Recently, an old friend of mine from high school was in town and we met up for dinner. I always enjoy seeing him because after five minutes it seems like we were never separated. Conversation naturally drifted to memories of all the shenanigans we managed to get into when we were younger.
In the fourteen years we’ve known each other, our lives have each taken us practically in opposite directions all over the map and through the hills and valleys that accompany growing up. We now find ourselves on very opposite ends of the spectrum in many ways but have always bonded through our past.
He has never been one to embrace what he refers to as “religious stuff,” and I’m not the type of guy to press the issue. However, I’m also not one to shy away from it.
“I know you’ve been going to church a lot lately. You haven’t let them con you into tithing have you?” he asked with a worried look on his face.
“Well, I wouldn’t call it ‘conning,’ but yes, actually, I give a tithe and an offering every paycheck,” I answered in a very matter-of-fact way. My friend’s reaction was a mix of horror and incredulity with a hearty side of cuss words.
“Brandon Howard, you can NOT afford to be doing that! Think about your future!”
Through furrowed brow he went on to lecture me for ten minutes with only the best intentions. He had very little understanding of why I choose to give the first 10% and then some of my earnings every two weeks.
The world will never understand tithing and, even though many Christians claim to, a recent statistic showed that less than 8% actually tithe faithfully to their local church. If more people would embrace tithing, we would see a much different world around us.
I’ll never go back to living on 100%. Here’s why:
God commanded it.
Our covenant with the Lord has changed but His nature does not change. Those who believe Christians are excused from tithing because it was under the old Law are reading their Bible for what they want to see, not what it says. Remember, murder and stealing were under the “old Law” too. Are those commandments irrelevant? Starting at Cain and Abel and trending through the Old and New Testament is a God who calls His people to have a faithful and generous heart with their possessions and finances. It doesn’t require faith to give the money I have left the day before my next paycheck.
Reverse economics.
To me, it takes more faith to trust in man’s economy than God’s economy. Just turn on the news. Jesus taught of a life of investment completely contrary to what seems to make sense. Die and you will live. Give and it will be given. He spoke of a reverse economy rich in blessing for those with the faith to give liberal sacrifices. The entire Bible is explicit in its teaching on God’s faithfulness to honor those who honor Him first in their giving.
It’s not mine.
Your money and your job are not your portion. Jesus is your portion. I’ve begun to develop so much more peace as I’ve wrapped my head around this. Jesus is much more permanent than my office cube. My job is a conduit through which the Lord blesses me with the resources to take care of myself. Each time I get a paycheck, I take a test. If it’s God’s money, then naturally the first fruits should be invested in His Kingdom. If it’s my money, then I can invest them in mine. The question is: In one hundred years which kingdom will still be around? How about a thousand or a million? Which one is the wiser investment?
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” {Matthew 6:21, ESV}
Treasure and heart—notice which one is listed first. No matter how much money I’ve made, I’ve never been able to afford to tithe until the day I started. Nothing magical instantly happened. Strangers didn’t begin paying for my meals. “Benjamins” didn’t starting falling from the sky.
Yet, my heart has followed my treasure, and since removing myself from man’s economy and placing myself under the blessing of heaven, my soul is more satisfied on less than it ever has been on more.
*Photo credit: RikkisRefuge Other
