Why I love Tithing

Tithing is something I've struggled with and I'm sure many others have. I never used to tithe, but then I started to feel a little guilty about not giving. So I started out giving a couple dollars off of each paycheck. Literally, just a couple dollars. While that was a good start, that began to wear thin and I knew I should commit more. So I plunged and started to give about 10% of my income. (It should also be noted here, that nobody "forced" me or even spoke to me about it, it was simply discovery of my own habits). I've waned since then and even stopped giving at one point. My reasons behind stopping were I didn't really believe in what I was doing. I read a book about giving tithe is not about giving 10% of your income, but doing what you feel is right, doing it out of your heart. I think everyone should give, but I also agree that it needs to be out of our generosity (our heart) and not out of a guilt-stricken conscience.

So how do we get there?

Like I said, at one point I stopped giving because I didn't believe in what I was doing anymore. For about a year I gave, but not very consistently. During that time I was struggling with finances as well, which helped play into my excuse for not giving. Then I read something "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this...If I will not open up for you the windows of ...and pour out such a blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it." and it changed my mindset. I was reminded that giving needed to be out of the heart, not out of obligation, but that I NEEDED to give. That by not giving I was holding out on someone else, I was holding out on making this world a better place. So I started to give, knowing that what I was giving to would positively effect those people's lives and would hopefully ripple out from there. Since then my love for tithing has grown. I am so excited thinking about all the causes I've been able to assist because I gave a small portion of what I had.

So I said my love for tithing grew and today I realized I love tithing. So you may be wondering what has changed my mindset? I think its exciting to be part of something larger than just me and what I'm doing. Example since coming to china there are 4 big things that I have supported.
1. I helped a couple afford to get married and continue their "career" in HK
2. I helped a friend go back home to support and share with her family during a tragedy.
3. I'm supporting the adoption of an HIV infected child.
4. Kony 2012 (if you don't know what this is, look it up at http://kony2012.s3-website-us-east-1.amazonaws.com/)

Now I'm not trying to tell you what I've done so you can think highly of me, but I want to share what has helped me learn to love to give, so you can learn to love to give too. You should know what your giving to and why. You should support the cause. Many people say when someone donates money, don't ask for anything else, but I think if you give more than just money (ie time), then you can appreciate why your giving. And by time I mean, if you are going to give to a person, meet that person for lunch or coffee so you can be excited about what your giving to. If you are going to donate to a cause or charity, use a few minutes of your time to read/watch what that charity is doing, so you can be excited about what you GET TO BE PART OF!

Many people have given to me and this could sound like another appeal, it is not. Those who give/given, thank you. I want you to be excited for what you get to be part of when you give to me. If your not excited, find out what I'm doing. If your still not excited, stop giving to me and find something you believe in! I would rather have you give to something you feel part of and lose all support than have you feel obligated to give. Blessings!