One of the most sensitive issues for folks concerning church seems to be money. If you've lived long enough, you've certainly heard someone say something like, "All the church (or the preacher) wants is your money." I once heard of a preacher who came before his congregation to tell them of the many repairs the church building desperately needed. He recounted how the church roof was leaking, the carpet was old and tattered, the heating and air-conditioning system was broken, and the good-will food pantry in the fellowship hall was bone-dry. Finally, standing before his people, and feeling the financial pressure, the preacher remarked, "I just don't know where all the money is going to come from!" About that time, a proud member of the congregation stood up and announced, "Preacher, I'm sure glad to hear you admit that you don't know where the money is coming from. For a moment, it sounded like you thought it was going to come from us!"
 

Are You 

TITHING OR TIPPING?

"Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, 'How have we robbed you?' In your tithes and contributions."

(Malachi 3: 8 , ESV)

When the offering plate comes around, are you tithing or tipping? 

 

I have a sign hanging in my barn that says, "Speak Your Mind But Ride A Fast Horse!" I confess, I do have a tendency to speak my mind, but I try to do so only if it lines up with God's Word. Amazing how age can mellow one out! That being said, this old cowgirl is still not in the habit of shying away from the truth, and neither should you. The truth is, there's nobody that gives people more bang for their buck than the church! And I'm using the word "buck" quite literally here!
 

 Church is the only place that invites us to come and indulge ourselves in the vast riches of God's Word, and all without a membership fee. Save that for the gym, or Sam's, right? And yet, when the offering plate is passed, people wince and squirm. Some even act as if they're at an auction, and God's Word and the preacher's ability to deliver it is up for bid. "Who'll give me $1, $5, how about $20?" Suddenly the gavel comes down hard. "Sold to the highest bidder for one dollar!" So, what's wrong with giving one dollar? Nothing, if you're at the dollar store! Having said that, there's absolutely nothing wrong with putting one dollar in the offering plate at church if that is one-tenth of your earnings. On the other hand, if it's not, then you're not tithing, - you're tipping. And that, my friend, is called "robbing" God!

Definition of Tithe: 
 

A tenth or 10 percent. Tithing is returning the first tenth of one's income to God for His use. 

You Trust God, But,

Can He Trust You?

Step #1 - Trust is always a matter of steps. When I first put my foot in the stirrup, I am placing a lot of trust in my horse. I am trusting him with everything I've taught him. I am also trusting him with my life. When you and I tithe, we are trusting God with all that we have.     
 

Whether we're tithing, or tipping, it says a lot about our relationship with God, and how much we really trust Him. Let's face it, it's hard to let go of our purse strings. Besides, some folks simply don't have money to spare. Let the rich take care of God's house, right? In Malachi 3: 10 (see scripture at beginning of newsletter), God tells us to bring the whole tithe into the storehouse. He makes no distinction between the rich and the poor. So, why do we? This brings up another question...

Aren't we being a bit legalistic about this whole tithing thing? After all, doesn't the Bible teach that each man should give according to what he purposes in his own heart? The problem herein is when a man purposes the wrong thing in his heart!  Let's go further. Has new-fangled contemporary teaching convinced people that they no longer need concern themselves with tithing? After all, that's old testament stuff, right? And everyone knows we're under the new covenant, right? Yes, we are under a new covenant, but contrary to what some think (or preach), the old testament is still relevant. After all, the ten commandments are still valid, aren't they? Hmmm, ask some folks, and I suppose it all depends. But ask God, and it's a different matter entirely. God was serious about the ten commandments, and He's serious about tithing. In fact, the Lord of Hosts challenges those who would second-guess Him, or dare to re-write His Word, "put me to the test...".

Herein is an important reason for tithing, and the key to opening the windows of heaven. If we, as the church, are to help meet the needs of others, then we have to have an ample supply with which to meet those needs. Are we to meet those needs just for today? A quick study of the life of Joseph, and the food reserves he had built up over the years will put an end to that notion. Because he had stored up ample supplies of grain, an entire future generation was saved! So, how does the church become amply supplied? We become amply supplied and equipped for every good service when those of us who are called by His name trust Him, and obey His Word concerning our resources. And how do we do that? We tithe! We, as the church, must stop tipping God for His (or others) performance, and start tithing according to His command. Tithing assures that there will be "meat" in God's house, not just for you and me, but for those of future generations (if the Lord tarrys). And here is the good news - tithing is a command with benefits. God promises that when we tithe, we will have no more need!

