E-mail question I received:

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Come to think about the tithing subject, If I may ask, will it be a noble idea to borrow my exact tithe from my GOD (Remember am not stealing) and later payback ?.

Kindly shed some light here,

Regards,
anonymous

The concept of borrowing something from God seems to say that we own that which we have not borrowed from God. So lets first recognize that everything we have is borrowed from God. Jesus says that apart from me you can do nothing. This means everything, including our money and possessions, would not exist apart from Jesus allowing them to exist.

John 15:5
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

So we are to be good stewards of that which God has given us.

1 Peter 4:10
"As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."


So then the question changes: "Is it alright for me to postpone my normal tithe for a period of time?"

The answer to this is never universal. Consider the following scripture:

2 Corinthians 9:6-8
"6Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
7Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
8And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;"

In summary, you have to examine your heart and see if your decision concerning giving is pure in motive. God wants to have a deeper relationship with you through this examination of your heart. Part of the purpose of giving to God is learning to release control of what is already His. This helps develop discipline for other areas of our life as well. Tithe(10%) is always a good place to start. But without a heart that loves and seeks after Jesus through our giving, it means little to the Kingdom of God.

Your brother in Christ,
Shawn Troxel - GDWM