A Tenth

“The point is this;  he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.  Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”  2 Corinthians 9:6-7

Randy and I both grew up Methodists, and so we had heard the word, “tithe”.  I am fairly sure my parents participated in that, but growing up, I only knew that Daddy would give me $1.00 each week to put in the offering plate.  Therefore, I had to research the 10% thing when Randy casually brought it up shortly after our move to Snellville.

The word “tithe” literally means “tenth”.  This process was handed down from the law of Moses when the Israelites were required to give 10% of flocks, crops, etc. to the Tabernacle.

At this point in our lives, money was very tight, and I had a real problem giving 10% of our meager salary to the church.  I say this with embarrassment and shame, but it was true.  Our combined monthly salary was somewhere around $700 a month!!  If we gave 10% of that to the church, I calculate that to be $70 a month.  In 1973, $70 would buy a lot of peanut butter and jelly!!  Actually, this was net income, and Randy insisted it should be gross which raised us to $80 a month tithe and offerings.

The two of us were not the best at financial planning at this point, so life in the Mickler household went from feast on the first of the month to famine on the last days of the month.  As the collection plate came around on the first two Sundays of the month, I reluctantly placed my $20 check in.  However, the last two Sundays of the month, I found myself wanting to grab a $20 bill out of the plate instead of putting my check in!!  A cheerful giver I was not!!

I challenged the Lord to live up to His promise that we can “never out give Him”.  He did.  There with so many unexpected blessings – a lunch invitation here, a bag of home grown vegetables there, a tutoring job, and so much more. We always made up for that $80 a month and usually more.

Fast forward 43 years later, and I find myself in a totally different place.  I can never monetarily repay God for all his blessings, but I never intentionally cheat Him of his tenth and his offerings.  I’ve learned to take God at His word, and His tenth is the first thing I cheerfully give.