Dictionary.com describes the word tithe as the tenth part of agricultural or personal income set aside for God. It’s a short word that seems to be attached to human emotion. Most people either love it or hate it It’s viewed either as a punishment from God; something you have to do, or as a joy; something you get to do–because you are fortunate enough to have income, You may have the mindset that you cannot afford to tithe and perhaps through the human telescope, you can’t. But tithing isn’t a human idea, it’s something set aside for God and at His command. If you believe the Bible, everything you have is a gift from God to start with, nothing you have earned or deserve, including your job. He only asks for ten percent back. You get to use the other ninety percent, which will always be sufficient if your heart is set on pleasing Father. Sometimes we allow the gift to become more important than the Giver.

Several years ago I began to think about time, the twenty-four hours Father gifts to me one day at a time. I decided my goal would be to tithe ten percent of my time–give back to Father at least two and a half hours each day. If Martin Luther could spend the first three hours in prayer on his fullest days, surely I could do better than I was. It took time, perhaps a couple of years but through consistency and perseverance, it has become my habit to spend at least the first three hours of my day with Father. And in those early morning hours, under the cover of darkness, Father fills me with what I will need to navigate the storms of the day. It is a precious time for me, something I fought hard for against those who thought I was being selfish and against myself; I like to sleep and many mornings the struggle to get up is very real. 

But Father is also very real and a rewarder to those who seek Him in faith. “Without trusting it is impossible to be well pleasing to God because whoever approaches him must trust that he does exist and he becomes a Rewarder to those who seek him out.” (Hebrews 11:6) When you tithe joyfully, because your heart is in it, God will do amazing things with what you give–miraculous works beyond your understanding.