Tithing, giving, helping

This entry is a random rambling with no organization whatsoever regarding giving, helping, tithing and just feeling good and receiving God’s blessings.

Tithing (by my definition) is not only giving monies to the church but it’s about giving to others…period. Helping others who are in need, others who can’t do for themselves. Whether it be  a child in need, an entrepreneur “wanna be” or existing entreprenuer in another country or the person standing on the street corner; if you give them assistance, that (again to me) is a form of tithing.

Leaving your comfort zone and being sociable and interacting with others is a form of helping and giving. You never know how that small act of kindness, that smile, that kind word may affect a person (not to mention yourself). Your testimony or your story of how God healed your back, healed your eye or how He worked in your life may be what someone else needs to hear at that time. That’s a form of helping and fellow shipping, sharing with another. I, personally, am not a social type of person (ask anyone who really knows me!)…I have my select few that I share with, speak to, etc. but on some occasions have had to leave that comfort zone and come out to play with others and sometimes (like today) I leave surprisingly shocked that it was actually enjoyable, fun and uplifting.

Planting seeds in the most random of places is a form of giving: Carrying on a conversation at the DMV when asked to be an organ donor and explaining “Sure why not since I won’t need my organs in Heaven” which then leads to the opportunity to share Jesus with the person working there because she wants to know how you can be so sure you’re going to Heaven is a way of giving. You’ve shared His Word with someone and planted the seed to grow.

We know the Bible tells us in numerous places about tithing. Only a select few are listed below, you can search “tithe” at Bible.com for countless more. I happen to like these, from Proverbs.

Proverbs 3:9-10:
9Honor the LORD with your wealth
and with(A) the first fruits of all your produce;
10then your(B) barns will be filled with plenty,
and your vats will be bursting with wine.

Proverbs 11: 24-26
24(A) One gives(B) freely, yet grows all the richer;
another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.
25(C) Whoever brings blessing(D) will be enriched,
and(E) one who waters will himself be watered.
26(F) The people curse him who holds back grain,
but(G) a blessing is on the head of him who(H) sells it.

Proverbs 22:9:
9(A) Whoever has a bountiful[a] eye will be blessed,
for he(B) shares his bread with the poor.

I like this one because it doesn’t speak of money, but “shares his bread with the poor”. Now I’m no theologian but I interpret that as to mean that if you help someone with whatever you have that they need, that’s a form of tithing/helping and that person who shared will reap their blessings for doing so.

Some have it in their mind they must give 10% of their income in form of money to the church. Perhaps I’m just a bit more relaxed or laid back in my thinking (which may or may not be a good thing) but I think as long as we help, give, do what He directs us to do then that’s all forms of tithing/giving and He’ll reward you for such generous acts…whether it be money, clothing, food, whatever…

I also know that when you think you haven’t any ‘spare’ money to tithe, that’s when you SHOULD be tithing. Sadly, many put tithing, helping, giving (whatever you want to call it) last on their list of things to do. When they get their paycheck, they pay the bills, and tell themselves they’ll “give next week” and before you know it “next week” is here and they still haven’t tithed. They don’t understand that if they tithed first that HE would supply more and all their needs and they’d have the bills paid, more money, more blessings. It’s hard to comprehend and hard to understand but that’s why we stand in faith and trust in Him.

I don’t always tithe to one particular church. I give my time to Our New Hope Church by serving and they have a great youth group on Friday evenings. I tithe financially to Flamingo Road Church who has awesome services, can watch online too! I also give to other online ministries where I get the word too like Kenneth Copeland Ministries, Joyce Meyer Ministries, Compassion International, Kiva.org and give what I have to others. For a few months I kinda let this slide and was like the majority, saying I’d get to it and yet never did. Now that I’m happily and regularly tithing, I’ve seen a huge improvement in my life as far as my outlook on it, my direction, as well as my businesses prospering more when I’m tithing.

So, if you’re hurting financially or feel like you’re not blessed then TITHE! GIVE! HELP!
And, make sure to do it with a cheerful happy heart, not one of obligation or heartache.
You’ll sow what you reap and if you sow blessings to others, you’ll receive blessings back.
If you can’t tithe money:
then give your time…help with an organization or church
give food…bake something or cook a meal for someone in need
donate your old clothing to someone in need
there are countless ways to be a blessing in someone’s life…just do it and be prepared to receive blessings!

According to dictionary.com:
Tithe
noun, verb, tithed, tith⋅ing.
–noun
1. Sometimes, tithes. the tenth part of agricultural produce or personal income set apart as an offering to God or for works of mercy, or the same amount regarded as an obligation or tax for the support of the church, priesthood, or the like.
2. any tax, levy, or the like, esp. of one-tenth.
3. a tenth part or any indefinitely small part of anything.
–verb (used with object)
4. to give or pay a tithe or tenth of (produce, money, etc.).
5. to give or pay tithes on (crops, income, etc.).
6. to exact a tithe from (a person, community, parish, etc.).
7. to levy a tithe on (crops, income, etc.).
–verb (used without object)
8. to give or pay a tithe.