Grudging Givers

We often find it difficult to tithe. We just don’t see how we can get by minus 10% dedicated to the Lord. Actually, in the Law of Moses the people were required to give much more than 10% mentioned in Leviticus 27:34. They had to redeem their first born children and animals. There were sin offerings, peace offerings, freewill offerings and obligatory festival offerings. I think that the principle is: Don’t get attached to stuff. All resources belong to the Lord. He distributes them according to His will. Many attempt to make the tithe a mandatory part of “Christian Law” (an oxymoron). But if you want to be legalistic, you should give much more than 10%. The New Testament principle of giving is, “he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2Co 9:6-7)