The Miracle of Tithing - 1
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Are you in Financial Trouble at the Moment?
It may well be your failure to tithe. So many are unaware of this secret of prosperity that I would like to describe the practice of tithing in detail as it was explained to me years ago. I have followed this great law of abundance all my adult life and have reaped untold benefits from it.
The Meaning of the Tithe
The word tithe literally means one-tenth. It is an Old English word that was used in the King James translation of the Bible in the year 1611. It is incorrect to assume that a tithe of money is all that the law requires. There needs to be a tithe of time and energy, possessions and ability as well as actual supply.
"When we stop to think about it, we realize that the tithe is really not ours to give; it already belongs to God...."
You may ask, "Should a tithe be in the form of money or service?" The answer is both. This means that you could give 10 percent of your worldly goods to the church of your choice and 10 percent of your daily allotment of energy in service. This gift of self should be dedicated to the kingdom of God on earth through prayer, invocation, meditation and service to God through actually helping one's fellowman.
When we stop to think about it, we realize that the
tithe is really not ours to give; it 
already belongs to God. However,
in return for the 10 percent of his wealth that man gives to him, God
multiplies it by ten and returns 100 percent—whether in actual supply or
in tangible or intangible blessings. The 10 percent that man gives
to God in the form of service is treasure
laid up in heaven. It is an energy deposit in his causal body that
enables him to draw upon a greater momentum of light
than is his daily portion. And a tithe of energy will result in the same multiplication—it will increase man's allotment 100 percent.
I have spoken to many sincere people who, when they have had tithing explained to them, have said, "This sounds wonderful and I really want to begin. But right now, it is impossible. As soon as I get my bills paid, then I'll start to tithe." This is not the idea at all! The greater your present difficulty is, the greater is your need for the increase that comes from God when you begin to tithe to him.
Start now! If you wait until you think you have enough money to tithe, you probably will never begin. Obeying this spiritual law requires a leap of faith in your bargain with God. There is no such thing as "part tithing." A tithe is one-tenth, and not to tithe one-tenth is not to tithe—only to make contributions from time to time.
Pay Your Tithe First
The fixing of the amount of the tithe is a very simple matter—one-tenth of your net income after taxes. Some people are even able to tithe on their entire gross account, but while that may be preferable, it is usually not possible in these days of high taxation. In the days of the Old Testament, it was a simple matter to give a tenth part of the flocks, grain, olives, etc., which a man owned to the work of the Lord.
However, be assured that a tithe is not 10 percent of whatever you are able to save out of your salary check each month. Pay your tithe first, before you pay your other bills, and you will find that, miraculously, there is enough left to pay the remaining expenses. We belong totally to God and we must show him that we acknowledge this ownership by returning to him one-tenth of our complete selves as well as just our finances.
"Your tithe should be given in an attitude of thankfulness, not fear or worry that there will not be enough left for your other obligations...."
You are showing your faith in God that he will fulfill his part of the bargain and provide for your responsibilities.If this is not possible, and you have truly made an effort to tithe, then you may be living beyond your means and need to adjust your budget and style of living temporarily. But if the reverse is the case and you decide to pay your bills first and then tithe, there usually is no money left at the end of the month to honor your covenant with God.
You are not really tithing if you wait until the end of the month to see whether you have anything left over that you can give to God after paying your bills. Your tithe should be given in an attitude of thankfulness—not fear or worry that there will not be enough left for your other obligations.
The prophet Malachi stated,
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse that there may be meat in minehouse, 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.
Prove God as he has asked us to and then give thanks for his blessings. "Freely ye have received, freely give" is the law of the abundant life.
The answer to how often the tithe should be paid is quite simple:
The tithe should be set aside as soon as you receive your income—weekly,
monthly, quarterly, yearly, or whenever is your timeline. No definite rule
can be set because you may receive dividends at different times in addition
to your normal paycheck. (continued
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