would have money for food’. So, that is their fault. Yes, it is, but the fact remains that they are hungry so feed them. We are only responsible for our actions, not theirs. Take them food if you are that concerned, but most folks just use that as an excuse to not give. Time is a lot more important than money, but this world is in such a hurry to go nowhere all the time that to give an hour or less of our time to someone in need is unheard of these days.

So, how are we to spread the love of Christ if we have no time to offer? We cannot. Spreading the Word and God’s love is for all Christians, not just pastors, teachers, and church leadership. I heard a pastor tell someone once when asked for help that his church no longer helped because the people never came back to church when they did help. How horrible is that? Helping was contingent on the people attending church. The Bible doesn’t say that anywhere and he wonders why his church has not grown. Hmm? I bet you can figure that one out. So what if what we give is used another way? We are told to give, not figure out what, where, and why the ones asking are using it for. It is not yours anyway. It is all God’s. Makes me think of the one in the Bible that when his master went on a trip and left people in charge of his estate and finances this one did nothing with what he was left with. He told his master when he returned that he still had the same amount as when he left. That he had buried it because he was afraid that he would lose money if not paid back and he knew how hard a man his master was. Well, the master was angry about this decision and the man was cast out and his talents were given to one that made it grow. (MATTHEW 25:14-30 ).

Brothers & sisters, if you should see a person in need, then by all means give. Do not try to figure out the why’s, just give. God sees your heart and He sees the heart of the one needing help. Who knows, your act of giving may be the only time that person sees Christ and if a turnaround takes place, look what God has done through you and if one sinner repents, all heaven rejoices. And, don’t forget to give back to God what is already His. How you do this is between you and God. Be blessed.