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virtually any religious or spiritual belief you've likely heard about tithing.
Whether or not you are actually tithing is another thing.
Tithing can be a very
emotionally charged activity. It has been said that what you put out your
receive back tenfold. Is this true or is it simply a way for a church or
spiritual group to strong arm followers to give up their money? Some people
believe wholeheartedly in the spiritual practice of tithing while others view
it as manipulation. What do I believe? Read on to find out.
Views on tithing
There are many different views of what tithing is and is not. Some believe true
tithing only happens when you give to a church or somewhere you are spiritually
fed. Others feel that any act of freely giving money to a person or institution
is a form of tithing.
Regardless of what one's
belief about where the money goes, the energy in which the money is given
impacts the gift and the giver.
Gratitude or
Resentment
As a child, I can still remember as if it was yesterday, the brass plates
passed from row to row to gather money by church ushers. Even at a young age I
could see and feel there were some people who willingly gave and did so with
gratitude and others who resistantly gave up their hard earned money.
Since that time, I have
witnessed this same thing in various churches and other gatherings I have
attended where a bowl, plate or basket is passed around for money. There are
those who willingly give and those who have extreme difficulty parting with
their money.
I must admit, I have been
both resistant and willing. Both carry an emotional charge. When I was in
resistance the emotional charge was that of fear, lack and there just wasn't
enough to go around.
It was only when I got to
a place of trusting that that which I gave would bless another and somehow,
someway come back to me multiplied that the feeling went from one of fear to
one of gratitude.
No expectations
An essential element of tithing is to hold no expectation on the money when it
leaves our possession. Further, to have no expectation of us benefiting in any
way other than through the blessing of blessing others.
It is when there is no
expectations placed on tithing that the greatest blessings come. How do I know
this to be true? From my own experience and the experience of others who
willingly tithe.
Years ago, I was
experiencing very lean times. It was a real struggle to pay the bills let alone
give any of my money away. A friend invited me to her nondenominational church.
It was actually classified more as a spiritual center than a traditional
church.
On that day I was
obviously open to receiving a message about the blessings of tithing. The
minister spoke of money as energy and how charged that energy is for many
people. She also said that if we trusted that God (Higher Power, Universe, All
that Is) is our source, we would not fear letting go of the money.
She also pointed out that
once we release the money, we need to totally release it. What this means is,
don't even think about what else you could have done with the money. Let it go.
Get into a feeling of gratitude for having the ability to bless another.
When I heard her say
this, something connected for me. Trust. Trust. Trust.
Increase your
giving
At that time giving a dollar was a big deal to me. On that particular occasion
I decided to trust what she was saying. I gave $20 and did my best to let it
go.
The most amazing thing
happened. Within a few short days I was experiencing more abundance than I had
in quite some time. Blessings were coming from a variety of places; places that
I never would have thought I would receive them from.
Since that time, I have
been keenly aware of the power of tithing. However, there were several
occasions I would forget the $20 experience. Whenever I did, I seemed to be
moving in a place of fear with thoughts of lack.
History repeats
itself
In the early days of my business I again found myself in a place of struggle
and fear. Again, I attended a service where the minister talked about the gift
of tithing.
At that time I had $40 in
my checking account and money was very tight. After hearing Reverend
The most amazing thing
happened. The very next day I received a letter in the mail. When I opened it a
$10 bill literally floated out of the envelope. The day after that I received a
check from a utility company for an overpayment I had made on a utility service
nearly a year before. Within days, my account went from $40 to over $500.
Does tithing work to
bring blessings? I believe it does. I also believe to my very core that how and
why we tithe is important to recognize. Do we do it because we feel moved to do
it or because we think it is expected of us?
What are your beliefs and
experiences with tithing? Do you feel joy when you tithe or do you have
feelings of lack and fear surface?
It is in the level of
trust we have the blessings are created and we are in more of a position to
recognize those blessings.
Be blessed.
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