Tithing is a Life Choice

Malachi 3:10 

Test me in this and see if I don't open up heaven itself to you and pour out blessings beyond your wildest dreams.

Each one of us makes the decision to tithe each year when we hand in our pledge card (hopefully). At that time we look at our personal finances, possibly our budget for the year or what we might do is take our pledge from the year before and add a certain percentage. When we do this do we really know where this money is going? For most people it is probably either donating online or putting money inside the envelope each week and then placing it in the offering plate. This money goes for many things around the church, salaries, mortgage, utilities, apportionments to the Conference, etc. Do we tithe because the church tells us to tithe a certain percentage or do we do it because we have made a spriritual decision?

For me personally I remember when I was in college and started going to a United Methodist church, each week the collection plate would come around and since I was not working I thought 10% of $0 was $0. After a couple weeks of going with my roommate at the time I had a thought, if I was going to continue to go to this church then I should give what I could. As I said I did not have an income, but I gave what I could and I thought that even the little amount that I gave was better than nothing. It was at that point that I believe I had a moment in my spiritual journey. I realized that tithing is a decision we make and the money that we tithe is from the talents that God has given to us.

 ~Steve Briggs