The Art of Giving

God has a way of giving by the cartloads to those who give away by shovelfuls.  Charles Spurgeon

There was a time when I didn’t tithe.  At the time I didn’t even know what tithing meant.  The definition of tithe is the tenth part of agricultural produce or personal income set apart as an offering to God.  In biblical times this meant giving a tenth of your income and back then cash wasn’t always what you gave as your tithe.  Sometimes they gave a tenth of their crop for God’s storehouse or maybe they gave sheep and goats. 

Our society is wealthy by the world’s standards.  We own more, make more and also spend more than most societies on earth. 

When I first started tithing it was difficult.  Money had such a hold on me that I thought it provided me security.  It’s sad when you base your security on a 6” x 2 ½” piece of paper with a picture of a dude on the front. But that is exactly what I did.  I thought security came with money.  The sad reality is it doesn’t and it’s not even close. 

If you think about it, God’s plan is amazing but in our society it sounds illogical.  Where else can you give a tenth of what you earn and God multiplies it.  The thing is there is an emotional aspect that has to be present for this multiplying to happen.  If I feel pressured to give then the blessing is lost. If I have a hard time letting go of that piece of paper that I think buys me security, then I am better off keeping it. 

Several years ago my husband lost his job. Money was tight and we didn’t have extra to go around.  This is when I really started tithing.  When I started trusting in God instead of the almighty dollar for security my life turned around. This didn’t mean that money started rolling in. If you understand anything about God, you will realize that His ways are not ours.  I didn’t receive an amazing raise, although God can do that if He wants to.   God is often more subtle than that. What I noticed was that when we needed something, whether it was food or medicine or the utilities needed to be paid, that was when God did some of His best work. 

One day I would receive a check from the insurance company for a bill that we had been overcharged for a service and they were reimbursing us for the overcharge.  Another time my utility company gave a rebate and a check showed up in the mailbox.  Every time this happened was the point where I would turn to God and say “I’m not sure where or how we will pay this but I know You know what we need”, and every time that happened He provided. 

There is an art to giving.  It begins by letting go.  What I have learned is that the more I tithe and the more I sacrificially give, the more God blesses me.  It goes back to reaping and sowing.  Whatever we sow we will reap.  If we hold onto what we have and hoard it that is all we will ever have.  If we give it away, God will multiply it.  When we become a generous giver we become more like God.  When we have the faith to give it away, God will multiply.    

Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, there was a time when I didn’t tithe.  I held onto money like it was my salvation and security.  When I started letting it go I found the most amazing peace in You.  You have taught me what it means to be a cheerful giver and I praise You for teaching me the art of giving.  There is a little joy dance that goes on in my heart when I see someone in need and give cheerfully.         

Scripture: “I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.  Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty.

“But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’ “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’

“In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty. “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty.  Malachi 3:6-12