i’ve always wonder why i have so many financial testimonies to share but not as many salvations, healings, etc. it isn’t like i’m not seeing those things. i think the reason i have so many financial testimonies is because it has been a long road getting to where i trust God over my finances. YEARS! when we struggle with something, like i did (ahem – sometimes do) with finances, we take more notice to results regarding those things.
i think after college is when i became a penny pincher. for years and years and years i was in bondage to my checkbook. i could never make enough. i could never save enough. i would (well, i still do) plan for months in advance and freak out thinking “we’re never going to make it!” i would see the bills dwindle down all that we had. i would watch others, who weren’t even neccessarily serving the Lord, prosper and think “why aren’t we?” every now-and-then, esp in the beginning of me going to my current church, as i would write out my tithe check i would think of all the things i could be doing with the money. oh, by now i could have paid off every ounce of debt i ever had…BUT, truth be told, if i wasn’t tithing i know that money wouldn’t have gone where i thought it would (toward debt). we would most likely waste it…come on, you make more you spend more. but month after month we write the check.
in case you don’t know, tithing is 10% of your income. your GROSS income. anything that come in. earn it by working, sell your stuff on craigslist, ANY increase.
why do we tithe?? man, i could fill this screen with reasons and scriptures that I’ve been taught over the last 7 years (well, taught my wole life but applied the last 7), but let me focus on the verses that most clearly spell this out. Malachi 3:8-12
8Will a man rob or defraud God? Yet you rob and defraud Me. But you say, In what way do we rob or defraud You? [You have withheld your] tithes and offerings.
9 are cursed with the curse, for you are robbing Me, even this whole nation.
First of all, according to v. 8 and 9, by NOT tithing we are robbing God and are cursed because of it (not curse like God harms you; but His full protection isn’t surrounding you– like going into battle without your armor). I’m not sure about you, but I don’t want to rob God. I don’t want any curses on my life, I don’t want to live without His protection. God gave me all — Jesus, a blood sacrifice atoning for my sins — why would I rob Him of what little He asks.
But WHY do I LOVE tithing??? Look at what God promises to those that tithe…and I think my amplified bible says this all best….
10Bring all the tithes (the whole tenth of your income) into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now by it, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
11 And I will rebuke the devourer [insects and plagues] for your sakes and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground, neither shall your vine drop its fruit before the time in the field, says the Lord of hosts.
12And all nations shall call you happy and blessed, for you shall be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.
Verse 10 starts off very obviously reminding us that we are to bring ALL our tithe to the storehouse (church). All = gross income. But here we go….He will open the windows of heaven for you and pour out a blessing SO BIG that there won’t be room to receive it. Hello? anyone else out there want to be abundantly blessed? Have opportunities put before them that might not otherwise come around?
Verse 11 He stands up for us against Satan. Casting down Satan’s attempts at stealing our finances (did you read my testimony from needing surgery?? did God not provide exactly what we needed??).
Verse 12 And Nations will call you BLESSED and HAPPY. People will see and recognize God goodness and blessing. I want to continue sharing these stories so that GOD’s greatness can be shown.
But, I have to finish this blog by saying this…you cannot just give to God to get. These blessings come from the heart. When you are giving from the true abundant love for God in your heart, then He receives that. He knows your hearts intention if you are coming and giving only to get. ((and please, don’t make me revisit the God doesn’t punish you topic again))
Sometimes, when you start, you may not feel like giving. I already told you I didn’t feel like giving. Tithing was hard for me to learn. I loved that money and wanted to spend it. But, I wanted to obey God more. As the time went by, embarrassingly – years, my heart changed and I began to see that as I gave, it was returned to me…in many ways. Opportunities, finances, desires.
My point here – Honor God. Take your tithes to your local storehouse (your church). Watch as God places people, opportunities, new jobs, etc in your path….
of course, i have nother financial testimony to share soon….although most of you already know what it is! 
