First and Best

Last year, our church covered a multi-part series on tithing, finances, and financial blessing.  None of the information was new to me, but certain parts were renewed in me, through the enthusiastic conviction of my wife Petra.  Pastor Jack started out the series by handing out a copy of The Blessed Life, by Robert Morris, to every household represented in the church.  Petra got started right away, and she instantly wrapped herself around the fact that God calls for not only calls for the return of ten percent of our sustinence, income, etc., but that He calls for the FIRST of it, as well as the BEST. 

Why?  Why does God want the first and best of everything we own?  God certainly doesn't need our money, our belongings, or any material thing.  What He wants is our loyalty and obedience.  He wants to see our selflessness.  He wants to know that He is #1 in our life.  And this is the one area of our life--the one place in the Bible--where God challenges us to test Him.  If we give God our first and best, God says to see if He won't open the floodgates of heaven and pour our blessing into our life.  He promises to do that, and to protect the rest of our finances.  Sounds like a win-win to me.

So here's my public writing tithe for 2012.  Before I write stories about mermaids and peanut butter and whatever other meaningless topics come to mind, may I humbly express thanks to God for His many, many blessings.  I will never be afraid to use anything He has given me--money, talent, time, or possession--in the ways that He directs.

--MJ