Giving Back My 10%

by Darrell
(Elgin, IL)

First of all, let me say that I have known Connie for about five years now and consider her to be a very good friend of mine.

When she moved out of state, we still kept in touch via email and the occasional phone call.

Then about two weeks ago she sent me an email describing this new project she has undertaken and it absolutely floored me. Not that I thought it strange that Connie would take on such a project, but the fact that she approached me about it when she did.

I was raised in a very religious home (my father being a Baptist minister) where the teachings of the Bible were second nature. Among those teachings, tithing was heard nearly every Sunday before the collection of the offering.

As I entered adulthood and started earning an income, it was amazing how I never seemed to have enough to pay bills and give my 10% back to my church.

In fact I got away from church pretty much altogether.

So it's amazing that this comes to me at this time.

Last year was the most devastating, financially, of my life.

I had attempted, in the last few years, to start several different business ventures out of my home as a supplement to my full time income. Nothing seemed to gel with me for various reasons, but what did occur was the compilation of a mound of credit card debt.

I muddled through and am still muddling, but the best part is, I started to tithe at the church I attend.

I wasn't able to do it every month but, and I actually didn't start until later in the year, but giving back my 10% when I did didn't create any more hardship for me than if I hadn't tithed.

In fact, I always had a financial windfall; so to speak, occur to help me through the tougher pinches.

Lately, a land lease deal I entered into back in '04, that I thought was another scam I fell into, is starting to materialize.

I was paid $840.00 for an oil company to have the right to go on the leased property I have for the purpose of drilling for oil, natural gas, coal, shale etc.

As it stands now the estimate from the leasing agent is I should receive at least $1800.00/mo., conservatively, potentially for a very long time.

And that is just a big example of the return I feel is coming back to me. Having been taught that tithing was a responsibility not to be taken lightly, I really never bought into it.

But as I get older and appreciate more and more what I have been given and how I've been blessed, even in the hardest of times, the more I want to give back.

I feel more strongly each day that God is helping me through these times and giving back 10% is my way of showing that I trust that he will not let me fail.

I still have faith issues at times, regarding tithing/paying my bills, but I have surely been blessed by virtue of making ends meet when there seemingly was little hope.