God provided so we could adopt our 5th child.
In our modern-day living, “tithing” seems like an ancient word that doesn’t apply to tight finances. Encarta World English Dictionary defines it thus: 1. Paying of tithes: the assessing or paying of tithes 2. one-tenth: one-tenth part of something.
What Encarta doesn’t address is the importance of tithing to one’s overall financial wellness. Take, for example, the above picture of that lovely child and her father. This is our fifth child we adopted from Russia due to tithing; Encarta didn't mention that benefit!
So what does God and The Church have to say about tithing? The tithe is the first ten percent of our income, which belongs to the Lord. Offerings are above and beyond the tithe. In 2 Corinthians 9:6-8, God encourages us to give bountifully as well as cheerfully, for “God loves a cheerful giver.” God wants to see us smile as we drop that money into the collection plate: But how? By trusting Him, of course!
The tithe has a vital function not only for The Church but also for the giver. Our ten percent not only supports The Church ministries, but it also helps us learn to fear The Lord. God has promised to give wisdom and blessing to those who fear Him. Deuteronomy 14:22-23 states, “Each year you shall tithe all the produce that grows in the field you have sown; then in the place which the Lord, your God, chooses as the dwelling place of his name you shall eat in his presence your tithe of the grain, wine, and oil, as well as the firstlings of your herd and flock, that you may learn always to fear the Lord, your God.”
For The Frugal Catholic, the tithe teaches priorities. If we give God that first ten percent, He lets us have the other 90 percent to use as we need, and He blesses it. Proverbs 3: 9-10 expounds on this thought. “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with first fruits of all your produce; then will your barns be filled with grain, with new wine your vats will overflow.”
Truthfully, if you don’t give that ten percent to God right off the top, then the enemy will gobble it up, and the other ninety percent will disappear too. One such example is debt. Debt itself is often a witness that tithing is not taking place. Therefore, it should be a motivation to begin tithing to allow God to show His power in one’s finances.
Now, what about those who have practiced tithing? What do they say? Jill Moore of South Carolina states, “Tithing is very important. I suggest have the sum withdrawn automatically so that you aren’t tempted to spend it.”
Adrienne Oleson of California adds, “The Lord blesses us with so much. It’s the least we can do to give back to Him in a small way. I believe that tithing is more than just money. I believe giving to the Lord should be in total your time, your heart, your mind, your life, your everything.”
Doris Schroeder of Washington confirms, “I consider tithing a privilege and a possibility to share with others. Tithing is the way to opening the door to God’s blessings, and it assures us of His protection. If you don’t tithe, you’ll lose the money in other ways and wonder why bad things happen.”
And finally, Dixie Moore in Bainbridge Island, WA, remarks, “Tithing is an expression of a Christian. Take ten percent off each paycheck and put it into a special account. We then have money to give to the church and missions. By doing it that way, we are not deciding between food or gas but giving it to the church."
I challenge you to try it. God most certainly does as Malachi 3:10 exhorts, where He says, “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house, and try me in this, says the Lord of hosts: Shall I not open for you the floodgates of heaven, to pour down blessing upon you without measure?”
Give God His ten percent due, and ninety-percent BLESSED will He return to you. TFC
Martha Wild King, M. Ed., Author
The Frugal Catholic: Learn to live on less to give and save more.