Tithing

This was first posted on 9.19.06. I know many of you read it last year and have heard our story, yet the Lord has placed it upon my heart to post it again.

"Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not keep them. Return to me, and I will return to you," says the Lord Almighty. "But you ask, 'How are we to return?' "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "in tithes and offerings........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." Malachi 3: 7, 8 & 10

The date of October 16, 2001 is marked next to these verses in my Bible with a note beside it saying, "Time for us to stop robbing God of His money. Take a leap in faith."

The previous year was the year we had Emily, I was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, went through 6 months of treatment and Eric got laid off of his job of 5 years. In 2001 we were trying to make ends meet on $900.00 a month from unemployment. VISA, car, house, health, auto insurance payments, other living expenses and unforeseen expenses had to come out of this money. It seemed impossible to meet all our needs.

One day during a sermon on tithing these verses were brought to our attention. We were never good at tithing and always made it the last check of the month to write out. Pastor Steve challenged us to tithe every month even if we didn't have the money to do so. To take that leap of faith and see how God would take care of our needs. We decided to take up the challenge.

Our needs were great and the unemployment check didn't even cover our house payment let alone everything else. We did have many wonderful people help us along the way which really did keep us going and for which we're so thankful for. But writing out the first check of the month to tithing before paying the bills was a scary thing to do. It didn't make sense on paper. Yet, God stretched our $900.00 so that we were able to pay every bill and stay afloat for 14 months. Twice we were blessed with $1,000 in cash in the mail that was the exact amount we needed. Who gave us $2,000 is still a mystery but God moved them to bless us with it.

You may think tithing is a way for the church to get your money and, yes, through tithing the staff is paid, the building is paid for and kept up and other ministries are supported. But in all reality, what we are given is from God and what He asks back is an act of obedience and a leap of faith. In doing so, He is showing us that He cares for us and does watch over ALL of our needs and we grow in ways we never expected.

To this day I can't tell you how we ended up in a better position then before Eric lost his job. I have no clue how God worked it all out and I give Him all the glory for blessing us in so many ways. God cares for us and wants us to live the life He intended for us to live. Take the leap of faith in turning to Him, in following His leading or if you are a Believer and part of a Church body, in tithing.

Krista Jones
9.18.06