Can You Imagine

A life With

No More Needs?

"And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus."

(Philippians 4: 19, ESV) 

Step # 2 - Imagination is a powerful gift. As I place my weight in the stirrup, I bend my horse's head in order to see his left eye, and I imagine a perfect ride because I have built a strong foundation.  

Nothing brings out my imagination like my horse, Samson. If I can imagine it, he is willing to try it. That doesn't come naturally for him. It is a learned behavior based on trust. He is, after all, a horse. And horses, by nature, are custom-built to react, and ask questions later. And yet, I've managed to not only capture his attention with all the imaginative "things that could be", but gain his respect and trust in the process.

Let's face it, left to their own devices, horses would simply eat their way through life, content to enjoy the simple pleasures of just being a horse. Then, along came man with a different plan. He looked at the horse and said, "I will ride this animal, and together we will conquer!" Then, with a leap of faith, he climbed up on the horse's back, and the rest is history. Man's imagination had been unleashed. He saw himself riding the horse as free as the wind. But first, he had to teach the horse to go for the ride with him.  

Putting Your Money

Where Your Mouth Is

"John Wayne once said, 'Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.' To me, courage is much deeper. Courage is faith on steroids. Either we have the faith to believe what God says, or we don't. And our pocket-book is usually a better indicator of what we believe than our mouth."

(Susan Klaudt)

Step # 3 - Most of us have heard the old saying, 'Put your money where your mouth is.'  That's what it feels like when you sling your leg over a horse. Once your leg crosses over his hip, you have made your choice, and you are committed to the ride. 

We're hard pressed to find folks who like commitment these days. It's understandable - everyone wants to keep their options open. The problem is, when you get right down to it, few things in life are truly optional. For example - eating is not optional, neither is breathing. You eat, and you breathe, or you die. No options, no alternatives. If you want to live, you must be committed to eating and breathing! Saddling a horse and mounting up is a lot like that. It takes commitment. Once you sling a leg over your horse's back, well, you're pretty much committed to the ride! If you're mounting a horse who has been taught good, solid ground-work, then there's no problem. The problem comes when a horse is fresh and full of himself, and hasn't been taught what his responsibilities are. Instead, he's been given options all his life - options to obey or disobey. 

In a quickly changing culture where commitment is now a dirty word, and options are an entitled expression of one's self, fewer and fewer people are willing to put their money where their mouth is. As a result, our faith in God's Word and His promises, has become an option, and a simple matter of one's choice. We simply pick out what we are willing to commit to (or not), and check the preferred box. Meanwhile, we don't realize that because we were unwilling to commit, we forfeited the ride.

Will You COMMIT,

Or Will You

Forfeit The Ride?

"Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act."

(Psalm 37: 5, ESV)

Step # 4 - Just as there is no commitment without trust,  there is no trust without commitment. Think about that turn of phrase for a moment. No commitment? No ride!

At the heart of every issue is trust. It's the invisible gauge of the heart that determines every action we take. Let's go deeper. Without action, the Bible says our faith is dead. The word "commit" is an action word. Why is it an action word? It's an action word because it requires something from us. It requires discipline. If you commit to something, you must have discipline in order to see it through. Nope, it's not always easy, but God says you can do it. If you commit to tithing, God will not come down and hold your hand to the fire. But He will look at your heart and guage whether or not you meant what you said. As for tipping God? Save that for the waiters at your favorite restaurant, and the one's who perform a good job. As for you and me, we choose to honor God with our whole tithe. And because we do, He promises to open the windows of heaven for us, and alas, we have no more needs!

SPECIAL THANKS

Thanks to everyone who took time to email me with sympathy concerning the recent loss of my 17 year old chihuahua, Miss Magnolia. Your encouraging words and prayers have meant the world to me, and I love you with all my heart. Have a blessed Memorial Day and enjoy the long weekend. See you next week with more natural horse faith-man-ship!

Susan

Natural Horse

Faith-Man-Ship

(Teaching Biblical Faith Using Horses)

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