Floating the Tithe

I find the issue of tithing quite fascinating. More so, when I have to make decisions on how much. Traditional opinion suggests 10 percent of gross income, or more. But is that all to it?

Of course, you have well-meaning people whose testimonies of "not being able to out-give God" plastered and heralded all over. These are people who have endured very trying financial situations (to the point of not being able to feed their children, etc) and still gave whatever paltry sum they had to God. And they testify of being rewarded; they miraculously got out of debt (usually by someone else's intervention) or whatever difficult situation they were in, and is now giving glory to God. That's really good, don't get me wrong. It gives tremendous stimulation and encouragement that God is certainly good, generous and above all, very concerned about the welfare of His children.

But doesn't that make some people think that God is some kind of vending machine? Slot in a coin and get whatever you want? Or worse, a one-arm bandit... just push in your "investment" this time round and see how God "miraculously exponentially returns it?" Or sublimely more dangerous: pay your tithes, it is an insurance against financial calamity and other woes?

In Old Testament, the people of God were required to give a stipulated amount of their possessions back to God, who owns everything anyways. It was part of the Law. No arguement there.

New Testament devotees were told to give sacrificially, with a cheerful heart. That means it could be anything from 1 to 100 percent. Let your heart attitude determine the giving barometer. That's the essence of the freedom Jesus came to give those who believe in Him. Absolute, but with an awesome sense of responsibility. IMHO, no longer can we hide behind the excuse of the law in a fixed numeral tithe. Now it is our hearts which determine the amount we give, and by that, indicate a clear reflection of our spiritual condition.

To be fair, not all people who give great amounts are spiritual giants. The same is to be said of the opposite - not all who give smaller amounts are spiritual gnats. I had known people who had so little to live on, and they do not have anything leftover. Should they be made to feel quilty over their "lack of giving"? I had also known a congregation where one had no qualms of going into debt to "pledge in faith" for an impending church project.

I fall into the 10 percent or more category. Had been there since the day I put my faith in Jesus. Of late, my mind had been brought back to the issue of "getting out of the fixed numeral box" when tithing. Since then I had been sensing the danger of 'floating my tithe' (danger of injury to my own wallet, that is.)

For the first three months, I held back from normal tithing, all the while holding my breath to see if any financial catastrophe will overtake my 'insolence and rebellion'. Nothing happened. Which made it worse as I merely expected the bad things to snowball and hit me harder.

At the end of the third month, I was quite nervous. Never in my Christian life had I failed to tithe, and this experiment was coming to a point where it should have its conclusion, or so I thought. Then, it so happened that a missionary friend visited. One thing led to another and I ended up giving out a generous amount to my friend that covered more than my normal tithe over the same period. It wasn't forced giving, nor was it out of compulsion. It was a natural thing that was devoid of much contemplation nor thought. It was very... spontaneous and natural.

Hmmm... I was relieved when I got tithe out of the way after the third month. It was God's grace upon this little experiment of mine. He knew I probably couldn't take the stakeout much longer, and He also showed me that I had a restricted view of giving. Don't get me wrong, giving should be a consistent discipline, but over the long haul, it should more accurately reflect the condition of the heart rather than a mere adherence to a common practice.

I still "float my tithe". With less guilt (every experiment is a new experience!) and more confidence these past few months, though. A general observation is that I tend to give more after the floating has begun, but the fact that I don't know exactly how much more is a good sign that my head - and heart - had started to lose count.