Can I Just Not Give?
When I teach on the subject of tithe I am often asked by followers of Jesus, “Can I just not give?” I understand for many this question comes from years of bad habits which created a financial mess; and they may feel hopeless for not being financially faithful. The idea of beginning to actually live within a budget sounds painful; learning to let go and trust God first in your finances is a big step of faith. But the simple answer to the question is “no”. If you are a follower of Jesus eventually God is going to want to have a conversation, ongoing conversation, regarding money. Because His passion and desire for you as His child is to provide for all of your needs and for you to trust Him completely. Jesus’ words tell all: “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” (Matthew 6:24)
God, your loving, Heavenly Father created all the benefits that come with living a life of generosity; He wants you to live in the blessings of this lifestyle. The four benefits mentioned in this chapter are not an exhaustive list; we will discuss others throughout the book, although not in a list form. Another benefit is a principle God designed from which the entire universe is meant to operate, the more we understand it the more you will live in His blessing. We will dive into it in depth in the next chapter.