Years ago I was sitting in a Wednesday evening Bible study at a local church. The speaker for the evening began to tell the story of a middle aged man who was struggling with the issue of tithing. The man told God, “I want to tithe, but I just can’t afford it.” The first fruits of his increase, or ten percent, for that month was seemingly a lot of money- $300!
Side note: this is not just another message on tithing. We all know we are supposed to tithe and I really don’t feel the need to write about it. At least not today, anyway.
Ultimately, the man chose not to put his trust in God and put his trust in money instead. “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” Luke 16:13 NKJV
The speaker continued, “It was only a short while later that the man fell and broke his leg. His portion of the bill, after insurance, was no surprise- $300!”
Let’s stop for a moment from our story of this man. I had always been under the impression that tithing was an act of obedience because a person loves and trusts God and has chosen to show Him with the first fruits of their increase. Choosing not to tithe puts your trust in the world’s economy which can fail at any given moment. God is a gentleman Who gently knocks at your door, but it is up to you to let Him in. It is up to you to receive His blessing. If you choose to keep that door shut it gives way for the enemy to sneak in and wreak havoc in your life. Trusting God with your money by giving Him what is already His allows Him to protect the other 90 percent from the one who seeks to destroy it. Putting your trust in God releases His power in your life.
And that is just where I was hoping our speaker for the evening would lead into regarding the man in the story. Much to my disappointment, he said just the opposite.
His next words burned my ears, “See, God will get your money one way or another.”
Ouch!!
First of all, God isn’t the one Who ended up with the money, the hospital did. None of that $300 went toward honoring God in any way. None of it went into furthering His kingdom by spreading the gospel of the good news of Christ to the nations. None of it!
Secondly, what that man said made every lash on Jesus’ back in vain. “For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you ti follow in His steps, who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.” 1 Peter 2:21-24 NAS
“By His wounds you were healed!” Were His wounds all for nothing if God broke the man’s leg?
I was so offended that someone would say something about my loving Father that I got up and walked out.
“No one is gonna accuse my Creator of something so horrendous!”
Now, taking offense to the situation wasn’t right either. There are better, more productive ways of handling things than storming out of the sanctuary in a tizzy. I was young, to say the least.
But my sentiments on the issue remain the same: God is not in the leg-breaking business! He is a loving and devoted Father who wishes, “above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” 3 John 1:2 KJV
He is a merciful Creator: “But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Matthew 9:3 KJV
He is a God of Healing: “And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.” Matthew 9:35 KJV
Who among you would break your child’s leg in order to obtain $300 from them? Is that not considered child abuse? So why would anyone accuse God of breaking one of His children’s legs in order to teach them a lesson? That is dollar store religion at its very finest.
There was never a time in Jesus’ earthly ministry where He broke someone’s leg. There was never a time when someone came to Him for healing that He said, “No.” Never! It was the exact opposite: “A vast crowd brought to him people who were lame, blind, crippled, those who couldn’t speak, and many others. They laid them before Jesus, and he healed them all.” Matthew 15:30 NLT
He healed them all!
So, be blessed knowing that the Creator of the universe is not out to get you, but to bless you!
“’Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this.’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.’” Malachi 3:10 NAS
In His Service,
Rebecca Hamilton, Founder/ Executive Director
For Every Great Battle, There is a Great Victory!!