Not all of you will understand this--but a lot of you will. My husband and I believe (with all of our might) the principle of tithing. Good times, bad times, it doesn't matter. EVERYTHING belongs to God anyway so we are happy to give back to Him the tiny bit He requests. Deuteronomy 10:14--"Indeed heaven and the highest heavens belong to the Lord your God, also the earth with all that is in it." So we tithe--and God has ALWAYS taken care of us--even in bad times!
My story involves my handicapped friend. We met 22 years ago when she was impoverished and living in squalor. She had been away from religion for decades and she asked to start attending church with us. I did not mention tithing to her but she found out through sermons. She WANTED to give to God. Her heart was incredibly generous. She was on government disability so at first she could only afford a dollar or two. As the years passed, her checks grew larger. The more she gave back to God, the more physically blessed she became! Doors opened and she was moved into an incredibly beautiful and caring facility that she is in now.
After a few years of knowing me, she asked me to handle her money. (Become her 'Payee'). Every month, when she knew her check had arrived, she would call me up and tell me how much she wanted to send to her favored church. Part of her handicap is mental so she would often ask me to send MUCH more than she could afford--more than her tithe. We would talk and, usually, meet somewhere in the middle.
These days, she is too far gone to judge wisely so I ASK HER if she wants to give money to God. I make sure she is honored by sending in a token amount. God loves her and respects her widow's mites. Her expenses have gone up substantially so she is more limited.
Here is the point of this story: EVERY TIME SHE GIVES, our God gives her back more than she gave Him! This time it was a letter stating that her next rent and care payment (for July) is less than it was formerly quoted. She had paid her "tithe" and the differences in the rent cost leaves her with more money than what she gave to God! He paid her back plus some!
I have proven to myself that tithing is a "living principle". God pleads with humanity to test Him In Malachi 3:10 "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house, and prove me now herewith, if I will not open you the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing, that there will not be room enough to receive it."
He doesn't say in this verse to "Make a lifetime commitment to do this." He says to TEST Him to see if He's telling the truth!
I love my friend. I'm glad she decided to try God out!