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| Source: hiveminer.com |
About a year or so ago, I shared a blog series on the subject of tithing.
While I only received positive words about it, I am sure in reality, it had a more mixed reception. After all, who wants to discuss money, especially giving it away--isn't that one of the forbidden conversation topics (besides politics and religion) in our culture?
But I must just state--and restate--that God stands by His word and blesses those who step out in faith and tithe.
I have a few examples of this to share with you today on the blog, dear friend.
First, I was grinning ear-to-ear when a father in our church stood up and gave a testimony regarding tithing this week in our church.
He shared that while he and his family would put a few dollars in the offering plate each Sunday, they had never committed to tithing until last year. He went on to share that in a year's time, their family finances have completely turned around. Instead of living pay check to pay check, as they had for years before, they were scheduled to close on their NEW HOUSE this week. What am amazing testimony to God's faithfulness to His word in Malachi 3:10:
"Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need."
I, too, can look back over the past year and see how God has blessed my family in a myriad of ways. Like how we just "happened" to win an office door prize valued at over $150 this Christmas. Or how we just "happened" to be selected to receive 5 tickets to the Maryland Science Center from our local library through their summer reading program. Just last week, while on vacation, we were handed a meal voucher from the table next to us that covered 6 meals, including gratuity and tax, saving us over $70! We had to just marvel when we walked out of the restaurant after our meal, thanking God as a family for His very good, very unexpected, and very undeserved gifts!
Now, don't misunderstand me--I do not believe that God always financially blesses those who tithe--He blesses us in all kinds of different ways. But let us not misunderstand either--the statistics stand for those who are skeptical:
tithers ARE financially better off than non-tithers
I will link to a few articles for those who want to learn more, but here's a few stats that come up from a very simple Google search from reliable sources:
Tithers carry much less debt than most people and are financially better off than Christian non-tithers—80% of “tithers” have no unpaid credit card bills; 74% have no car payments; 48% own their home; and 28% are completely debt-free.
Of course, folks will skew this data to say that those who tithe do so BECAUSE they can afford to. I know otherwise, as a tither myself.
I am so excited to cheer on some of our extended family members who have chosen the path of obedience and started to tithe a tenth of their income starting just last month in March. Will you join them, dear friend? May we cheer each other on as we step out in faith and give a mere portion of what is already God's.
Let my message be clear today, dear friend.
You cannot afford NOT to tithe!
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