REalized: Althea Harris
Pastor White taught us about tithing at the beginning of the year and I’ve always been completely fine with the idea and purpose of tithing and fully understood it, but never actually did it. He suggested that I start out small with just 1 or 2% and work my way up from there. Interestingly enough, when I sat down to do the calculations, I said to myself, “I can give God more than THAT!” I settled on 5% over the course of the year and wrote a check every 2 weeks. It was tough to say the least. It was such an emotional experience every single time I wrote the check. I was afraid I wouldn’t have enough money left over for all of my other obligations. I fretted about every penny. I grew up lower middle class and we always had enough, but nothing more. I didn’t want my life to continue that way and I certainly wanted more for my 3 small children. My agonizing went on for about 6 months but from the beginning I decided that I was going to trust God. In addition, it helped me tremendously that it was consistently preached throughout the year that God is faithful. There he was, reminding me that I could trust God and that He is faithful. As each week passed, and with each check I wrote to UBC, the fear subsided. I REALIZED I wasn’t living under a bridge and eating Alpo just because I gave God His portion. I am so grateful to God that He is gracious enough to tell us in His Word that we can test Him in His faithfulness over the tithe (Malachi 3:10). I am truly a witness who can testify that God is faithful. These experiences with God have helped me overcome the grip fear had on my life and have totally prepared me to be unstoppable for God!
