It is typical in today's society for men and women to judge their own relative worth based upon how much of the world's goods that they possess, including money, in comparison to their fellow beings. To be "poor" is often perceived as having less "wealth" than others.
As the Lord's servants, we invite people to gain a greater understanding of what Heavenly Father expects of us regarding material things in this life. While sharing the message of the fullness of the Gospel with others, we teach them the principle of tithing, which is God's commandment that we pay one-tenth of our increase back to him through our tithes and offerings to the Church. Sadly, we have had the experience of witnessing individuals who try to balance their desire to embrace the spiritual aspects of the gospel while rejecting the temporal requirement to pay tithing, which they say they cannot afford because of their particular financial circumstances (see Malachi 3:8-9).
First and foremost, it is essential to know that tithing really doesn't have anything to do with money. Everything associated with the creation already belongs to God and that which we give and what we keep are all to be gratefully used in God's service. In the Book of Psalms, we read that the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein (Psalm 24:1). If the truth be known, Heavenly Father doesn't need "our" money; it already belongs to Him. We came into this world without a dime to call our own; and when we die, we won't be able to take any material wealth with us either!
We give Thee but Thine own,
Whate'er the gift may be:
All that we have is Thine alone,
A trust, O Lord, from Thee.
May we Thy bounties thusWhate'er the gift may be:
All that we have is Thine alone,
A trust, O Lord, from Thee.
As stewards true receive,
And gladly, as Thou blessest us,
To Thee our first-fruits give.
- William W. How (1858)
Robert D. Hales, an Apostle of the Lord in these latter-days has taught that tithing is a test of faith with eternal blessings. In the Old Testament, Abraham proved his faith by paying tithing to the great high priest Melchizedek. Abraham's grandson Jacob vowed to the Lord, "Of all thou shalt give me I will surely give tenth unto thee." Tithing has been established in these latter days as an essential law for members of the Lord's restored Church. It is one of the basic ways we witness our faith in Him and our obedience to His laws and commandments.
So what happens when we willingly give back one-tenth of our increase with the payment of our tithing in order to help build the Kingdom of God on the earth? The answer is given by Old Testament Prophet Malachi; and again, please note that the promised blessings don't necessarily have anything to do with money:
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
- Malachi 3:10
Any blessing we receive from Heavenly Father is predicated upon our obedience to His commandments. The real question is whether we love God more than we love ourselves? Living the Law of Tithing helps to pull us away from the shallowness and materialistic greed of the world and into a closer spiritual relationship with God. Being less concerned with what our fellowmen think about us and more focused on what God thinks about us will have eternal consequences! Never forget that Heavenly Father always keeps His promises, but we must do our part first.
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