Where Do I Sign?
People have some very interesting views on tithing. I believe strongly that it is important for us to tithe and that it does indeed release blessing in our lives. Why? Because the scripture teaches that. I’m not talking about blessing of money falling form the sky or people handing me keys to luxury cars. Blessing from God can take the form of His joy abounding in my life, peace in the midst of a hard situation, and yes, provision when I just don’t see how there will be enough.
However, to many, money is too important a thing to trust God with. They don’t have the realization that He is the one who gives US the ability to obtain wealth (Deut. 8:18). Apart from His favor and hand, I don’t have the ability in my own strength anyway. And besides, the issue of tithing isn’t a money issue…it’s a heart issue. God doesn’t need our money. His economy isn’t going to collapse if we don’t pump dollars into it like some sort of stimulus. He has gold paved streets and walls made of gemstones… The money is not what He cares about. He wants to know our hearts are for Him first, and no for ourselves.
To illustrate that point, I want to share a story I read recently:
A cartoon once illustrated the attitude many Christians have toward giving their money to the Lord. In the first frame, a man was looking at a car he was interested in buying. He asked the salesman, ‘What are the terms?’
The salesman replied, ‘Ten percent down, and low payments for 48 months.’ Immediately, the man replied, ‘Where do i sign?’
In the second frame, the same man was looking at a new refrigerator on display in an appliance center. When he asked the salesman for the terms, the man told him, ‘Nothing down, and no interest for 12 months.’ Once again, without hesitation, the man said, ‘Where do I sign?’
In the third frame, the same man was looking to buy a house. The realtor told him the terms, ‘Ten percent down and 30 years to pay.’ Without giving it much thought, the man exclaimed ‘Where do I sign?’
In the last frame, the same man was talking to his pastor. The pastor asked him, ‘Would you please sign this commitment card to give the Lord 10 percent of your income for the next year?’
In shock and horror, the man replied, ‘What! And tie myself to an obligation like that for 52 weeks? No sir! The future is too insecure. I don’t want to make a commitment that I might not be able to keep!’
Sadly, that is indeed the thinking of many people. A commitment to God might be to difficult. But the commitment to ourselves is worth whatever price we have to pay. God thought similarly when He redeemed us. He thought that the price of leaving us in our sin was too high, so He paid it on our behalf. Gratitude should compel us to want to give to the Lord, not obligation…
DK
No trackbacks yet.