Generosity gives a natural feeling of satisfaction. This is why generous people feel happier in life compared to those who have much but don’t practice giving.
Generosity Doesn’t Always Mean You Have More Than What Others Have
Jesus once said that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God. In order to understand this better, let us go back to the scene when Jesus said this in Matthew 19.
Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only one who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” “Which ones?” he inquired. Jesus replied, “You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.” “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.
The Rich Man
The problem with the rich man in this story is that he loves his wealth so much that he is not willing to let it go. Remember that tithing is not just any act of giving. Tithing is returning what is not ours. If our hands are very much filled with things we cannot let go of, then we will not be able to open our hands to return to God our tithe.
We all need wealth, and God has given it to us, including the abilities to produce our wealth. He also gave us the ability to decide for our wealth and the privilege to tithe. With these, we do not have any reason not to open our hands in tithing.
Our Tithes Are Always in Proportion to Our Wealth
Sadly, there are people who would rather contain their wealth in close fists than opening their hands to give back to God. Others cannot give exactly 10% because they feel that it is too much. If we give less than the tenth, do you think we can still consider our tithe in integrity?
The more we prosper, the bigger our tithe will become. If a person cannot give his/her small wealth, then it will be the same with a bigger one. With the wealth that we have in our hands right now, we must know in our hearts how tight is our grip on it. We have to know if we are like that of the rich man who cannot let go of his riches in exchange for a better life. Remember, generosity in tithing is a pleasing act in the eyes of God.
