God Wants to Own it all

Having been raised in the church, I have been familiar with the concept of giving 10% back to God from day one. One of my first memories of the concept of giving to the Lord’s work is a story I learned in my Christian school about a child who lived in the time of the Israelites and the building of the tabernacle. In this story, which obviously took creative license, the child was so excited to help her family find treasures among their belongings to be made into furnishings for the tabernacle. It was easy to catch that excitement from the story.

That being said, I can’t remember when I first gave a tithe. When I was getting a five dollar a week allowance, that only went so far. I do know that it’s been my goal to give my tithe for all of my adult life. And it still is.

That doesn’t mean it’s easy. Honestly, sometimes I’ve given God an IOU, and made it up later. At the moment, my tithe comes out automatically to various ministries and sponsored children God has called me to support. As I have given and trusted, God has always taken care of me, and there have been times I felt the floodgates of heaven open with a little something extra.

Clearly, this verse is talking about material tithing, but I believe there is something more to be said about giving: Giving of our time and of our heart. My pastor recently taught a series called “God at the Game Night.” The lobby was set up like a giant Monopoly board. (If you’re not familiar with this board game, it is all about buying and selling properties and buildings). The main thing I remember about the series is that “God wants to own it all.” He doesn’t just want our ten dollars out of a hundred, he wants to own “Attitude Alley” “Relationship Road”… all the “properties” we hold in our lives. He wants to own them all.

Father, as I give my tithe to you, help me remember that it’s ALL yours. Every thought, every attitude, even every tear I shed or flash of anger I feel. You want to own it all as you transform me more and more into your image. In Jesus name, amen.

Throughout this day: How can you give God your all today?