Trust Me: Applying FAITH in Faithfulness

I've always heard the Advent message on tithing and I have always wondered if it could ever apply to me. I always tithed, but my problem throughout the years had been my inconsistency. For some reason, I thought the rules never really applied to me. If anything, I thought perhaps it would apply more to my parents, or people that were older and made an income "worthy" of tithes and offering.

A friend of mine always spoke to me about the value of tithing and how God always provided for her and her family. Again, I never thought anything of it. "I will give what I can", I thought, "because God will understand. My job does not pay enough, so how can God possibly expect me to give 10% of what little earnings I make? I mean c'mon! God knows my job!"

Well I thought that way for many years. Some weeks, I would pay my tithes and offering diligently, and some weeks I would give whatever I could. Then there were the weeks I would give nothing at all. I didn't think anything of it. I knew it was wrong, and that I was robbing the Lord, but I didn't allow these thoughts to make me feel guilty enough to start doing it. I realize now that God did not want me to pay my tithes out of a guilty conscience or because I was scared of what He could do to me if I didn't. No. God was merciful and He wanted to show me how loving and gracious He is.

One week, the Lord spoke to me. I had just gotten my check and I deposited it in the bank. I withdrew all I needed to pay some essential bills and then I went ahead and paid all the bills I needed to pay online. My bank account was empty and the cash I had left was for bills. I knew I wouldn't eat that week and I quickly came to the realization that if I paid my tithe that Sabbath, I would not be able to pay my bill due on the upcoming Monday. I wanted so badly to take the money for tithe out of the envelope and place it with my bill, but everytime I tried, the Lord spoke. In a still small voice I heard "trust me".

The next day, I paid my tithe, and for the first time, I applied faith to my faithfulness. "Lord, You have spoken, and I am listening. Let Your will be done, and please provide for me. Well, as I dropped the envelope in the plate, I decided not to be remorseful or worried. I surrendered totally to God. I didn't know how I would get the money for my bill, but I was sure that my faith would see me through.

I had totally forgotten about the money.

That night, my Pastor called and asked me if I would be able to sing for a wedding the next day. It was very short notice, but as a wedding singer and singing evangelist, I knew that I was up for the challenge. I told him that I would do it. He explained to me that I would be volunteering and I went into it with the understanding that the church was not paying me. I didn't mind. I had never been paid to sing in my life, and I had become accustomed to singing for the Lord, and not money, my payment had always been blessings, and the joy I would receive for ministering to the hearts of others. I sang for the wedding, and it was such a wonderful experience. I sat and watched this beautiful couple become a union and I was blessed by the service. After the wedding, during the reception, my Pastor and his wife called me to their office. It seemed as though something went wrong. I was unsure of what happened, but I went in and waited. "You're in trouble," my Pastor said. I was alarmed. My eyes opened wide and my palms became clammy instantly. Then he let out a smile and began to chuckle. He told me to open my hands and planted two bills in my them. I looked down and saw that I had been given a double portion of my tithe money. I began crying, as everything clicked.

"Trust me."

The tears of joy overpowered my Pastor's words and I had only gathered bits of what he said. The family was so pleased with my singing, they wanted to say thank you in a monetary form. I was baffled at how great God was to me.

Funny enough, I had always been the person to hear the "miraculous" stories of people who didn't have a morsel of food to eat, but paid their tithe, and just say "yeah, yeah, that would never apply to me". I've learned many lessons. God wants us to have faith in Him. It isn't enough to be faithful and pay your tithe every week. You have to apply the faith in faithfulness. I've learned that God wants us to be grateful for what we do have. Even if our job may not be bring in a lot, we can still give back a portion to Him, which is rightfully His anyway.  Now, even if it's my last, I'm going to pay my tithe consistently. I have been diligent since and God is with me every step of the way. God is speaking. Can you hear Him? It's a still small voice...

"Trust me."


S.G