Tithing. 10 percent ba ng gross or net?
When I was back home in Manila, I became a member of the Catholic Charismatic movement in Muntinlupa. It was a great experience. From all the bible readings and such, I was able to take away one precious thing, that to this day I still adhere to.
 I was very young when my parents left for the States. I was only in sixth grade then. In high school, I was given a weekly allowance to manage for the week. This is when I heard about tithing. We had a great pastor then that told us, ‘Nowhere in the bible are we allowed to challenge God. Even at the time that the devil was tempting Jesus in the desert to turn the stone into bread, he was told – Thou shalt not test the Lord your God.’ He continued to say, ‘There is only one place in the entire Big Book that we are allowed to challenge God, and that is in the book of Malachi.’
This has already caught my attention. Why would God want us to challenge Him? Well, like what our pastor said, when God gives a condition, he always accompanies it with a reward. Malachi 3:7-12 states ’God said, you must prove me in this. Bring the whole tithe (10% of something – Greek and Hebrew origin) into the storehouse and I will open the floodgates of heaven, pouring out to you in abundance, BLESSINGS that are overflowing, pressed down that you will not have enough room to receive it.’
So, in plain tagalog – sabi ni Lord – Subukan mo ko rito. Dalhin mo ang sampung porsiyento ng ani mo sa alay mo sa akin at bubuksan ko ang *kamot ulo* – ano ba ang floodgates? – (Anyway, imagine na lang tayo kung ano ang floodgates. Nung nagkaroon ng tsunami sa Indonesia, nakita natin sa TV kung gaano kalakas ang daloy ng baha. Ganung kalakas ang daloy kapag binuksan ang ‘floodgates’. – Lakas nun!) Tuloy natin.. at bibigyan kita ng biyaya na siksik (pressed down), at umaapaw (overflowing) na wala kang maisip na paglalagyan.
Well, I did test God. I only have an allowance enough to last me a week and any little expense can throw my allowance off. But you know what? I did put in my tithe when I went to church. And ever since then, I have never run out of money. And even if I am ready to run out of money, something pours in as if coming from a source where there is more to come out from. I have always proven that it is true. To this day, I still do what I can to give to charity or the church. And blessings always ‘pour out in abundance’.
Have you noticed that most of the successful people on the spotlight give to charity? Name one – Oprah? YES, she does. Donald Trump? YES, he does. Bill Gates? YES, he does. One of the reasons why they are successful is that they give back.
Now that we are all here trying to run blogs that would hopefully add to our income.. do remember that there’s more where it came from. Give what you can give… prove ‘Him’ in this.. and share your experience with us.
Ang tanong? GROSS or NET? Hmmm.. you figure it out.
do you practice ate?
plus..it is a good karma! o diba pero sa akin ata baliktad… naman.. hindi naman ako madamot.. pero natitirya pa din ako.. remember yong isang costumer na na kwento ko sayo…*naiinis na naman tuloy ako hehehe dahil singilan na ng credit card lol*
Chuva says:
Have you noticed that most of the successful people on the spotlight give to charity? Name one – Oprah? YES, she does. Donald Trump? YES, he does. Bill Gates? YES, he does. One of the reasons why they are successful is that they give back.
wala na lang silang mapaglagyan ng pera nila lol…*makagawa nga ng diwata foundeyshun*
That is true Chuva..
A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
Proverbs 11:24-25
But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,
and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
Luke 14:13-14
ps
one reason why rich people donate is:
pang bawas din sa Income tax
I would admire them more if they will be involved directly in charity mission…
like staying even for a day in a filthy place, helping feed the needy: materially, psychologically or whatever “ly”
agree ako dyan mga sisters. pangbawas ng tax, at sana nga eh tumulong sila directly sa charity missions. but i think oprah does that for Africa.
I know why I admired Princess Diana so much.. she was the modern-day Jesus.. visited the people inflicted with AIDS, the people who were victims of abuse, etc.
but for arguments sake, maybe they do yet they follow the rule, ‘Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.’
You think?
‘Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.’
that is true …
Pero sa dami ng paparazzi at their heels…mahirap itago yun
hi chuva! greet muna kita, HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!
it always warms the heart when you do something good for others.
gross or net? deal! hehehehe (malabo ba? hehehe. pasensya na, malabo ang valentine’s day ko eh hehehe)
btw, tenkyu, tenkyu sa link! i appreciate it.
hi bea!!! welcome!
Happy Valentine’s din sa yo.. sana you are one of the lucky ones spending this day with someone special.
Although yung mga wala rin, special din sila. So I am greeting them too!!
It is true – - I pledge 10% of the earnings of this blog to go to charity. That will be from now till the end of my blogging days.
oo nga eh sa text messages lang ng mga friends ko feel ang valentine’s ngayon…buti na lang andyan sila…
chuvz ang bait bait mo naman, naku pagpapalain ka nyan a hundred fold more…teka maglilibot muna kami ng mouse ko para maumpisahan na yan…i wish you goodluck, happiness and prosperity in life…^_^
JC – - ang mahal kong JC. Kung baga sa mga anak, eh ikaw yata ang paborito ko. Panay ang pag-galang mo sa akin eh.
I just want to wish you a Valentine you deserve, one that will treat you with love, but most of all – RESPECT.
In fairness ha.. *a kris aquino ang dating* – ang ganda mo yata para humabol di ba? Ikaw ang dapat habulin! Salamat sa pamamasyan ninyo ng daga mo…
chuvs,
pahiram ng basket me pitpitasin ako sa taas..
ps
sabi ko na nga ba eh kaya magaan vibes ko seo: ang bait mo!! Tsup!