My Tithing Testimony

Mal 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.

10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.

Many like to argue over tithing being for today. They preach grace giving, I have suggested that maybe we could practice living giving like the widow and her two mites. No one really wants that one.

I could go through the passages to prove that tithing is still for today, but most people know them and those who want to ignore them will do so. Like all issues that men make a controversy over it does not matter if you have a hundred verses and Jesus standing behind you giving a thumbs up we will do what we want in most cases.

I will give you my testimony. I was a poor SSGT in the USAF with two young kids when I was saved in 1975. When I first heard of tithing I thought there was no way I could do that.

One day when I was contemplating this and giving reasons why I could not it was as if the Lord grabbed my head and had me look at my N gauge train collection and said there is where your tithe is going. Well, that changed my mind and we started tithing. Somehow, we were doing fine and even better though I did not get any raises or promotions.

When I left the AF to go to college, we had some tight times, but God always provided and our bills were paid, we did not starve or go naked. Once I was even able to buy a tire for a fellow student. There were green handshakes, people dropped off food at our doors or gave us stuff we needed.

Even when my college was giving me grief over how the GI Bill paid, the bill was paid. My senior year the finance office and I went through the yearly hassle and as I walked out fit to be tied my pastor came by and asked me why I looked angry. I told him the story and he said that someone had just asked him that morning if there was a student that needed some help. They paid my tuition for that month and gave me $65 for groceries, which was a goodly sum in 1981.

I bought a house on unemployment once. It was a cheap house, but that I got a loan on unemployment was a miracle. Four years later, I sold it for what I paid for it so it was like free rent. I eventually got jobs for which I had no training or experience. Karen was always gainfully employed even when I was not and eventually she and I both retired early.

Many stories of provision could be given. I have skimmed the surface. God has kept His promise so I suspect He still likes the tithing concept.

Why not try it? I am sure you can find money in the hobby you have, the Starbucks trips, the fast food meals, the cigarettes, Netflix or something else not really needed to test it. This is one thing that God says you can prove Him or test Him on. I believe He will more than pass the test for you as He has done for my wife and I. Blessings! Maranatha!