When I was a young kid I didn’t know of tithing, I don’t even recall seeing the basket be passed around for collection. When I was teenager I learned of the basket. I asked friends, family and my friend’s families questions about this basket where you put money. I guess I never really got a clear picture of tithing, but I made sure to always have at least one dollar with me to place in that basket. I was always under the impression that you put money in the basket to help the church keep its doors open. I’m sure at some point, someone mentioned the bible talks of giving ten percent, but it never rang any bells for me.
Today, many years later, I now understand the importance of tithing. Tithing is not because the minister passes a basket and asks for handouts. Tithing is not based on the need to keep the doors open at the church (although it does help that). Tithing is something that you as an individual choose to do to become more prosperous by putting God first financially. Tithing is an ancient prosperity secret told of in the bible. By giving one tenth of all your earnings consistently you can become financially secure, healthy, happy and prosperous in all areas of your life. Sounds silly, but really it’s not that silly. I have heard and read many stories of how tithing has changed people’s lives for the better. By tithing I not only improve the quality of my life and prosper, I help my church prosper, as well.
When reading Catherine Ponder, “The Prosperity Secrets of the Ages,” I became convinced. We began tithing consistently. She tells stories of her own and others who had troubled times financially, physically, emotionally and were able to overcome these troubles by putting God first financially. One of her own stories describes an event that could happen to any one of us at any time:
At the time I was considering the tithing law of prosperity, I was also debating whether I should start a savings account. From a business standpoint I felt that it was more important to begin a savings than to begin tithing. “Tithing can come anytime,” I thought. Instead the savings account was opened.
Everything went along fine for a time as I proudly watched my saving account grow, week by week. Then one day my son became violently ill. Only after he had the finest doctors and medical care in a local hospital did the turning point come and he recovered. His hospital bill was more than the amount I had painstakingly managed to place in my saving account!
A valuable lesson came from that experience. I learned that if I did not put God first financially and give to his work voluntarily, I would have to give
anyway – involuntarily to pay for the unhappy experiences in life which I did
not want.”
Catherine Ponder goes on to explain that since she had begun tithing her son had never been that ill again, nor did he suffer regular childhood illness. She too also benefited by gaining better health. The author of “Prosperity Secret of the Ages,” experienced first hand how putting God first by tithing benefits you directly.
Her story is just one of many. There are stories that explain how people have doubled or tripled their income by putting God first financially. There are other stories of how relationships have improved by putting God first financially. This was just one example of millions how putting God first financially by tithing one tenth of all your earnings to the place where you worship or gain spiritual enlightenment can make you prosperous in all phases of your life!
