March 9th, 2023
Thursday, March 9
A Cheerful Giver
By: Lori Ennis
“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Cor. 9:7
Every time I hear someone talk about how they don’t want to go to church because church is just looking to take their money, I cringe.
Mostly because I can’t tell you the last time I actually had a ‘collection plate’ passed by me in this digital world of online offerings and boxes in the back, but also because it just makes me sad.
The truth is that you can be a Christian who doesn’t tithe. Tithing doesn’t make you any better in God’s eyes, and it’s certainly not a way to earn God’s respect or love. Just ask Paul in Galatians how he feels about works being the way to being righteous.
In fact, if we’re really honest? Jesus warns to be careful of tithing just for ‘tithing’s’ sake in Matthew 23:23. He tells the Pharisees that they may tithe their 10%, but they’re hypocrites because they don’t pay attention to mercy or justice or faithfulness.
In other words? Their money doesn’t mean much if their heart is hardened, obligatory and unwilling.
Tithing shouldn’t be something you grumble about. It shouldn’t be something that’s part of your ‘process’ of Christianity.
God doesn’t need your money one bit. It’s His in the first place, if we’re going to be technical about it.
But He DOES want you to use your blessings from Him well. He does want you to be good stewards of what He’s given. And He does want you to have a heart that recognizes every good and perfect gift comes from Him, and to use His gifts for blessings is a blessing to YOU.
Yes. You read that right. He doesn’t need a single penny of yours, but if you cheerfully give His money back to Him, don’t doubt that you’re going to be blessed beyond measure.
Tithing is not for Him; it’s for us. To trust Him, to honor Him and to find incredible joy in using His money for His works!
If you don’t tithe, you’re not going to hell. But you sure are missing out on incredible blessings that come with that obedience. Don’t believe me? Try and see yourself!
A Cheerful Giver
By: Lori Ennis
“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Cor. 9:7
Every time I hear someone talk about how they don’t want to go to church because church is just looking to take their money, I cringe.
Mostly because I can’t tell you the last time I actually had a ‘collection plate’ passed by me in this digital world of online offerings and boxes in the back, but also because it just makes me sad.
The truth is that you can be a Christian who doesn’t tithe. Tithing doesn’t make you any better in God’s eyes, and it’s certainly not a way to earn God’s respect or love. Just ask Paul in Galatians how he feels about works being the way to being righteous.
In fact, if we’re really honest? Jesus warns to be careful of tithing just for ‘tithing’s’ sake in Matthew 23:23. He tells the Pharisees that they may tithe their 10%, but they’re hypocrites because they don’t pay attention to mercy or justice or faithfulness.
In other words? Their money doesn’t mean much if their heart is hardened, obligatory and unwilling.
Tithing shouldn’t be something you grumble about. It shouldn’t be something that’s part of your ‘process’ of Christianity.
God doesn’t need your money one bit. It’s His in the first place, if we’re going to be technical about it.
But He DOES want you to use your blessings from Him well. He does want you to be good stewards of what He’s given. And He does want you to have a heart that recognizes every good and perfect gift comes from Him, and to use His gifts for blessings is a blessing to YOU.
Yes. You read that right. He doesn’t need a single penny of yours, but if you cheerfully give His money back to Him, don’t doubt that you’re going to be blessed beyond measure.
Tithing is not for Him; it’s for us. To trust Him, to honor Him and to find incredible joy in using His money for His works!
If you don’t tithe, you’re not going to hell. But you sure are missing out on incredible blessings that come with that obedience. Don’t believe me? Try and see yourself!
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