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Heidi
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09/08/2015 20:29Golden Text: Malachi 3:10... My Personal RevelationThe following verse from our lesson's Golden Text is God's Promise to us:
"Bring ye all the tithes in the storehouse,that there may be meat in my house, prepare 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)
After reading this verse several times, I was awestruck by the promise God makes to us. He tells us that He will give us blessings that will be so Big, Huge...in fact, so much that there won't be a place with room enough to keep it all!
Secondly, I noticed that the verse says to "bring ALL your tithes." "All" means all! So,(I questioned myself); even if I use it to help someone else, is that wrong? Right away I was able to answer that thought. I believe it's always right to help someone else,but if we do, we need to pray about it first and use wisdom. The money to help others should perhaps come from our "rich overflow". There is no limit on where or when the "extra" money may come from. We shouldn't outline this. I remember the Bible story about Peter who caught a fish, and found a coin in the fishes mouth! An interesting note:( The Bible doesn't say what kind of fish Peter caught. I did a bit of searching, and read that researcher's think it was a Talapia fish... one of my favorites!, and that the "Talapia" is sometimes referred to as, "Peter's Fish.")
The Dictionary says, "tithing means giving 10% of all your earrings to the church." Also, It is a demonstration of one's faith, an offering of gratitude.
Making a decision to tithe, or not to tithe, revealed some things to me about myself, for instance:
1.) Whether or not God was a priority to me in my life(?) "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness." ...Matthew 6: 33. (If He is not my priority, I am breaking the First Commandment.)
2.)What I treasure most: "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."...Matthew 6:21.
AND...
3.)How much I trusted God as my source of all my supply: "And my God should supply your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." ...Philippians 4:ll.
I found so many good things in the lesson on SUBSTANCE. I confess before you: I have found myself guilty of not being consistent in my tithing. I justified myself; I made excuses. I used what would have been my tithe to pay a bill, pay rent, even go shopping,or go out to dinner! I would sometimes help someone else out. After studying this important lesson, I wholeheartedly wish to change this. I want to stamp out fear. I want to trust in God and His promise. I will tithe monthly 10% of my present income. In addition, I will contribute more earnestly to the Forum, writing articles, testifying, and generally participating more on our classes, I will continue to WATCH...these are more ways I can tithe besides giving of my income.
In closing, I can't be grateful enough for this lesson. It "opened my eyes", it made me think, and then, it changed my thinking!
Edited by Heidi - 09/08/2015 20:49
Edited by Heidi - 09/08/2015 20:53
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