The past week or so has been quite challenging. Vehicles need repair. Children have injuries that necessitate doctor appointments. Everything is very expensive. Certain conversations are stressful. And, under all that, everyday life goes on. Last night I felt emotionally exhausted from all the chaos that seemed to be attacking me/us and I just wanted to go to bed at 6 p.m. I didn’t. Instead, God gave me a break for a couple of hours.
Earlier in that day I’d read a blog post from GiveHim15 that mentioned a movie I’d never heard of – “The Ultimate Gift.” I’m not really a movie buff; most of the movies I’ve seen over the last decade have been designed for children. This movie, however, was one I could watch with my kids and enjoy. Its story is centered around a very wealthy, playboy-type young man whose grandfather dies and, in order to access his inheritance, the young man must go through a series of challenges the grandfather labels “gifts.” These “gifts” teach him about work, money, friends, learning, problems, family, laughter, dreams, giving, gratitude, a day, and love. I won’t spoil the end of the movie for you, but it was sweet, thought-provoking, and a blissful escape from my struggles. When it was over I felt hopeful.
In the midst of yesterday’s chaos, I texted a friend, asking for prayer support. She wrote back that if we are tithers we can claim “tither’s rights.” This is a concept that is new to me, but it is one of the tools God gives us to fight the good fight in this life.
When the Biblical prophet Malachi wrote, he was correcting and exhorting his people to honor God with their lives. He was pretty firm on God’s “distaste,” to say the least, for corrupt priests, infidelity, and offerings that don’t honor God. Yet, he also reminded the faithful remnant of God’s protection and their hope of a Messiah. After several other topics, Malachi talked about the tithe – a giving of the first 10% of your income back to God. In this passage, he claimed that if we honor God with the tithe, he will protect us, rebuking the devourer and pouring out blessings on us. In fact, Malachi challenged tithers to TEST God in this.
“Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,
That there may be food in My house,
And try 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 such blessing
That there will not be room enough to receive it.
“And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes,
So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground,
Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,”
Says the Lord of hosts;
“And all nations will call you blessed,
For you will be a delightful land,”
Says the Lord of hosts.” (Malachi 3:10-12 NKJV)
When the challenges and chaos of this world feel overwhelming, remember our loving God is with us. He gives us tools we can use to fight the enemy that comes to steal, kill, and destroy. Put on your spiritual armor daily. Pray about your circumstances. Pray in tongues. Worship God in Spirit and in Truth. And remember that God calls tithers to test him – to see if he will not open the windows of heaven and pour out abundant blessings. So, that’s what I’m doing. I’m claiming “tithers’ rights” over our health, our vehicles, our finances.
Today is a new day; God’s mercies are new this morning. But his faithfulness endures forever.
God,
Thank you for your faithfulness that endures forever and for the outpouring of love you have for your Creation and your People. Thank you for walking us through seasons in life when the enemy of our souls tries to kill, steal, and destroy. Thank you for giving us tools like prayer, worship, praying in tongues, and our spiritual armor to give us strength and ultimate victory in the battles we face. When we feel overwhelmed, give us an emotional “time out” that brings us back to hope in you. Today we pray and claim tithers’ rights over our finances, our relationships, our livelihoods, our health, and every other part of our life. Give us grace to appreciate the gifts of work, money, friends, learning, problems, family, laughter, dreams, giving, gratitude, a day, and love. Holy Spirit, give us strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow as we gaze on the beauty of your holiness. Help us stand strong in this life, using the spiritual tools you have given us and knowing that you, Emmanuel, are with us. We ask all this in the powerful name of Christ, Amen.
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10 NKJV)
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:10-13 NKJV)