If you skipped or missed yesterday's blog post, Back In God's Court, I would ask that you read it before reading this one...Just trying to help.
I want to shine some light on an important issue concerning you and the language you attribute to your giving. To do this, I want to ask a question concerning yesterday's blog post. Ready? Here's the question, "Was yesterday's blog post, Back in God's Court, about obedience or generosity?"
If you are hard headed like me and you didn't read yesterday's post, and you still haven't, let me help you. I posted about tithing (and I do think it would do you good to read it!). I do not think tithing is generosity. I believe tithing is an obedience issue. Generosity is what you give beyond your tithe.
I also don't believe tithing is a salvation issue.
Here's what I mean. You are saved, through Jesus Christ, because of God's generous grace towards your life. Not because you give money. You did not earn your salvation. It is a gift of God. Look what the scripture says about this in Ephesians 1:4-6, "For he chose us in Christ before the foundations of the world that we may be holy and unblemished in his sight in love. He did this by predestining us to adoption as his sons through Jesus Christ, according to the pleasure of his will - to the praise of the glory of his grace that he has freely bestowed on us in his dearly loved Son."
Tithing is not a salvation issue. Tithing is an obedience issue. And, unlike any other obedience issue, it has a very clear goal. Think about Jesus' statement of "Love your neighbor." That's also a command. But how do I define love? Did I love enough today? Jesus also expects his followers to pray. But, how much prayer is enough? When have I hit my prayer goal for the day? God didn't provide a clear goal with any other obedience issue like he did with money. It's really simple. Did I give 10% of my income back to God? If yes, I was obedient. If no, then I wasn't.
This is fun. When you give your tithe, don't say, "I was generous." Instead say, "I was obedient." Obedience is a great thing. Why? Because, most times in scripture, God's blessings follow obedience.
Now...Like yesterday, I must be direct. You may get upset with me, but this is how I learned to be obedient to the tithe. So hang on. I learned early in my Christian walk that there is no such thing as partial obedience. Giving 9.9% is not 10%...Which would mean it is not a tithe. I want to push you to trust God with HIS money! Don't allow yourself to say, "I can't." Be honest and say, "I'm afraid to" or "I don't want to." The truth is that of course you can tithe. It's just scary because you've never trusted God with such a tangible thing before.
Blessings,
Pastor Matt