Entry #6 - Cold Hard Cash

Money. For some of us, the word makes us feel all warm and fuzzy inside. For some of us, the word instantly stresses us out. Some have a lot of it, some have just enough, and some literally have none. Unfortuantely, money is our source of life in this broken and corrupt world. At sixteen, I idealistically imagined a world where we didn't have to rely or function on money. (That was when I was looking for a job so that I could buy a car.)

I run into a lot of people, Christians and non-Christians alike, who also have problems with money - they have problems with giving their money to a church, or some pastor who does "who knows what" with their hard-earned income. This, in the Christian cirlces, is called tithing. I mean, why wouldn't you rather give it to a charity, or donate it to a good cause like finding a cure for AIDS or cancer, or giving it to one of those commercials that sponsor children in Africa. I'm sure my money would be better served elsewhere than to pay my pastor's mortgage. Right??

Hmmmm.

The more I study the Bible on tithing, the more I realize it really has nothing to do with money. Yep. You heard me right. God calls us to tithe - ten percent of our income - to the church, because He wants our hearts. It's a heart issue. It's also out of obedience that we give part of our income back to God. Malachi 3:10 says, "'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 you will not have room enough for it.'" If there is one thing in my experience that is true of God, it is that He keeps His promise. Time and time again, He proves to me that my source of financial income absolutely does not come from any employer, but Him alone! I have too many examples of that to explain here. The bottom line is this: if we believe God's word and hold it as truth, then obedience is just the next step. And God wants your whole heart. Not the pretty and all put-together part, but the ugly and sinful part too. He wants to make you whole. I dare you to step out in faith and obedience, and watch what God does. See if He will "throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it"!