Last time we spoke about the tithe. This time, we will continue with this
discussion. We once heard a Christian
say that she was going to send part of her tithe to help a particular
animal. Whereas this is a very worthwhile
cause, this is wrong-minded.
Our tithe goes to the storehouse. That is the local church,
period. There are so many worthwhile
organizations out there that we could never support them all.
Countless books on personal budgeting speak of working
towards being able to give. If by giving
they mean giving above and beyond the tithe, they are spot on. However, if they mean we do all these other
things they list before we pay the tithe, they are simply wrong.
It is not just important that we tithe. It is also important
that we tithe with a happy heart. When
Abel gave his offering to God, he gave with a happy heart. He gave of the very best he had. In ancient times, the fat of an animal was
considered to be one of the very best parts.
Let’s face it, fat tastes good. That is why we love it. It is too bad it is bad for us. But when the fat of an animal is mentioned
along with tithes, offering, sacrifices, etc., it is meant to signify that the
really best part is given.
The Bible does not spell out why God liked Abel’s gift but
was not happy with Cain’s gift. However,
it is most likely that since the Bible points out that Abel gave of the
firstlings and the fat thereof, Abel gave the first and the best. It appears that Cain really did not try to
give the best or the first. He made a
half-hearted effort at giving. Most
likely Cain was giving just enough to get by.
His heart was not in the giving.
And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain
brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord.
And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his
flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
But unto Cain and to his offering he had not
respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance
fallen?
If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and
if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his
desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
Genesis 4:3-7 KJV
This is David speaking now; years ago I felt God’s
conviction to give. However, since we
have been under a tight budget most of our married life, it was very scary to
give the first tenth knowing there was not enough money to pay all the bills,
even if we didn’t give the tithe.
I would give it and then worry about how we were going to
get by. And, most of the time, we did
not. Finally, Suzanne and I discussed
this and prayed about it and we decided that it wasn’t that God was not holding
up His end of the bargain, it was that we, (really me, David) was giving and
not really leaving it up to God.
When we give and let God handle the details, somehow He
works it out for us. Somehow, there is
an unexpected check. Maybe the power
bill is lower for some reason. Maybe we
get a rebate we did not even know we had coming.
We discovered that God truly is in control. He is very rarely early, but NEVER late. We
must give with the understanding that God is very much like Uncle Milton from
the story we shared with you. He does
not need our money to do His work. But,
it is ALL His money. We only take care
of it for Him.
Please Visit My Child Bride Suzanne's Blog
If you would like for me to pray for you, please drop me an e-mail by clicking prayer.
I respond to all approved comments on this blog, ideally within 24 hours. Please check back here for a response to your comment. Thank you!
Please be advised that all the information in this course is provided to educate, enlighten, and broaden your views in life. The information provided is not a substitute for medical, legal, dietary, financial/accounting, or religious professionals.
Always consult a professional before you act on any of the information you find in this course.
Disclaimer
The opinions or advice listed in this blog or website should be used as a place to start only. It is not a substitute for the use of a professional.
Please be sure to consult your attorney, accountant, and/or other professionals with any specific questions.
There is no one right answer to any business question that will cover all circumstances.
No comments:
Post a Comment