Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: ODD (02/20/20)
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TITLE: It's So Unusual | Previous Challenge Entry
By Debra Brand
02/26/20 -
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I remember an incident my husband had at work. He was sitting in his county highway truck at a blacktop plant, waiting to get loaded when one of his co-workers jumped onto the running board.
He blurted out, “How can you tithe?”
“What?”
“How can you tithe? How is it possible for you to give up 10% of your income? I can’t possibly tithe. I have too many bills and responsibilities. I have kids. I have college savings to start.” He explained with an anguished look.
My husband just smiled. “I know it sounds weird but I have more than enough because I tithe. I can’t afford not to tithe.”
The other guy looked so dejected and astonished at his answer. He was thinking his salvation hinged upon tithing. He was not willing to trust in the Lord. I’m not sure if he ever grasped the truth.
Our finances weren’t always tithed to the Lord. Before my husband received salvation we spent a lot of money frivolously in the name of self-employment expenses. Tithing wasn’t even on our radar.
When I found a great church, I realized how much money we threw away and how little the Lord really required of us. Of course, my unsaved husband said I had a five-dollar limit for the offering.
Since my husband came to the Lord in 2007, we became more prudent and conscious of paying off our debt, purchasing used cars, and living below our income. Trusting in the Lord has become more and more exciting.
In Malachi, the Lord says starting in chapter 3, verse 8, “Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, ‘How have we robbed You?’ “In tithes and offerings.” I know a lot of people say it is ‘Old Testament’ teaching and doesn’t apply to the ‘New Testament’ church. Even if it is ‘Old Testament’ teaching, why wouldn’t tithing give honor to God today as well?
In the New Testament Luke 11:42, Jesus says “But woe to you Pharisees! For you pay tithe of mint and rue and every kind of garden herb, and yet disregard justice and the love God; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.” I believe Jesus is saying ‘be just, love God and don’t neglect tithing.’
As we have followed this insane (to the world) idea of tithing, our finances have been blessed, shaken, pressed down, and overflowing. Our salaries have increased yearly and now we are able to have seven streams of income as we head into retirement. A small second mortgage for a garage and our automobiles will be paid off this year. We have no credit card debt, our taxes are up to date, and for the first time in forever, we have accumulated savings. To be able to give freely to others in need and support certain ministries has been a big bonus to our hearts.
We have trusted God in this: “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the Lord of host, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows. Then I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of the ground; nor will your vine in the field cast its grapes,” says the Lord of hosts. Malachi 4:10-11
“Love the Lord, your God, with all your heart and all your soul, and with all your mind.” Matthew 22:37. It means all your increases and your wealth, also. We get to keep 90%! It gives honor to the Lord. The Lord owns everything and we are His caretakers of this world. Does He need our tithe? No. But we need His blessings. Tithing works.
I leave you with this scripture from Matthew 6:33. “So above all, constantly chase after the realm of God’s kingdom and the righteousness that proceeds from him. Then all these less important things will be given to you abundantly.”
Is it so unusual?
*All scripture is quoted from NASB version.
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