Having Questions About Tithing?
Posted: Tuesday, September 01, 2009
by Marijo Phelps
My husband says that God doesn't need our money but, oh, how He teaches and blesses us when we give it to Him!
There are so many scripture which speak to this but one of my favorite promises is:
Malachi 3:9-12
9 You are under a cursethe whole nation of youbecause you are robbing me. 10 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. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the LORD Almighty. 12 "Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land," says the LORD Almighty.
I have stories that will knock your sox off.... from way back but ones like when home from YWAM - and people paid for my plane ticket, people paid for my car insurance and shampoo and clothes.... AND I wanted to tithe on the value of those gifts...
I went to have lunch with my ex sister in law and she had a card sitting at my place.... I opened it and inside was $200. I was blown away as she was a waitress and did not have that kind of money. She said to slow down in my protests, she found the money in twenty dollar bills in an old purse of hers in the closet (in an envelope) and neither she nor her hubby knew how it got there. She was thinking "wow, I'll get a new suit" the Lord said - "no this is for Marijo", so she gave it to me.
Well, there were a couple of other things I had to tithe on and long story short I wanted to give it right then (I still did not have $$ for gas to get back to YWAM OR books for my next 6 months there or my tuition)
The Lord brought one couple who were on staff at YWAM to mind when I got up in the middle of the night. I felt the $$ were supposed to go to them - I mailed it off down to the odd penny. I got word back that she was expecting and the MD had told her that she had to have the down payment in by that Monday or he couldn't continue to see her - the check I sent was down to the penny what they needed for the MD!
Well, the pediatrician I worked for ended up needing me for a day while I was home and I went in to work. Towards the end of the day he came to the desk and dropped an envelope on my desk. It was his IRA contribution for me for the previous year. I was speechless (this was 7 months after I quit) and his comment was "well, you did work here last year you know." Immediately the Lord told me "this is your tuition for YWAM and you are going back and will not have to work a year and then go back...."
WOW - then I had more to tithe on and paid the penalties and took out the IRA. Now HE had only to give me gas money and money for the text books....
Well, then my roommate called from San Francisco - someone had given her a plane ticket back to YWAM and she wasn't going to go with me (and split gas) after all.... It was 3 days before I was supposed to go back before a good friend told me that the Lord told her if I couldn't find anyone to help me drive back she was to go with me and take a bus back to Stockton. She did and we had a totally wonderful trip.
The day before we were to leave for Texas, I broke a filling and had to go to the dentist. They did two things and asked if I wanted to pay or have the bill sent to me - well.... that was a no brainer since the checking account was empty. I said "oh, send it to me please..." I got back to my friend's house (who doesn't go to my church and knows hardly anyone from my church) and she said "hey, some lady from your church called while you were at the dentist." No one from church knew I was at the dentist either. I called and it was the church secretary saying that two anonymous donations had come for me that AM, equaling exactly the amount of the dentist bill. I never did find out who they were from.
And it goes on and on and on - I was given 100 stamps in a roll and tore off 10 and asked the Lord whose they were and he had me put them under the pillow of a YWAM gal with an abusive father who disowned her when she went to YWAM...
Mick and I continued to tithe and give offerings after we got married. 10% of the elk we got, 10% on the gain from selling our house, 10% when we got monetary gifts etc. We have been down to one egg and a jar of peanut butter in the house but have never missed a meal or been late in paying a bill. We have also had spiritual blessings untold. My being able to work at Every Home for Christ for over 9 years and meeting incredible Saints from all over the world being one.
My challenge to you is to give that FIRST 10% of what the Lord has provided for you and see the incredible ways He provides and blesses and brings increase to you. Give FIRST, even if you have only one egg and a jar of peanut butter. On that occasion someone got into our locked car and left 2 bags of groceries inside. In those grocery bags were the exact things we needed like soap for the shower. Also, Mick's favorite, canned salmon. Tell me that our Jesus wasn't working overtime on that one. We hadn't shared our need with anyone and still don't know who or how they got into the locked car.
(C) Marijo Phelps all rights reserved. Use with with proper credits.
Marijo Phelps,saved by Jesus grace in 1974, from 9 years atheism into His loving arms. She is wanting to spread the good news about His redemptive plan for our lives through written media. Her name is pronounced Mary Jo. She was an RN for 23+ years, missionary with YWAM,statistical analyst for Every Home for Christ 9 years. Her first poem published when she was four years old. (her mom had much to do with that!) She has been writing ever since.
Her new blog can be found: http://myincrediblelord.blogspot.com
Her new blog can be found: http://myincrediblelord.blogspot.com
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)You have amazing stories, Marijo. God has been good to you!He is always faithful even when we mess up - I think I should write one about how I almost died the first year we were married....Marijo
Hi, Marijo,This article is near and dear to my heart. In the book, God's Law of Firsts, if memory serves me correctly, this issue of tithing was addressed very well.Since God owns everything, He doesn't need money from anyone. Tithing is an act of obedience and putting God first. I don't debatae this issue with anyone as I just see it as another way to honor and love God. I can tell you from experience, I have never been able to outgive God. He will not be beholden to any man. It is a privilege to give him my tithes and offerings, and when I am blessed with more, I can give more.Great article!Yes, you cannot outgive the Lord - this is just reminding me of other stories that I should tell - WOW.... just remembering makes this lady of 63 years young feel like a little kid at Christmas all over again - thinks for your comments and encouragement! Marijo (Mary Jo - my dad got cute with the spelling)
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